abowes's Profile
Natchitoches bound. Recommendations?
LSMSA???
Was in Natchitoches for my 20 year reunion in May '07, but can't for the life of me recall where/what we ate, beyond Lasyone's. I'm sure we ate elsewhere, as we only ate there once.
There is a restaurant at the end of the riverfront, they opened on a Sunday just for us for a lunch buffet. It was just ok. Breakfasts were at the B&B we stayed at, and one dinner was catered for the reunion. I'm sure there was at least one, maybe two other places we chowed, but I can't remember just now. Will try and post again if I recall.
ok! this is obscure but... Thibodaux, LA?
I'm from Thibodaux, believe it our not. I'm afraid you're in for a rude awakening. There really isn't much there - but you and your classmates can have great fun cooking for each other. Avoid the Chinese restaurantes at all costs! There's a nice Italian place in Houma that is lovely, but expensive, and I hear tell Houma even has a Thai place - a rarity, to say the least - although I haven't had the chance to try it. The last time I was at Freeman's the food was horribly oversalted; and the old ladies love Flanagan's, but I think it's an embarrassment.
I've heard mixed feedback about Envie's (sp), probably worth a shot.
Polizt's used to be the best place for fried seafood, but it's long gone.
Alison
Sel de la Terre: Wine Wednesday - experiences?
I wrote this report shortly after our return. I never got around to posting it... I was trying to write up the entire trip, and was depressing myself (while everything on the trip was "perfectly fine", not much was "wonderful!"). However, re-reading this, I'd say this was definitely one of the food highlights of the trip:
Wine Wednesday at Sel de la Terre: 4 courses, with paired wines, at three communal tables of 8. I'd been looking forward to this for quite a while. The theme was German/Austrian, wouldn't have been my first choice, but that's what there was for the time we were there. Our table had a couple from Ottowa, a couple now living in Boston, and a couple from Cambridge. First course: 3 different sausages (I forget the names, sorry) - good, but intensly rich, especially for a first course; sauerkraut (big twang); a bacon-wrapped potato garnish; Reisling (2006 Max Ferd Richter, "Estate", Riesling, Mosel-Saar-Ruwer, Germany), awfully sweet - would have been nice to have more eye-opening dry. Second course: Sautéed trout with lardons (~bits of bacon), haricots verts and pistachio - nice; 2006 Weingut Zahel, "Vienna Composition", Vienna, Austria - I just don't like Chardonnay 90% of the time. Third: Pork jägerschnitzel (breaded, fried pork) with spätzle - I loved this course, though the hunk of meat was entirely too big. The spätzle was wonderful, and the rich mushroom gravy was downright decadent. Cheese course: an Alsatian muenster with apple chutney and blackberry puree, 1995 Reisling. The cheese was a bit intense on its own, but with the accoutrements, it was fabulous.
Overall, I'm glad I went. Had I the option, I would have chosen a night different than German, and the wines were fine, but not eye-opening.
The other highlights were Trattoria Toscana (THE food highlight of the trip - the gorganzola walnut gnocchi, in particular, but everything, really), Toscanino's (serendipity brought us by this place, and I'd had the name written down on the "list 'o things to look out for" in my pocket... I had "porter wort" ice cream - bizarre and wonderful!!), and the boston cream pie (and *only* the Boston cream pie) at Legal Seafoods.
Again, I apologize for the delay.
North End, Fridays - Reservations a must?
Phooey. I was so looking forward to putting myself in the hands of serendipity.
Research, here I come .
North End, Fridays - Reservations a must?
DH and I will be in Boston the last week in March. That Friday is our anniversary, and the current plan is to spend Friday afternoon exploring the North End and have supper somewhere Italian. However, I'd rather not bother with reservations... I'd rather wander into someplace not fancy that looks/feels good and happens to be wherever we happen to be at the moment.
The question would be, is that nigh on impossible? Are we talking "must have reservations" anytime anywhere in that neighborhood on a Friday night? I'm happy to eat at the bar, I'm not happy to wait more than 1/2-an-hour - 45 minutes for a table. I have no idea what time I'm talking about, either, more of a "when the mood strikes" kind of thing... although I guess it also will depend on how much there is to explore and what time it all closes!
TIA,
Alison
Sel de la Terre: Wine Wednesday - experiences?
Thanks! We have reservations for the 26th, and I will post about the experience upon our return.
Sel de la Terre: Wine Wednesday - experiences?
My husband and I will be in Boston March 25 - 30, and the Wine Wednesday 4-course tasting menu & wine pairing at Sel de la Terre for $45 per person has caught my eye. I'm wondering whether anyone has been, and if you would either post a review of your experience, or point me to it if you've already posted one (I did search, but I don't claim to be perfect).
Thanks in advance,
Alison
last minute "urgent" barolo question
Yeah - well, I certainly would not have chosen scallops, clams, and tuna, at the very least, for a big red of any sort - but wth it was fun nonetheless - and now I have concrete experience about what not to do :-)
last minute "urgent" barolo question
LOL - Yup, I pretty much did every thing wrong that I could have done wrong. "Tannin to stop a truck"... that pretty much describes it. I guess my dining companions were just being polite, but I was wondering if they were nuts!!
Ok... so buy a bottle to lay down for 10 years and then have it with the right food... crap, does that mean I can't try Barolo for 10 years???!?
last minute "urgent" barolo question
Oh, Mike, I'm fairly sure it was a poor match - we were having tapas. Scallops, clams, duck, lamb, eggplant, paella, tuna, crab, mushroom... it was all over the board.
last minute "urgent" barolo question
Thanks, all. I tried to drink mine slowly, so it would get some time in the glass, and it did improve through the hour - but, I didn't have time for what I suspect would have been very helpful. Given that I couldn't do that, I'd probably give it another try. I honestly couldn't taste much fruit, I felt overwhelmed by wood and tannin.
Everyone else at the table seemed pleased, but as it was, it was not an eye-opening experience for me. Definitely not what I would want from a $45 bottle experience. I'd tasted a $20 bottle of old vine grenache earlier in the day, and must say I would have preferred that.
Oh well, it was fun.
last minute "urgent" barolo question
Thanks, carswell! Don't have several hours, but will give it a little air, at least.
Will report back.
last minute "urgent" barolo question
Of course, it's just wine, so it's not "urgent"! But, I'm leaving the house in half an hour, and hoping to catch an "expert" online regarding the following:
I bought a 2003 Azelia Barolo today.
Would it be a big mistake to open tonight?
If not, should I decant it?
If so, for how long?
Thanks!
Alison
"Unsung" restaurants in Durham, NC
"but unbearably slow...and apparent tension among the ranks between management and staff..."
Yup, it's why I stopped going, and I was all about the place for a while there. No more for me.
20 minute wait too long?
40 minutes before you even got your drinks!! Yeah, should've led with that one!
Ugh.
Ad Hoc, an off night? (long post)
Her "I'll eat anything" husband SPIT OUT the duck, and it made the daughter nauseated to eat it... Well worth a negative review, if you ask me!! Blech!
Ad Hoc, an off night? (long post)
Ruth, I think the conversation about the duck was between daughter and mother, not the server.
Sounds awful, hi standards, but I would have complained... unless with my mother, who, at any cost will not let me do so (I'd rather suffer horrid food than upset my mom).
Wine Authorities, Durham, NC, Discussion Thread
I'm signed up for the (non-novice) Nov 15 (Rioja) and Dec 20 (Central Italy) classes - if anyone wants to say hi!
Cancelling Etiquette
Never in a million years would I think that you're up til midnight days ahead making pie dough to send me home with a pie! What makes you think they'd "understand" that? Did you tell them you'd be doing that?
I seem to remember somewhere (one of those etiquette book thingies) that once you say yes, you're in - someone had better be dead, bleeding, or deathly ill for a cancellation. But, my rule of thumb for events I organize is 48 hours. Anything less than that and you'd better really sell an apology or you're "off the list".
Recommended wine....
Anyone else have to keep a dictionary handy when reading Chowhound??!? :-)
Sometimes it's a word I've never seen, others it's used in an unexpected variation of meaning.
Trying to think of something on-point to add, but I've never tried Bogle.
Physiology of Taste
If you can't smell it, you can't taste it. Smell is a HUGE factor in the sense of taste.
When do plates get cleared?
I'm afraid I would have given in to the temptation to push the dishes onto the floor.
Secret Food Myths - Let the De-Bunking Begin!
Since when does KK give away donuts when the Hot Doughnuts Now sign is lit? This is the first I've ever heard of it, and I've had my share of Hot Doughnuts Now!
Petite Sirah
Jason - I know you spent a gazillion years in the industry, but... do you really have all this stuff just in your head??!?! How early on did you have it all in there? I might be able to remember one or two favorites, but I can't imagine having all those names and their associated grapes and percentages memorized!
So, I'm with Frodnesor in that while the name on the wine might instantly inform YOU of what's in the bottle, I would have to have your post with me in hand and look it up! :-)
Wine Authorities, Durham, NC, Discussion Thread
Classes! Real classes - up to 40 people, tables, chairs, multiple glasses laid before you for tasting multiple wines, presentations! I'm totally geeked about this place! Stopped by and asked a jillion questions tonight, and brought home a Poire for kicks and giggles.
Wine Authorities, Durham, NC, Discussion Thread
Ah - thanks, Bryan - I was wondering what the heck the machine they'd mentioned was, but forgot to Google it!
Petite Sirah
I read it as "of Petite Sirah, Peloursin, and Syrah, Syrah is the only one allowed in CdP".
Secret Food Myths - Let the De-Bunking Begin!
What do those yogurt drinks add to make them drink-consistency? My guess would be that *that's* what went bad and made your brother sick. But, I'm certainly no expert.
Durham Wine Shops
hm... from what I found online, it seemed to be two different things.
