PART I: TheGritsnCheeseDish Hits the Big Easy! Come on Down to Visit New Orleans

Monica Peters of TheGritsnCheeseDish hit New Orleans this weekend; exploring everything from great food, the New Orleans Cooking Experience, the Lower 9th Ward, the Steamboat Natchez and more. Before jumping into the two-part story, get your feet wet by learning how to eat crawfish compliments of Mike from Court of Two Sisters. Many thanks to the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau!

-Monica

Maison Dupuy Hotel (1001 Rue Toulouse)

I stayed at the Maison Dupuy Hotel in the French Quarter at 1001 Rue Toulouse (also referred to as Toulouse Street). Some things that make this beautiful boutique hotel magnificent are it's short 2 block walk to famous Bourbon Street (you are far enough away from Bourbon to get a good night's sleep-minus the noise), excellent service, clean and comfortable rooms; and the free wifi. Again, did I mention the free wifi (i.e. free internet access)? Right down the street is the Riverwalk where you can take a cruise on the Steamboat Natchez, buy tour packages at the Lighthouse, shop, visit the Aquarium of the Americas and more. Inside pics below.

The Court of Two Sisters (613 Royal Street): A Nice Intro to New Orleans Fare

A good first stop to get a comprehensive taste of New Orleans cooking and dishes is The Court of Two Sisters. I went to their live Jazz Brunch Buffet to get my feet wet in New Orleans food. This French Quarter restaurant offers an elegant atmosphere with an extensive all you can eat buffet including unlimited fresh boiled shrimp and crawfish. I ate all this great food and more. Pocket hit: $28.





Dish from front left to right: Cajun pasta salad, boiled crawfish, sweet potato salad with Andouille sausage, crawfish pasta, sea slaw.






From top left to right: Grillades (braised veal), vegetable jambalaya, creamed spinach and mashed potatoes. Note: the braised veal can also be served over grits. Yummy!







From front (left to right): Crawfish Louise, Shrimp Etouffee, Duck a' l' Orange, Oyster Bienville









Crawfish sitting pretty at the buffet bar.











Turtle Soup au Sherry. Yep, you guessed it. You can add as much Sherry wine to your liking. They have the bottle of sherry at the buffet.

You can't come to the Big Easy and not eat some Mardi Gras King cake. "I command you!.. Eat my child, eat!"

Dessert bar looking mighty tasty! Coconut cake, orea cake in the back and the almighty pecan pie to the right.

So you wanna know about the atmoshpere?......Here ya go.

Dining Area/Outdoor Dining Courtyard

Give the band a listen.

Two Sisters Kitchen (223 N. Derbigny St.)

Ok, don't be confused. Mike our crawfish demo man from the Court of Two Sisters, referred me to another fabulous restaurant in mid-city New Orleans with a similar name, Two Sisters Kitchen. They are two different restaurants, different owners, different part of town; they just happen to have a similar name. Owned by Ms. Dorothy Finister, they boast some of the best creole gumbo only served on certain days of the week. The creole gumbo has many hearty ingredients including crabs, shrimps and sausage. Of course they have a full array of soul food like potato salad, fried chicken, red beans and rice, cornbread and more! The sad part about this is that I did not get a chance to go as they close at 5 p.m. Folks rave about this place as it is very popular and the prices are reasonable. I WILL be back in NO to experience this culinary treat. Here is a pic of some creole gumbo, potato salad and cornbread. Yummy!

(photo credit, Southern Gumbo Trail)

Eating Snails at Arnaud's! (813 Bienville Street)

Escargots anyone?

Yes, you read correctly. I ate escargots also known as a dish of cooked land SNAILS. They were pretty darn good too! Arnaud's spin on the dish is their "Escargots en Casserole," burgundy snails baked individually in ceramic pots with garlic-herb butter and a dash of Pernod; then capped with a flaky pastry. Located in the French Quarter, Arnaud's founded in 1918 specializes in Creole cuisine. The massive restaurant which takes up 1/2 a street block, offers different vibes under one roof; Dixie Land Jazz in their jazz bistro, the Main Dining Room, the French 75 Bar and additional private dining rooms.

......But it gets even BETTER. Upstairs is the restaurant's Mardi Gras Museum where diners can venture to the second floor and see Mardi Gras costumes and gowns. Here are some pics of the Main Dining Room on the first floor and the museum upstairs.

Carousel Bar at Hotel Monteleone (214 Royal St.)

Check out this cool French Quarter spot called the Carousel Bar inside of Hotel Monteleone. As patrons enjoy sitting at the bar, it actually spins around slowly as folks enjoy their drinks and good conversation. Many celebrities have stopped here for some drinks and spin including playwright Tennessee Williams.

Bourbon Street: Red Dress Run and Video of "Interpretive Dancing"

You can't say that you have fully experienced New Orleans until you've gone to Bourbon Street. Below is a pic from a popular event called the Red Dress Run. Bourbon Street at night gets even more entertaining. Check out the video below of this gentleman performing, shall we say, his own style of interpretive dancing!

Oceana Grill (739 Conti Street)..This Place is a Sure Bet...FIYAAAA!

What dis' sitting pretty here? It's the delicious New Orleans Bread Pudding w/ Rum Sauce at Oceana Grill (the best bread pudding I've had in my life, literally). Specializing in Creole and cajun Louisiana cuisine, this place has extravagant belly-filling food with a down home local feel type atmosphere. The food here is so good it's a crime! Everything from Po Boys, crawfish fettucini, duck, crawfish pasta, tuna to redfish jumbalaya are on this expansive menu. The prices are reasonable as well with mostly everything under $20. Oceana Grill is the truth! I opted to try the special of the day below.

Blackened rib eye steak with crawfish cream sauce topped with fried oysters; roasted jumbalaya vegetables and caesar salad.
The most awesome meal ever!

Mo' pics

Part II: Lower 9th Ward and Getting Kicked out the Kitchen by Chef Janice "Boo" Macomber!

CLICK HERE to read PART II of my trip to New Orleans We go beyond the French Quarter and the tour stops, deep into the Lower 9th Ward which is still slowly rebuilding 5 years after being hit the hardest by Hurricane Katrina.

AND

HILARIOUS: I got kicked out the kitchen during the New Orleans Cooking Experience with world renowned chef Janice "Boo" Macomber. I almost messed up her barbeque shrimp! Thanks to my fellow NOCE class mate, Attorney Winston B. Collier from Arkansas for being willing to work my little ole hand held Cannon for this clip while I cooked!

READ FULL PART II STORY OF NEW ORLEANS

Monica's Sunday Afternoon Convo with Food Network's Pat and Gina Neely

Monica Peters sits down with the Neely's for some good ole' Sunday afternoon conversation at Harrah's Entertainment's Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival last week. They want America to know it's all about family! Catch their show "Down Home with the Neelys" on the Food Network, Saturdays at 11 a.m.

Conde Nast Traveler's Taste the World: Grapes & Global Tapas in Atlantic City

Went to the Conde Nast Traveler's Taste the World: Grapes & Global Tapas at the AC Food & Wine Festival last week.

There were beautiful views of the event held at Harrah's pool.

There were cute drinks like these American and Thai teas (l)
By far the star of this event was this Shrimp Ceviche Taco---the best dish in the spot!(r)

A Morning Chat with Food Network's GUY FIERI

This weekend Harrah’s Entertaiment presented the 2nd annual Atlantic City Food and Wine Festival held at its four casinos: Caesars, Showboat, Bally’s and Harrah’s Resorts. I had a chance to meet up with Guy Fieri, host of Food Network's Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives, for a Saturday morning chat. We talk about everything from his non-foodie appeal, his rock star image and diet. Yes, the man watches his portions! Check it out....

Caviar Makes a "Bundle of Joy" at Art Event

"Bundle of Joy"
.....Caviar and sour cream in an edible wrapper.

Excellent fare. My palate said thank you. Served at the festival's Ted Allen Wine Down Art Show, at One Atlantic, Caesar's Pier Shops.

TheGritsnCheeseDish Recommends: Mumm Napa's Brut Rose

I know good wine when I taste it. The fruity character of the Napa Valley wine (which also has a hint of Chardonnay) gives Brut Rosé its punch, offering a bouquet of ripe Pinot Noir fruit, rich with black cherry and strawberry notes.

Mumm Napa can be paired with many kinds of cuisine including Italian and Thai.

Michael Fabian Gets Busy with the Art and Wine

Love how Michael gets in the zone with his stylish poses.
Photo taken by Monica Peters at Ted Allen Wine Down Art Show
at One Atlantic, the Pier Shops at Caesar's

Blues, Brews and BBQ at Showboat Music Hall

Blues, Brews and Barbeque
Hosted by Pat and Gina Neely
Food by Tony Neely

Spoon bread which is a sweet pudding like bread that caresses corn kernels intertwined with spices is a sure winner! Other goodies sitting pretty on the plate are beef brisket, marinated tomatoes and of course the Neely's signature dish Barbeque Spaghetti.



Tony Neely came out to say hi.

....Sunny Anderson, host of Food Network's Cooking for Real also came by.

.....The food was so good, I didn't want any brews! Great way to spend a Saturday afternoon at the festival.