NOLA

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

WIP:  I hope to finish this during this week..   I took way too many pictures and am trouble finding time to get them edited and posted on Flickr.

This is a sortof summary of the high spots of our adventure during Tales of the Cocktail 2012.  Besides doing our shows on Wednesday and Thursday we did not participate much in the fun filled chaos that is "Tales".  We certainly did get a few bloody Mary's and other free drinks that they were handing out various places but we stuck to our plan and didn't do any spirited dinners or attend any seminars.

Tuesday 7/24

GG>- We settled in, had a few of the free cocktails in The Hotel Monteleone and then waited for a phone call for late brunch and dinner.

We got a call that our Krewe was meeting at Acme, so we went there for a plate or two of the "raws" and to joke with the shuckers that we know there.  Though it was not officially oyster season these N. Florida oysters were good, semi-briny and filled the bill..

The new restaurant Criollo in The Hotel Monteleone is very nice, they have only been open a short time but our dinner together there on Tuesday night (7/24) was memorable with all of our dishes meeting muster.

http://criollonola.com/


For Deanne
SOFT SHELL CRAB
Shoepeg Corn, Gold Chanterelles, Tomato Concasse,
Brown Butter Sauce





For Erik
PAN ROASTED SWORDFISH (line caught)
Saffron & Asparagus Risotto,
Coconut Crustacean Sauce



For Kevin
PERDIDO PASS SNAPPER
Jumbo Lump Crab, Orange & Fennel Slaw,
Roasted Sweet Pepper, Ancho-Lime Butter



For Karen
LOUISIANA CRAWFISH RAVIOLI
Collard Greens, Baby Heirloom Tomatoes,
Shaved Goat Cheese



For me...
CANE MARINATED PORK TENDERLOIN
Sweet Potato & Chorizo Hash, Rainbow Chard,
Chipotle Tamarind Apricot Sauce



We walked around the French Quarter for a bit but hit the bed early, no gambling, no staying at the French 75 bar until 3, we were just vacationing.

Wednesday: 7/25

Mena's Palace for breakfast minus Deanne. As I have said before they do a good breakfast and have that wonderful spicy alligator sausage.

Brunch for Deanne and light brunch for me at Green Goddess

Acadian Country Breakfast
Two sweet potato biscuits stuffed with pan fried boudin patties
served with a side of truffle grits, house made pepper jelly, and
Steens syrup.



Boudin Patty with creole mustard and Steens syrup.




2PM Show: in the Criollo Restaurant.
 
Deanies on Wednesday night.  If you are going to go eat a big plate of fried seafood it might be one of the best places, and it is walking distance from The Hotel Monteleone where we stayed.  The half seafood platter will feed two normal people.  The soft shelled crabs were in right then and were delicious.

http://www.deanies.com/ 

Thursday: 7/26

Breakfast at Stanley on Jackson Square, give me the "Eggs Stanley" any day. 
Pictures

Eggs Stanley - Poached eggs & oysters with Creole hollandaise



Breaux Bridge Benedict




Show #2 in the Criollo Restaurant, we had a FULL guest line up with two chefs and 4 guests in 2 hours.

La Boca for dinner
An amazing (but pricey) Argentinian restaurant that is worth the cab fare and the tab.  Delicious spinalis dorsi steak for me cooked perfectly

http://www.labocasteaks.com/

pictures

Friday:  7/27

Breakfast at Elizabeth, we heard they had praline bacon and that was enough for me.

http://www.elizabethsrestaurantnola.com/

Then on to a tour of La Place where we bought and tasted much tasso and andouille


GG>-   One of the best is Bailey's but it turned out not to be my favorite.  I like Jacobs andouille and tasso (and other things) better than Baily's but it is a tight race.   

Bailey's
http://www.baileysandouille.com/

Jacob's
http://www.cajunsausage.com/

SoBou for dinner 7/27
Fantastic dinner at SoBou, sortof as a partner to Commanders Palace and with Juan Carlos Gonzalez driving the kitchen and with Ti Brennen-Martin as owner and Tory McPhail as exec. Chef not much could go wrong and it didn't.  It was honestly one of he best dinners I have ever had at that price point.  It was so good we went back the next morning for breakfast.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/blogofneworleans/archives/2012/07/05/sobou-due-next-week

Saturday: 7/28

SoBou for breakfast 7/28

Terrific breakfast, all were very pleased and the cost was way reasonable.  We also got a tour of the place with the sous chef Jonathan Schmidt.

Sunday: 7/29

Breakfast at Mena's Palace- solid, inexpensive breakfast with killer alligator sausage.  We always hit three or four places if we are in the French Quarter...    Acme Oyster house, Mena's Palace, Green Goddess and Stanley. 

Dinner at Avenue Pub down near magazine street.  Great burger good beer.

Monday: 7/30

Mena's for breakfast then fly home

......

[dewdropper]

will be in NOLA the last week of November.  Any thoughts/comments re Irene's Cuisine, Felix's for oysters and also, staying at Hotel Monteleone.  Would appreciate anyone's suggestions, really, for anything.  But primarily food.  Plan on eating as many delicious meals as possible. Thank you!

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

will be in NOLA the last week of November.  Any thoughts/comments re Irene's Cuisine, Felix's for oysters and also, staying at Hotel Monteleone.  Would appreciate anyone's suggestions, really, for anything.  But primarily food.  Plan on eating as many delicious meals as possible. Thank you!

Even though it is a bit like a travelogue take a look at our experience in NOLA, 

I do know how many steps it is from The Hotel Monteleone to Acme Oyster House.   

If Lena Prima is playing at The Hotel Monteleone, go early and sit in on some of her sets, she is good. 

Without looking anything up, and considering you will not be driving..    The hot items close and not to The Hotel Monteleone that we like are these:

Breakfast:
Mena's palace (get the spicy alligator sausage with eggs and grits) they do them right. (right down the street from The Hotel Monteleone-  Turn right out the door, turn left at the corner, go two blocks and it is across the street)
Soubou Way good for breakfast, a bar break or for dinner
Stanley, it is a 6 minute walk from the hotel, great breakfasts, go early.  (Egg Stanley- Oh-my-God).....
Camellia Grill
Elizabeth's but it will take a car.  (and who knows if they were flooded?)

Mid afternoon:
Be starved and go the Green Goddess and order several things.  We have not had a miss there in many visits.

Dinner:
Criolla in the hotel is way good. talk to the chef, both chefs were on our show at TOC...
We love a bunch of places for dinner. We have had wonderful dinners at the John Besh places and any of the Commanders Palace or Brennen owned locations. 
For a once (or more) in a lifetime outing a visit to Antoine's (please ask for Bradley as a waiter and give him time to regale you with some history and stories about the place). Ask him (if you are there early to give you a tour)
I like
Domenica, wonderful charcuterie platter, fantastic food, great market driven chef in Alon Shaya
Café Adelaide, this is a Brennan property and is always in good hands, ask what is "off the menu" but delicious.
Drago's  (either location)  the one in the Hilton is right next to the casino, nice. Possibly the best chargrilled oysters on the world
Okay, if you want a big platter of fresh and really well prepared fried fish go to Deanie's, the half seafood platter is gynormous and will fill two normal people.
La Boca, a bit pricey but damn delicious beef done perfectly. (cab ride) (the spinalis dorsi was my choice, I'd have it again)

After hours:
We don't gamble so the casino is out for us but if you really want a good show, go a few blocks from The Hotel Monteleone to Arnaud's French 75 and ask James to do the Café Brulot tableside demo for you, we think his version of it is easily as good as Antoine's, and it is less expensive (Let James know that we/I sent you there to see his show).  We do like the entertainment on Bourbon St. and we have liked most of the shows at The Hotel Monteleone.


.....

[dewdropper]

Dear Mike,

Humbly bowing before you.  I am not worthy!  I will try and do everything you have suggested.  It all sounds WONDERFUL.  Is it overly decadent to start each day with oysters at Acme?  "Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?  I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. 
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."

My other two recos come from a frequent NOLA traveller; he suggests Irene's Cuisine and Cafe Maspero.  So look for me to share updates while I am on the scene.  I can hardly wait! 

Mike, you are a GEM.

Best,
dewdropper

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

Dear Mike,

Humbly bowing before you.  I am not worthy!  I will try and do everything you have suggested.  It all sounds WONDERFUL.  Is it overly decadent to start each day with oysters at Acme?  "Shall I part my hair behind? Do I dare to eat a peach?  I shall wear white flannel trousers, and walk upon the beach. 
I have heard the mermaids singing, each to each."

My other two recos come from a frequent NOLA traveller; he suggests Irene's Cuisine and Cafe Maspero.  So look for me to share updates while I am on the scene.  I can hardly wait! 

Mike, you are a GEM.

Best,
dewdropper

I have put Irene's and Cafe Maspero on my short list, we will be back in a couple months.

We start and end some days at Acme (mostly during the oyster season)..   You are in the soft-shelled crab season now, find them delicious everywhere.

I do hope you have as good of a time as we have on many trips.  One word of caution, do NOT get two Hurricanes with your SO at Pat O'Brians and then go jewelry shopping on Royal Street, or do it and don't look back....

There are some consignment stores on Royal street that have VERY interesting 1920's or earlier jewelry that they will bargain a bit on, give 'em a try--  I'll look up two of our favorites and list them here later today....

.....

[dewdropper]

*ears perking up* Back in a couple of months?  November, by chance?  Last week is when I will be there.

Also, the lowdown on Irene's Cuisine.  Crazy busy and reservations highly recommended, but not a guarantee of prompt seating. 

Cafe Maspero is a good choice for a po-boy for lunch, not a fancy sit-down place. 

Also, you are gifted with the power of telepathy. Jewelry of that vintage/Royal Street = a very happy dewdropper.  Alas, no SO, but then again, I only need negotiate with myself.

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

Just back from a few days in NOLA,

two short comments that I'll add to later.

Mid-City          The Ruby slipper has a good tasting breakfast.  The owner Joe came through for us though his staff was in the weeds due to a key player being injured and sent to the hospital.  We had a great brunch there on Saturday.  I think there are several locations, Jen Jen from our board here led us there and to a good ride from the airport and a nice lunch/brunch.

French Quarter              Cafe Fleur-de-lis

We were headed for SouBou, but we hit them right between breakfast and lunch service so dropped in across the street to have our final feed in the Crescent city. 
Coffee was excellent, seafood Eggs Benedict fairly good, hash browns = oily but tasty.

http://www.urbanspoon.com/r/57/620740/restaurant/French-Quarter/Cafe-Fleur-de-Lis-New-Orleans

 

More on this with some pictures later in the week.

Also did Drago's, for dinner on Saturday,  stopped at French 75 (Arnaud's) to have Chris Hannah make us a cocktail,  and on today (Monday) to the Carrousel bar to see Marvin at The Hotel Monteleone.

also a surprise after-parade party at the Ugly Dog BBQ and Saloon, they have good BBQ

http://www.uglydogsaloon.net/

.....

[Mike GadgetGeek Stock]

SouBou is so much different than our last minute bail-out breakfast (Monday) in the French Quarter.    I/we love great Eggs Benedict, and we treat ourselves to them when we are away from home. 

We honestly do know the difference between the Sysco quarts of "Eggs Benedict = Hollandaise sauce" and the real thing.  I hate it when they want to run a scam on me.  We also know the difference between GOOD seafood cakes and whatever they served us.

There are suspect resto's between the good ones.   No kidding..

<picture here>

[tansu]

FYI: Delta matched Southwest fare sale again = $100 rt  6/11/13
Specific dates apply.

[LizR]

I just somehow lost a long piece I wrote while trying to switch back from preview to edit. Anyway:

Deannie's - good fried seafood. Huge portions. Fabulous artichoke dressing that I can't find a recipe for anywhere. Maybe it is unique to them? Had large chunks of artichoke hearts in a sort of vinaigrette.

Pascal's Manale - good turtle soup, good bbq shrimp.

Antoine's - touristy and over-rated, very hit-or-miss. Unpleasant app of oysters three ways - crusty on top and not in a good way, more like a thick skin. Pampano was ok, eight year old declared her lamb chops to be the best piece of meat ever. "Baked Alaska", while not lit, was surprisingly good.

The star of the trip was an early dinner at Galatoire's. Since we didn't have a reservation, we were seated downstairs. Bistro style tables and chairs and lots of white tile and mirrors on the walls. Everything was delicious, from the bread, to the garlic green salad, to the crab and avocado salad, to the mains. I had the pompano almandine. It was one of the best things I've ever eaten. Buttery without being too rich, it was topped with a mound of crispy, crunchy, perfectly toasted flakes of almonds. DH had the fish special which, while good, was not as good as mine. Part of the fun of the evening was our exceptional waiter - blanking on his name. Very old school - witty, friendly but not overly so, and did not hover but would magically appear when we needed him. Highly recommend.

Oh, and I've tried to recreate Galatoire's garlic dressing and can't quite get it right. Can't find a recipe either. I'll keep trying.