New Business Spotlight: Days Smokehouse & Specialty Meats

    Driving up to the beautifully restored antique building which houses Days Smokehouse & Specialty Meats, one is immediately enticed by the deliciously sweet aroma of smoking meat.  Once inside, the amazing array of tempting treats astounds.  From smoked chicken and pork to more exotic dishes like Stuffed Duck Breast, Quail, Alligator and Rabbit- you want it, they have it.  Kendall and Monica Day have created not just a Specialty Store/Catering Business, but a gift to their community and customers.  "Anything our customers want, we try to get for them," says Monica, who in her "spare time" is a full time IT Director for the LSU Health System.  "Customer service is a lost art these days, but it's our priority."  

    Monica is the niece of the famous Chef Paul Prudhomme, so it is not surprising that she is enthusiastic about good food.  "He instilled a love of food and cooking in me.  Cooking is a big part of both mine and Kendall's lives and family.  God gave us these talents to share.  All of the food we sell is what we were brought up on – lots of family recipes."  Among the most popular items are their Boudin Balls ("We must sell hundreds of them a day"), Fresh Cracklin's, Smoked Ribs ("We can't keep them in!"), Corn and Shrimp Soup ("it's slammin'!") and Homemade Hog Head Cheese.  Asked what his favorite dish was, son Brandon said enthusiastically, "Everything!"  He and brother Caleb have been involved since the beginning, helping to clear the land and restore the building, and being kitchen hands during busy times.  Monica is grateful for the support of her family and friends, "We couldn't have done it without them."

    In business now for a little over 3 weeks, the Days can't believe how successful the smokehouse has been.  They attribute this in part to the fact that they use only the freshest ingredients and Choice grade meats, and have some truly unique offerings like their Sirloin wrapped in bacon and stuffed with cream cheese and jalapenos, Kendall and Monica's personal favorite. The Days also offer their own specialty seasoning blend at their store, along with their own home ground cornmeal and fish fry. They also offer deer processing.

    It all began 4 years ago when Kendall started making his own deer sausage and everyone raved about it.  Now, Days Smokehouse & Specialty Meats offers over 70 meats, sandwiches, and side dishes prepared in-house with all the care they use when they cook for their families and friends.  Just in time for the holidays, they are presently taking orders for fried or smoked turkeys, turduckens, party trays (including hog head cheese shaped like tiger paws, fleur de lis, or other popular party themes), and choices of 12 different sides or 3 different home made soups to top it all off.  They request optimally a week's notice to provide catered food for large parties, but that is not set in stone.  "We want to continue putting out quality items.  Serving our community is a big part of what we do, and we always look for any way we can honor God in the process," Kendall and Monica state with sincerity.  A sign over their counter says it all: "As for me and my smokehouse, we will serve the Lord."

    Days Smokehouse and Specialty Meats.  35770 Hwy 16 (just North of Live Oak Methodist on the right), Denham Springs.  225-271-8709.  Mon-Fri 6:00 am-7:00 pm, Sat. 8:00 am-5:00 pm, Sun. closed.  www.dayssmokehouse.com.