Thank you, New Orleans!
We just returned from one of the best food trips, ever. I was in town for a conference, arrived and got settled about 3:30 on Tuesday. Since most places close between lunch and dinner and the airport cinnabon that we'd had for breakfast was just a memory, we headed to Coops Place. Rabbit and sausage jambalaya "supreme" with crawfish, shrimp and oysters topping it hit the spot. Jeff, the owner, was gracious and friendly and even gave us a shot of his favorite scotch. I'm no Sazarac expert, but the one I had was made with rye, and wasn't sweet; I thought it was yummy.
The next morning we hit Cafe du Monde for beignets prior to my conference sessions; hubby says he's so glad we did cause now he understands what he's been missing. Lunch was Casamentos (1/2 dozen raw followed by sharing a half oyster loaf and a half softshell crab loaf). Fabulous! Dessert at Lillette; the olive oil cake with mascarpone, lemon curd, and strawberries was yummy, and a couple locals slid us a taste of duck confit and hearts of palm salad. Next time we have to eat a meal there too! Dinner was the Bon Ton Cafe; fried crawfish tails, salad, and bread pudding. Loved that place especially the Rum Ramsey; can't wait to come back to town and go again!
Breakfast at Lukes on Thursday prior to conference; the grits and grillades were wonderful (way too much food) but hubby's fried potatoes with onions and double-smoked bacon were the best fried potatoes we've ever had. Period. Lunch was at Cochon; adored the boudain balls and the salad and the rabbit and dumplings were good. We weren't really hungry that evening but wandered down to the Grapevine on Orleans and shared the scallop appetizer and the mussels; both were good but dessert (a scoop of stawberry and balsamic gelato from La Divinia) was the evening star.
Friday I had leftover grillades and coffee and called it breakfast, while hubby went back to Cafe du Monde. Lunch was a picnic in the pretty park across from the convention center honoring the victims from K. Hubby got an order of the fried boudain balls and a six inch crawfish poboy from Nola Grocery, as well as a bottle of Perrier Jouet Grande Brut. A lovely meal in a lovely setting, although we liked Cochon's boudain a bit better. Friday evening we walked down to Tommy's Wine bar and shared a smoked duck and spinach salad. The salad was great, but the stemware (at least for the by-the-glass selection) was subpar. Next we hit Rambla where the food, wine, AND stemware were all great. Had the breasola, the duck quesedilla, the onion torta and shared a bottle of rose. Fabulous!
Saturday the conference ended around noon so we went to the Quarter and tried some of the food from the LA Roadfood festival. Crawfish pie, sausage poboys, fried artichoke hearts. All good! We hit EAT this morning for breakfast before the airport; the fried green tomatoes and the biscuits were good; the bacon was great, as was the fresh squeezed oj. We didn't care for the coffee though. Our last taste of New Orleans was in the Atlanta airport, as we shared a muff from Central Grocery while waiting for our plane.
I've talked a lot about the food in this post, but the food tasted even better because of the friendliness and kindness of all the locals we met. We've travelled a lot and been in many places, but never have we felt as welcomed as we did this trip to New Orleans. What a beautiful place, filled with wonderful food, and even more wonderful people. Thank y'all so very much!
By Niki in Dayton
on Apr 5, 2009 04:13 PM
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Wow y'all really hit a bunch of good spots. Glad you had a good time. Now I'm hungry again.
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to know us is to love us...and we know how to show the love right back. glad to read of your great time in our city. we'll still be here your next time around. thanks, and hurry back.
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Super food troopers! I'm full just reading that report!! Was it the Skillet Potatoes from the Luke breakfast menu? If so, they are fantastic (and I'm kind of a purist when it comes to fried potatoes) ~ also as far as grillades and grits for breakfast~ it's my number 1 choice if it's on a brunch menu, so you did just fine.
Thanks for the filling report!
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Yes, the skillet potatoes. Silly husband doesn't think he likes grits (he adores polenta, so go figure!) I forgot to mention that we also stopped in Dragos for a glass of wine and an order of the chargrilled oysters, another real treat. We already miss New Orleans...
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I'm so glad you had a great time...and great food!
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