Seth Chadwick's Profile
Seperate Checks?
Not a breach of etiquette to ask. Some will offer it and some won't.
What I really wish would happen is for U.S. restaurants to have the computers that break down each person's order on one bill, so each person can see exactly how much their share was. I travel frequently to Canada with my husband and I can't remember a restaurant (even the little coffee shop on the outskirts of Montreal) that didn't produce a bill with our individual orders separated out.
So easy to read, understand and pay.
OC Road Trip Review: Pizzeria Mozza, Chili Chutney, The Olde Ship, Capital Grille and more...
Thanks, JAB. I always seem to get that mixed up because of the split fairly near there. I will see about having it edited.
What is it about noisy restaurants that.... [moved from General Chowhounding board]
That may be a factor for some.
I think a lot of it is "people in the business" who say that this is what the public wants and restauranteurs believe them. Per my example above, Batali is going to have a full house because of his name recognition and the buzz of having a celebrity restaurant in Newport Beach. The fact that the music is loud may have some correlation, but it is a fallacy to believe that correlation equals causation. Some people might go because they like 1) Batali, 2) the pizza, 3) the service, 4) the valet parking, etc.
What is it about noisy restaurants that.... [moved from General Chowhounding board]
You can see that played out fully on Open Table.
When you review a restaurant, one of the categories is "Noise." Here are the options you can choose from:
Quiet
Moderate
Energetic
Don't Recall
What a very poor selection.
What is it about noisy restaurants that.... [moved from General Chowhounding board]
The biggest fallacy is that if people are filling a restaurant and the music is loud, that denotes that the patrons are okay with loud music.
I have plenty of niggles with restaurants that I eat at regularly. For instance, I absolutely despise the fact that one of my favorite Mexican food places in Phoenix is cash only, and if you forget to get cash prior to sitting down, they have an ATM that will milk you for $3.00 for the courtesy. There is also a place that has great sandwiches, but their counter service model is a tool of the devil. However, I am willing to overlook the cash only policy and the counter service model because I really enjoy the food.
Last weekend, I was in SoCal and ended up at Batali's Pizzeria Mozza. It was a fantastic meal, but the rock music level was too high, IMO. Would that keep me from going back? Well, that depends. For right now, I found Mozza to have some of the best pizza going in OC and I would be willing to tolerate the music level in order to enjoy another great pizza. But if another place comes along that, all things being equal, gives me the same level of experience as Mozza but without the loud music, I would go there instead.
It's a little too cut and dry to suggest that if someone is enjoying the food, every aspect of their visit is perfection.
The Cost of Cream Circa February 2012
Not yet, katty. My four-person team at work became a three-person team and guess who got to pick up the slack? :o(
I am working on it though. I promise! :o)
OC Road Trip Review: Pizzeria Mozza, Chili Chutney, The Olde Ship, Capital Grille and more...
It was time for another return to OC to spend a long weekend with my hubby, so we made sure we had some great meals planned.
Pizzeria Mozza (Newport Beach) - Right off the bat, we went from SNA to our late-night reservation at Pizzeria Mozza. I had some trepidation because 1) I have heard conflicting stories about the food and 2) sometimes Mario Batali gets on my nerves. We arrived and were immediately seated. It took us some time to decide but we ended up with the Wedge Salad with Gorgonzola Dressing, the Ricotta with Currants and Pine Nuts, the Margherita Pizza, and the pizza with Egg, Bacon, Yukon Gold Potato, and Onions.
The Wedge Salad was excellent and we loved the dressing. The Ricotta was a dream and just luscious,but we decided to get some of the thick garlicky Pane Bianco. Wow. What a combo. Then, our pizzas arrived and we were swooning. The Margherita was just perfect, but the Egg, Bacon and Potato pizza just stole the show. We particularly loved the crust on the pizzas, crunchy on the exterior's edge, but a little soft and chewy on the inside. The best of both worlds to be sure. We ended our meal on a light, but tangy note of the three sorbets: tangerine, grapefruit, and Meyer Lemon. Outstanding, particularly the grapefruit.
It was a resounding success. I did have two minor issues. First, they really need to turn the music down. I know Batali loves his rock and roll, but this was just too loud. Second, while we loved the salad, it needs to be raised just a notch because the mild flavors get drowned out by the rest of the meal.
Chili Chutney (Lake Forest) - This tiny Afghan place in Lake Forest was a surprise arrival to the neighborhood, and my husband J. had tried it and raved about it. So, we ventured in and were warmly greeted by the staff. We took a quick look at the menu and placed our order of one Chicken Kebob platter, one platter of Mantu (a plate of meat and onion dumplings in a sour cream sauce), and an order of the Leek Boloni, a tortilla-like flatbread stuffed with chopped leeks and served with a yogurt/sour cream sauce that we spiced up with the cilantro chutney and the tangy tomato hot sauce.
The kebab was excellent. Lots of moist chicken pieces served on a lovely bed of rice. The mantu were fantastic. They were robust in flavor and we loved the sour cream sauce. But the boloni was the big winner here. The serving was huge and the flavor was pure deliciousness. What a wonderful treat!
Chili Chutney was the bomb. And for our troubles, we paid a pittance of about $30.00. This place is a true gem.
Capital Grille (Costa Mesa) - We were celebrating Valentine's Day after we swore off ever going out to dinner on the actual day for reasons everyone is well aware of. So, we decided to have steak... and a lot of it.
I was a bit put off that we had made our reservation well before our arrival, but still had to wait 20 minutes past our reservation time to be seated. We did, however, receive a nice table and a very efficient, if not stoic, waiter. The onion and lavosh breads served beforehand were excellent. We nibbled through the bread and made our selections: one Caesar Salad, one Wedge Salad, one Steak Au Poivre for me, and the Porcini-rubbed Delmonico Steak with Balsamic Vinegar. For our sides, we had the Au Gratin Potatoes and the Green Beans with Heirloom Tomatoes and Onions.
The salads were really great. My Caesar was fresh, crisp, had plenty of cheese and the dressing was very bold. I loved it! J.'s Wedge Salad was a classic preparation and it was grand. No complaints here. Our steaks were just as wonderful, with plenty of peppercorns in the sauce for my steak and J's steak was pure earthy goodness with the lovely porcini rub. The sides were very good, but the Green Beans were killer. We finished off our meal with the Capital Grille Strawberries which were tossed with port and Grand Marnier and served with house made vanilla ice cream. They were outstanding.
All in all, a very good way to celebrate.
Casa Franco (Mission Viejo) - This little Mexican joint in a strip mall at the I-5 and Alicia Parkway is a nice neighborhood place where you can get a great Mexican meal. Sundays there always reminds of a gay bar with the thumping dance music (but it isn't loud, just there) and bottles of beer and margaritas flowing.
J. and I each had the 3-item combo: tacos, enchiladas, chile rellenos, all of which were comforting and quite tasty. The salsa and chips were very, very good and they heat in the salsa had us mopping our brow. It was a great lunch that kept us filled for the day.
Honda-Ya (Tustin) - Ah, our old favorite. Sadly, we left a bit disappointed. The food is still very good. We feasted on Ton Katsu, rice, stir-fried veggies, Japanese short ribs, Shrimp Tempura, and gyoza. But some of our favorites were missing as they revamped the menu. Gone where the garlic greens (green beans served with pork belly) and the deep-fried shrimp shumai.
As I said, everything was good, but the removal of our favorites left us feeling a bit sad at our visit.
The Olde Ship (Santa Ana) - Oh, where has this place been all of our lives? We stumbled into this place after having wanted to try it for so long, and we should have gotten here much, much sooner. The interior is just charming and reminded me of the pubs I visited when I was in London many, many, many years ago.
We were seated at a very nice table and we were trying to choose from the plethora of offerings. But we started with an ale for J. and a hard cider for me. Then, we decided to start with the Sausage Rolls and then proceed to the Seafood Platter for J. and the Scottish Bridie for me.
The sausage rolls were fantastic. They were hot, flaky, and when topped with the pickled onions and the mustard, we were in heaven. J.'s Seafood Platter was a steal and he was very pleased with the amount of seafood and the mound of chips. I am sure we also used more than our fair share of malt vinegar. My Scottish Bridie was a steak and whisky pie and was out of this world. The meat has been braised in a combination of beef stock and whisky and then topped with a pastry cover. Wonderful. I particularly loved the fact that you could still taste the whisky. The mashed potatoes served with it was smooth as silk and the gravy was rich and meaty. The peas were pretty basic, but cut the richness of the plate a bit.
As much as we enjoyed our meals, we were not prepared for what we had for dessert: Rhubarb Crumble with Custard Sauce. Oh, my. It was pure ambrosia. Tangy, sweet, and decadent, this huge, bubbling portion was one of the best desserts I have ever had. So simple and yet it hit the right note. And God bless custard sauce. Yum indeed.
However, the Olde Ship is clearly adding some sort of sedative to its meals because we went home and passed out until it was time for me to get back to SNA.
So, another great culinary trip to "the OC." The highlights were the Egg, Bacon, and Potato Pizza, the Boloni, the steaks, and the Rhubarb Crumble. Hey, that would make a great meal right there!
Thanks, SoCal!! See you again soon!
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Honda Ya Japanese Restaurant
556 El Camino Real, Tustin, CA 92780
Casa Franco
24395 Alicia Pkwy Ste 3, Mission Viejo, CA 92691
Olde Ship
1120 W 17th St, Santa Ana, CA 92706
Chili Chutney
25262 Jeronimo Rd, Lake Forest, CA 92630
Pizzeria Mozza Newport Beach
800 West Coast Hwy, Newport Beach, CA 92663
Cheese Selection at Phoenix-area Whole Foods?
Whole Foods has a good selection, but I think it is woefully overpriced. Still, you can get some great raw milk cheeses that are exceptionally good. I think the Raintree location (North Scottsdale) has the better selection.
I found Wedge & Bottle to be a charming store with a lackluster cheese selection and fairly high prices.
Oddly enough, I have been quite impressed with the cheese selections at Fresh & Easy and Costco. The F&E at 40th and Camelback has sheep, goat and cow milk cheeses of all types. Over the holidays, we feasted on raw milk cheddar, herbed goat cheese, Humbolt Fog, Aged Smoked gouda, a lovely Brie, and, our favorite, a Spanish sheep's milk cheese called P'tit Basque. We paired the P'tit Basque with some of the F&E Garlic Crisp crackers and some Bonne Maman Cherry Preserves, and it was pure ambrosia.
Good luck on your cheese hunt!
The Cost of Cream Circa February 2012
Thanks, em.
Yeah, you can get milk here for a song. Even the convenience marts are selling it for $3.00 a gallon.
I hope the spike on cream ends soon as I really want to break in the new ice cream maker.
The Cost of Cream Circa February 2012
For Christmas, I treated myself to a nice Cuisinart Ice Cream maker. I also bought a couple of high recommended ice cream recipe books and thought I would make some homemade ice cream as a treat after some important football game that was being played to day.
So, I went to my local market and just about had a heart attack when I saw that heavy cream was $6.99 a quart! Seven bucks for a quart of cream. So, I ventured over to a couple of other markets and the prices were not much better.
I really was dumbfounded since I bought a quart of cream during the holidays for a wonderful rice pudding I make and it was about $3.50 for the quart.
Meanwhile, every store is all but giving whole, 2% and skim milk away. A week ago, our local Safeway had a gallon of milk for $1.49 if you bought two, but a single half gallon was $1.59. Today, I could get a gallon of milk just about anywhere in Phoenix metro for under $2.50.
While I completely understand that cream and milk are not the same thing and the processing and distribution are different, I am bowled over by the near doubling of the cost of cream in less than two months and the near bargain basement prices for milk.
Is anyone else seeing the same thing in their neck of the woods? Did I miss some story about the great heavy cream shortage of 2012?
Sadly, I am shelving the ice cream maker and the books until cream is a bit more affordable, which I hope will be soon.
BBQ in PHX? I'm from Texas
As I noted above, I agree that the ribs are great.
For my visit to Pork on a Fork, unfortunately, that was about the only thing worth visiting for and since I live in Arcadia, there has to be a much bigger draw than that to get be to travel that far.
Your observation about the fries is right on target. They come from a commercial freezer bag which I saw being pulled out when I was there. The cole slaw? From a Sysco-style gallon jug.
Maybe - again maybe - if I am in the neighborhood and starving, I might give them another chance, but from what you describe, it still strikes me as the kind of place where the owner wins BBQ contests and someone encouraged him that winning said contests makes him a budding restauranteur.
Um... no.
Vincent on Camelback's
That wouldn't really inspire me to return to Vincent's. Groupon or side dining room notwithstanding, I expect to be treated with the same respect as any other customers and be given the same quality of food supposedly served when Chef Vincent is manning the kitchen.
Suggestion to people who dine out in groups and get separate bills
Most servers are quite competent in handling these issues.
The best way we saw it handled was a server who took the bill and all of our various forms of payment and said that while he was processing the transactions, someone would freshen our drinks and he would return. Moments later, a member of the bus staff arrived with pitcher to refill our drinks by the time we were wrapping up the conversation and finishing our round of water and sodas, the server was back with our bills.
I am sure he was gone 10 minutes or so, but getting fresh drinks and continuing our conversation made his absence pass quickly.
Restaurant Websites - At this point they should pretty much be mandatory [moved from General Topics]
Any restaurant owner who would spend that amount of money on a website should not be in business and clearly has done little research.
It is exceptionally easy to set up your own website (or get your geeky nephew to do it for $50.00). Buying a domain is less than $20, and often much cheaper. You can have a decent webhost for as low as $8.00 a month which usually comes with "website tonight" software and plenty of tutorials.
Most people don't want some large, extravagant, bells-and-whistles, site with forced music. They want an information page stating name, cuisine style, address, hours, a link to the menu (which you can print out and scan as a PDF and upload with the expense being the scanner which will only set you back about $50 for a decent one). Throw in some photos of the interior of the restaurant and picture of the owner and his staff and - TA DA! - an informative website.
All for under $150 a year and a minimal amount of time investment.
Restaurant Websites - At this point they should pretty much be mandatory [moved from General Topics]
Sadly, there are far too many restaurant owners who haven't a clue about using social media, much less putting up a website.
Restaurant Websites - At this point they should pretty much be mandatory [moved from General Topics]
That would suggest to me that the restaurant owner has either no business plan or a bad business plan. Putting up a functional and informative and accurate website is neither costly nor time consuming. It also isn't rocket science as every webhosting client I know has plenty of "website tonight" software packages that comes with the monthly hosting fee (along with plenty of tutorials).
As for more than one page, you have a point. However, you can buy a nice, effective scanner for $50.00 and then print out your menu as it changes and scan it as a PDF, upload it in seconds and there you have it: functional, informative and accurate.
Many restaurant owners are their own worst enemies in this endeavor because they have convinced themselves that putting up a website is akin to learning nuclear physics, so they would rather ignore a great benefit rather than challenge their own beliefs.
Tacos Atoyac
The hubby and I just got back from Tacos Atoyac. In a word: WOW! We were blown away by the food. We had various tacos (fish, lengua, al pastor, carne asada) and all were excellent. I particularly found the flour Quesadilla to be outstanding. We also had the molotes and the corn quesadilla and the horchata. This was an excellent lunch and was complete dirt cheap.
A true gem in Phoenix.
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Tacos Atoyac
1830 W Glendale Ave, Phoenix, AZ 85015
Brandy suggestions
I just got back from New Orleans, and the discovery of the Brandy Milk Punch was proof of a loving deity.
It is a classic brunch cocktail (and very New Orleans), but it paired quite well my chicken and potato lunch at Galatoire's. Here's the standard recipe:
1.5 oz. of brandy
1 oz. simple syrup
1/2 bar spoon of quality vanilla extract
2-3 oz. of Half & Half
Add all ingredients into a shaker glass. Add some ice and shake for about 20 second. Strain over fresh ice in an Old Fashioned glass and top with a little bit of fresh nutmeg.
It was an excellent drink.
Do you get crummy table if using Opentable?
A week ago, my husband and I returned from New Orleans. Before our travels, I booked reservations via Open Table for the following restaurants: Dante's Kitchen, Emeril's, Dominique's on Magazine, and Couchon.
In every single instance, we received arguably the best table in the house. I noted on the reservations that we were big guys with broad shoulders, so a spacious table would be appreciated. Not a single problem as we were take to four-tops instead of two-tops and all of them were perfect for people watching and comfortable.
Similarly, there were two other restaurants we had made reservations with online through their own reservations system (i.e. not OT). Again, both restaurant (Commander's Palace and K-Paul's) gave us what I would consider premium seating. In the instance of the former, we were seated in the middle of the lush garden on Halloween Day with brilliant sunshine, a soft autumn breeze, and the occasions fall leave twirling down to our table. For K-Paul's we were seated on the second story balcony at a four-top overlooking the parade of people in costumes for Halloween.
With all online reservations, we discovered that we were treated quite well despite the fact that until we arrived, we were merely digital representations of ourselves.
Day 6 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Parkway Bakery, Evan's Creole Candy Company, Cafe du Monde)
We stayed at the Dauphine Orleans in the Hermann House section across the street from the main hotel. It was quite lovely.
Day 6 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Parkway Bakery, Evan's Creole Candy Company, Cafe du Monde)
And, so, we arrived at our last day. It was a quiet time as we packed our bags and said goodbye to our lovely and quirky suite and took one last look around the courtyard.
We checked our bags with the bellman and then retrieved our car saying we would be back around 3 PM to get our bags and head to the airport.
Our first stop was to get lunch at Parkway Bakery. We parked in the lot in the back and made our way to an open two-top in the bar. We were warmly greeted and handed menus and our drink order was taken (two Diet Cokes). We reviewed the menu and then asked for recommendations from our server who was doubling as the bartender.
He suggested we get a large Roast Beef and Gravy Po Boy and a large Shrimp Po Boy, have them cut in two and then share. We took his advice and added a side of fries.
About 15 minutes later, our Po Boys arrived. I started with the Roast Beef and Gravy and I was thrilled. I mean, really thrilled. The sandwich was thick, meaty, messy, and alive with great flavor. I loved it! It was an exceptional sandwich. J. had the other half and was very happy with the Po Boy and was all but licking up the remains on the butcher paper used to wrap it.
Next up was the Shrimp Po Boy. This was packed with shrimp and they were crunchy and plump, fresh and well cooked. The mix of the shrimp and it being dressed made this one a winner. However, we were really wowed by the Roast Beef, so this took a back seat.
Unfortunately, the fries were a bit lackluster. They were okay, but in retrospect, we probably would have been just as pleased if we didn't order them.
We left Parkway with big smiles on our faces and full tummies. It was a great final full meal in New Orleans.
Before we headed to he airport, we decided to do a little shopping for gifts and I decided to get a box of Pralines from Evans Creole Candy Store near the French Market. Besides getting a box of traditional Pralines, I got a maple one for J. and a chewy one for myself.
The traditional Pralines were very good, and nice choice for gifts for friend. I found them not as good as Southern Candymakers, but much better than Aunt Sally's. J. said his Maple Praline was good, but wasn't spectacular. My chewy Pralines was, well, awful. It had a decent flavor, but the texture was terrible. It was like chewing gummy, pasty, taffy. Yuck. I was more than happy to dispose of it as quickly as possible. Still, the traditional Pralines saved the day.
We started walking back to the car and realized we had to have one more round at Cafe du Monde. It was a bit nippy outside, so we sat inside and waited about 10 minutes before getting our order taken. Two orders of beignets and two Cafe au Laits were requested and we only waited five minutes before our goodies were delivered. The two orders were piled high on one plate and smothered in powdered sugar.
The beignets were, of course, wonderful. Hot, crunchy and chewed, we gobbled them down and then realized that wearing dark colors to CdM was pretty much the wrong decision. It was one bite of donut and then a clean up, another bite and another clean up, and one and on. The Cafe au Lait was great.
We did one final cleaning and then headed for the car. Gathering our bags, we were profusely thanked by our valet who had taken such good care of us and we headed to I-10 and then to Louis Armstrong Airport.
We had a wonderful time, great meals, and only a few issues. However, this was the finest vacation J. and I have ever had and we were so pleased to be able to celebrate our anniversary in New Orleans.
Thank you, New Orleans.
We will be back!
Day 5 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Galatoire's, Dante's Kitchen, Bar Uncommon)
Galammander's.
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
We are both big boys and always have been. We also walk everywhere when we vacation, except for really far places. We easily walked five miles a day we were in New Orleans.
Day 5 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Galatoire's, Dante's Kitchen, Bar Uncommon)
It was another day of sleeping in and the harsh realization that it was our last full day in New Orleans. We thoroughly enjoyed the rain dripping down onto the courtyard and just lounged around in the suite before getting dressed up and heading to Galatoire's for lunch.
Wearing ties and jackets and looking quite spiffy, we made the brief walk encountering only a few sprinkles along the way. I was prepared to have to wait for a table, but when we entered, there were several tables available and we were immediately seated at a four-top near the front window.
The room was bustling with activity and conversation and there was a birthday celebration going on at one of the tables which had been filled with bouquets of flowers for the celebrant. We loved the atmosphere with the mirrors walls, the muted green wallpaper, the two-blade ceiling fans, and the old-fashioned lighting fixtures.
We were given water and menus and decided to take our time. While we decided, we ordered two Brandy Milk Punches. In a few minutes, both arrived along with a hot loaf of bread and soft butter for spreading. The Brandy Milk Punches were so delicious that we decided these would be perfect for Christmas Eve, just before heading off to bed to dream of Santa and dancing gingerbread people. The combination of brandy, milk, and just a sprinkle of nutmeg on top was amazing. It was an excellent way to start the meal.
So, we then ordered our meals. J. started with the Duck Crepe, which would be followed by the Salad Maison and then the Crabmeat Ravigote. I went with the Souffle Potatoes, the Green Salad with Garlic, and the Chicken Bonne-Femme. We also ordered a side of Onion Rings.
We dove into the bread and it was perfect. Crisp on the outside and light and fluffy on the inside, we gobbled it up while sipping on our punches.
A few moments later, our appetizers arrived. The Duck Crepe was very interesting with the juice of the cherries swirling around on the plate. We each took a bite and were very happy. The duck filling was well seasoned and the crepe was tender and eggy. The flavor of the cherries and the pistachios were such a nice addition. This was a big hit. The Souffle Potatoes were also quite interesting. They were tasty and lovely, but light as angel's hair. J. described them as "potato-scented air" which would be accurate. We loved dipping them in the accompanying Bearnaise sauce. These were very unique.
Shortly after polishing off the first course, we were given our salads. Nothing monumental here, but both where the same salad for all intents and purposes, except that J's salad had a different vegetable base and I had minced garlic on mine. The dressing was tangy and light and this was a nice way to get ready for the main attraction.
J.'s Crabmeat Ravigote was a chunks of crabmeat swimming in a pool of Hollandaise and Bechamel sauces. J. took one bite and uttered an exclamatory "Oh, man!" He was quite happy. However, we also knew that his cardiologist was muffling his sobs into his pillow. J. said the dish was "pure decadence" and loved every single bite.
My Chicken Bonne-Femme was a large, boneless chicken breast that was grilled and then covered with a mixture of bacon pieces and sauteed onions. This was a perfect comfort dish for a drizzly afternoon. It was delicious and filling. It also came with perfectly fried potato slices. What a great dish. The onion rings were excellent, and not greasy at all.
We passed on dessert as we were absolutely stuffed. We had great service, if a bit stoic, but a wonderful time at Galatoire's. I think J. summed it up best when he said, "You can tell this is a classy place where who knows how many business deals have been sealed." I completely agreed.
We spent the afternoon doing little but enjoying the city and then found ourselves heading for our last meal. Thankfully, it was a casual place. While we loved dressing up, we were ready to be in jeans and a henley with a flannel shirt.
Our destination for our final meal was Dante's Kitchen, which is directly across the street from Brigtsen's. We parked nearby and entered. We were taken to a comfortable table in the house turned restaurant and perused the cocktail menu. J. ordered something called the "Aunt Betty" and I had a concoction called the "Old Cuban."
Our drinks came out quickly and we placed our order before tasting them. J. started with the Dante's Pot Likka, then the Covey Rise Green Salad and, for his main, the Confit Pork Steak and Spare Ribs. I would start with the Shrimp and Grits, the Pumpkin Soup and then the Chicken Under a Brick.
We sat back and sipped our drinks. My Old Cuban was tart, tangy and very refreshing. I liked it. J.'s drink was interesting in that is was incredibly smooth; so much so that you could only taste the alcohol on the back end. The maple edge to the drink was really good.
While waiting for our appetizers, we were treated to a searing hot mini cast iron skilled of Dante's Molasses Bread with Honey Butter. It was fantastic. I loved the rich flavor and the cake like density of the bread. It was a perfect autumn dish. J. enjoyed it as well.
Our appetizers were presented and I had three big head-on shrimp watching me salivate. I grabbed one of the shrimp bodies and indulged. The meat was plump and perfectly cooked, and the BBQ sauce was very spice and savory, which had me grinning. J. loved the shrimp heads. The grits were excellent, but with the addition of the BBQ sauce, they were divine. I was moaning in pleasure. J. closed his eyes and savored the taste when he had a bite.
J.'s Pot Likka was a little cauldron of slow braised beef in its own juice with some goat cheese and fig mustard added. Little slices of grilled bread were included. J. was thrilled. The Pot Likka was exceptional: rich, meaty and so comforting. We were both loving every drop.
Our second course arrived and my Pumpkin Soup was steaming away with the wafts of steam pushing the aroma of the soup right into my face. It was awesome. The taste was even better. The soup leaned more toward the chicken stock used as the base for flavor with the pumpkin as a supporting cast member. I was very happy with this.
J.'s Covey Rise Salad was a mix of field greens, Brioche croutons, Gala apple matchsticks and a chestnut dressing. It was excellent. The apples were crisp and the greens were fresh, but the croutons stole the show. This was a very good salad, but the clear winner for this course was the soup.
Our mains arrived and I was spellbound by my Chicken Under a Brick. This half chicken was slightly smushed from the weight of the brick and gave way the minute I sliced a bit with my knife. The chicken was coated in a maple glaze and I was all but jumping up and down in excitement at the taste. It was just a brilliant preparation and I would have to say it was the single best dish we had during our entire trip. The accompanying bacon potato hash cake and fried egg made the whole thing even better. Absolutely sublime.
J.'s Confit Pork Steak and Spare Rib was amazing. The pork steak and spare rib were both fork tender, and were served with a spicy tomato-based BBQ sauce which helped to cut the richness of the confit-styled meats while adding its own contribution to the meal. The meats were served with a healthy serving of Samosa-spiced peas and potatoes, which J. devoured. He said they added a unique counterpoint to the straight-forward southern preparation of the meats.
When we were done, we were too full to even think about dessert, so we departed and realized that Dante's Kitchen was one of the best meals we had in New Orleans.
On the way back to the hotel, I reminded J. that we had two drinks left on our Nola "Bucket List" of cocktails we had to try. They were the Ramos Gin Fizz and the Vieux Carre. So, we decided to pop into Bar Uncommon and see if famed bartender Chris McMillan was tending. Luck was with us and he was there. We took two seats at the bar and ordered the last two drinks. Mr. McMillan chuckled a bit at my order of a Ramos Gin Fizz, but proceed to make it in his forthright fashion. A few moments later, our drinks were sitting in front of us. I tried my Ramos and - WOW! - was a fantastic cocktail, and certainly right at the top of my list. The Vieux Carre was also top notch and delicious.
Since I was driving, one was enough for me, but J. wanted something else and told Mr. McMillan he was a fan of rum. Like lightning, Mr. McMillan pulled a bottle here, a few bottles over there and in short order, J. was enjoying a Rum Old Fashioned. It was Nirvana in a glass for J. and we were both just floored by Mr. McMillan's knowledge of drinks and alcoholic beverages. Every order was a history lesson and we felt honored to be getting the chance to be served by Mr. McMillan. It was a fabulous ending to a wonderful culinary day.
And, thankfully, we ended the day with cocktails, for the alcohol deadened the pain of realizing that in less than 24 hours, we would be on our way home.
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Galatoire's Restaurant
209 Bourbon St., New Orleans, LA 70130
Brigtsen's Restaurant
723 Dante St, New Orleans, LA 70118
Dante's Kitchen
736 Dante Street, New Orleans, LA 70118
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
The only pictures I have is me before and after the Hand Grenade.
Day 2 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Antoine's Annex, Commander's Palace, K-Paul's)
She is a he. :o)
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
Christine,
It is located at 2815 Frenchman Street, which puts it north of the I-10 off of Elysian Fields. I think that is in the Seventh ward, but could be off a bit.
And we are already planning a repeat visit. :o)
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
Christine,
I am not sure if Paul or Will were there. They did have a substitute host for the Karaoke.
Thanks for the compliments. They are very much appreciated.
You are correct that things are winding down. We are packing our bags now before one final lunch and then a bit of shopping and then to the airport.
I will post my last two reports over the next day or two.
Day 4 - A Phoenician's Tour of NOLA (Elizabeth's, Southern Candymakers, Couchon, Celebration Rum Distillery, Dominique's on Magazine, Tropical Isle)
Day 4 had us up fairly early and we decided to have breakfast. So, we got the car and headed to Elizabeth's. We had thought about walking to it, but ultimately we were glad we took the car.
We stepped into the little place and loved the atmosphere. The colorful interior and the cool tablecloths were fun and inviting. We took a seat and were given menus and water. We decided to both get the Eggs, Grits, Biscuit and Praline Bacon. J. asked for an additional biscuit as well as some sausage gravy on the biscuits. I also ordered a side of the Callas.
It wasn't too long before the Callas arrived. About a half dozen fried rice orbs sat in a bowl and were dusted with powdered sugar. The server brought us honey and maple syrup for them. I dove in and really liked them. The crunchy exterior and light interior was spot on. I loved the flavor of the Callas, but the honey went better with them than the maple syrup. I loved them quite a bit. J. did as well, and described them as being similar to French toast donut holes.
Our full breakfasts arrived and it was a tremendous amount of food. J. immediately started in on the biscuits and gravy. He really liked the sausage gravy which was filled with sausage and very peppery. He also liked the density of the biscuits. He also like the fact the biscuits were not drowned in the gravy. I personally thought the biscuit was far too dense for my taste. It had a great flavor, but it was just too heavy.
Both of us though the eggs were sort of... there. There wasn't much to them and mine were overcooked. But was the eggs lacked, the Praline Bacon more than made up for. We loved every single bite. It was a meaty, slightly sweet and somewhat nutty in flavor. A true winner. We also loved the grits that were filled with butter and cheese. They were light and savory and a wonderful treatment of them.
We finished our meals and then headed back to the Quarter to walk around the French Market. Wanting a little treat, we stopped in the Southern Candymakers shop and got some pralines. I chose a traditional one as well as a coconut praline. J. had a Chocolate-covered Oreo, a Chocolate-covered Tortues, and a traditional praline. I thought the traditional praline was excellent. However, the coconut praline, while yummy, just missed the mark in satisfaction. J. liked the Oreo because of the quality of the chocolate covering, and really liked the Tortues, but found it exceedingly sweet.
At 1:30 PM, we made our way to Couchon for lunch. Parking proved to be a challenge, but we made it into the restaurant and were immediately seated. The restaurant had such a large selection of tempting items, we were chomping at the bit to dig in.
Too bad for us the restaurant fumbled right out of the gate with some of the worst rolls I have been served in quite some time. Even the lousy Brown and Serve rolls in the plastic wrapper that my grandmother insisted on serving during Sunday dinners were better than these dry, flavorless hockey pucks.
But, we set that aside and moved to ordering our beverages. I had the Voodoo Bengal Beer from Tin Roof Brewery that was refreshing and satisfying with a slight edge to it. J. had the Apple Bobber cocktail that featured peach liqeur, apple moonshine and some fruit juices. It was very tasty and J.'s first experience with moonshine, and he found the drink stronger yet smoother than he expected.
Our server took our order and we were not shy. We ordered to share the Oyster Roast, the Charred Onion Hushpuppies, the Iceberg Salad with Buttermilk Dressing with Bacon and Radish, the Mushroom Salad with Deep Fried Beef Jerky and Lemon Vinaigrette, the Louisiana Couchon with turnips and cracklings, and the Braised Pork Cheeks with Sauerkraut Potato Cakes.
The first thing to hit our table were the Hushpuppies. They were piping hot and served with a Goat Cheese dipping sauce. They were crunchy on the outside but so light and fluffy on the inside. Still, we had to wait for them to cool. When we finally got to eat them, we were impressed. The charred onion gave a burst of earthiness and the goat cheese sauce added a creamy edge. Following these were our salads. The winner of the two was the Mushroom Salad. We adored the dressing which was bright and fresh, and balanced the richness of the pork cracklins and mushrooms. A very good dish. My salad was an iceberg wedge with buttermilk dressing and sprinkled with bacon bits and some radishes. A straightforward presentation with a nice dressing and a nice salty addition from the bacon. I was happy with the choice.
The Braised Pork Cheeks arrived and the cheeks fell apart at the touch of our fork. The potato cakes were great at mopping up the juices from the cheeks. We thought this was a solid dish. The Louisiana Couchon was good, but didn't really wow us. It was a perfectly serviceable dish, but it just didn't stand out.
The real winner for J. was the Oyster Roast. Six oysters on the half shell were treated with a spicy sauce. He gobbled them up (oysters aren't my thing) and found them creamy and delicious.
We passed on dessert, but left pleased. However, we were not blown away. It was a pleasant lunch and we enjoyed it (sans the awful bread), but it would not be on our list of repeat places on our next visit to New Orleans.
One thing we had on our list to do was to visit the Celebration Rum distillery. It seems few people know about this place and the fact they offer tours, but we went and had a fantastic rum Iced Tea cocktail while being given a tour of the little plant where they showed us how rum was made from molasses to some great drinking rum. It ended with a tasting of their four rum products. All were excellent.
After spending the day enjoying the city and the distillery, we got dressed up and headed to Dominique's on Magazine. Walking in, we loved the interior with its white walls and glowing votive candles. We were seated at a four-top in the middle of the room and were given water and a yeast roll with butter. We placed our order drinks of an Earl Grey Gardens cocktail for me and a Lemongrass Pisco Sour for J.
We munched on the yeast rolls while awaiting our drinks and they were warm and tasty. Our drinks arrived and I was quite impressed with my Earl Grey Gardens, which contained Ketel One Oranje, Earl Grey Syrup, Lemon, Soda, and Thyme. It was incredibly refreshing and light. I loved the Earl Grey aftertaste that coated my tongue. Lovely. J.'s Lemongrass Pisco Sour contained Pisco, Lemongrass Syrup, Canton Ginger Liqueur, Lemon, Lime, and egg white. J. ooohed and aaahed from the first sip and it packed quite a punch of flavor. It was excellent.
With a few sips under our belts, we ordered our meals. My starter was the Duck Confit with Poached Pear which would be followed by the Lobster and Celery Root Salad (which I would share with J.) and the Grilled Island Spice Rubbed Pork Porterhouse. J. selected the Charred Morgan Ranch Beef Tartare and the Tasting of Lamb.
When the Duck Confit arrived, the aroma saturated my nose and I felt like I could have floated away on a duck-scented cloud. The duck meat was fork tender and sitting on a bed of Frisee and dressed with a cane syrup and apple cider vinaigrette. All I can say is that I went to my happy place with the first and subsequent bites. Truly spectacular. J.'s Beef Tartare was a cylinder of beef mixed with tamari and ginger and served with an avocado creme and thick, housemade potato chips. J. liked it better than other beef tartares he had encountered in the past. He did wish there had been a grain mustard or similar as an enhancement as opposed to the avocado creme, but he loved the dish and found it a perfect-sized portion for an appetizer.
Our Lobster and Celery Root Salad threw us both for a loop. We were expecting a pile of celery root with a smattering of chopped lobster meat. On the contrary, it turned out to be a lobster salad accented by some celery root slices and a basil aioli. The salad was packed with large pieces of claw meat and was fresh and delicious. We were so pleased with the salad we sang its praises. Just completely unexpected and completed delightful.
Then, it was time for our mains. My Pork Porterhouse was huge. It was nearly an inch thick and glistening with a spice rub. I dove in and it set my mouth on fire. I was so tickled. This had a great spice kick that did a nice burn on my lips and tongue. The meat was perfectly cooked and I couldn't have asked for a better preparation. The sides were local green kale & pork confit fricassee and cane syrup-glazed sweet potato. the kale was okay, but I am not a kale fan. The pork confit and the sweet potatoes were excellent. What a great entree.
J.'s Tasting of Lamb was a hit. It included a lamb chop, lamb osso bucco, and a grilled lamb tenderloin. The osso bucco was melt in your mouth tender and wonderful. The lamb chop was perfectly cooked with a pink inside and a charred outside. The tenderloins were good, but overshadowed by the other two components. The sides were local grown lima beans which were good but secondary to the meat. He was very pleased with his selection.
For our dessert, we shared a copy of the Goat Cheese Cake with honey and almonds. What a treat. Tangy, thick, rich and sensuous. It was a great ending to the meal.
As we left, we felt a nice, cool breeze with a hint of autumn dance across our faces and we commented on what a great night it was.
So, to further enjoy the night, we decided to go to Bourbon Street and take in the sights. Our first stop was Tropical Isle where we imbibed in this thing called a "Hand Grenade" which can best be described as a tool of the devil. It was sourish, tangy, strong and, well, I can't remember much more other than we ended up in Cafe Lafitte's in Exile doing Karaoke where I was, apparently, threatening to sing "Danke Schoen" by Wayne Newton. The one thing I do remember is the sheer terror in J's eyes when I pointed out that song. But, less Hand Grenaded heads prevailed and I sang "Octopus' Garden" by the Beatles. J. denies it, but I am sure he belted out something by Abba. (Note by J.: Stone Temple Pilots, thank you very much)
Alas, it was time to go home and get ready for our last full day in New Orleans.
