This weekend Mom and I finally exchanged birthday gifts. Hers to me: a mother-daughter trip to New Orleans. Mine to her: the Rock ‘n Roll 1/2 Marathon. We were treated to a beautiful, sunny weekend in the Big Easy and crushed all of what we came to accomplish: the race and the culinary scene.
Finished the race and feeling great! Mom’s already excited to sign up for another. 3:40:36 is the time to beat!Cruising through the finish line!The best band on the race course.A little pre-dinner jazz at Preservation HallCelebratory drinks at the Carousel Bar
And now for the food:
Coquette: Adorable little spot on Magazine St. Turn yourself over to the chef for a blind tasting. Every dish was complex, layered and delicious. The service was top notch. The cocktails were memorable. Once of the best meals I’ve had in a while. Rating: 5 stars “Gobackability”: Definitely Don’t miss: Hot fried chicken with whipped honey, Tyler’s ghost cocktail (and honestly, everything)
Fried chicken hot paprika, whipped honey, cucumber. I was trying to ‘figure out’ the whipped honey with every bite.Red snapper romesco, tuscan kale, celeriac. Also amazing.Pork cheek cabbage, mirliton, creole mustard. You know it’s good food when even the cabbage is memorable. Since mom doesn’t eat meat, they brought her a butternut squash, brussels sprout and farro dish… which, shocker, was also amazing.
Toup’s Meatery: Chef Isaac Toup’s spot by City Park. Stop in for a lunch you won’t forget! Rating: 5 stars “Gobackability”: Definitely Don’t miss: The Meatery Board
2 martinis, 3 hours, four smiles. The perfect lunch.The Meatery Board. A “must order” for meat lovers!Smoked Trout Deviled Eggs, trout roe, pickled jalapenoConfit Chicken Thighs, ham braised greens, dijon cream, lardons. An amazing dish.Loved the beet martini!Dark chocolate cayenne mousse with candied almonds, blood orange and meringue.I ordered two desserts while no one was paying attention. Salted caramel peanut butter doberge cake with bacon.
Sac-A-Lait: Rustic spot in the Warehouse District. Home to the Sazeracs my mom’s dog is named after! Rating: 4.5 stars “Gobackability”: Definitely Don’t miss: Barrel-Aged flasks of Sazerac, Aged Banana Pudding
Greens, fried oyster, goat cheese mozzarella, egg yolk.Charbroiled oysters in jalepeno & bacon butter.This aged banana pudding was one of the best things I’ve eaten in long time. Three layers, three textures. Home made Nilla wafers, banana pudding blended with pecans, whipped cream. I want to eat this for breakfast, which makes sense: it tastes like banana pancake batter!
Shaya: When you need a break from Southern comforts, this traditional Israili joint is the place to go Rating: 4.5 stars “Gobackability”: Likely Don’t miss: Crispy halloumi, Avocado toast with smoked white fish
Brussels sprouts, baba ghanoush and beets with wood fire naan.Crispy halloumi, caramelized celery root, pomegranate, winter greensAvocado toast, smoked whitefish, pink peppercorns, rye breadButternut squash hummus, black garlic butter and pecans
Compère Lapin: A Caribbean-French twist in the in the Warehouse District Rating: 4 stars “Gobackability”: Maybe Don’t miss: Roasted Carrots Almondine with Salsa Verde
Miami Vice: coconut, lime, allspice pina with a strawberry black pepper daiquiri.Roasted Carrots Almondine with Salsa VerdeCurried Goat, Sweet Potato Gnocchi, Cashews
Eat NOLA: A French Quarter spot and a local favorite Rating: 3.5 stars “Gobackability”: Maybe Don’t miss: BYOB – don’t forget to bring a bottle, there’s no bar!
Crawfish BoullettesCochon with Mustard Greens and a side of gumbo
Commander’s Palace: A pretentious tourist trap known for their overpriced jazz brunch Rating: 2.5 stars “Gobackability”: No Don’t miss: The strawberry shortcake, and apparently the 25 cent martinis at weekday lunch
Oven Roasted Gulf Fish, a warm salad of roasted cauliflower, Brussels sprouts, local tomatoes, baby roots and grilled kale over Louisiana rice, wild shrimp and vegetable trinity with Creole meunière vinaigrette and piquillo pepper paintFirst of the season Louisiana crawfish tails folded into a farm fresh hen’s egg frittata with pepper jack cheese, local tomatoes, roasted mushrooms and white truffle oilStrawberry Shortcake Ponchatoula strawberries marinated in Louisiana sugarcane with a fluffy buttermilk biscuit, powdered sugar & Chantilly cream
And of course, the classics…
Cafe du Monde beignets and a frozen cafe au lait, best ordered to go and enjoyed on the bank of the MississippiParkway Bakery fried shrimp po’boyMuffuletta from Central Grocery, which survived my flight home and was still delicious the next day!
[…] many own unique specialities and a burgeoning culinary scene that is too good not to explore (and explore it I have, time and […]