Buzzard Billy’s Cajun Creole Restaurant: New Orleans Cuisine in Lincoln, Nebraska

A Review by a Licorice Lover:

You can experience a bit of New Orleans in the Heartland. Buzzard Billy’s Cajun-Creole Restaurant is located in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket, right across the street from Licorice International on 8th Street between P and Q. Decorated in a combination of nostalgia and Cajun items (yes, there are several alligators), the atmosphere is fun for the whole family, and is also a great place to meet friends for a drink.

I recently had lunch at Buzzard Billy’s, after a tour of Memorial Stadium, and before a visit to Licorice International. (Of course, I can’t go to the Haymarket without visiting Licorice International.) I split the Mean Green Buzzard Wings and Swamp Platter (fried crawfish tails, fried alligator, crab cakes, hush puppies and coleslaw) with two young friends, supplementing my meal with a cup of Grilled Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo. It was more than enough to fill us up. (Plus, we snitched a bit from the appetizers our other friends shared: Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms and Miller High Life Spinach Artichoke Dip.) Our friends,--who aren’t as into Cajun food as the rest of us--enjoyed Po’Boys (New Orleans style hoagies).

A few months ago, my husband and I met some friends for drinks at Buzzard Billy’s on a Thursday evening. (Since I don’t drink alcohol, I chose raspberry iced tea.) It was trivia night, so we competed with other tables to guess trivia from the 60’s and 70’s. We didn’t win anything, but we enjoyed reminiscing about the “good old days.”

For more information on Buzzard Billy’s see their website.

New Lincoln Arena Will Be Good for Licorice International and Other Haymarket Businesses

The Lincoln voters have spoken. In a wider-than-expected margin, Lincolnites approved the construction of a 16,000-seat arena in the Haymarket commercial district.

What does this mean for the city, and specifically for the Haymarket area? Because arena events will bring in hundreds of visitors from out of town, that means an increase in business for area shops, restaurants, and hotels.

Elizabeth Erlandson and Ardith Stuertz, owners of Licorice International, a gourmet candy store in the Haymarket area, were quoted in an article about the arena in the May 12, 2010, issue of The Omaha World Herald.

“It will bring some wonderful things to the city for events and entertainment,” said Stuertz. “After it's been built, we'll see an increase in volume of people that come into the area that will only be good for our business.”

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Eat Licorice, Have Lunch, Make a New Friend at the Table

There’s a place in the heart of Lincoln’s Haymarket where you can enjoy a good meal at the right price and maybe even make a new friend.

The Table, a ministry of Our Saviour’s Lutheran Church in Lincoln, is open every weekday from 11:30 .m. to 1:30 p.m. (or whenever the food runs out) at Indigo Bridge Books, 701 P Street. It was modeled after the S.A.M.E. Café in Denver, a restaurant with no prices, just a free-will donation. But the Table adds a unique twist. Guests are encouraged to sit together at a long table. The result? Lively discussions between people from all walks of life, a place to go ease your loneliness, and often new friendships.

Lincoln restaurants Thé Cup and Bread & Cup provide soup and bread at cost, and Licorice International donates candy for an after-dinner treat. Guests constantly rave about the Creamy Licorice Toffee, Licorice Starlite Mints and Anise Squares. After eating, diners leave an anonymous donation in a box.

Malcolm, a student at the University of Nebraska, is a frequent visitor to the Table. He enjoys the sense of community he finds there. “I can be having a bad day and I have a good conversation here any day of the week,” he said. “It’s easy to talk to people here.”

Caitlin, a licensed massage therapist, likes the fact that the soups are vegetarian. “I know a lot of people here, and I like the atmosphere,” she said.

If you come to Lincoln’s Haymarket area to shop at Licorice International (located just around the corner at 803 Q Street), be sure to stop at the Table for lunch and conversation.

Below: The "Licorice Ladies" at the Table's Anniversary Open House on March 26, 2010. From left: Matt Schur (youth pastor at Our Saviour's Lutheran and one of the founders of the Table); Matt's son Tyler; Lowell Hennigs (senior pastor at Our Saviour's Lutheran); Elizabeth Erlandson (co-owner of Licorice International), Elizabeth's husband, Doug; Ardith, Stuertz (co-owner of Licorice International).

Eat Licorice, Find Something From Nebraska

Are you planning a visit to Lincoln, Nebraska? Licorice International is becoming a favorite stop for Lincoln visitors. And right next door you can pick up a souvenir to remind you of your visit to Nebraska.

“From Nebraska” features the finest products made in Nebraska, starting with foods grown and manufactured in our great state. You can choose from popcorn, sausage, jellies, seasonings, and the ever-popular Baker’s Chocolates and Dorothy Lynch salad dressing, which the store ships all over the world. Can’t decide on one item? Pick up a gift basket featuring several of the most popular foods.

You can find wine from 15 of Nebraska’s 24 vineyards. Stop by any time for a private wine tasting, or come for Saturday Sippings, the second Saturday of the month from 4-7 p.m., featuring a different local winery each month.

The store also sells homemade soaps and candles, Nebraska souvenirs and clothing. The book section includes books about Nebraska and by Nebraska authors.

Located at 803 Q Street, right next to Licorice International, the store is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. Saturdays, and noon to 4 p.m. on Sundays. For more info see http://www.fromne.com/

Eat Licorice. Visit Ten Thousand Villages.

Bright colors greet you when you step into Ten Thousand Villages in Lincoln’s Haymarket. It a great place to browse—full of one-of-a-kind home décor, toys, clothes, jewelry, handbags, Christmas decorations and even fun chess sets.

But more importantly—every item you buy at Ten Thousand Villages directly benefits an artisan in one of 38 underdeveloped countries. Through this unique program, artisans are paid a fair price for handmade items created using environmentally friendly materials. Artisans express their personality and culture in the hand-made products you would never be able to find in a typical retail store.

Each item has an interesting story to tell. For instance, you can buy bracelets recycled from discarded plastic bags in Burkina Faso. Lacquer paper weights from Vietnam are fashioned from river rocks through a special process that takes 45 days and incorporates the thumbprint of the artist. At just $7.00, they’re a popular gift item.

Ten Thousand Villages is one of nearly 200 affiliated North American stores and has been serving Lincoln for 25 years, said manager Gabby Ayala. Since moving to the Haymarket area five years ago, business has skyrocketed. The Haymarket is a favorite area for tourists and a destination spot for locals, and the Saturday morning farmers market brings like-minded people to the neighborhood.

Gabby loves to visit Licorice International, located just down the street from Ten Thousand Villages. Her favorite kind of licorice? Australian Kookaburra Twists, especially the strawberry and green apple flavors.

Ten Thousand Villages is located at 140 North 8th Street and is open from 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday through Friday and 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Saturdays.

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Eat Licorice. Share a meal at Bread & Cup.

Just down the street from Licorice International in Lincoln's Historic Haymarket, you'll find Bread & Cup, a new restaurant that's becoming a popular destination.

It's a refreshing alternative: simple food and drink meant to be shared. It's about fresh ingredients and letting the natural processes of heat and fermentation enhance the good flavors of the food, explained Kevin Shinn, who owns the restaurant with his wife Karen (pictured right). Favorite meal items include hearty stews, soups and sandwiches, such as the popular pulled pork, served with baked apples, or the new turkey salad sandwich tossed in cream cheese, green chiles, green onion and cumin. When the Farmers Market is active, you can enjoy "Market Meals" created from fresh produce purchased that day from local farmers.

But it's about more than the food. It's about slowing down, connecting with others, enjoying good conversation. It's about sharing quality wine and their "slowdough" break coupled with aged cheese, apple butter or pesto. Or relaxing in a peaceful environment over French press coffee and freshly baked scones.

"We really want to be known as a place where people connect," said Kerry Knight, manager. "Throughout history people seem to connect better through food and drink."

Kerry is a big fan of Licorice International. Kerry's favorite kinds of licorice are:
Irish toffee. ("They melt in your mouth," he says.) Available here.
Good and Plenty (Fresher than anyplace else, he says). Available here.
Strawberry Kookaburra Twists. Available here.
Black Tire Tread. Available here.

Bread & Cup is located at the corner of 8th and S Street in Lincoln's Historic Haymarket.
For more information see http://www.breadandcup.com/ or call 402-438-2255.

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Licorice International Featured in Strictly Business

Licorice International's new and improved eCommerce website was featured on the website of Strictly Business, a local magazine spotlighting significant business news. Click here to see the article.

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Eat Licorice, Read a Good Book

Just a block away from Licorice International, you’ll find Indigo Bridge, a new local bookstore and coffeshop that’s offers something a bit different.

I felt at home right away in the welcoming space of the store, with its old-fashioned coffee house feel, shelves filled with fascinating books, and the amazing tree sculpture that looks out over a bright children’s area. It’s more than just another bookstore. Every book on the shelves was hand-picked, either by owners Bob and Kim Coleman, their family, or their employees. A large display showcases books by local authors.

The toys and gift-items were also carefully selected. Handmade jewelry, journals and bags help support artisans in the third world. Locally roasted Cultiva coffee and a wide assortments of teas, sodas and pastries, as well as free wi-fi are all available in the coffeehouse.

Indigo Bridge welcomes groups of all kinds to gather in their coffeehouse area. A church group and writers group currently meet there on a regular basis, and book discussion groups are planned for the future.

If you purchase a cloth bag and bring it with you each time you shop, you can receive a 10 percent discount. The store also offers an additional 10 percent discount for educators (including homeschoolers). My friend Suzy, who homeschools, put it this way: “Wow! My dreams have come true! I can support a locally owned bookstore, drink locally roasted, free-trade coffee AND still get a 20% discount.”

Located inside the Creamery Building at 701 P Street, Indigo Bridge is open Monday-Wednesday from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m., Thursdays from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.; and Sunday from noon-10 p.m.

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Drink Coffee. Eat Licorice.

The Mill has been around long before coffeehouses were “cool.” It had its roots in the mid-70s and moved to its present location in Lincoln’s historic Haymarket in 1987.

Rustic wood floors, exposed brick and comfy armchairs welcome you to “sit a spell” in the warehouse-turned coffeehouse. It’s about the community as well as the coffee. Whether you come with friends or alone, you just feel comfortable there, said co-owner Todd Ogden.

“We have lots of meetings, lots of studying and lots of socializing,” he said. “We have one of the most diverse clienteles of any business that I’ve ever seen.”

Mill employees roast their own coffee and do all the flavoring and blending, focusing on classic European style lattes and cappuccinos. A huge selection of teas, fruit smoothies and cold drinks are also available, as well as a wide selection of pastries and even a few sandwiches.

The Mill is a great place to hang out after visiting Licorice International in Lincoln’s Historic Haymarket. It’s located at 800 P Street and is open Monday-Friday 7 a.m. to 11 p.m., Friday and Saturday, 7 a.m. to midnight and Sunday, 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. For more information call 475-5522 or see http://www.millcoffee.com/

Do you like hanging out at the Mill? Share your stories by leaving a comment.

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Eat Licorice. Visit Bad Robot.

Are you looking for a unique gift? Try Bad Robot, a little shop located just down the street from Licorice International in Lincoln’s historic Haymarket District. The little shop is packed with an eclectic mix of items you won’t find anywhere else.
You’ll see everything from home décor, to “goofy stuff to play with” (to quote co-owner Dan Sloan), to upscale kitchen furnishings and bird feeders, to decorative chickens made from recycled plastic bags.

Local artisans contribute handmade jewelry, clothing and handbags. If you want to express your creativity, pick up a paint-it-yourself Munny figurine. Bad Robot is also the exclusive local outlet for Ospop footwear, canvas trainers designed after classic Chinese worker shoes.

And while you’re shopping, enjoy coffee by the cup or purchase from a selection of high-end teas. Bad Robot is just one of many great shops and restaurants you can visit while you’re in the neighborhood, shopping at Licorice International. We’ll be introducing you to more great places through this blog.

More Info: Bad Robot, 105 North 8th Street., Lincoln, Nebraska. (402)438-6137
http://www.thebadrobot.biz/

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