Our Story

Miss Maudie

Chef and co-owner of Cafe Rue Orleans, Maudie Schmitt, has an extensive Southern, Italian and Cajun heritage.

Both sets of Grandparents were restaurant and bar owners in the greater New Orleans area. Her mother was born on Tchoupitoulas Street in an apartment above the family restaurant in what has been declared by the historic committee as the oldest townhouse in New Orleans.  Maudie was born and raised in New Orleans, moved to Arkansas and graduated from Henderson State College in Arkadelphia. After a 25 year teaching career in New Orleans and Lafayette, she moved to Fayetteville to start Cafe Rue Orleans with her partner and co-owner Carla Williams in 2001.  

Miss Maudie’s Catering

Maudie was encouraged to be creative in the kitchen and has become a true culinary artist. Serving good food is Maudie’s way of bringing her family to your table. Cafe Rue Orleans success has led to the next phase of food service for Miss Maudie.  

The new catering business will feature some of her signature Cajun dishes, Southern and Italian favorites as well as a new logo design.

The logo for Miss Maudie’s Catering captures her name and tools of the trade.  The name appears under a roof. When the structure is expanded, it symbolizes a plate with the name in the center of the plate. Both the roof and the center plate are fitting for catering food for her family and having food the center of her community. Red is a very appetizing food color, add it to black and you have some of Maudie and Carla’s favorite colors. The Red is also pure NWA.  The tagline — well, it says it all. The new Catering company is Southern, Savory, Sassy and all Miss Maudie.