Your New Orleans Advice Needed
I will be traveling on business in New Orleans next week. Most of my time is spoken for, but I will have several hours on my own one afternoon.
I'd like to go somewhere for lunch and eat delicious food that is specific to New Orleans. I've never been to New Orleans and know nothing about it at all. If you know of such a place, or a website where I can read about such things, your advice is most welcome.
14 comments:
Neil--
I envy you. New Orleans is the best food city in the country, in my humble opinion. If you can visit only one place, try the Upperline, in the Garden District. The owner, JoAnn Clevenger, is a former Warhol factory girl and the Creole cooking is the best I've had. I don't recall the wine list well, because I haven't been there for a number of years, but I seem to remember that it was fairly long and interesting and the glasses made by Reidel.
www.upperline.com
Enjoy.
Alex
I can't say much for the standard lunch fare, but I definitely recommend coffee and beignets at www.cafedumonde.com as the final exclamation mark. Make sure to wear something that can handle powdered sugar spills.
Don't know if they do lunch, but Cochon was one of the best dinners I've ever had. And agree with Cafe du Monde, can't visit NOLA without beignets and chicory coffee...
I am strongly seconding Chochon and thirding Cafe du Monde. Also Casamento's for oysters.
I recommend you review Tom Fitzmorris web-blog. He has been on WWL Radio as the restaurant talk show host for several years. You'll like his blogs and he has several recommendations for his pick of the best places to eat, on the link I will include. He asks a small donation/subscription if you will for his daily reviews... I've been a subscriber for years. And his recipes are good too -- as well as his book. It's probably been 10 years now since I was in NO but I always visit Paul Prudhomme's restaurant (and use his seasonings all the time) and I personally love the Acme oyster bar and the people there ;)
SandyRose
http://www.nomenu.com/subscriber/index.html
When I visited Nor'lens for the
1st and only time last year for Jazzfest, I went to upperline on the demand of some other foodie friends. It was a pretty awesome meal, and the owner JoAnn was very talkative and energetic. She seemed to still have a bit of that Warhol-like "charm" to her.
The wine lsit was solid, nothing spectacular from what I can remember, except for being able to drink a bottle of Billecart-Salmon for $80 on a restaurant list. There are certainly other champagnes I may prfer, but considering we cannot get the wine in MD, it was nice to try something somewhat rare for such a fair price.
As for the food, the Duck & Andouille Etouffée and the Braised Lamb Shank in Burgundy with Saffron Risotto were memorable.
Herbsaint.
Same ownership, and curiously same wine buyer as Cochon, but a great list and brilliant chow at H. Cochon has a wine list that will have you drinking beer. Food fab both spots.
Cochon is great but not classic NO. Galatoire's or Gautreau's. I grew up there and have a soft spot for the classics.
Cochon(cab ride from downtown, casual) for food and Galatoire's (French Quarter, somewhat formal) for the atmosphere. Herbsaint was also good (downtown). Not sure if you're into cocktails, but drinks seem more like Nola than wine. Sazerac being the classic.
Thanks for all of the advice. I have a feeling that I will eat well.
I agree that Cochon is great, but not classic NO. For that experience, take a cab to Commander's Palace for lunch and the 25 cent martinis, then explore the cemetery across the street. If you want to stay in the CBD and want an elegant, excellent NO lunch, go to Restaurant August. Will be in NO on April 23, can't wait!
Go to the Central Grocery store and enjoy an entire muffuletta!!! www.theitaliancellar.blogspot.com
Cochon without a doubt. Cuvee is very good as well, and you can't beat the Bon Ton Cafe for a great stand-by New Orleans lunch.
If you haven't already spent your afternoon in search of classic N'awlins fare, head to Coop's Place (1109 Decatur, in the Quarter, towards the river). It's a local-heavy, somewhat divey place that has some of the best and most classic creole/cajun food in the city. I was there on Sunday, and wished I had more time to really spend working my way through the menu.
It's a must visit in The Big Easy.
Cheers!
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