Massapequa Biz Q&A: Big Daddy's

It's the place to go for if you have a big appetite for some down home Cajun and creole food and barbecue.

Walking into Big Daddy's is like transporting to an intimate eatery somewhere in Louisiana. In addition to traditional dishes like jambalaya and gumbo, you can also hear authentic music from the Bayou region and other southern areas on many nights.

It's a big week for Big Daddy's as they're in the midst of their Mardi Gras celebration. 

Tommy Kurtz, the manager of Big Daddy's, took time out to talk to Patch about all the goings on.

How long have you been doing the Mardi Gras promotion and what goes into it?

We've been here for 19 years and I've been here personally for eight years. It stems from Louisiana and we do it for seven nights. There's live music every night. We have a different dinner special every night, some drink specials depending on which night. Two-for-one oyster shooters every night. It's a lot of music and different specials.

What about the big day on Tuesday?

On Fat Tuesday, we do a walk through buffet, through kitchen. We have craw-fish etoufee, gumbo, pulled pork, creole jambalaya and a couple of other things.

Where did you come up with the idea of putting a Mardi Gras Countdown clock on your website?

We saw the St. Patrick's Day people do it. That's really where we got the idea. You see it at the Irish bars, the countdown to St. Patrick's Day. This is kind of our St. Paddy's Day. We look at it that way.

How Does Big Daddy's stand out amomng other barbecue and Cajun joints? 

I think as far as the Cajun, we're one of maybe two or three on Long Island. There's more barbecue but we consider ourselves Cajun first barbecue second. You see more barbecue around, but you see them coming up and then going down. I don't think they last long or have have staying power.

What do people from Louisiana say about your food?

A lot say it's better, some say it's spicier. [Our food] is the real deal. We tend to make it a little spicier than Louisiana is. A lot of people come here for that, but we are by no means only spice. We have a lot of options that aren't very spicy.

What's your favorite part about Mardi Gras? 

The live music. It's not just Zydeco, it's blues, rock. I like the blues and some of the jazz. Just the whole laid back feeling you get when you come in here.