Hello everybody! I'm Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans, here to give you the most reliable and descriptive reviews on New Orleans' restaurant scene. Now, I happen to adore French, Italian, Asian, and cuisines of that sort (to name a few), but nothing, in my opinion, can beat good Mexican. I crave the freshness and flavor this cuisine packs, and I especially love the spiciness. Born and bred in the South, I really know how to eat spicy, so I'm always more than happy to find that a new, exotic cuisine has a nice, satisfying tingle that really starts me off right.
Lucky for me, we have a couple very good Mexican restaurants in New Orleans, like El Gato Negro and Taqueria Corona. But one taqueria really stands out. Felipe's! Yes. You heard me right. You may think chain restaurants are beneath me, but if you ever try out this one, you wont regret it. I was rather skeptical, too, and even more so when I saw it had a bar. It brought back memories of eating at sports bars, complete with the loud, unpleasant, glare-y atmosphere and greasy, poorly cooked food. More about the booze and football games than the food, and rather lackluster service, I wasn't in a hurry to try out Felipe's. But after I bit into my pretty, spicy, vegetal food, I forgot all my previous complaints and thought only of polishing off every morsel of my dinner.
I got a DELECTABLE shrimp quesadilla, with yummy warm tortilla chips and fresh, sweet salsa. My quesadilla came with lots of gooey melted Monterey Jack cheese (a good omen), and perfectly cooked, moist fried shrimp coated in a light, crunchy batter. Topped off with generous dollops of crunchy coleslaw, buttery guacamole, tangy Mexican crema, flavorful Mexican rice, yummy pico de gallo, and finally a good scoop of creamy, spicy refried pinto beans. I was more than happy that I hadn't continued with my theories on Felipe's and am beyond happy that I had polished off that quesadilla. So bring the family and consume a Mexican masterpiece!
Sunday, September 30, 2012
Friday, September 21, 2012
Rise and Shine!
Salut, everybody! I'm Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans, your most reliable critic, zooming in on New Orleans's restaurant scene. Now, do you know that feeling when you wake up on a fine Saturday morning, and you're craving something more than your usual bowl of oatmeal? Well, you'd then probably consider going out for breakfast, or making yourself some pancakes and coffee as a once-a-week splurge. I happen to love making my own pancakes or French toast, but if you're one of those lazy types who doesn't want to exert a lot of energy frying pancakes, you'd better listen up, because I happen to have the perfect breakfast place in mind where you can visit when you'd like a little weekend indulgence.
It's a really cute little place on Burdette St., and it's called Riccibonno's, or Panola St. Cafe. It has a nice feel, and the waitresses are all friendly and kind. It's a great place to bring the family, and you'll be feeling downright good when you polish off your plate.
It was a nice brisk Saturday morning the day I decided to give the place a try. I got dressed and walked the four blocks in the cool dawn from my house. The pretty waitress showed me to a table, where I was immediately served a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, complete with all that delicious pulp you get when you squeeze juice yourself. That started my breakfast off right, but then after I saw my beautiful, mile-high, deeply golden Belgian waffle, dappled in a vivid blueberry sauce coming toward my table, I forgot everything else. I polished it off in less than 10 minutes, and I felt totally satisfied and jubilant. It was not overpriced, and I felt as though I had started the day off the perfect way. Madame La Bouffe didn't quite enjoy it so much, but I still stand firm on my verdict.
Panola St. Cafe is a fine place for a breakfast, brunch, or lunch, and I'm sure you'll not regret coming. They also have more than just delicious waffles, too. They have a variety of pancakes: plain, blueberry, strawberry, banana nut, or buckwheat. (This also applies to the waffles. I had the blueberry flavored one; it was DELECTABLE!). They serve a nice selection of eggs, a tasty breakfast burrito, and huevos rancheros, one of my favorite hearty foods. They also have AMAZING biscuits, which are wonderfully fluffy and light on the inside and crusty and rugged on the outside. So hop out of bed and don't stick with your ho-hum cereal; this spot is a quick, delicious place to spend your early (or late) a.m.! Stay tuned, and HAPPY EATING!
It's a really cute little place on Burdette St., and it's called Riccibonno's, or Panola St. Cafe. It has a nice feel, and the waitresses are all friendly and kind. It's a great place to bring the family, and you'll be feeling downright good when you polish off your plate.
It was a nice brisk Saturday morning the day I decided to give the place a try. I got dressed and walked the four blocks in the cool dawn from my house. The pretty waitress showed me to a table, where I was immediately served a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice, complete with all that delicious pulp you get when you squeeze juice yourself. That started my breakfast off right, but then after I saw my beautiful, mile-high, deeply golden Belgian waffle, dappled in a vivid blueberry sauce coming toward my table, I forgot everything else. I polished it off in less than 10 minutes, and I felt totally satisfied and jubilant. It was not overpriced, and I felt as though I had started the day off the perfect way. Madame La Bouffe didn't quite enjoy it so much, but I still stand firm on my verdict.
Panola St. Cafe is a fine place for a breakfast, brunch, or lunch, and I'm sure you'll not regret coming. They also have more than just delicious waffles, too. They have a variety of pancakes: plain, blueberry, strawberry, banana nut, or buckwheat. (This also applies to the waffles. I had the blueberry flavored one; it was DELECTABLE!). They serve a nice selection of eggs, a tasty breakfast burrito, and huevos rancheros, one of my favorite hearty foods. They also have AMAZING biscuits, which are wonderfully fluffy and light on the inside and crusty and rugged on the outside. So hop out of bed and don't stick with your ho-hum cereal; this spot is a quick, delicious place to spend your early (or late) a.m.! Stay tuned, and HAPPY EATING!
Monday, September 17, 2012
Thriving at Theo's
Greetings, tout le monde! I'm Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans, here to give you the most reliable and descriptive restaurant reviews of the New Orleans restaurant scene. Now, I bet that most of you folks reading this love a good pizza, and you'd better believe that I do too! Italian is one of my all-time favorite cuisines, and if well made, I can get absolutely intoxicated and not look up until my plate is licked clean. I adore all the delicious pastas, calzones, paninis, gelato, and cannoli, but I'm absolutely in LOVE with pizza.
Apart from all the French and Southern themed restaurants we have here in NOLA, we have many italian restaurants and pizzerias. There are a few close to my house, one only just about thirty steps away. That is more of a pick-up-and-go sort of place, and the pizza isn't really that delicious. So I set out on a quest to find one or two really delicious pizza parlors, and I'm happy to say that the quest has already ended. My all-time favorite has to be Theo's, located on Canal Street, and a street away from, to my delight, Angelo Brocato. But it is of Theo's you'll hear about today, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied and happy after you've eaten up your pizza pie.
Theo's has a great environment, as well as great food. It doesn't get deafeningly loud, and the rugged brick walls add a wonderful rustic charm. The waitstaff is always very nice, and treat you with courtesy. Madame La Bouffe usually gets a ritual Blue Moon beer to go with the pizza, and I'll say it pairs perfectly. She and I shared an order of jalapeño cheesy bread for an appetizer, and found it the perfect way to begin the meal. The crust was perfectly cooked and golden, the cheese was wonderfully molten and gooey, and the spicy jalapeño flavor rang through clear and strong. Then the pizza came, and we were smiling through our stuffed cheeks. We got extra tomato sauce on ours, along with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and red onions. It was a great, fresh combo, and so flavorful! The crust was thin, crisp, and had a pleasingly rough texture, and I had a ball chowing down on it.
Madame La Bouffe thought that because of the thin crust, the extra sauce made it soggy, but I had to disagree. I respect Madame La Bouffe's outstanding expertise on eating and cooking, but this was the only time I tuned her out. So Theo's is a wonderful choice for an "Italian night out," and I think you'll be very happy with the results. And make sure to pay a visit to A. Brocato's afterward for a replenishing gelato, to top off your night out. So until next time! This is Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans. HAPPY EATING!
Apart from all the French and Southern themed restaurants we have here in NOLA, we have many italian restaurants and pizzerias. There are a few close to my house, one only just about thirty steps away. That is more of a pick-up-and-go sort of place, and the pizza isn't really that delicious. So I set out on a quest to find one or two really delicious pizza parlors, and I'm happy to say that the quest has already ended. My all-time favorite has to be Theo's, located on Canal Street, and a street away from, to my delight, Angelo Brocato. But it is of Theo's you'll hear about today, and I'm sure you'll be satisfied and happy after you've eaten up your pizza pie.
Theo's has a great environment, as well as great food. It doesn't get deafeningly loud, and the rugged brick walls add a wonderful rustic charm. The waitstaff is always very nice, and treat you with courtesy. Madame La Bouffe usually gets a ritual Blue Moon beer to go with the pizza, and I'll say it pairs perfectly. She and I shared an order of jalapeño cheesy bread for an appetizer, and found it the perfect way to begin the meal. The crust was perfectly cooked and golden, the cheese was wonderfully molten and gooey, and the spicy jalapeño flavor rang through clear and strong. Then the pizza came, and we were smiling through our stuffed cheeks. We got extra tomato sauce on ours, along with mozzarella cheese, tomatoes, garlic, basil, and red onions. It was a great, fresh combo, and so flavorful! The crust was thin, crisp, and had a pleasingly rough texture, and I had a ball chowing down on it.
Madame La Bouffe thought that because of the thin crust, the extra sauce made it soggy, but I had to disagree. I respect Madame La Bouffe's outstanding expertise on eating and cooking, but this was the only time I tuned her out. So Theo's is a wonderful choice for an "Italian night out," and I think you'll be very happy with the results. And make sure to pay a visit to A. Brocato's afterward for a replenishing gelato, to top off your night out. So until next time! This is Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans. HAPPY EATING!
Sunday, September 16, 2012
You gotta love crepes!
Bonjour, tout le monde! This is Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans, here to give you the best reviews on New Orleans's restaurant scene, with my undiluted opinions on atmosphere and of course, the food. Now, you may not know that I have French ancestors, have traveled to France on holiday, and follow many of their cooking and eating traditions. For example, the French drink coffee out of bowls at breakfast time. I do that a lot when I'm at home, but of course, you wouldn't look right doing that in a fancy restaurant. I went to Paris and Saint Gilles during my trip, and got especially fond of the food. The pastries, baguettes, fish and hot chocolate were only a few of the delicious foods I ate there, but I can tell you: there's nothing I like better than a good crepe.
I live happily in New Orleans, and as you may know, we are almost half French here, having a FRENCH Quarter and all. So here you can find lots of French cuisine, like classic French pastries, and, I'm thrilled to say, CREPES!
At five o'clock one evening, I realized my stomach was growling like crazy and I had sudden craving for a crepe. I set out and settled down at Crepes A La Carte, a teeny-tiny crepe pick-up place right across the street from Tulane University. It's next to a bar called The Boot, a pizza stand called The Dough Bowl, and The Boot Store (since Crepes A La Carte doesn't sell drinks, that's where you go to get them). I squeezed into the tiny cubbyhole. I was charmed. It was so cozy, and you actually got to see them making the crepes on the hot crepe pans, pouring on the batter, spreading it out so thin that it looked as though it would undoubtedly tear, but it didn't. I was utterly transfixed.
I got the classic Caprese crepe, with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. When the jolly college students managing the creperie gave me my crepe, I immediately paid and gobbled it up. The crepe itself was perfectly golden, lacy, pliable, and had the perfect thickness. It was also pleasantly sweet, something I appreciated because I have the biggest sweet tooth in my family. It was also the very hearty and was a nice big size. After I got my iced tea at The Boot Store, I knew that I was in a Frenchman's heaven.
To conclude this, I want to say that Crepes A La Carte is an absolutely AMAZING creperie, and that you should definitely give it a try. It also has a delicious crepes sucre (sweet crepe) menu, which is worth coming miles for. The college students are all very friendly, so you won't be saying "My crepe maker was surly and forgetful." So if you want French fast, then head to Crepes A La Carte! Au revoir!
I live happily in New Orleans, and as you may know, we are almost half French here, having a FRENCH Quarter and all. So here you can find lots of French cuisine, like classic French pastries, and, I'm thrilled to say, CREPES!
At five o'clock one evening, I realized my stomach was growling like crazy and I had sudden craving for a crepe. I set out and settled down at Crepes A La Carte, a teeny-tiny crepe pick-up place right across the street from Tulane University. It's next to a bar called The Boot, a pizza stand called The Dough Bowl, and The Boot Store (since Crepes A La Carte doesn't sell drinks, that's where you go to get them). I squeezed into the tiny cubbyhole. I was charmed. It was so cozy, and you actually got to see them making the crepes on the hot crepe pans, pouring on the batter, spreading it out so thin that it looked as though it would undoubtedly tear, but it didn't. I was utterly transfixed.
I got the classic Caprese crepe, with mozzarella, tomato, and basil. When the jolly college students managing the creperie gave me my crepe, I immediately paid and gobbled it up. The crepe itself was perfectly golden, lacy, pliable, and had the perfect thickness. It was also pleasantly sweet, something I appreciated because I have the biggest sweet tooth in my family. It was also the very hearty and was a nice big size. After I got my iced tea at The Boot Store, I knew that I was in a Frenchman's heaven.
To conclude this, I want to say that Crepes A La Carte is an absolutely AMAZING creperie, and that you should definitely give it a try. It also has a delicious crepes sucre (sweet crepe) menu, which is worth coming miles for. The college students are all very friendly, so you won't be saying "My crepe maker was surly and forgetful." So if you want French fast, then head to Crepes A La Carte! Au revoir!
The Basil Leaf
Salut, everyone! Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans here, giving you the most reliable restaurant reviews and honest opinions on the food. Now it happened that Madame La Bouffe and I had dinner at a Thai restaurant a day ago, so if any of you folks reading this love Thai cuisine and want to go somewhere good for an Asian dinner, listen up! We went to a nice restaurant called The Basil Leaf, on Carrolton Avenue. Madame La Bouffe and I were led to a large table in the front of the restaurant, presented with goblets of ice water and Thai beer, and then served our meal.
First, we each had an order of fried spring rolls. I can tell you, I was in fry-o-later heaven! The outside was so crunchy, crispy, flaky, and buttery, and the filling was absolutely sublime. It was a mixture of glass noodles, shrimp, onions, carrots, and spices and it was sliced very attractively on the bias, so it was pretty to look at, too! Then we shared some spicy shrimp soup, fried rice, and calamari and glass noodle salad. The soup was great, as was the fried rice, but the calamari was just "okay." It was a little on the mushy side, and not cooked so well, but the noodles and everything else in the salad was just FAB.
The waitstaff was very pleasant and cheery, so I felt nice and comfortable. The paintings on the walls of a tropical island and the holy man wearing a pointed hat was there too, so it had very peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
So it was a pretty good meal, not over the top, but still very delicious. It would be a fine place to hold your next Asian dinner. Bon appetit!
First, we each had an order of fried spring rolls. I can tell you, I was in fry-o-later heaven! The outside was so crunchy, crispy, flaky, and buttery, and the filling was absolutely sublime. It was a mixture of glass noodles, shrimp, onions, carrots, and spices and it was sliced very attractively on the bias, so it was pretty to look at, too! Then we shared some spicy shrimp soup, fried rice, and calamari and glass noodle salad. The soup was great, as was the fried rice, but the calamari was just "okay." It was a little on the mushy side, and not cooked so well, but the noodles and everything else in the salad was just FAB.
The waitstaff was very pleasant and cheery, so I felt nice and comfortable. The paintings on the walls of a tropical island and the holy man wearing a pointed hat was there too, so it had very peaceful and quiet atmosphere.
So it was a pretty good meal, not over the top, but still very delicious. It would be a fine place to hold your next Asian dinner. Bon appetit!
Saturday, September 15, 2012
Bayona Binge
Bon Jour, everyone! Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans here, giving you the best reviews for the restaurant Bayona, Susan Spicer's specialty. Madame La Bouffe and I drove to Dauphine St. in the French Quarter, decked out in our semi-formal attire, and walked up the little alleyway that led to the restaurant. We were welcomed graciously by a smiling lady sitting at the front desk. We were led into the cozy little lounge to wait for our table, and were served Brut champagne and sparkling water in tall glasses. It was wonderful! We were led to the table and served our meal.
First we started with an intriguing little bowl of pickled garlic, carrot slices, and cauliflower, which was delicious and the perfect way to begin a meal. Then out came a little wooden tray with a choice of warm breads and a little bowl of whipped butter. We then had the soup course. I had the legendary Cream of Garlic, while Madame La Bouffe savored an interesting over the top delicious Red Lentil Soup, which had little bits of crisp bacon on the bottom. The Cream of Garlic was so delicious, I can hardly describe it. Smooth, silky, creamy, and absolutely singing with garlic flavor, I devoured it in about 45 seconds.
Then we fell upon the next course. My grilled shrimp, black bean cake, and coriander sauce really left me speechless. The shrimp was so tender and flavorful and so perfectly cooked, and the black bean cake was so wonderfully hearty, spicy, and just darn amazing. It was topped with a dollop of creme fraiche and a single coriander leaf, which I scooped up with my fork before eating the whole bean cake. Absolutely amazing!
Madame La Bouffe and I then shared a delectable grilled plum and homemade cheese salad, and a plate of pastrami spiced scallops atop a bed of mouthwatering Dijon shaved onions and Brussels sprouts. The chef then brought out a showstopping peanut butter, banana, and dark chocolate mousse, enrobed in a thick, crunchy, dark chocolate shell, and sitting on a slab of almond shortbread. An artistic drizzle of caramel sauce and candied peanuts topped the whole thing off. Finally, I had a bowl of delicious rich, creamy, vanilla bean ice cream with a crunchy sugar cookie.
Despite being a fancy, high end restaurant, Bayona is not at all stuffy or stiff. When we were seated at our table, Madame La Bouffe's chin was grazing the table because her seat was so low. The staff gladly brought her a fluffy pillow to sit on and all was well. The warm terra cotta red walls made for a cozy feel, and you felt like you could settle in and enjoy the food to the fullest.
So if you're looking for a meal to remember, then come to Bayona. It has my eternal approval. Au revoir!
First we started with an intriguing little bowl of pickled garlic, carrot slices, and cauliflower, which was delicious and the perfect way to begin a meal. Then out came a little wooden tray with a choice of warm breads and a little bowl of whipped butter. We then had the soup course. I had the legendary Cream of Garlic, while Madame La Bouffe savored an interesting over the top delicious Red Lentil Soup, which had little bits of crisp bacon on the bottom. The Cream of Garlic was so delicious, I can hardly describe it. Smooth, silky, creamy, and absolutely singing with garlic flavor, I devoured it in about 45 seconds.
Then we fell upon the next course. My grilled shrimp, black bean cake, and coriander sauce really left me speechless. The shrimp was so tender and flavorful and so perfectly cooked, and the black bean cake was so wonderfully hearty, spicy, and just darn amazing. It was topped with a dollop of creme fraiche and a single coriander leaf, which I scooped up with my fork before eating the whole bean cake. Absolutely amazing!
Madame La Bouffe and I then shared a delectable grilled plum and homemade cheese salad, and a plate of pastrami spiced scallops atop a bed of mouthwatering Dijon shaved onions and Brussels sprouts. The chef then brought out a showstopping peanut butter, banana, and dark chocolate mousse, enrobed in a thick, crunchy, dark chocolate shell, and sitting on a slab of almond shortbread. An artistic drizzle of caramel sauce and candied peanuts topped the whole thing off. Finally, I had a bowl of delicious rich, creamy, vanilla bean ice cream with a crunchy sugar cookie.
Despite being a fancy, high end restaurant, Bayona is not at all stuffy or stiff. When we were seated at our table, Madame La Bouffe's chin was grazing the table because her seat was so low. The staff gladly brought her a fluffy pillow to sit on and all was well. The warm terra cotta red walls made for a cozy feel, and you felt like you could settle in and enjoy the food to the fullest.
So if you're looking for a meal to remember, then come to Bayona. It has my eternal approval. Au revoir!
Friday, September 14, 2012
Greetings, tout le monde!
Hi everyone! This is Mademoiselle Nouvelle Orleans. Join me and my intrepid dining partner, Madame La Bouffe, as we happily eat our way through New Orleans's famed restaurant scene. I'm under five feet tall, but I've still got a heck of an appetite! You can rely on us to give you the most reliable and descriptive reviews, and we'll specifically tell you if you're in for a dream or a dud!
This is Susan Spicer's famous grilled shrimp, black bean cake, and coriander sauce, found at her award winning restaurant, Bayona. We'll be reviewing Bayona on our next post! Stay tuned!
This is Susan Spicer's famous grilled shrimp, black bean cake, and coriander sauce, found at her award winning restaurant, Bayona. We'll be reviewing Bayona on our next post! Stay tuned!
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