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Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
slow cooked pork and sweet potatoes in tomato sauce over pasta.
Food and Drink On-the-Job Injuries
The worst definitely had to be the day the chef was having a really bad day and was incredibly pissed off (I can't remember at what). I was working the grill/griddle and when the order came in for some grilled chicken sandwiches, he threw the breasts at full force on the grill, splashing hot grease all over my face and neck. I was quite the attractive guy for the next month.
Then there were the deli slicer fingertip injuries, knife injuries and my favorite was that I developed severe excema on my hands from all my years in the kitchen and pretty much couldn't touch anything (citrus, tomatoes, dishwater, cleaning supplies, you name it) without searing pain for about 3 months. Good Times.
Salmonella Scare Halts Tomato Sales
Luckily those of us in Louisiana are lucky enough to have our state on the safe list just in time for the start of Creole Tomato season. And if anyone's around New Orleans this weekend, the Creole Tomato Festival and reopening of the French Market will be taking place downtown on Saturday and Sunday.
Oh and did I mention that also taking place within two blocks the above mentioned events are the Louisiana Seafood Festival and the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival?
There are 365 days in year. There are 414 festivals in a year in New Orleans. You do the math.
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Recent Comments | Response to Comments
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
I agree with the other comments, if you have to choose between May and June, go with May. I've lived here all my life and I don't think I ever really get used to the heat and humidity of summer.
But on to restaurants. Many good suggestions thus far. I'd like to add a few.
MiLa (milaneworleans.com)
Willie Mae's Scotch House (best fried chicken you will ever eat)
Dick & Jenny's (dickandjennys.com)
When it's hot, nothing beats a refreshing Pimm's Cup in the Napoleon House courtyard.
Finally, if you are here for a Sunday evening, I can't stress enough what a deal the Chef Sundays are at Bacchanal are (bacchanalwine.com). Buy a few bottles of wine from the shop, sit out back in the courtyard, and enjoy whatever the chef that week is preparing. Just check ahead to see what's on the menu and who's cooking for that week. I've had anything from authentic Peruvian cuisine, to a BBQ Pork "sundae" to the tastiest vegetarian greens I've ever eaten.
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
slow cooked pork and sweet potatoes in tomato sauce over pasta.
Food and Drink On-the-Job Injuries
The worst definitely had to be the day the chef was having a really bad day and was incredibly pissed off (I can't remember at what). I was working the grill/griddle and when the order came in for some grilled chicken sandwiches, he threw the breasts at full force on the grill, splashing hot grease all over my face and neck. I was quite the attractive guy for the next month.
Then there were the deli slicer fingertip injuries, knife injuries and my favorite was that I developed severe excema on my hands from all my years in the kitchen and pretty much couldn't touch anything (citrus, tomatoes, dishwater, cleaning supplies, you name it) without searing pain for about 3 months. Good Times.
Salmonella Scare Halts Tomato Sales
Luckily those of us in Louisiana are lucky enough to have our state on the safe list just in time for the start of Creole Tomato season. And if anyone's around New Orleans this weekend, the Creole Tomato Festival and reopening of the French Market will be taking place downtown on Saturday and Sunday.
Oh and did I mention that also taking place within two blocks the above mentioned events are the Louisiana Seafood Festival and the Louisiana Cajun-Zydeco Festival?
There are 365 days in year. There are 414 festivals in a year in New Orleans. You do the math.
Cook the Book: The Splendid Table's How to Eat Supper
Tactful_Cactus beat me to it.
So after she asks Sandra Lee "Why?" i think I'd need to follow that up with a "No, seriously, WHY?"
Paula Deen Is Trying to Kill Us, Part 5: Butter, Mayo, Whiz Cheese Spread
Dear God, this woman must be stopped. I caught a bit of Paula's Party this weekend, where she made the atrocity known as the "Big Mike Burger." It has two patties, one of which is referred to as a "butter burger." After I saw her make that patty, my arteries impelled me to change the channel. FWIW, here's the recipe.
Long weekend in New Orleans...
Around when are you planning on coming? There's always some sort of festival going on and many are centered around food, so knowing a date would help. For instance, June 13 - 15 is the creole tomato festival and the seafood festival is June 7-8.
I second many of the recommendations above. I would also like to add in MiLa, a newish restaurant located in the CBD. (milaneworleans.com) It's southern and local classics made with locally sourced fare.
Also, you might want to check out Bacchanal. (bacchanalwine.com). It's a great wine shop in the Bywater with a courtyard out back. On Sunday afternoons, there's a local chef serving up delicious food for ridiculously cheap prices. And you can just buy a bottle or two of wine and get some glasses from inside. It's a great way to wrap up a weekend.
Cook the Book: Cowgirl Cuisine
My birthday falls in mid March, so every year we celebrate it with family on St. Joseph's Day (or the closest Sunday to it). My mother cooks Pasta Milanese, stuffed artichokes, caponata, home made fig cookies, home made italian sesame seed cookies, and pignolatti for my birthday (and that St. Joseph guy). So I have to say that wins hands down.
The pignolatti would really be enough if you saw her make them. She actually makes them into cone shapes with here bare hands. (you have to form them while the sugar is till hot. she alternates between forming them and plunging her hands in ice water. it's borderline insane, but damn good.)
Top Chef: Mother's Day Comes Early
I am a bit confused by the $10 limit myself. If I remember correctly, they actually made six servings of food. There were the four plates served to their child sous chef and the three other kids at the table, plus the one served to the judges, plus the one Tom ate in the kitchen. I don't even think you can buy six portions of chicken at whole foods for ten bucks.
Ed Levine's Serious Diet, Week 13: Pray for Me; I'm Going to New Orleans (and Dallas)
I can't speak too much for Dallas, but here in NOLA I definitely recommend trying to walk everywhere as much as possible. Since you'll be based at the convention center, there's TONS of places within walking distance.
Speaking of, I recommend trying MiLa, a newish restaurant from Slade Rushing and Alison Vines-Rushing. It'll be in the neighborhood.
Also, if you get a chance, give bacchanal wines a call on sunday (they open at 2) and see who's cooking for chef sunday ion the back courtyard. It's a great way to get good cheap eats from some local kitchen luminary. always a great time as well.
most of all, enjoy yourself and spend some money while here.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
Definitely book a flight as early as possible. The weather gets hot by May but still might be nice.
Some reasonable, but excellent food options:
-burgers at Port of Call on Esplanade
-po' boys at Mother's on the corner of Poydras and Tchoupitoulas
-great fried chicken and jambalaya at Coop's Tavern on Decatur
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
Yeah but a week before that was a nice breezy 70 degrees in Dec. So snow aside it has been a mild winter to say the least.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
schmoosey, what do you mean mild winter? It SNOWED!
I'm so hungry.... I should go out and get lunch.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
Ugh, I don't want to talk about Brunnigan's. Not the same as old Bruno's. Not at all. Old Bruno's was actually a "vile" college bar, and the new one doesn't have a soul. I'll agree that the food is decent.
And how could I forget Creole Creamery? I practically live there when it's not Lent. Bacchanal is also wonderful; will definitely be too hot outside (even at night) to fully enjoy the experience later than April or maybe May.
If you want to stay away from a tourist spot, stay away from Mother's. Totally overrated, in my opinion, and you will likely have to wait in a long line to get in. I don't think anyone's mentioned Parkway in Mid-City... they have great poboys as well.
Lola's is a true gem. The paella is wonderful, and they serve little warm rolls fresh out of the oven with this garlic butter that is more like garlic paste... delicious. It's BYO, and is it still cash only? Was it ever? I haven't been in almost a year and don't remember.
If you hit Ralph's on the Park, be sure to go for brunch--they have a great menu, and I think it's better than their dinner menu.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
I'd pick May over June and make sure it's not during Jazz Fest (unless you want to go to Jazz Fest, which is pretty awesome.)
My favorite time to visit NOLA is October.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
Bias cause I'm a local...but it's not that hot in June but this summer might be different with the way our winter has been this year. Mild winters tend to foresee a hot summer.
I don't know if anyone mentioned it but Hansen's is also excellent place for a snowball. If you don't mind a trip to Chalmette go to Rocky & Carlo's for some traditional Italian New Orleans food (drippin po-boys and fine Mac & cheese with gravy). Mother's is also a go (even though I'm not a fan of the cabbage) and Central Grocery in the Quarter for mufflettas.
I second the suggestion for Camilla Grill on Carrolton by the river. Hands down is one of my favorite places to eat in the city. I cried tears of joy when I found out that it was reopening. Traditional diner fare but it's also about the experience you have there with the waiters. Try the pecan pie warmed up upside down on the grill topped with some lovely ice cream. Simply wonderful.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
Did I really forget Bruno's Tavern? By night, it's a fairly vile college bar, but by day it's a tasty sports eatery with the best loaded fries you will ever eat. Get Boudreaux fries or debris fries.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
May is better than June.
Hurricane, but only one made with fresh fruit juices, not koolaid mix.
Luke has good dinner specials. I particularly like their "ravioli of local crabmeat".
Mother's has a really good debris po-boy. "Debris" is the juices and bits of meat that fall off when roasting beef.
Parasol's for lunch in the Irish Channel. Get the roast beef po-boy, it's huge.
Creole Creamery for dessert, they make incredible ice cream. The flavors are off-the-wall, and they have some standard favorites, but they are always rotating in new flavors. My favorite as yet is "cayenne lime butter" but I also liked "Steen's molasses oatmeal cookie" last time I was there.
Crabby Jack's is good, and you can take one of their cups home as a souvenir. The duck is excellent.
The Coffee Pot in the French Quarter for breakfast or dinner. They have amazing gumbo (better even than the Gumbo Shop, in my opinion), really good red beans and rice, and fantastic corn bread. For breakfast, you want cala cakes (balls of fried rice dough) or pain perdu ("lost bread", sort of like french toast).
The Bourbon House is pricey, but what I've eaten there has been very good. Their bread pudding is very tasty, although it boggles my mind how a place called the bourbon house does not use bourbon in their sauce.
Cafe du Monde for a late night snack of cafe au lait and beignets. Note: they're pronounced ben-YAY for a reason. But be careful of your clothes, they come in a massive mountain or powdered sugar.
The Camellia Grill is an awesome little diner at Riverbend. Their omelets are legendary, their freezes are good, and their bacon is out of this world. If you get waffles or something, use cane syrup, not maple.
If you make it out to Metairie, I suggest you check out Crazy Johnnie's in Fat City. Their lunchtime special of the filet mignon po-boy is tearfully good, and something like $7 for a filet mignon po-boy and crazy potatoes that fill you right up is nothing to sneeze at.
Daiquiris to go.
Even though it's hot, you must have at least one of each of these: red beans and rice, gumbo, and jambalaya. Also, something with crawfish. The food down here is amazing. And like others have said.... let your friends take you to their favorite joints!
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
New Orleans is such a fantastic town for eating. Everyone who has visited has their favorite spot. Make sure you leave time to find your own hole in the wall place with the best whatever it is that you had there. I was there for a couple of days and we really ate well. The shrimp anywhere we went, any way it was fixed was fantastic. Not frozen even for a second and everyone seems to know how to cook it properly. I agree that the Pimm's Cup is very, very refreshing. Our first morning there, the tour guide dropped us off in the French Quarter at 10:00 a.m where we promptly got Bloody Mary's to go at the nearest restarant and sipped them while enjoying Jackson Square. Have a great time!
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
You're visiting friends there? Let them take you to their favorite joints.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
you can't go wrong with any of the recommendations on this page...i'm very impressed with my fellow Serious Eaters.
a couple of comments of my own:
New Orleans is hot in May and June, but not unbearable and I've never seemed to mind when visiting for pleasure...work is another story. Also, keep in mind that the first two weekends in May is JazzFest and decide if that is a plus or a minus for your plans.
@msmeanie-I'd been waiting for someone to recommend Dante's Kitchen...fantastic food and I love the brunch...particularly the bloody mary made with Dante's own cucumber infused vodka...or was it gin? either way they were incredibly spicy and refreshing.
Other things to try:
Burger and a Monsoon at Port of Call
Stuffed Flounder and Macaroni n Cheese at Jack Dempsey's
Paella at Lola's
Atmosphere wise I really like eating on the Upstairs Balcony at Ralph's on the Park.
Now I must go talk a couple of friends into making a day trip to N.O. very soon.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
I lived in NOLA in the summer of 2007, and I must say that one of the best meals I had was at Dante's Kitchen. It is often overlooked, since it is not in a central location (it's located uptown), but the food is divine. Everything we had was unbelievably good.
As for when to go: I think June will still be comfortable, July and especially August can be extremely hot/humid/uncomfortable.
Have fun!
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
Napolean House for muffaletta (warm), Liuzza's by the Track for BBQ Shrimp PoBoy, Irene's in the Quarter for dinner (no reservations are taken), Croissant D'Or Patisserie in the Quarter for pastries, Mothers for fried oysters, Dunbars or Praline connection for Souther/soul food. Amen on Jacques Imo's, Dick and Jenny's, Upperline. I think Commander's is overpriced and overhyped.
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
No comment about the weather, because I have only been to NO in October (which was great btw). As for food...Commander's Palace definitely....19 years later I can still tell you what we ate....no trip to NOLA is complete without a stop at the Central Grocery for a muffaletta or Cafe du Monde for beignets!
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
My hubby and I visited New Orleans last year during the first week of June, and the weather was miserably hot and humid (and we're from the South, so that's saying a lot) -- since one of our favorite things to do on vacation is to walk everywhere, this made for some sweaty and tiring days. At the time, we chalked the heat and humidity up to NOLA, but it turns out there was a heat wave all over the Southeast that week. In any case, I guess I am saying that weather is always variable, but there is definitely the potential for very warm weather in early June.
Our favorite meal while there was at Jacques Imo's...followed by Sno-balls from a stand nearby (Williams-Plum Street Sno-balls, I think).
Enjoy your trip!
New Orleans, when to go, what to eat
I second all of the above and add Herbsaint. Have a Sazerac (cocktail) and anything on the menu. It is all fab.
http://www.herbsaint.com/
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
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Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
Braised pork belly and fried turnips.
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
Roasted root vegetables and nice warm tea just hit the spot when it's cold.
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
my grandma's chicken corn chowder
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
My favorite cold weather food is crisp nut waffles with fruit compote.
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
i love baked ziti and meatballs for comfort!
Cook the Book: 'Osteria'
I like to warm up with a hearty bowl of tortilla soup!
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I agree with the other comments, if you have to choose between May and June, go with May. I've lived here all my life and I don't think I ever really get used to the heat and humidity of summer.
But on to restaurants. Many good suggestions thus far. I'd like to add a few.
MiLa (milaneworleans.com)
Willie Mae's Scotch House (best fried chicken you will ever eat)
Dick & Jenny's (dickandjennys.com)
When it's hot, nothing beats a refreshing Pimm's Cup in the Napoleon House courtyard.
Finally, if you are here for a Sunday evening, I can't stress enough what a deal the Chef Sundays are at Bacchanal are (bacchanalwine.com). Buy a few bottles of wine from the shop, sit out back in the courtyard, and enjoy whatever the chef that week is preparing. Just check ahead to see what's on the menu and who's cooking for that week. I've had anything from authentic Peruvian cuisine, to a BBQ Pork "sundae" to the tastiest vegetarian greens I've ever eaten.