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.