Thanks. My flights ended up being delayed almost 12 hours :(
Lunch plans turned into dinner plans then were cancelled altogether.
I ended up ordering a Donato's pizza to my hotel - not exactly
Organic, but a past familiar taste. Hope to return to visit family
later this year, if You have other suggestions!!

Former Lexingtonian will be in town this coming weekend and I need
a good restaurant to take several family members out for a casual meal.
I prefer to eat non processed local foods - I've lived towards the West
coast for 10 years so my standards have been changed! I am familiar
with AZUR, but that is about it. Any place else I should try??

Thanks, ktmoomau. This is exactly the sort of information I am looking for!

Thanks, Steve. I hadn't heard of Oohhs and Aahs - sounds tasty. I was considering Ben's because it is a Dc 'Institution' . . . good to know of other places in the area!

Palace. Nothing against Dahlia - love the food - but the Palace just seems more 'Seattle' to me.

Hey! Thanks to all the posts I've read over the past few days, I have a list of places I'd like to try while in DC in May for a conference. But despite my board searches, I have yet to find much information about 'responsible' restaurants - those that use responsibly raised and grown ingredients in their meals. Perhaps they just don't promote themselves as such? I try to cook with those type ingredients when I am home in Seattle; and although I will probably make a trip to Ben's (and maybe even to Ray's!), I don't want to have to base my diet for the week on overly processed menus. Any suggestions? I'll be staying close to the White House and am not afraid of the Metro!

It's funny, how we can get stuck in our comfort zones! I live in Belltown, walk everywhere, and when I dine out I usually stay in Belltown. The Paramount is just a few more blocks away, but I feel almost like a tourist when leaving my neighborhood! So I'm at a loss to come up with a place to eat before seeing RENT on Friday evening with friends. Any suggestions??

Thanks to all who offered advice a few weeks ago when I was researching great restaurants for my trip to New Orleans for the Critical Care Nursing Conference!
One of the highlights of my trip was Boucherie, a place I never would have heard about had it not been for this site. Thank You, THANK YOU! Wonderful comraderie, good food at an excellent price, and decent enough drinks and good inexpensive wines. I was a single diner, so was seated at the bar - and swiftly came to discover that Chris, the Barkeep, and the couple sitting down the bar from me had all lived in Seattle (where I currently live)! I could have ordered half the menu (and now regret that I didn't) but settled on the Boudin Balls served with a garlic Aioli (WOW), the pulled pork cake, and the bacon brownie. The only thing that I left on the plate was half the brownie - but I am not really a sweets person. I enjoyed the Oregon red blend along with my meal; if I had been seated before I began drinking I would have liked to try the Barrel of Monkeys but it was only available by the bottle. I would go to this restaurant several times a week if I lived closer!!!
My friends and I enjoyed a Sunday Jazz Brunch at Arnauds, We had wonderful service, great food, and the music was good. Great experience.
A couple of times during the conference I left the conference center and made my way over to Cochon Butcher. WONDERFUL! Reminded me a little of an updated Salumi (here in Seattle). AMAZING meats, wonderful service, even good tequila, wish it was closer as well :) If anyone is planning to attend a conference in NOLA, skip the conference center food court and come here instead :)
One evening we ate at MrB's - explicitly because of the information I got from this site about the Barbecued Shrimp. Allow me to say Oh My Golly Gracious Heck! AMAZING! The first words out of my mouth the next morning were "Mr B's Barbecued Shrimp"! Loaded with flavour (and fat), this is definately a taste to remember! Reception at the restaurant was cool, but out waiter (Pat?) was amazing and very attentive. Pimm's Cups along with dinner were exquisite.
Speaking of Pimm's Cups, my friends and I went on the Grey Line Cocktail Tour. Not cheezy at all! The tour guide was well versed in NOLA history, and related it to the bars and drinks in a seamless manner. I would reccomend this tour, and may even do it again when I return!
Twojaques (I KNOW I spelled that wrong) was worth trying, but the only course that stood out was the brisket. I could have eaten that brisket for each course and be happy!
Unfortunately, I chose to spend Thursday evening with a friend who didn't want to pay for the Royal Street NOWFE experience :( We happened to be walking on Royal Street, however, and I saw all the fun . . . perhaps I will have to come back next year???

With Many Thanks . . . and ENVY for all who can frequent these restaurants :) K.

I've been reading these boards for a few weeks now, and have posted a few times as well. I want to thank everyone who regularly posts and has taken the time to answer my questions :)

I was in NOLA once before, pre-K, but I arrived for a weeks stay with about $50 for food. (It can be done . . .. but not graciously!) I was able to check into my hotel early at 0100 - who says NOLA is not a southern city! I ordered an extra large pizza that I made last for several days, and ate a HUGE breakfast at Mother's almost every day (sneaking biscuits and ham into my handbag to eat later in the day), and tried to fill up as much as acceptedly possible at receptions at the conference I was attending, THANK THE GRACES I will not have to deal with such strategies again! i will not be able to afford the amazing wine dinners I have read Hunt describe, and I will not be able to enjoy all the places I would like to try. But I WILL be able to enjoy several 'high end' meals, and know from reading these boards the places I can go to for deals; as well as which of the 'more reasonable' places will give me an excellent experience.

Thanks to EVERYONE who frequently posts information on this board! I'll keep Ya'll (I'm originally Southern born) posted on which places I end up eating at!!!

NDBT, K

I just finished reading the book New Orleans Cuisine, and am wondering if the Creole Tomatoes I read about in the book are in season yet? Would I be able to find them at the Saturday Market? And how about Creole Cream Cheese?
Anxiously awaiting my trip next week!!!

Hey,
Looking forward to being back in the South and enjoying Biscuits & Gravy for breakfast. Where can I find the best? Thanks!

Thanks! I appreciate Your observations! As for the Royal Street Crawl, I was hoping it would be fun, that's what I was looking for validation on.

Hey,
I have a page full of restaurants I read about initially on this board. I always try to research the food in the area whenever I travel. Incredible way to learn things from people who have actually eaten in the places and not just reviewers!
As for Cascadia, I assume You mean the former Kerry Sears restaurant - he has moved on to Art at the new Four Seasons; and not the PNW area in general. Nice place, comfortable. I only had one meal there, really didn't stand out in my mind. But I used to love to go sit in the bar for Happy Hour and enjoy a 'Snowball Martini' (or was it called an Alpine martini?). Didn't really enjoy the mini burgers but absolutely loved the cones of frittes served with several sauces :)
Although I plan to have a few good meals while I am in town I am especially looking for tips on 'Happy Hour' or bar food & snacks reccomendations in particular.
Thanks so much!

I've seen the site for this, can anyone comment on the events? The Royal Street Stroll sounds fun, or I could do the event at the Superdome on Friday. Has anyone attended any of these events in the past? Are they worth the ticket prices? Thanks!

Thanks for the link - I have been wondering the same thing! I enjoy drinking the New Orleans style coffee with chicory, or having a coupla cups from a French Press, but I still need to have my espresso daily :) And there's not much worse than sub-par espresso.

Thanks, I'll put that place on my list!

What would travelers do without such boards?! Some friends and I will be in NO in a coupla weeks for a nursing conference. I have scanned the past week or more of posts, but still have some ??.
We will be staying in the FQ in a condo type place with a kitchen, Where is the closest small (or large!) place where we can purchase some supplies for the kitchen (snacks, and things to pack for lunch at the conference, I seriously doubt we will be actually cooking meals!) ??
What about Happy Hours? Are there any good ones between the conference center and the FQ? (No car, but not afraid of walking or taking public transportation)? I like to drink tequila, is there a bar that has a wide variety of tequilas?
I've been to NO before, but was so tight for $$ the last time I didn't get a chance to really try much. I'm really excited! Any tips would be appreciated, and if You're ever in Seattle I can reciprocate with suggestions :)

Thanks for the tips! the conference will be at McCormick center next week. So there will be lots of hungry and thirsty nurses in town!

Yep, heading out to NTI. And I haven't been in Chicago for 15 years or so. Did a GREAT Pubcrawl last year after NTI in Atlanta (Manuels, the Limerick (?), Euclid Ave Yacht Club and Vortex. But NOLA wins, hands down, for post NTI fun. Can't wait till it is there again, next year.

Any tips for Happy Hours with good small plates around the Loop or Mag.Mile?

Smiles to all - I've been lurking a while -
I'll be visiting Chicago next week for a conference, and staying on Ontario Street. I'll need to eat in restaurants almost every meal . . . and although I insist on quality food, I feel that doesn't necessarily mean expensive. Do ya'll have any tips on tasty food that won't spoil my budget? Happy Hours?
I'll try almost any food at least twice, I love beef and potatoes, real Mexican/South American, most Asian, Mediterranean, and I KNOW I'll have to try a hot dog and deep dish pizza while there. Any suggestions for a hungry traveler?