Saturday, February 6, 2010

'Tis the season




In honor of both tomorrow's Super Bowl and carnival season that is upon us, it only seemed fitting to write about one of the best food cities in the U.S. - New Orleans! I had the pleasure of calling NOLA home during college and credit the city for really developing and nurturing my love for food. It's been almost 7 years since those fun days, but I have verified that my picks today are still open and kicking. I expected nothing less.

If I had 24 hours in New Orleans, this is where I'd head.




Be honest. Just looking at that photo, don't you wish you were there? Such a convivial, warm, typically New Orleans scene. I love, love, love Jacques-Imo's Cafe. Chef Jacques Leonardi is such a spunky little guy, romping around the joint, offering up shots to guests. And the food? Incredible. Local favorites, heavy on fish and traditional ingredients, like alligator, red beans, corn bread. Don't expect a light meal, but come hungry, do expect a wait, a super fun time and food to write home about. My absolute favorite, speaking of alligator, is the savory alligator and shrimp cheesecake. !! I am having a hard time concentrating on writing, just thinking about it.


Clearly the man is a genius.

If I only had one day, then I would have to plan accordingly to be in NOLA on a Monday, which is when you can get red beans and rice.



Traditionally Monday was wash day and the women would put on a big pot of beans to cook while they did their work. That tradition has held and restaurants today still honor it. In fact, my dining hall in college served up what I consider to be some of the best RB&Rice in the city. I still dream about those. But since I don't have a meal plan, instead of heading to Bruff (why do all university dining halls have such unfortunate names? Riddle me that.), I would make a beeline for Guy's Po' Boys, where I would proceed to cry myself a bucket of happy tears over a steaming plate of RB&Rice with cornbread, of course.



Now, this place isn't called Guy's Red Beans and Rice, so yeah, it goes without saying that their po' boys are equally life changing. For those of you who haven't a clue as to what a po' boy is, it's one of NOLA's most famous sandwiches: generally some sort of seafood (oysters please!) is deep fried until crispy and golden, piled into a split loaf of french bread and dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayo.

Pre-dinner drinks would be at The Columns.



A 19th century mansion that has been restored into a hotel right on the St. Charles streetcar line, this is the perfect spot to perch on a warm spring evening and watch the city unwind and get ready for its big night. It's the sort of place where you want to drink whiskey sours (or maybe that's just because what I was drinking in college).

For all of the classic, casual NOLA favorites at dinner, I would head to Franky and Johnny's. Imagine this: a bit of a dive bar when you first walk in, jukebox along one wall, red and white checked oil cloths on the tables, a black and white, not necessarily immaculate tiled floor, huge glasses of iced tea, or Abita beer. You get the picture. Go for the po' boys, fried chicken, boudin or pies - you can't go wrong. When the season's right, I would opt for some boiled crawfish, one of the New Orleans traditions I miss most.




Breakfast. Since you are obviously going to be starving the next morning, head over to Camellia Grill, another New Orleans institution. I heard that it had closed after Katrina, with plans to re-open under a new owner. I don't know what its fate has been, but I cannot imagine a New Orleans without a Camellia Grill. Diner food as it should be, heavy, unforgivingly greasy, in short, wonderful. I would pick one of their huge omelets and finish breakfast with a piece of pecan pie (don't judge. I do only have 24 hours.), which they brilliantly "warm up" for you over a nice sizzling slab of butter.




And if I were lucky enough to plan my 24 hours on a Monday and during Mardi Gras season, well then I would surely stop by Igor's for a bloody mary (to go, of course) to enjoy with my Popeye's fried chicken during the parades. I really don't think life gets much better than that.


Jacques-Imo's Cafe
8324 Oak Street
New Orleans, LA 70118
504-861-0886

Franky and Johnny's
321 Arabella Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
504-899-9146

Guy's Po' Boys
5259 Magazine Street
New Orleans, LA 70195
504-891-5025

The Columns
3811 St. Charles Ave.
New Orleans, LA 70115
504-899-9308

Camellia Grill
626 South Carrollton
New Orleans, LA 70118
504-866-9573


1 comment:

  1. Needless to say, I love this post. I miss the Columns probably as much as anything in New Orleans . . . not sure I was ever happier than lounging on that gorgeous front porch sipping an afternoon cocktail.

    Other things I miss:
    Lebanon's hummus
    mojitos at St. Joe's
    the English Dept. at Tulane
    DBA in the Marigny
    Cafe Siam! under the Dragon's Den!
    both the PJs and Starbucks on Maple St.

    Awwww I need a trip . . .

    btw, now that I've read your blog, I'm wondering how on earth you stay skinny!! ha :)

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