New Orleans

[small h]

We managed to get two restaurant meals in. I was very impressed with GW Fins, especially since I ordered correctly and was not tempted by anything deep-fried, which always makes me a little sick (this was my mistake at Herbsaint years ago, with the fried oysters). To whit, an MW-tini (minus the syrup).

Snapper ceviche with habanero sorbet - I need to learn to make this.

Pappardelle with scallops, snow peas and swordfish “bacon.” The menu description was a little different, but I have no complaints. 

As per @Evelyn, I sought out Murder Points and found them at Seawitch. We were tragically not able to go anywhere at happy hour, when oysters are reasonably priced, and thus paid a rather shocking $3.50/each for this selection of Murder Points (very good), Little Moon (meh) and Salty Coasts (my absolute fave and I would very much like to find these in New York). The horseradish almost burned my face off, and I have a high horseradish tolerance. 

And I cannot leave NOLA without at least one busy Mary. 

Like @Wilfrid, we also hit the Ogden and the CAC. I was not at all impressed with the latter; in addition to there not being much there there, what is there is not very good. The Ogden, on the other hand, was fantastic. There are several rooms devoted to Baldwin Lee’s work.

And an equally stunning exhibit by Ewan Atkinson called The Neighbourhood Project that really has to be seen to be believed. At least look at the website, for heaven’s sake, because my images don’t come close to doing it justice. 

theneighbourhoodproject.com

Until next year!

[Evelyn]

Did you like the biscuits ay GWF?

[small h]

13 minutes ago, Evelyn said:

Did you like the biscuits ay GWF?

Not as much as the rest of my family did - too sweet for me. My NOLA gold standard biscuit (based on my limited experience) is Willa Jean.

[MitchW]

2 hours ago, small h said:

Not as much as the rest of my family did - too sweet for me. My NOLA gold standard biscuit (based on my limited experience) is Willa Jean.

Here you go…https://www.goldbelly.com/restaurants/kelly-fields/buttermilk-biscuits-and-pimento-cheese-kit-for-6-8?ref=search

And if you’re ever in Provincetown during the season, Kelly will most likely be cooking at Butch’s.

Edited November 30, 2024 by MitchW

[small h]

14 minutes ago, MitchW said:

if you’re ever in Provincetown during the season, Kelly will most likely be cooking at Butch’s.

I feel like we’ve had this conversation!

[Wilfrid]

I walked by GW Fins several times but couldn’t fit it in. And yes, the CAC is thin especially compared to Ogden. I should have mentioned that, but if you go to one the other is so near. Nice coffee shop at CAC.

[small h]

Just now, Wilfrid said:

Nice coffee shop at CAC.

Closed when we went (yesterday). Sad face.

[Wilfrid]

Oh yes, the horseradish at Seawitch. Me too.

And Baldwin Lee. Fantastic show. I did not know his work.

[small h]

3 minutes ago, Wilfrid said:

 

I walked by GW Fins several times but couldn’t fit it in.

 

I think you did well, regardless. But did anywhere you went swap your white napkin for a black napkin because you were wearing black pants? I do not recall ever having this happen to me before.

[Wilfrid]

Wow. I have a dim memory of seeing that, but who knows where or when (orchestra)?

[MitchW]

4 hours ago, small h said:

I feel like we’ve had this conversation!

It bears repeating.

[small h]

23 minutes ago, MitchW said:

It bears repeating.

100%, because I didn't remember it until I saw it again.

[Mitchell101]

At the halfway point of 12 days in New Orleans for Jazzfest.  Food highlights first:

Mamou: On Rampart this was the former home of MoBar which had been one of our faves. Now we can add Mamou to one of our favorites. Leaning French but with a number of Creole touches. We sat at the bar and shared braised celery heart with smoked beef tongue. Delicious and great sauce to dip the homemade pretzel roll in. Then risotto with head on gulf shrimp cooked with shrimp stock and crab fat. Huge plate of food that can be easily shared. The crab fat was really intense and screamed crab. And a roasted drum fish served with a crispy parmesan crisp and a caviar beurre blanc sauce. Perfectly cooked fish and more sauce for the pretzel roll. Skipped dessert. 

Lufu: Relatively new Indian spot right downtown. Lots of flavor bombs (favorite was Tandoori Pineapple with a spicy red sauce). Food very good. Service a little spotty.

34 Restaurant and Bar: New Emeril place run by his son and serving Portuguese food. Also right downtown. We were a big group and ordered most of the larger format dishes. Seafood rice was the real standout but everything was quite good.  Ham fritters, Blood sausage, patatas bravas, piri piri chicken among others. 

Cochon: Always very good but for whatever reason this visit was a tad below our past visits. Not bad by any stretch of the imagination, just not as great as usual.

Drago's: Our grilled oyster spot. Still fantastic but I'd avoid everything else on the menu. 

And at Fest: I'm on a mission to not duplicate any items (other than the praline stuffed beignets by Miss Loretta and the Mango Freeze which is a must on hot days). So far:

Softshell crab poboy which was really exceptional this year

Cochon de Lait poboy

Crawfish Strudel

Shrimp and Macaroni Au Gratin and crawfish Monica, all great as usual. Getting ready for the next 6 days....

 

[small h]

1 hour ago, Mitchell101 said:

Softshell crab poboy which was really exceptional this year

My sister said the same.