frogprince

It’s CARNIVAL TIME y’all!!!! ⚜️⚜️⚜️⚜️

On 10/18/2022 at 9:12 PM, saf said:

I have been planning to get back to New Orleans for far too long now. Plane tickets purchased. Lodging booked. And now, time to plan food. And music. And think about tourist spots to hit.

Herbsaint, because the  boy will NOT miss it when in New Orleans. We have had a recommendation for Atchafalaya - will have to try it. So many other possibilities!

So looking forward to this. We haven't been anywhere except for visiting parents and one weekend at the beach since this all began.

What are y’all looking at food wise?

On 9/14/2022 at 11:12 AM, Ericandblueboy said:

We walked and walked and walked including 4 miles one way from CBD to Domilese's to try some of the best shrimp po boys in New Orleans.  These are the results.  Johnny's in FQ - bland, needed salt.  We had shrimp and soft shell, both were under seasoned and under dressed.  When we finally arrived at Domilese's, we were greeted with a sign that says closed due to staffing shortage.   So we went to the closest po boy shop nearby, Guy's.  Guy's shrimps were better seasoned but overcooked.  So after ubering back to FQ, we went to Lil Dizzy's.  Lil Dizzy's is legit.  They were recommended by our food tour (more about that later) and there were loads of Asian diners.  If Asian diners are willing to eat in Treme, it's probably because the food is good.  We had one catfish and one shrimp.  The shrimp was crispy but tender, and well seasoned.  The catfish was tender but had that distinctive catfish flavor (I've had Des Allemands catfish that didn't have that catfish flavor, which I thought was wonderful).  

We also tried multiple muffalettas.  First stop, Central Grocery.  They too were closed because of roof damage from Ida last year.  But they sell their premade muffalettas next door at Sidney's liquor store.  The sandwiches are vacuum sealed, and since the only dressing is the oil from their olive salad, the bread never gets soggy.  It was good, but I believe the amount of cold cuts on there were much less than I remembered from years past.  We also hit up Napoleon House.  That sandwich was freshly made, and warmed, so better than Central Grocery's.  We also had the muffaletta at Cochon Butcher.  This is a good sandwich but not a real muffaletta.  Instead of using Italian cold cuts, they use ham and bacon and possibly other meats.

We also tried 2 Cuban sandwiches, 1 at Manolito and 1 at Cochon Butcher.  Both were just so so.  The best sandwich at Cochon Butcher that we tried is their Porchetta Cheese Steak, made with cheese, caramelized onions, and almost BBQ like porchetta.

We did do one food tour with Culinary Backstreet.  I've done multiple tours with CB before and there was always more food than you can possibly eat.  In this case, they just didn't have enough food stops.  We had (1) praline and beignet with praline inside, (2) muffaletta from CG, (3) roast pork banh mi, (4) hot sausage po boy, and (5) some terrible jambalaya.  It was informative but the food offerings were not up to par.

The dinners were at Cochon, R'evolution, and Peche.  We generally ordered interesting small plates and lots of oysters.  All had some amazing dishes.

P.S. we actually finished the shrimp po boy at Lil Dizzy's.  No other sandwich was fully consumed.  We walked probably 10 miles a day.  I actually lost 1 lb on this trip despite eating and drinking all day for 5 days and 4 nights.

 

 

Wow, y’all really packed some stellar eating (and walking) inside a short trip!

Lil Dizzy’s is the real deal- and not because we live a block away but because it’s that good. My favorite fried chicken, gumbo and hot sausage po boy in the city- which is saying a lot given the competition. 
 

My go to hangover cure: Lil Dizzy’s hot sausage po boy, dressed, add American cheese, no fries sub 2 piece dark meat fried chicken (yes I’ll gladly pay the up charge) and a cup of gumbo- that and nap will cure whatever ails you.

Norma’s in mid city probably has the best Cuban.

What did y’all have at Peche?

On 6/26/2022 at 5:50 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

Taking the kids back to Chicago to see their cousin, who now lives in Chicago after graduating from U. of Washington in St. Louis.  Any thoughts on restaurants that don't require us to dress up?  

Taxim in Wicker Park- we went during the Beard Award weekend before Covid and had a stunning time- real deal regional Greek, unlike anything I’ve had on this side of the Atlantic 

We evacuated to my in laws in Greenwood, MS in the middle of the night as Ida intensified to a 4 (which is when I started to worry) and jogged east toward Orleans parish.

World Central Kitchen is a great organization to support in this time, as is Second Harvest Food Bank (full disclosure: my wife works there). 
 

Closer to home and more grass rootsy, Culture Aid Nola has been organizing meals out of The Howlin’ Wolf to serve the community, staffed by largely hospitality workers who rode the storm out and supported by dozens and dozens of restaurants who cooked everything in their walk ins and brought it over and donated everything frozen; the smoker from Cochon Butcher is there as I type this cooking whatever is on hand.
 

And lastly, we must not forget the thousands of acts of kindness and decency being displayed by all our residents- this is all I hear from friends, loved ones and colleagues who are there RIGHT NOW, in the blistering, last summer, south Louisiana heat and humidity. Through sporadic social media contact (cell service is next to existent still) and communiques with industry folk who evacuated and are heading back to pitch in, there are tremendous bonds of deep love, empathy and affection for all of us who call New Orleans home.

I personally am headed down tomorrow with my unfortunately small sized car that will be packed with the essentials and whatever requests restaurant folks and neighbors have made; Secure my house and return back to Mississippi to continue to cook for my in laws who are elderly and facing surgery in a week and need a freezer full of heat and eat meals.

Local Entergy sources are saying power restoration will take up to 3 weeks and the Sewerage & Water Board says the sanitation systems are running on flimsy generators- I will leave it to the worst depths of your imagination to consider what will happen if these fail, even in some minor fashion. What this also means is that showers, toilets, washing machines and running water are in the DO NOT USE category for residents so as to not overload the system so that 1st Responders, Hospitals and the like can function without overloading the system.

Take care y’all, hug your loved ones extra tight and we will see y’all in the Big Easy once the lights are on and stoves are lit.

Sam Whittington

Executive Sous Chef, Herbsaint Restaurant, New Orleans, LA

Things I never thought I’d do on Mardi Gras day

wake up at 915

drive a car

eat 10# crawfish

be conscious for the meeting of the courts of Rex and Comus

HAPPY MARDI GRAS YALL!!!🦞🦞🦞⚜️⚜️⚜️

On 8/1/2016 at 2:22 PM, DonRocks said:

Also, as long as I have peoples' attention, I first went to Schultz's Crab House in the 1980s, and have been back a couple of times. It's somewhat unique in that it's in the middle of a residential neighborhood - the last thing you'd expect to see - but there it is, and it was just fabulous the few times I went (but I haven't been in probably fifteen years). I think it should be considered for an "America's Classics" James Beard Award, but it won't be.

Schultz’s is an absolute treasure, cherished by several generations of the Bawlmor side of my family 🦀🦀🦀🦀

On 3/5/2020 at 2:51 AM, Marty L. said:

Loved Marjie's Grill the one time I was there. Your description is just right.

Fabulous restaurant, run by even more fabulous folks, Marcus and Caitlyn. And yes they are dear friends of mine, Herbsaint alums both

Happy Carnival y’all!

On 12/10/2019 at 4:16 PM, DonRocks said:

What do you do to occupy yourself in the interim?

Um... Fox and hounds!

Y’all havent REALLY lived/had Popeye’s till ya have it in south Louisiana- it truly is a radically different dining experience; service, decor, food are all wildly superior 

Anyone get tickets to this? Pableaux is a hoot and a half and, well, y’all know how I feel about Ann...

She does

10 minutes ago, Marty L. said:

Where should I try yak a mein next time I'm in NoLa?

Wherever Ms Linda be at

45 minutes ago, Marty L. said:

I adore and treasure 2 Amys--we're there several times a month--but the suggestion that we should feel sorry for those of you down in the Crescent City, well . . . .  😉 

I was gonna say something snarky, along the lines of “well, man can’t live on crawfish and boudin and etoufee and gumbo and po boys and bread pudding and Pontchatoula strawberries and meat pies and bbq shrimp and crab meat Yvonne and hot tamales and yak a mein and cochon de lait and...” 

oh wait...

Ups and downs aside, y’all should be exceptionally happy that 2 Amy’s exists; we ain’t got nothing like it down here and that is a downright shame.

2 Amy’s is the best around (till Frank shows back up...)

It’s pretty bad in Terrebone and Lafourche

For Orleans Parish, at least backatown, it is also a non event thus far; Wednesday on the other hand...

On 6/3/2019 at 2:49 PM, ktmoomau said:

Going to look down through all these food recs, I think I am going to NOLA with a girlfriend as a bday thing.  There look to be all sorts of good hotels with decent prices (Yeah, yeah everyone else is heading to cooler temp destinations, but we figured we could sweat in humidity in DC or sweat while in humidity in NOLA, so we will take our battery powered misters and rock out....)  I haven't been in years.  Anyone stay at the Lowes there and have an opinion?

Hit me up- sam@linkrestaurantgroup.com

On 5/31/2019 at 10:22 AM, MC Horoscope said:

 

Herbsaint, fried oysters, spaghetti with guanciale and deep fried poached egg. Ooohs and ahhhss at the table

Say hi next time!

On 5/14/2019 at 12:32 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

Taking the kids to the Crescent City in August.  Dinners will be at Herbsaint, Gianna, La Petite Grocery and Brennan's.  Looking for a great brunch spot for Saturday (not looking for egg dishes).  The place has to be casual (i.e., allows shorts and sandals).  

Mopho is fun and different, definitely no egg brunch things; if it’s the 3rd Saturday then you will be in great luck as that is spit roasted lamb day! (Its pork the other saturdays...)

On 5/15/2019 at 2:00 PM, Ericandblueboy said:

What's the best place (meaning no long lines) to get a Po-boy and beer on Saturday morning btwn 10-11 a.m.?  LIuzza's, Parkway, or Domilise's?

 Don’t sleep on Bevi neither...

On 3/18/2019 at 7:52 AM, zgast said:

St. James Cheese Company has become a lunch standard for me as I visit my daughter at school.  Wish there was someplace like this in DC.   Great cheeses, wine & beer, and a fun atmosphere.  

Does that Cowgirl Creamery joint still exist? That’s the only thing comparable in DC that I recall (granted that was many many moons ago)...

Stick to St James Uptown, it is light years better than the downtown farm team

On 3/18/2019 at 8:44 AM, dcandohio said:

None of these three places is hip, or cutting edge, or “new and noteworthy.”  They all just work hard to put out delicious food at decent prices in egalitarian settings. 

The Galley in Old Metry and Harbor Seafood out in Kenner (brah) also fall into this most noble of restaurant categories; indeed, ask any industry folk and I would wager that most spend their hard earned time off in establishments such as these (if they choose to go out to eat at all but that’s a whole different topic...)

The crawfish at both are exemplary, also the gumbos, fried things, honestly you can close your eyes and point and it’ll be fantastic (but defitnely the crawfish). 

Yall can find me at either, sometimes both, on my hard earned days off