BY STACEY WALLACE
It’s hard to believe that Mike and I are now in our fifth year of retirement after teaching for 30 years. When Covid-19 shut down our teaching careers one nine weeks early, as it did the world, retirement was quite boring.
Our week consisted of going to the grocery store, traveling to the pharmacy and then coming back home to stream movies.
However, in February of 2021, life started to get fun and interesting again. I got the chance to write my own restaurant review column for The Observer. This opportunity was totally unexpected. I had written on Facebook about two restaurants I really liked. Some people responded kindly to my comments, and someone sent my “reviews” to Michelle Key, the owner and publisher of The Observer.
I was so excited when Michelle offered me a chance to write a column for her newspaper. Also, I was thrilled to see my picture and byline. I can’t believe that I have been writing this column for four years; it’s been a fun gig, let me tell you. I get to go out to eat and write about it. What a deal! But I digress.
Last week, Mike and I traveled to eat at Krave Korner Kitchen, which is located at 129 LaFayette St. South in LaFayette. The restaurant, which opened in 2021, is owned by Ruby Presley. Ruby’s husband Larry, her daughters, Alesha and Latetra and her grandchildren work with her to run their restaurant. All of them were so welcoming, patient and helpful.
Krave Korner Kitchen was decked out for Valentine’s Day. The decorations were beautiful, and a young man expertly played the saxophone during dinner (supper).
That night, Ruby and her family offered a special menu for Valentine’s Day. Mike chose the hamburger steak with onions and gravy. His two sides were loaded mashed potatoes and onion rings. I also selected the hamburger steak; my sides were fried okra and a loaded baked potato. Oh, my two times. Our hamburger steak was really delicious, and so were the sides. My fried okra was the real deal, homemade and not frozen.
For dessert, Mike and I shared a piece of homemade strawberry cake. It was slap your Grandma three times good. When Mrs. Presley asked me how Mike and I liked our dinner, I told her that the strawberry cake alone was worth the short drive.
Krave Korner Kitchen also serves breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, diners may eat from the bar or order from the menu, and the menu is quite extensive. A large variety of breakfast platters, breakfast sandwiches, omelets and side orders are available.
Lunch is served from the food bar, and the items change daily. For example, last Thursday, the lunch menu included beef roast, fried chicken, smothered and baked chicken, green beans, turnip greens, mac and cheese and yellow rice. The dessert choices were apple pie and honey bun cake. Mike and I are already planning to come back for lunch.
As I’ve mentioned many times, Southern cooking is my favorite type of cuisine. And since my sweet Mama and two grandmothers are in Heaven, I go out to get my Southern fare, especially since I can’t stand to cook but love to eat.
Krave Korner Kitchen also caters. The next time you have a special event such as a birthday, wedding, brunch, office party, bridal shower, baby shower or school function, give the restaurant a call at (334) 459-0192.
Trust me, run and do not walk to Krave Korner Kitchen; you’ll be very glad you did.
Krave Korner Kitchen is closed on Monday. The restaurant is open for lunch on Sundays from 11:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is open for breakfast and lunch Tuesday through Friday from 6:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. and for dinner on Thursdays from 4 to 8 p.m. and on Fridays from 5 to 10 p.m. It is open for breakfast only on Saturdays from 7 to 11 a.m.
Krave Korner Kitchen makes the grade with an A+ from this retired English teacher. Remember, “Pooh-sized” people NEVER lie about food. Enjoy!
Stacey Patton Wallace, who retired from teaching language arts for 30 years, is a professional diner. Her column, “Making the Grade,” appears every other week in The Observer. Stacey may be reached at retiredlangartsteacher2020@gmail.com.
