Just as DCist reported earlier this month, the brand-spanking-new, New Orleans-style restaurant Acadiana (901 New York Avenue NW) held a benefit today for the Louisiana Disaster Recovery Foundation. The bill of fare included a $25 shrimp or roast beef po’boy with a bag of Route 11 sweet potato chips. We enjoyed the chips but were at first befuddled by the Virginia-based chip company’s inclusion. With sweet potatoes’ prevelence in Creole cooking, the chips added an extra Louisiana flavor to complete the traditional sandwich and chip brown-bag lunch theme (and it appears that the well-known Louisiana-based Zapp’s only began shipping again on Sept. 2.)

The fundraiser was cooked up by Chef Jeff Tunks and a host of other D.C. celeb chefs. Although we didn’t see any culinary luminaries, a Metrocurean reader reported seeing Equinox’s Todd Gray lurking about.

We can only speak for the shrimp version, but this was not your average po’boy: Some of the tenderest crustaceans around on a half baguette with notes of fresh oregano — a nice surprise. The succulent tomatoes were selected by someone who knows what they’re doing. Subtle touches of hot sauce (some complained not hot enough) and a light hand with the mayo made this one a winner. We hope it bodes well for the rest of the menu.

Little bottles of hot sauce were provided to some, but apparently the restaurant ran out. But as our New Orleanian friend pointed out, “If I were a proper New Orleanian, I would have had my own bottle with me.” We’ll remember that for next time.

It was a satisfying lunch, but DCist was really hoping for an oyster po’boy. When asked, staff let us down gently. “Not today,” said a gray-haired pixie-ish man. “But you can come back tomorrow and get one.” We might just have to.