chowdie's Profile
What food would you miss?
GREAT list Celeste! I have followed you for a while on chowhound your recommendations are always fabulous. Do you have a food blog?
We live in Mississippi, but spend about 6 months out of the year in New Orleans, where can I find 25 cent raw oysters? Also, I was wanting to make a big pot of red beans soon, do you have a recommendation for somewhere to get great ham hocks and sausage?
Love the best stop recommendation. We went to the cracklin festival this year and on the way we went on a five hour boudin tour, best stop was the best!
Ham hocks in Baton Rouge
I am not looking for grocery store hocks unless there is a company that distributes great ones. I ended up buying a grocery store hock because I couldn't find a good meat market. In my opinion, the hocks you use make a huge difference in the beans. We have a great meat market or pig farm really, in Mississippi where I get my hocks and I was thinking there has to be some great place in Baton Rouge. Is Matherne's or Bet-R what I am looking for?
Ham hocks in Baton Rouge
I am in Baton Rouge and making Red Beans, where can I get great ham hocks in the area?
sushi and groceries in Shreveport
Is there a good sushi restaurant in Shreveport? Also where is the best grocery store? Are there any good specialty markets worth visiting?
Clearwater Beach Breakfast Recommendation
Frog Pond is a great breakfast spot. Nothing fancy, huge portions of traditional breakfast food. Worth a trip.
New Orleans hound in Jackson, MS
Bon Ami is great. It is bring your own liquor fine dining, making it a very economical choice for great food.
New Orleans hound in Jackson, MS
There are two schools of sushi thought in Jackson - Nagoya or Little Tokyo. If you are a roll person than you would probably enjoy Nagoya. If you enjoy sashimi and crave FRESH fish go to Little Tokyo. The owners have a restaurant in Alaska and ship some exceptional selections direct. If you do go to Nagoya - do not order any of the more perishable sashimi (uni, giant clam, etc.) It has been bad a couple of times. If you are an uni person - don't miss Little Tokyo it is fabulous and always very fresh.
Aladdin, the middle eastern place on Lakeland is no longer open all night :( They renovated and changed the hours, but the food is very good.
I have to second your review of Julep. They are capable of making great food, but their kitchen is terribly inconsistent. The service is hit or miss - you could have a great waiter or you could have some kid that makes you want to pull your hair out.
Also, to add to the fine dining. Walkers is exceptional. I have lived in a lot of places known for their cuisine and Walkers is very high on my list. The chef, Derek Emerson, is extremely talented with an exceptional kitchen staff creating the consistency that is so important at that price. I think we will see Derek eventually get the national attention he deserves. That said, the consensus on Nick's is accurate Nick Apostle is also a very talented chef, but I would choose Walker's over Nick's. If your pocketbook can stand it, I would say try both and let me know what you think.
Also, Walkers has a great lunch and outdoor seating.
Jackson's Best
Skip the Elite and go to the Mayflower. Elite has been closed - the floor in the kitchen fell in, but I think they are reopening soon.
The Mayflower does not take reservations and they get pretty full on Friday and Saturday night, but sometimes the wait on the sidewalk outside can be an adventure. If you just want a fresh piece of fish this place is outstanding. Jerry Kountouris (sp?) is the owner and he's always there. Ask him what he got in that day before you order.
As far as the battle of the comeback goes they win the grand prize. So if you have had comeback dressing or are seeking the best comeback dressing this is it. You can buy it by the bottle if you ask.
They only serve beer so grab a bottle of whatever else you may want on your way.
Jackson's Best
Que Sera Sera is owned by the same people that own Deja Vu. Que Sera Sera is a great place to sit outside, they have a great patio and thats about all you can say good about it. The service is TERRIBLE, so bad it is a running joke. The food is not good either. If you do go and get something good - savor it. They are so inconsistent it will not happen again. The brunch menu is definitely better than the regular menu, but the last time we went for brunch my husband was hit by a flying umbrella from another table - the waitstaff found it very amusing. When the second umbrella went flying through the air breaking an iron light fixture attached to a brick pedestal headed stright for the baby and it was stull humorous to the entire waitstaff we said ENOUGH. If you decide to skip the food and sit outside and have a cocktail - order two at a time otherwise they will come at a very sobering rate ;)
Jackson's Best
It is impossible to beat Leatha's BBQ, but one option in the area is Big D's in Pocahontas. It is 20 minutes from Jackson, but well worth the trip if you are craving BBQ.
The Farmers Market restaurant at Woodrow Wilson is closed - they have attempted to close that Farmers Market and open a new one at the fairgrounds. It is all been one bid fiasco, but if you do want some great locally grown produce the best vendors are still at the location at West Street and Woodrow Wilson.
For soul food don't miss Peaches on Farish Street. On Thursdays? (call Mrs, Peaches and double check the day) they have blues music at lunch. It is the best in Jackson for soul food. It is also located on Farish Street which is a good Jackson stop. It is in the process of being redeveloped but if you are a fan of the blues this street has twice the history of Beale.
Jackson MS
Walkers is a wonderful option. Upscale American cuisine. Derek Emerson is a very talented chef that Jackson is very lucky to have.
Little Tokyo if you are feeling like sushi is another option very unique to Jackson. If you are feeling like sushi. This restaurant has been featured on the Food Network. The sushi is outstanding. I have lived everywhere and this is my favorite. The owners also own a sushi restaurant in Kodiak, Alaska. Many of their items are shipped directly from Alaska making it fresher than anything that anybody in this area has access to. My suggestion is to sit at the bar - the guys are great - and order chirashi omikase (chef's choice chirashi). You can tell them a couple of things that you really like and then just let them run with it. You will not be disappointed. If you more of a roll eater they do have some great rolls - ask for the book if they don't give it to you, it has more specials and rolls. They also have a Japenese menu that has a few more options than the regular menu (you can ask for it as well).
looking for outstanding sushi
Do not miss Kanno. It is located in Fat City in the strip mall across from the strip clubs close to the exotic clothing store :). We refer to it as stripper sushi.
It is just Elvis (the sushi chef),his wife, and his mother.
We ask Elvis to start making dishes and we will tell him when to stop.
Trust him.
He is wonderful. We have never had the same dish twice and we have loved every bite. It is so hard to not request previous dishes, but you're scared to miss his next creation.
So.... if you are looking for the best sushi in New Orleans and you have an adventurous side, this is it.
If you are visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras give them a call before you go.... they get out of town to avoid the craziness and go home to Japan for a couple of weeks.
The last time we visited we took three guests from Los Angeles. None of them have eaten better sushi. Kanno's card boast "California Style Sushi" - the consensus amongst them was that no one in California has sushi as good as this.
And don't miss the chocolates at the end of the meal. It is a sweet, cold, fudgy, dark, soft chocolate rolled in cocoa powder. mmmmmmm
Kanno Sushi
I can't believe it has taken so long for someone to repsond to you - as amazing as this guy is. Do not miss Kanno. It is located in Fat City in the strip mall across from the strip clubs close to the exotic clothing store :). We refer to it as stripper sushi.
It is just Elvis,his wife, and his mother.
We ask Elvis to start making dishes and we will tell him when to stop.
Trust him.
He is wonderful. We have never had the same dish twice and we have loved every bite. It is so hard to not request previous dishes, but you're scared to miss his next creation.
So.... if you are looking for the best sushi in New Orleans and you have an adventurous side, this is it.
If you are visiting New Orleans during Mardi Gras give them a call before you go.... they get out of town to avoid the craziness and go home to Japan for a couple of weeks.
The last time we visited we took three guests from Los Angeles. None of them have eaten better sushi. Kanno's card boast "California Style Sushi" - the consensus amongst them was that no one in California has sushi as good as this.
And don't miss the chocolates at the end of the meal. It is a sweet, cold, fudgy, dark, soft chocolate rolled in cocoa powder. mmmmmmm
