Friday, April 22, 2011

White Wine In The Sun (After Action Report)

There are two times in Louisiana; Meal time, and in between.
This is a brief photographic record of the not-in-between-time during our recent visit to New Orbleans.
First up, a bowl of gumbo at Montrel's Bistro.
Verdict:  Delicious.

Next, a shrimp po-boy at B&C Seafood, near the plantations:

Verdict:  Delicious.


Based on a recomendation from Matt who hangs out at Sadly, No, we stopped at a little hole in the wall called Mona Lisa's.  Paper tablecloths and crayons, and this Shrimp Alfredo (sorry about the lighting.  Also sorry that I ate most of it before I remembered to take a picture):


Verdict :  ABSO-FRIGGING-LUTELY AWESOMELY DELICIOUS!!!


Also, at the Mona Lisa, Mardi Gras Pasta:


Verdict: unverified, because SOMEBODY ELSE ATE IT ALL BEFORE I COULD TASTE ANY!!!~


Also, because it is the tradition, Gordon Biersch Brew Pub served up some Tasty Maibock and these Fish and Parmesan Chips:


Verdict:  If this is the worst meal I ate during this week, I AM IN HEAVEN.

The next day, we went to the Audobon Insectarium, which had the following insect dishes:


Verdict:  Indeterminate, because I was not prepared to eat bugs at that moment.  A miscalculation on our part, scheduling the Insectarium BEFORE the bar.  However, Wife Sublime reported that they were all pretty tasty.  didn't taste like bugs at all.  "Eat a lot of bugs on the farm growing up, did you?" I inquired sweetly.

Then we went to Napoleon House, where we got the Pimm's Cup and Sazerac shown below.  It was delightfully cool in the courtyard.  And did I mention these drinks?


Verdict:  WHOAH.

While there,  also based on the recommendations from a local, we ignored the lines of tourists at Central Grocery to try the muffaletta at Napoleon House.  Look at this:


Verdict:  oh.   Oh, my. I needed another drink to calm me down, then sent another down to make sure the first ones were making the muffaletta feel at home. The quick toasting to melt the cheese just took this over the top. Central whatnow?

After a day at the zoo, we went to another local's favorite called Reginelli's Pizza.

Wife Sublime's shrimp pesto pie:
Young Zombie's classic cheese with basil:
Mine:
That first one didn't fill me up AT ALL, so I got a second Classic (pepperoni, sausage, mushroom, onion, and green pepper) on a focaccia crust:

Verdict:  ...do I need to say it?

So, the final night, and based on the recommendation of a bartender at a neighborhood watering hole, we went to Cochon in the Warehouse District.  Look at this.  LOOK AT IT.

From the far upper left:  spicy mac and cheese; Wife Sublime's serving plate; fried alligator with chili garlic aioli;  shrimp-broccoli bake; my serving plate;  boucherie plate (large plate in the middle); and twice baked potato.  Not shown:  orange whiskey cocktail and Abita Turbo Dog.

Verdict:  (....droooling.....)

Also, that alligator had a bit of a bite.  GET IT?!?!?!!


Before heading to the airport and  after zipping through the French Market, we put this in our pie-holes;  shrimp-chicken-andouille jambalaya with whole wheat penne pasta:

...and shrimp etouffee with pocket bread;


Yes.  It was delicious.

Not a disgusting morsel in the whole five days, and that includes the bugs.  A couple less-than-stellar meals, maybe, but even so, I would maintain that you need to have a couple of mundane ones to really point up the high points.

And the weather was lovely, edging up toward warm and humid and quite the tonic from the hairball of a winter we just went through; and the tourists didn't start showing up until the  last night we were there, so notwithstanding the girl who rushed right by our sidewalk table at Lafitte's Blacksmith Bar to barf in the gutter the idiocy was minimized.

What a charming city.

20 comments:

  1. You can just put my voodoo doll in the woodchipper now. This is beyond offensive to my sensibilities. How dare you, sir. I say GOOD DAY.

    whimper.

    sigh

    blerg

    mew

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  2. Izza bad zombizzle. I shouldn't have done that.

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  3. At least she made it to the gutter. More than I've managed on occasion.

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  4. Damn, Zombie, you pack it in. Better get to a doctor and get that tapeworm treated.

    And not one bit o' brain in all that...

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  5. I'll bet one could put a pound on or maybe even two, in that city...
    ~

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  6. Subtle like a brick, ZRM... Did you bring enough for the rest of the class?? Hmmm?

    I need to go back there, but when I go, I won't be so mean to poor Pinko. It's Prayer Weekend, dammit! Have you no sense of decency??

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  7. Here's a verdict for you: I HATE YOU.

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  8. Seriously. Why don't you just go ahead and slap us all across the face? Jesus.

    w/v: Judomen...hmmm wv must sense the presence of B^4...

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  9. Wow! So great. Glad you had such a good time, ZRM! (And the bug commentary was hilarious!) :)

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  10. THANKS BG. GOOD TO KNOW NOT EVERYONE IS A HATA.

    It's Prayer Weekend, dammit! Have you no sense of decency?

    Yeah, normally you would think zombies would show a little more professional courtesy, but dammit that Jewish carpenter fella is SUCH A MEDIA HOG!!!

    Why don't you just go ahead and slap us all across the face?

    The internets don't work that way. Besides, you knew I was a zombie when you blogrolled me.

    I'll bet one could put a pound on or maybe even two, in that city...

    And then sweat it right the hell off. Fortunately, I come from a city where we KNOW about packing on a pound or two....

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  11. And not one bit o' brain in all that...

    The boucherie plate had some head cheese....

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  12. Perhaps PP would be mollified somewhat if I allowed this to be cross-posted at D or D. I hear 3B is posting content these days.

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  13. I hear 3B is posting content these days.

    They've even got an alligator movie (pre-frying with with chili garlic aioli).
    ~

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  14. Indeterminate, because I was not prepared to eat bugs at that moment.

    Well, shya, their brains are tiny!

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  15. Actually, I appreciate this. I have never been to Louisiana when I wasn't absolutely GEEZED to the grille, and all I ever did was drink beer, bet (and lose) on horses and fight with people who annoyed me.

    Perhaps I should go back before I die...

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  16. Sounds like a wonderful trip!! And all the food looks amazing!!

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  17. Nothing has ever made me feel like a gentleman of leisure quite like drinking a Pimm's Cup on a hot New Orleans day.

    Tremendous food porn. Tasteful yet sultry. Well done.

    Glad you had a great time. New Orleans is to eating what Vegas is to gambling.

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  18. Well, it was no New Glarus, Von....

    Brando, the thing I loved about New Orleans is that they have no tolerance for moderation.

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  19. Perhaps I should go back before I die...

    holy hell, yes mikey. You, me, Jennifer and Von. Road trip.

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