Please Pass the Manchac!

You've probably heard of Middendorf's, the world-famous restaurant located in the Pass Manchac area. If not, you need to have your brain checked! Middendorf's was opened in 1934 by a German couple, and it has been passed down through two generations of the family. In 2006, the Lamonte family (the current owners), sold Middendorf's to the German-born chef Horst Pfeifer. Since the Pfeifers bought the restaurant, they have preserved the traditional menu, which includes a mix of three special cuisines: Creole, Cajun, and Southern. Middendorf's most famous food is the thin-fried catfish, and take it from me: I think it is the best fried catfish I've had in my whole life. Southern Living stated that the catfish at Middendorf's is "possibly the best fried fish in the whole world." Now that is saying something! 

I went to Middendorf's on a Saturday night. I was tired and very hungry. I had been at a party in Ponchatoula, hadn't eaten anything there, and I lacked a good dinner. Hearing that Middendorf's was world-famous, and that I was close to it, I immediately drove that way and pulled into the restaurant's driveway in a blink.

It was extremely crowded when I arrived. Lots and lots of people were standing around, holding coasters, which flashed when a table was available for you. The nice young lady managing the reservations gave me my coaster and said it would flash in about 20 minutes. The coaster flashed in 10 minutes, which I was very happy about. I was led to a table by a member of staff, and she made sure I was seated comfortably and had my drink before she left to attend to the other millions of people waiting! I was seated in the upstairs dining room; it was big, loud, and had a cheerful atmosphere. I relaxed immediately. After I ordered my food (I, of course, had to choose the catfish), I was served a basket of warm bread and butter. I thought the bread was homemade; it was deliciously soft, hot, and comforting. It tasted homemade anyway, and not like some stale, manufactured loaf. 

For an appetizer, I chose crawfish cakes with remoulade sauce. They came beautifully presented on a blue plate that was shaped like a fish. The cakes were small, and sitting side by side on the plate. A little puddle of sauce was plated beside them. I picked up my fork and dove in. The cakes, which were fried, had that marvelous crisp-on-the-outside-creamy-on-the-inside contrast. The crawfish was perfectly cooked and flavorful, and the outside was amazingly crispy and golden. The sauce was packed with flavor, and it was nicely chunky (not the smooth, listless soup you get at some places). I thought it was the perfect way to begin my "world-famous" meal.

Finally, heaven came in the form of an oval plate piled high with golden catfish. After the waitress brought me my food, I studied it carefully. There was a bed of French fries beneath the fish, and two hushpuppies sitting beside it. There was also a Styrofoam bowl filled with coleslaw next to all the fried stuff. I couldn't wait any longer. Instead of using my fork and knife, I just picked up a piece of fish, dipped it in the complimentary cup of cocktail sauce, and took a bite. My mind went blank. I saw stars. The crunch of the crispy golden crust was loud enough, I reckoned, to be heard all over the state. The crust was so light and crisp, and the fish was incredibly moist, flaky, and mind-blowingly wonderful. I was crunching away enthusiastically now, not caring about double-dipping (it was my own spit, folks). I also ate both hushpuppies, which were crisp on the outside, and fluffy on the inside (they were a teeny tiny itsy-bitsy bit dry). What I really liked about them was that there were shallots in the batter—a great flavor! The French fries were...well...really just French fries, which were great because I love French fries. No sense in that, no?

Dessert was offered to me, but I was so full I couldn't eat anything more. The check was modest, and I was completely satisfied. The service and atmosphere  at Middendorf's were perfect, and the food is superb. If you go you're undoubtedly in for a treat: the catfish is absolutely KILLER. So when you're trucking about Pass Manchac, hungry and tired, I highly recommend stopping by Middendorf's, and you'll get a meal to remember! 

Around the World in 80 Minutes

Ah, trips. As I'm sure many of you know, saying goodbye is always the hardest part. You feel like you're leaving a part of your life behind you, especially if your times have been fun. As I anticipated with dread, the time arrived for me to leave the Big Apple, and I was as sorry as sorry can be. I packed my bags as slowly as possible, but I still had to go, and my feeble stalling didn't help. I said farewell to my beloved friend, and went back home to "The Big Easy" via Jet Blue. Sniffle. But now that I'm back home, among my familiar surroundings and now seemingly cottage-like downtown buildings (compared with the towering skyscrapers of Manhattan), I am back at my desk and typing away at the Mac Book Pro, about to give you a really exceptional review on a wonderful restaurant, founded by that queen of "Crescent City Cooking," Susan Spicer.

Spicer, the owner and sometimes cook at Bayona, my favorite restaurant of all time, is my absolute idol, and I've been itching to try another of her restaurants. Herbsaint was pretty much next on my list, being one of the "Top 50" restaurants in America, but ever since I returned from NYC, I hadn't gotten the opportunity. Bayona is for a special occasion, and I had an inkling that it was too expensive for just a casual homecoming out-to-eat evening. Then, one of my many sources recommended Mondo. Mondo, meaning "world" in either Spanish or Portuguese (I don't know which), is an international restaurant, serving up delicacies from garlic naan to beef ravioli. My first time there was a blast; the food was superb, the atmosphere delightful, and the service wonderful, "attentive and caring," as Madame La Bouffe put it. Let's fill you in about Mondo, with every detail here before you on your screen.

Even though it was a Monday evening (my homework and piano practice were completed, with a sigh of relief from moi), I was craving a really good dinner. A really, really good dinner. I lacked groceries, and I didn't really have anything but leftovers from dinner parties, so I decided to go out. I usually saved my restaurants for Friday evening, but I felt I needed something good right then. So I hopped into the car and drove to Mondo, anticipating a hot dinner waiting for me.
When I arrived, I was led to a beautifully laid booth, with prettily folded linen napkins, tall cylinder-shaped glasses on Mondo logo-ed coasters, and gleaming silverware. A candle glowed in the center of the table, and the salt and pepper shakers stood beside it, reflecting the ruddy gleam of the flame. I sat down with Madame La Bouffe, and we studied the lovely menu. Our cheerful waitstaff gave us our waters, and made sure that Madame La Bouffe's didn't have any ice in it, just as she had requested. All throughout the dinner, our waitstaff treated us with great kindness, and were just as pleasant as could be. So an A for the service. The atmosphere was cozy and comfortable, with lots of soft lights and music. It was also nicely eclectic, which prevented boredom. Another A for ya, Mondo!

To start our meal, we each had a piece of warm bread with olive oil. The bread was super crusty on the outside; it made a thudding noise whenever I dropped it onto my bread plate. The inside, though, was wonderfully soft and warm, and when dipped in the fruity olive oil, was the perfect way to begin a meal. For our starters, I had the Thai Shrimp and Pork meatballs in a sweet, syrupy sauce, while Madame La Bouffe enjoyed the Pasta of the Day, a beef ravioli with a chunky tomato-vinegar sauce. I also tasted the artichoke bread pudding, which is a Mondo classic. I rather indecisively sampled a piece of a fried oyster, which I found like chewy bubblegum. It wasn't really Mondo's fault; I was coaxed into tasting it. Oysters are not my favorite at all. My meatballs were nicely tender and juicy. They had a delicious meaty flavor, and the sauce, which I can’t recall the name of, was super yummy, and clung to the meatball well when dipped. The ravioli did not blow my mind. It was a bit tough on the edges, and had a rather flat, average flavor. It was acceptable, though, and I ate my square without complaint. The bread pudding was absolutely delectable; it was creamy and smooth, with a fresh flavor of artichokes. No wonder it was a signature.

For my entrée (I chose from the appetizer menu), I had redfish ceviche with guacamole and freshly baked tortilla chips. Despite my revulsion to raw fish, I ordered it, and was glad I had after the first bite. The little chunks of tender, toothsome, lemony fish fit perfectly upon the point of a shatteringly crisp, sweet chip, and the teensy pat of guacamole on top of the ceviche lent a cool, refreshing note. It was a good dish for summer, and I’d definitely be back when the season rolls around. Madame La Bouffe singled out a dish on the specials selection. It was a construction of seared scallops, cauliflower puree, blood oranges, and pistachios, and it came beautifully presented on a bed of frisee. Madame La Bouffe gave me a scallop to taste, and the superb flavor nearly knocked my socks off. It was so smooth and seasoned, and all the condiments of the plate were so wonderfully blended together…OMG my mouth is watering right now. We also got a pizza margarhita, which was very delicious. The crust was crisp yet chewy, and the little blackened spots on the handle were absolutely blissful, melding with the mild sweet of the main crust and contrasting beautifully. The sauce, cheese, and herbs were all fresh tasting, and I enjoyed my mere few bites immensely. All in all, a to-live-for course.

Our dinner wasn’t complete, in my opinion, until we’d eaten dessert. Luckily they had a whole mouth-watering menu, and my eyes sparkled as I feasted my gaze upon the list. Cinnamon Beignets with Yogurt Sauce, Nuts, and Honey? Double Chocolate Cake? Lemon Tart? After arguing with myself for a bit, I decided on the ice cream of the day, which was a spectacular-sounding Sticky Toffee Pudding Ice Cream. Madame La Bouffe got the Seasonal Fruit Cobbler, in which pears and bourbon were the stars. It was unlike any other cobbler, though. Instead of a biscuit topping, there was a crepe-thin crispy batter covering the whole thing. It came with a scoop of vanilla ice cream on top. My ice cream was, as I said before, spectacular, with a creamy, smooth, sweet and salty flavor, which was delightfully sticky. It came in a pretty white bowl, with a sugar cookie and a mint leaf. For one final tasting, I had a couple of forkfuls of the chocolate cake, which was super rich, fudgy, dense, and made for down-home chocolate lovers.
My homecoming meal at Mondo was a fantastic experience, full of delicious food, laughs, and fun. If you’re looking for a meal to remember, I highly suggest you stop by, and you’ll have one of the best scallop dishes ever. Have a happy Carnival season tout le monde, and I’ll see you again soon!

The Chocolate Room

Have you ever read Charlie and The Chocolate Factory as a kid? Remember the first room Mr. Wonka took the five children and their parents in the whole of that gigantic chocolate factory? Guess. Anyone who recalls The Chocolate Room is correct. Didn't you love fantasizing about The Chocolate Room? Everything was made of candy (EVEN THE GRASS!), and you even got a chocolate river and waterfall to dream about. Isn't that just decadent? Don't you wish that you could be at a place like that right now? Eat some of the finest chocolate in the world? Be transported to a world of delicious sweet stuff? Well good news for any serious chocoholics who wish any of these things. If you live in Brooklyn, then there happens to be a wonderful place on Court St., called (get this) the Chocolate Room. Once you go here, you will be haunting the place for the goodies that are homemade and wickedly delicious.

Some of you might be thinking, "Look here! Isn't this lass supposed to be reviewing restaurants? How come now she's talking about candy shops? Is she going for a new angle? Should I be nervous?" If you're worried about this, I would suggest that you shut off your laptop. This is clearly not the article for you. If you hate chocolate, you're not going to be interested. Off you go. Now, I am speaking to the sensible people who love chocolate. Thank you for not shutting off your laptops. Anyway.......I first went into the Chocolate Room after I had had a less-than-satisfying meal at Original Mexican Taqueria. I had walked past the Chocolate Room often, my mouth watering in vain, as it was never convenient to go inside. But after that yucky burrito lunch, I wanted a hearty dessert to give my tastebuds a new jolt. Who says dessert has less value than a real meal? I certainly don't. 

I went inside the Chocolate Room and seated myself, after a warm welcome from a nice lady at the cash register. I was given a glass of water and a menu, which I studied with adept enthusiasm. There were many different kinds of chocolate desserts to choose from:  cakes, a big selection of hot chocolate flavors, ice cream, sorbet, and many more options. After I chose my dessert, I was presented with some small cakes, made with almond flour and homemade chocolate, dusted with powdered sugar. They were chewy, a bit fudgy, and had a sweet, pure flavor of chocolate. My friend and I then got two Carries, tiny chocolate-mocha confections that were for warmups for our main desserts. For our dessert entrees, I chose two scoops of chocolate sorbet, while my friend selected a slice of chocolate chip almond cake. Our desserts came quickly, and we looked at them with awe before digging in. The sorbet was beautifully presented in a tulip glass on a doilied plate. It was amazingly rich, dark, and decedent and was pleasantly icy and creamy at the same time. My friend's cake was freshly glazed with ganache and had a lovely sheen. I didn't taste it, but it sure looked delicious. 

So if you're looking for a delicious place to get some cacao into you, the Chocolate Room is definitely the place. I recommend the Carries and the chocolate sorbet, while the hot chocolate (drinking chocolate, as they call it) is about as rich, creamy, and delicious as hot chocolate can get.

The service and atmosphere were both wonderful, and I chose one of their T-shirts to take home with me as a souvenir. I'm looking forward to wearing it soon.

Original Mexican Taqueria

On the sixth day of my NY vacation, I was walking around Brooklyn in the bitter, biting cold while a scant amount of snow fell about me. I was buttoned up in my warm pink coat, but my gloves were back at "home," so my hands were stiff with cold. My face was frozen too. Clearly I needed a nice shelter from all this winter, as well as a good lunch (my stomach was grumbling loudly). I made myself walk a little bit longer, and finally I found something: Original Mexican Taqueria. I always enjoy a good hearty Mexican meal at any time of day, so I decided to stop there to eat and rest before proceeding on my way. I was hungry enough for anything, so I shook my umbrella free of residual snow and walked inside. 

I seated myself at a table and studied the vast menu. There were tons of choices:  burritos, tacos, tostadas, quesadillas, and so on. After looking at the menu for a long time, I finally decided on a Vegetarian Burrito (I usually don't eat meat at lunchtime), with some tortilla chips and pico de gallo for an appetizer. I told the cooks what I wanted (there was no waitstaff), then sat back down and looked carefully around me. The atmosphere was a bit boring; nothing was really happening. There was no cheerful chatter, no big hordes of hungry people occupying the tables. It was quiet, and most of the tables were empty. I found it rather dull.

My food came promptly; certainly not as fast as Teotihuacan, but there wasn't a super long wait. My burrito was stuffed with many things; black beans, rice, salsa, guacamole, sour cream, and lettuce. The beans were very toothsome and well cooked, but there were so many in my burrito that it overpowered the other additions. The rice was also expertly prepared, with a nicely mild, yet distinct flavor. The salsa, guacamole, and sour cream tasted average, and the lettuce was a bit limp. All these fillings were embedded on a flour tortilla, which tasted like a flour tortilla should taste. The tortilla chips were freshly fried. Although they were a bit tough and hard to chew, they tasted just fine when a little heap of fresh pico was sitting upon the point. The pico was a little bland (they didn't use the best tomatoes), but it tasted fresh and the cilantro flavor was strong. It was a normal, pleasant meal, but it wasn't at all up to par with Felipe's back home. 

When I got my burrito and chips, the cooks didn't provide me with a knife or fork. Just a burrito on a plate. I tried to eat it with my hands, but the tortilla split and some of the fillings spilled out. I had to go up and ask for a knife and fork; you would think that the cooks would have the courtesy to give them to you  without you having to ask. It was kind of embarrassing. So the service at Original Mexican Taqueria was not the best. They were forgetful and didn't take good care of me. The food gets a B+, while the service gets a C. Felipe's is worlds better. 

Original Mexican Taqueria is a place, in my opinion, where people who don't care about really good food should go. So if you want good Mexican in NY, try another spot. In a pinch, though, you can dine there, if you have nowhere else to go. "Another Vegetarian Burrito, Miss?" I'll pass. 

Watty and Meg

On the fifth day of my NYC vacation, I was strolling around Court St. in Brooklyn with my friend, a Big Apple local. It was about 11, and we hadn't eaten much breakfast, so we decided to stop at a restaurant for an early lunch before continuing on our way. My friend recommended a place called Watty and Meg, a restaurant that serves very good brunch and was close to us. We walked a few blocks till we got to the place, and then we walked inside.

We were seated comfortably at a clean table almost at once, and we got our drinks and menus. I studied mine hard. There were tons of wonderful looking delicacies on the menu; I had a very hard time choosing. Finally I singled out the Roasted Sweet Potato Soup with molasses, almonds, and chives, and a side of cheddar grits. My friend chose the Veggie Huevos Rancheros, since she is a vegetarian. We sat and talked while we waited for our food, looking around the bustling restaurant. The atmosphere was nothing spectacular but very pleasant to be a part of. The tables were clean, and the linen napkins were folded prettily, sort of like origami.

Our food came soon after we ordered it, and we dove right in. My soup was absolutely beautiful. It was a lovely orange, with an artistic drizzle of molasses on top, sprinkled with toasted almonds and snipped chives. It was perfectly smooth, had a very silky, satiny texture, and was very sweet and creamy. The flavor of sweet potato was not quite as strong as it could have been, but it was still so good, I forgot that small complaint.

The grits, however, were not so good. They were watery, absolutely bland, and had a weird separated texture. I almost never reach for the salt and pepper shakers, but this time I felt compelled to. It tasted like they just flung grits, water and salt into a pot and cooked it without experience. Which leads me to another criticism. They said “cheddar” grits on the menu. Uhhh…where was the cheddar? There was no trace of cheese at all in that unappetizing gruel. Leave good grits to us Southerners.

I also tasted a lobster omelet, which I adored. The lobster was cooked well, and the egg was fluffy and creamy.

The service at Watty and Meg was good. Our waiter was nice to us, and he brought us our food promptly.

So if you’re in Brooklyn and feeling hungry around brunch time, stop by Watty and Meg. Take it from me—you’ll have a meal to remember. Just skip the grits. Brooklyn is a long way from New Orleans.