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!
