Monday, February 24, 2014

Mardi Gras 2014 Restaurant & Fun Guide, Part I: THE COURT OF TWO SISTERS, 613 Royal St.

More than Mardi Gras!: Great Food, Great People, Great City
New Orleans is a Top Destination for a Reason 
by Monica Peters
for TheGritsnCheeseDish.blogspot.com

 
Mardi Gras Day takes place March 4 this year.  However, New Orleans is much more than Mardis Gras. New Orleans received the honor of being acknowledged by National Geographic Traveler as a top destination in the world for 2014--all year round.  Enjoy this 7-part guide and let the fun begin!


To get a comprehensive taste of New Orleans cooking and food, you must stop at The Court of Two Sisters, a restaurant named after sisters Emma and Bertha Camors whom were popular Creole artistocrats in the city during the 1800's. A different family owns it today and are dedicated to providing excellent food and service.  I invited my good friends Jonel and Emily for this food adventure. The three-story building, which has indoor and outdoor courtyard seating (also the largest courtyard in the French Quarter), sits on “Governor’s Row,” the 600 block of Royal Street, once home to five governors, two state Supreme Court justices, a future justice of the U.S. Supreme Court and more dignitaries. This French Quarter restaurant offers an elegant atmosphere with an extensive all- you-can-eat affordable buffet from 9am to 3 p.m.with a live jazz band.


All-You-Can-Eat Buffet is $29  Great food, relaxing atmosphere, awesome Bloody Mary's!
Check out the video of the Court teaching me how to eat crawfish & photo slide and sample of what the buffet offers daily.  Brought along my pals Emily (l) and Jonel (r)
                                         VIDEO                                     PHOTO SLIDE 

                                 
Buffet Offerings:

Specialty Salads: A unique selection of salads, including: Zesty Cajun Pasta, Sweet Potato w/Andouille Sausage, Creamy Crawfish and Spinach Pasta, Ceviche, Homemade Olive and Country Pâtés, Seafood Mousse and an assortment of domestic and imported cheeses.   

Carving Station: Tender Roast Beef and Slow Roasted Turkey Breast, carved to order and served with natural au jus and horseradish cream sauce.  Hot Entrée Offerings: Fresh Shrimp in Spicy Etouffee, Duck à l' orange, Crawfish Louise, Creole Jambalaya, Southern BBQ Pork Ribs, and a local favorite – Veal Grillades and Gravy, Corn Grits. 
 
 Desserts &Fresh Fruits Fresh cakes, pies and sweets baked daily on the premises, including Mardi Gras King Cake, Southern Pecan Pie, Bananas Foster, Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce, and Home-Churned French Vanilla Ice Cream with your choice of Praline Sauce or Chocolate Sauce. Finally, assortments of local and exotic fruit and fruit salads!


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Sunday, February 23, 2014

Mardi Gras 2014 Restaurant & Fun Guide Part II: ARNAUD'S, 813 Bienville Ave

More than Mardi Gras!: Great Food, Great People, Great City
New Orleans is a Top Destination for a Reason 
by Monica Peters
for TheGritsnCheeseDish.blogspot.com


My awesome friends Jonel and Emily, embarked on this food adventure with me at the upscale Creole cuisine restaurant, Arnaud's, located in the French Quarter (off Bourbon St). The restaurant serves everything from the well known to the exotic ranging from frog legs to snails. The restaurant's grand, spacious and elegant dining room is dimly lit with beautiful décor and a live band. Budget watch: Appetizers, salads, desserts and side items are under $10.  Other items range from $23-$40.  Here’s some grub we ate from their à la carte dinner menu.


Before getting into Arnaud's spectacular creole cuisine, check out how they make their Cafe Brulot made with coffee, lemon and orange rinds, cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange curacao flamed with brandy.  History Fact: founded in 1918, Arnaud's was closed for a time for serving alcohol mixed with coffee during the Prohibition Era. (VIDEO)
In the background: Me asking questions, Emily saying woowww, Jonel eating
Escargots en Casserole (REAL SNAILS):  yummy, buttery, chewy, tasty, love it!

Oysters Arnaud, Crawfish O’Connor, Frog Legs Provençale: All of these were winners! Don't be scared to try the fried frog legs. Frog legs are delicious and taste like chicken.
 
Praline Crepes, Crème Brûlée, Chocolate Devastation (flourless chocolate cake)
Great desserts.  Arnaud's might have the best flourless chocolate cake this side of the Mississippi!
____________

Try Arnaud's signature dish Soufle Potatoes (already fried potatoes plunged into extremely hot oil), Filet Mignon Charlemond with mushroom & bearnaise sauce.....and Cafe Brulot to sip and enjoy made of coffee, lemon and orange rinds, cloves, cinnamon sticks and orange curacao flamed with brandy (video above).

RESTAURANT & FUN NAVIGATION GUIDE (Parts 1-7)

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part I: COURT OF TWO SISTERS

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part II: ARNAUD'S

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part III:TUJAGUES

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part IV: NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF COOKING

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part V: STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part VI: LE RICHELIEU HOTEL

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part VII: CAFE DU MONDE

 

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Mardi Gras 2014 Restaurant & Fun Guide Part III: TUJAGUE'S: 823 Decatur St., (2nd Oldest Restaurant in New Orleans)

More than Mardi Gras!: Great Food, Great People, Great City
New Orleans is a Top Destination for a Reason 
by Monica Peters
for TheGritsnCheeseDish.blogspot.com 


Next up, I had the opportunity to experience Tujague's, which is the 2nd oldest restaurant in the city, with my “Nawlins” friends Jonel and Hela this time. Tujague’s has the look and feel of an old restaurant consistent with its history. The restaurant has a new chef, Richard Bickford, formerly of Commanders Palace, who has been at the restaurant for a year now. The great food definitely reflected that there’s a new culinary sheriff in town.



 Tujague's was established in 1856 and existed before the city was named "New Orleans."  The restaurant is home to the world famous Grasshopper cocktail invented in 1928 by bartender Phillip Guichet Themade. The cocktail is made of white Crème de cacao, white and green Crème de menthe, milk with a little cream and then filled to the top with brandy.  Tujague's is also famous for its House Specialty Brisket of Beef with Creole Horseradish Sauce.





 
Louisiana Blue Crab and Wild Mushroom Gnocchi $13


The first appetizer was Louisiana Blue Crab and Wild Mushroom Gnocchi. I’m not a huge fan of gnocchi, but this tasty dish made my taste buds scream for more. The hand-rolled gnocchi and all ingredients were fresh--not from the can or pre-made. Not too bad for $13.


The Fried Green Tomatoes with Crabmeat Ravigote would make you “smack your mama.” Southern talk which simply means it tastes good as homemade....Ahhhh, the BBQ shrimp. You can’t go to New Orleans and not try this popular dish. This appetizer hit it right on the nose with half jumbo shrimp with broth made of Lea ad Perrins Worcestershire, garlic lemon, served with garlic French bread. Interesting tid bit: Although it’s called BBQ shrimp, this classic dish has nothing to do with barbeque sauce. Both $12
The Fried Green Tomatoes with Crabmeat Ravigote, BBQ shrimp

Below are some entrees we tried from the menu Redfish on the Half Shelf (fish cooked with the scales left on, $26 and well worth it); House Specialty Brisket of Beef with Creole Horseradish Sauce which was excellent, tasty and tender, $18; and the superb, mouth watering Spinach Salad served with shaved red onions, fried Louisiana oysters, blue cheese, spicy pecans and a warm bacon vinaigrette. $9  Note:  I believe we held off on the vinaigrette and had a substitute dressing.

Tujagues Entrees  and Salad: (l to r) Redfish on Half Shell, House Specialty Brisket and Spinach Salad


RESTAURANT & FUN NAVIGATION GUIDE (Parts 1-7)

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part I: COURT OF TWO SISTERS

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part II: ARNAUD'S

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part III:TUJAGUES

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part IV: NEW ORLEANS SCHOOL OF COOKING

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part V: STEAMBOAT NATCHEZ

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part VI: LE RICHELIEU HOTEL

Mardi Gras Restaurant & Fun Guide Part VII: CAFE DU MONDE


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