NEW ORLEANS AND CAJUN COUNTRY...A WEEK-LONG FOOD QUEST
Apr 18th, 2017, 01:16 PM
#41
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks so much for the menu suggestions. Everything looks outstanding, so it will be hard to decide. The only thing we definitely know is that we WILL order the fusilli with octopus and we will order different items so we can sample more things. Sad to have such a food addiction, lol!
I know we will definitely have a wonderful time! We LOVE visiting NYC.
Not to hijack your thread, but I have one last snafu to sort out. If you have a chance, do you mind popping over here http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...inions-nyc.cfm and weighing in? I know you and your partner are not big drinkers, but you may be able to shed some light on my conundrum regardless. It really more of a view/atmosphere/trade-off question than an alcohol question. Thank you!
I know we will definitely have a wonderful time! We LOVE visiting NYC.
Not to hijack your thread, but I have one last snafu to sort out. If you have a chance, do you mind popping over here http://www.fodors.com/community/unit...inions-nyc.cfm and weighing in? I know you and your partner are not big drinkers, but you may be able to shed some light on my conundrum regardless. It really more of a view/atmosphere/trade-off question than an alcohol question. Thank you!
Apr 19th, 2017, 07:25 AM
#43
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I made it to Rayne, cause I had the wrong B&B written down..long story, don't ask!! (Ranks up there with booking my flight too Lisbon on the wrong day.....)
By the time we got to the "right," reserved B&B, in Eunice, my partner was not up for driving back to Rayne and on to Hawks. I was very, very disappointed. But all was not lost, cause we did have great crawfish, along with music and dancing, at another place that night. And yes, yes, yes, to Fred's....out of this world!!
I will get to all of this soon.
By the time we got to the "right," reserved B&B, in Eunice, my partner was not up for driving back to Rayne and on to Hawks. I was very, very disappointed. But all was not lost, cause we did have great crawfish, along with music and dancing, at another place that night. And yes, yes, yes, to Fred's....out of this world!!
I will get to all of this soon.
Apr 19th, 2017, 12:18 PM
#45
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
After four nights in New Orleans, we rented a car on Friday morning (Enterprise, on Canal Street) and, mostly avoiding the interstate I-10, drove (mostly on Highway 90) towards Eunice, where we had a reservation for two nights at Le Village, a lovely B&B just outside the town. Our reason to visit this area was both for the food (crawfish season!) and the music, most of which takes place on weekends.
We stopped en route at BON CREOLE LUNCH COUNTER in New Iberia (a handsome town that is home to Shadows on the Teche) where we found exemplary po boys (well, at least as far as I could tell since I've not had more than one or two of these in my life). I chose half of the shrimp po boy and it was just overflowing with lightly breaded, sweet, not-at-all-greasy local shrimp. Too big for me to finish.
Cajun inclusiveness in the kitchen apparently knows no bounds: My seafood-shunning partner devoured his "hamburger po boy" with relish. (Actually with ketchup but......). The restaurant looks like a somewhat dilapidated house trailer from the outside but the welcome is warm and the dining room was filled with characters that looked to be straight of of a film set.
Place your order at the counter and they will call your name when food is ready. It's just outside the main "downtown" area and most worthy of a stop. Open daily, with shortened hours on Sundays. (Do not rely on Google maps; they repeatedly placed us a block away on a one-way street). I'd love to return for their gumbo and other soups.
http://bon-creole.com/menu/
http://www.shadowsontheteche.org/
We stopped en route at BON CREOLE LUNCH COUNTER in New Iberia (a handsome town that is home to Shadows on the Teche) where we found exemplary po boys (well, at least as far as I could tell since I've not had more than one or two of these in my life). I chose half of the shrimp po boy and it was just overflowing with lightly breaded, sweet, not-at-all-greasy local shrimp. Too big for me to finish.
Cajun inclusiveness in the kitchen apparently knows no bounds: My seafood-shunning partner devoured his "hamburger po boy" with relish. (Actually with ketchup but......). The restaurant looks like a somewhat dilapidated house trailer from the outside but the welcome is warm and the dining room was filled with characters that looked to be straight of of a film set.
Place your order at the counter and they will call your name when food is ready. It's just outside the main "downtown" area and most worthy of a stop. Open daily, with shortened hours on Sundays. (Do not rely on Google maps; they repeatedly placed us a block away on a one-way street). I'd love to return for their gumbo and other soups.
http://bon-creole.com/menu/
http://www.shadowsontheteche.org/
Apr 21st, 2017, 06:42 AM
#46
Join Date: Feb 2003
Posts: 2,552
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Its always a delight to see one of your food focused trip reports and this one delivers as always. Thanks so much for taking the time to share all the details. It reminded me of how much we enjoyed our trip to New Orleans years ago and makes me think we should head back soon!
Apr 21st, 2017, 03:12 PM
#47
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I don't have time, at present, to read the above comments. But, great that you got back to NoLa and had a good time. I think you asked me about places to eat on one of the other threads. And great that you stayed at the Windsor Court. I stayed there in the 1980s. I still remember the pecan waffles with warmed maple syrup as I ordered room-service breakfast back then.
So, I went off to NoLa as usual for the annual French Quarter Festival which is fabulous. I got back around 2 weekends ago. As for eating, I had the best pecan-encrusted drum at Muriel's in the French Quarter. I love drum and eat it regularly when in The South. My best friend loved all her food there. It was less than a 5-minute walk from my regular hotel, The Bourbon Orleans. We had dinner at Muriel’s.
http://www.bourbonorleans.com
Another restaurant that was major good was Dolores Metropolitan in the French Quarter. It's a steak restaurant. Although I haven't eaten meat in 40 years, I was able to order fish (sea bass) and it was delicious. Everything was delicious. My best friend had filet mignon and said that she had never had filet mignon that good. She talked about it the rest of the trip.
1 ) http://muriels.com Excellent
2) http://www.dorismetropolitan.com Exceptional
3) http://www.seedneworleans.com Exceptional
It's vegan and both my best friend and a friend of mine, from NoLa, loved it and they're not vegans. I've eaten there before with another friend who also loved it.
4) http://www.deanies.com Really good for what I order
5) http://www.n7xduuoyfe1pvqxi.vistaprintdigital.com Really good
I eat at Meals From the Heart regularly and they also deliver so on my departure day, I had them deliver my meal to my hotel room and ate a solid meal before going to the airport to fly back to L.A. My best friend really liked it as it's a good rest from such rich food in NoLa. We ate there together one day. She was more than happy with the (light) gumbo and French bread.
6) http://www.galatoires.com
No comment. I will only say that we tried it. Been there, done that. Moving on.
7) http://cafeatthesquare.com Really good.
I’ve eaten there quite a bit. It’s on St. Charles Ave at Poydras, next to La Fayette Square.
Happy Travels!
So, I went off to NoLa as usual for the annual French Quarter Festival which is fabulous. I got back around 2 weekends ago. As for eating, I had the best pecan-encrusted drum at Muriel's in the French Quarter. I love drum and eat it regularly when in The South. My best friend loved all her food there. It was less than a 5-minute walk from my regular hotel, The Bourbon Orleans. We had dinner at Muriel’s.
http://www.bourbonorleans.com
Another restaurant that was major good was Dolores Metropolitan in the French Quarter. It's a steak restaurant. Although I haven't eaten meat in 40 years, I was able to order fish (sea bass) and it was delicious. Everything was delicious. My best friend had filet mignon and said that she had never had filet mignon that good. She talked about it the rest of the trip.
1 ) http://muriels.com Excellent
2) http://www.dorismetropolitan.com Exceptional
3) http://www.seedneworleans.com Exceptional
It's vegan and both my best friend and a friend of mine, from NoLa, loved it and they're not vegans. I've eaten there before with another friend who also loved it.
4) http://www.deanies.com Really good for what I order
5) http://www.n7xduuoyfe1pvqxi.vistaprintdigital.com Really good
I eat at Meals From the Heart regularly and they also deliver so on my departure day, I had them deliver my meal to my hotel room and ate a solid meal before going to the airport to fly back to L.A. My best friend really liked it as it's a good rest from such rich food in NoLa. We ate there together one day. She was more than happy with the (light) gumbo and French bread.
6) http://www.galatoires.com
No comment. I will only say that we tried it. Been there, done that. Moving on.
7) http://cafeatthesquare.com Really good.
I’ve eaten there quite a bit. It’s on St. Charles Ave at Poydras, next to La Fayette Square.
Happy Travels!
Apr 22nd, 2017, 10:54 AM
#48
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 273
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I absolutely LOVE a good poboy, and it sounds like you found a great place to have one. I've not been to Bon Creole, but it's the kind of hole in the wall that typically doesn't disappoint.
If you are ever back in NOLA and craving a poboy, find a place that uses Leidenheimer Bread. It is absolutely the BEST, and makes a good poboy, great. It's been a NOLA tradition for close to 100 years! http://www.leidenheimer.com/quality.htm You wouldn't think the bread would be so important, but once you have a poboy on Leidenheimber bread, you won't want to eat one any other way.
If you are ever back in NOLA and craving a poboy, find a place that uses Leidenheimer Bread. It is absolutely the BEST, and makes a good poboy, great. It's been a NOLA tradition for close to 100 years! http://www.leidenheimer.com/quality.htm You wouldn't think the bread would be so important, but once you have a poboy on Leidenheimber bread, you won't want to eat one any other way.
Apr 22nd, 2017, 08:28 PM
#49
Join Date: May 2004
Posts: 13,812
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I have bookmarked Kenton Restaurant for next year as I see that you had drum there.
When I'm in Nola, I'm always looking for the best étouffée and also drum dishes.
While in the airport shuttle, going back to Louis Armstrong Airport, there was a couple across from me and talking about all of the restaurants where they had eaten. I overheard one mention that the best étouffée that she's ever eaten was at a "dive" called, "Coops" on Decatur. My ears perked up as I then mentioned that I'm one also chasing a bowl of étouffée. It's now also on my list for next year.
Happy Travels!
When I'm in Nola, I'm always looking for the best étouffée and also drum dishes.
While in the airport shuttle, going back to Louis Armstrong Airport, there was a couple across from me and talking about all of the restaurants where they had eaten. I overheard one mention that the best étouffée that she's ever eaten was at a "dive" called, "Coops" on Decatur. My ears perked up as I then mentioned that I'm one also chasing a bowl of étouffée. It's now also on my list for next year.
Happy Travels!
May 15th, 2017, 05:43 PM
#51
Join Date: Jan 2010
Posts: 307
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Glad you had a nice visit, but NO ONE should take your advice about going into those areas without understanding HOW BAD CRIME IS!!!
If you want to go into those areas fine....but do not tell others there are no problems.
The Quarter and ESPECIALLY those areas have never been worse. My family and friends rarely go out any more to these areas, as they have become VERY VERY dangerous. Its not just the randomness, its the pure evilness of the crimes. They will shoot you in the face, then take your two dollars, and then laugh at you as the 14 year old shooters run away.
Just understand that you took your life in your hands....congratulations you made it out.....many other tourist HAVE NOT!
Live here...I KNOW the reality by experience.
If you want to go into those areas fine....but do not tell others there are no problems.
The Quarter and ESPECIALLY those areas have never been worse. My family and friends rarely go out any more to these areas, as they have become VERY VERY dangerous. Its not just the randomness, its the pure evilness of the crimes. They will shoot you in the face, then take your two dollars, and then laugh at you as the 14 year old shooters run away.
Just understand that you took your life in your hands....congratulations you made it out.....many other tourist HAVE NOT!
Live here...I KNOW the reality by experience.
May 18th, 2017, 06:34 AM
#53
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 1,147
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Thanks so much for the Shaya recommendation; we ate there last night and I can see why it won James Beard 2016 best new restaurant! And now I don't have to go to Budapest for great Israili food.
I think the menu changed since your visit, ekscrunchy -- we had short ribs on hummus with black harissa, walnuts and raisins and also tried the pickles and baba ganoush. Of course the endless pita fresh from the oven in the corner was is the best ever. Then the lamb shank just as you described. We had the Moroccan mint green tea french pressed, which was a great accompaniment -- served about 5 cups. Service was friendly with no up-selling at all. Total w tax and tip was $88.
I think the menu changed since your visit, ekscrunchy -- we had short ribs on hummus with black harissa, walnuts and raisins and also tried the pickles and baba ganoush. Of course the endless pita fresh from the oven in the corner was is the best ever. Then the lamb shank just as you described. We had the Moroccan mint green tea french pressed, which was a great accompaniment -- served about 5 cups. Service was friendly with no up-selling at all. Total w tax and tip was $88.
Aug 10th, 2017, 08:39 PM
#56
Join Date: Apr 2009
Posts: 3,622
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
P.s. We also had a not so great experience at Peche last year. Really obnoxiously loud, as you noted. Very unmemorable food. Long long wait for all drinks and food. Terrible let-down, at relatively high prices. Never again.
I noticed you did not eat at any Dickie Brennans restaurants. I have been to both Felix and Acme many times (with Acme being my old favorite) but more recently in last several yrs I much prefer happy hr oysters at Bourbon House across from Felix. And their other food is great too. Also love Tableau on Jackson Square. Turtle soup to die for, and nice option of smaller or larger portions on many entrees. Redfish on the far end of Bourbon is also pretty good ( although they get lots of tourist traffic) and they often have drum fish specials.
I noticed you did not eat at any Dickie Brennans restaurants. I have been to both Felix and Acme many times (with Acme being my old favorite) but more recently in last several yrs I much prefer happy hr oysters at Bourbon House across from Felix. And their other food is great too. Also love Tableau on Jackson Square. Turtle soup to die for, and nice option of smaller or larger portions on many entrees. Redfish on the far end of Bourbon is also pretty good ( although they get lots of tourist traffic) and they often have drum fish specials.
Aug 11th, 2017, 01:57 AM
#57
Original Poster
Join Date: May 2005
Posts: 23,389
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I never made it to Hawk's for the crawfish (it was pouring and too far to drive from our B&B near Eunice) but we had a fabulous dinner with live music at D.I.'s Cajun outside Basile, La. The owner is a pilot for Delta Airlines!
http://www.discajunrestaurant.com/
And Fred's in Mamou might be the best bar I've ever visited (at 9am on a Saturday morning, no less)!
https://www.austinchronicle.com/colu...1-12-28/84146/
http://www.discajunrestaurant.com/
And Fred's in Mamou might be the best bar I've ever visited (at 9am on a Saturday morning, no less)!
https://www.austinchronicle.com/colu...1-12-28/84146/
Aug 11th, 2017, 02:20 AM
#58
Join Date: Aug 2013
Posts: 6,476
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Hawk's was a fun experience, but you must love crawfish and be willing to get messy.
You must go to Fred's in Mamou. They drink and dance at 9 AM and the music is live on local radio. We had to go so we could say, we danced on the radio.
You must go to Fred's in Mamou. They drink and dance at 9 AM and the music is live on local radio. We had to go so we could say, we danced on the radio.
