A Nice Little Change of Pace (Again)

The time has come to say a heartfelt "bye, bye," to NOLA, and a big loud "HELLO!" to Charleston, South Carolina. That's right, folks. I'm going to be spending about a month here in the Palmetto State, staying with my wonderful grandmother. I'll be seeing relatives, spending mornings taking leisurely walks on the beach and swimming in the tide, and, it goes without saying, eating my way through this truly special city. So the following posts will feature mostly good Southern food, but a touch of refinement might be mixed in. So stay tuned, my faithful people, for a nice little change of pace!  

Baco, Anyone?

When it comes to really delicious, really authentic Asian cooking, I'm as much in the power of it as I am in the power of tiramisu; I'd really do anything for a plate of really perfect potstickers, a bowl of wonton soup, or a dish of fried rice.  Being the Asian food lover that I am, I'm lucky to have a handful of really delicious Asian restaurants near me, like Five Happiness and China Orchid. I also have a new addition to my "Top Five," after a recent experience late one Saturday night. 

Madame La Bouffe and I had gone to a horse show at the stable where I ride regularly, and afterword, we were hungry and pretty tired, even after the excitement of watching the horses go over the hair-raisingly high jumps. There was nothing much to eat at home (we hadn't been grocery shopping in a while), so of course we hopped in the car to go to Barcelona Tapas. But alas, after we had been driving a while, with our growling stomachs and hungry thoughts of gazpacho and tortilla española, we were confronted with a horrific sight when we walked up the steps of Barcelona Tapas. On the door there was a sign, which said that the restaurant was hosting a private party and that the owners were sorry for the inconvenience, but no one but the invited guests were allowed in. While we were glad that Barcelona Tapas was hosting a private party (the restaurant is usually empty when Madame La Bouffe and I go, which is very frequently, as ya'll know, and I'm always worried that it's going to close), a wave of despondency washed over me, and I grumpily got back into the car. We drove around a bit, when Madame La Bouffe put forth the idea that we go to Maple Street. So we did, with the suggestion that we go to the new Vietnamese restaurant across the street from Satsuma, which was called Ba Chi Canteen. I was hesitant, still grumpy from the tapas disappointment, but also wondering if I would like Vietnamese food. I'd never tasted it before. Would it be something horrible? Some washed out, limp vegetables and rice? Would it be horrible spring rolls filled with scary Vietnamese vegetables that I couldn't even pronounce the names of? Would this be my last restaurant review? (Okay, I actually did not think that.)

Madame La Bouffe and I pulled up across the street from the restaurant and went inside. The building used to house a restaurant that was fussy and prissy and smelled like an old man's toilet, but now it was miraculously improved. The walls were sparkling white, with lovely flowers all over made out of wire, all swirly, pretty shapes. The lighting was very bright, and the cluster of tables  were covered with white paper and a basket of Hoisin and other sauces. A squirt bottle of the "House Sauce" was included. It was pretty vacant, since it was after nine at night, but the quiet chatter was very relaxing. We were seated at our table by a casually uniformed waitress (I mean, it wasn't torn jeans and ratty T-shirt casual, I mean it was comfortably casual), obtained our silverware bundles, water, and menus, and sat back. I took a good hard look at my menu. I was surprised to find many things that I like on there, all sounding much better than usual. So after I collaborated with Madame La Bouffe, we decided on our meal. For appetizers, Madame got the Shrimp Fresh Spring Rolls, while I, who didn't care for fresh spring rolls, requested the pan seared shrimp and pork dumplings. They came relatively quick, plated nicely on clean white plates. Madame's two spring rolls were placed on a plate perfectly straight, with a small cup of sauce next to them. There were five dumplings on my platter, with lots of yummy sauce on the bottom, topped with a few shrimp, which seemed more fried then pan seared. We began to eat. It was all delicious. The shrimp were the most notable, with their tender pink insides and crisp, bronzed outsides. The dumplings were firm, bright, tender and flavorful. The sauce (which was mostly soy) paired perfectly with them and the shrimp. For the main course, we each got a baco. A "what?" you might cry. What's a baco? Is this girl losing her mind? Doesn't she mean a taco? Sheesh, woman, get yourself off the Internet. If those are your thoughts, you are perfectly entitled to them, but this is what I say to you: get your own self off the Internet! 

Those who are sensible enough to keep reading, you won't be sorry. I, hopefully, will make your mouth water with my cute baco story. And no, baco isn't a typo. 

So, here ya're: Madame La Bouffe and I both got a baco, which the menu said was the Canteen's take on a Mexican taco: a Vietnamese baco! They did not describe what a baco really is on the menu, except that it looks something like a taco. So Madame and I were the guinea pigs when we ordered them, she the coconut curry chicken and I the sweet chili shrimp, both topped with basil aioli, sweet potato, pickled carrot, and diakon. We apprehensively and expectantly waited as they were being cooked, and finally, just as I felt like I had been waiting at least ten years, they were brought out. My eyes nearly popped out of my head! I had never seen a more adorable food! There were the bacos, still in the parchment-paper lined steamer basket, warm and utterly lovable. Instead of the Mexican taco shell (which seemed like an outrage to me now), the ingredients were tucked snugly inside a lovely little snow-white bun, fluffy and warm. The meat was topped with the aioli and vegetables, all dainty little pats. I scarcely dared touch them, but I did, of course, and I felt as though I had stepped into a delicious world of tender spicy-sweet shrimp, creamy sweet potato, herby aioli, and crunchy, lip-smacking diakon and pickled carrot. It seemed as if it were five seconds before the insanely wonderful little baco had disappeared down my esophagus. 

After this delicious meal, all I could do was rave about those little buns. But I felt as though something was missing......what? You know quite well. DESSERT! Seeing that they had a dessert menu, I quickly and rather mindlessly ordered a chocolate baco ice cream sandwich, not knowing what the results were. Well, when it arrived a short time later, I felt as if I could live on it for the rest of my life from just looking at it. Half a toasted, sweetened, slightly larger, and rounded baco bun was at the bottom of my bowl. Topping that was a generous scoop of chocolate ice cream, topped with chocolate syrup and toasted coconut flakes. Placed in an artfully offset position beside it was the top of the sweetened baco bun. I dove right in, feeling the smooth, creamy ice cream pass down my lips in large gulps, and experiencing the sweet, thrilling crunch of the baco bun and toasted coconut. What a meal! Well, looking back before I had eaten at the Canteen, I could kick myself for being so closed-minded. 

If you love Asian food like me, and like tacos, but don't think that the two can mix.....THINK AGAIN! Take my advice and swing by the Ba Chi Canteen, eat your way through at least one steamer basket of bacos and you'll surely fall asleep that night, as I did, with happy dreams of flying bacos and worlds where sweet chili shrimp are completely unlimited. 

Lunch on Carrollton--The Middle Eastern Way

Where in the world have I been?! I've been busy with mainly schoolwork and  cooking, and other work-y stuff, although laziness might be the culprit. Mainly I've been so wrapped up in 60's Star Trek, a strange muffin making binge and homework, that I haven't thought much about sitting down at the MacBook Air and writing yet another review for my faithful readers. It seems as though it was fifteen years since I last posted. But now I'm back, with a new, fresh, mouthwatering restaurant review. GET EXCITED!

I had planned the perfect Mother's Day. She'll get breakfast in bed, lunch out (with me paying, of course), spa treatment, and Creole Creamery! The day, in general, went smoothly. Preparing breakfast for my mother, I made molasses muffins with flaxseed and dates, with hot coffee and strawberries on the side. Next we watched four episodes of America's Test Kitchen, and the rest of the morning slid on by. For our lunch out, we had decided the night before that we were going to a Middle Eastern restaurant called Lebanon's Cafe. The place has been there a while. Heck, I remember sitting in there beside Mom when I was five years old eating tabouleh! And I, of course, do not remember that
particular meal. So it was time for a fresh start!

 I drove Mom to Lebanon's at noon, with growling stomachs and high expectations. I was looking forward to falafel, spanakopita, baba ghanoush, and hummus, while Mom's mouth watered for lentil soup and tabouleh. We pulled up to the curb and ran across the streetcar tracks to the cafè.

Mom wisely observed: "Mother's Day lunch is one of the most popular times of year to go to a restaurant, so expect the service to be a little slow." Okay, I accepted that. When I saw the hordes of old women and young women streaming in and out of the place, some with young, hungry whining children, some with adults on iPhones, I knew she was right. Every few minutes another pack of children and mothers and fathers would enter (usually it was a mother, a father, a grandmother, and three kids). Even through all this hubbub, we were seating prettily outside in the sunshine at a table for two and given our menus and silverware bundles and napkins. It was while before our pretty waitress could fight her way through the crowd back to our table to get our drink orders. Mom ordered the Famous Lebanon's Lebanese Iced Tea, while I chose plain Sweetened Iced Tea after hearing that the Mango Juice I was originally hoping for was gone. It was still quite good, though, and had a pleasantly sweet, floral flavor, as did the Lebanon's Iced Tea (the two were quite similar in flavor). 

For our appetizers, we ordered the Chef's Special, an appetizer for two. On the vast plate there was hummus, baba ghanoush, labneh ( thick yogurt mixed with mint and drizzled with olive oil), falafel, tabouleh, and stuffed grape leaves. With this delectable shebang came a basket of warm pita bread. What a perfect way to begin! The hummus was unbelievably smooth textured, and had an excellent flavor of chickpea and tahini, with a perfect counterpoint of lemon. The baba ghanoush, which was slightly chunkier, had a positively divine roasted flavor, which made you want to eat it forever. And the labneh was possibly my favorite thing. The rich, tangy creaminess was pure ambrosia, with just a hint of fresh coolness from the mint, and drizzled with olive oil, on a piece of pita. MMMMMMMM!

For our main courses (we really just got a second appetizer), I got the spanakopita (my favorite Mediterranean dish), while Mom savored a creamy lentil soup. The spanakopita was just as delicious (and maybe just a little bit more divine than usual) as the other spanakopitas I've had in my restaurant reviewing, but it was a little different from the others by one step. Instead of just feta cheese with spinach as the filling (some places also use Greek yogurt), Lebanon's used ricotta in the filling. This gave the spanakopita a wonderful creamy touch, and it was no time at all before the pretty, crunchy, phyllo crusted triangle was down my gullet. 

The lentil soup was also very fab, which its spicy creaminess, soft silkiness, and toasty lentil flavor. After our meal was completed, and the waitress came with the check, she left a tiny cup of Jordan almonds, which Mom and I crunched up happily in no time. 

So if you need a great place to stop for lunch or dinner, and you love Mediterranean food, then swing by Lebanon's, and you'll get a Middle Eastern meal to remember, with great food, outstanding service, and relaxing ambiance! And so, dear readers, a last remark: HAPPY EATING! (I have to trademark that!) 

Tony Angelo's

When it comes to eating real Italian, in my opinion, none is probably better than Pepolino Ristorante in New York City. The deliciousness, the elegance, the fineness, the utter authenticity.... except when you come back to reality and remember that Little Italy is 1800 hundred miles away or something! So I tend to eat less Italian when I'm back at home in Sportsman's Paradise, and stick with seafood and beignets. It was not until my birthday rolled along that I actually chose to go to an Italian restaurant (generally speaking; I do love Italian but I'm more of a tapas kind of gal). The place we were to go, with my beloved aunt and uncle, of course, was called Tony Angelo's, a place my dad raved about to me reminiscently. So I agreed, slightly crestfallen by my loss of the chance to try the Melting Pot, but excited nonetheless. 

When Madame La Bouffe and I pulled up beside Tony Angelo's (the place is hidden inside of a plain old house and has no parking lot), I immediately thought, "DRAB!" at the sight of the reasonably large yet plain house we were walking toward. It was slightly anticlimactic to have such high expectations about a place, then come and find an ugly brick house. Looking back on that now, I feel as though I was being really stupid and close-minded, and would certainly feel a lot different after I came out of the place four hours later, with a full tummy and many blissful thoughts trekking across my mind. 

We met my aunt and uncle at the bar, got all of our necessary glasses of wine and Bloody Marys, and were led through the softly lit dining room to our reserved table. We had an entire little room all to ourselves, which was also softly lit, and the rough wooden walls and shelves full of wine contrasted perfectly with the elegant white table-clothed table. Our cheery waiter, Jonathan, gave us all more of our necessary drinks plus glasses of ice water, and a basket of hot homemade bread. The bread was studded with sesame seeds and came with a plate of soft butter. It certainly tasted homemade, much better than any of the stuff you could buy at Rouse's, and I savored every mouthful.

We all decided to get the "Feed Me, Mr. Tony!" menu, where they bring you dozens of tiny courses throughout your dinner. Being a total fan of tapas, this suited me very well, and at this point I was thoroughly happy. First course was marinated mushrooms with salami, shrimp remoulade, and steamed artichokes with lemon olive oil. Talk about indulgence! The mushrooms were by far my favorite, with their delicious mild flavor, salty salami, and almost indescribably delicious marinade. The shrimp were cooked to perfection, and the artichokes were indeed a delicacy (we found it was a necessity to dip our bread in the olive oil). I ate of that course with gusto, while watching my portion size, because who knew how many more courses we were going to eat before our dinner there was through?

Please forgive me, dear readers, if I do not describe the courses in order. There were so many of them, and so delicious, that it was quite hard. So anyway, after the first course, that's when the ball started rollin'. There was Lobster Cup, a dish that I did not thoroughly understand but thoroughly enjoyed. It came to us in tiny white dishes, piping hot. It had a creamy sauce, probably with some cheese on top, and tender lobster throughout. So rich, so fatty, but oh-so-good! There was crabmeat pasta, a concoction of angel hair spaghetti, crabmeat-tomato sauce, and Parmesan, which I ate in a blink. There was a brisket salad, half palate-cleansing, half-splurge, with fresh lettuce and tomatoes topped with the tender beef. There was crispy fried fish with lemon, plain but nevertheless fantastic. There were eggplant rolls, which were a delicious dish of ricotta and tomato sauce inside of roasted eggplant slices, rolled up, so that they looked like manicotti. We also had barbecued shrimp, which quite stole the heart of my uncle. And let's not forget the panèed veal, and roast pork in marinara sauce, served up with pasta! My Land, it felt as if I could have lived on that stunning meal for the rest of my life!

After the entrees, everyone was incredibly stuffed except me, so I ordered dessert. I chose the icebox lemon pie, which, instead of a wedge, came in a teensy square. I was slightly disappointed by the weeny size of the thing, and even more so when I'd tasted how good it was. It was ice-cold, with delicious sweet lemon flavor, and it was with great difficulty that I resisted popping the entire square into my mouth whole. Of course, I wanted more, so I ordered another, making it sound as though it was for my aunt, so the restaurant people wouldn't think I was a chunky glutton (which I am not). At the end of the dinner, the restaurant staff surprised me with a "cake" for my birthday. It  was really an eggplant with a sparkler and a handful of dried spaghetti stuck into it; beside it was a tomato, a green bell pepper, and a lemon. The waiters turned out the lights, and one of them sang "Happy Birthday" in Italian. He came back later and sang "Santa Lucia" for me, which was a little awkward but very enjoyable. 

Tony Angelo's, which may look drab to you on first impression, is THE place to go for Italian in Louisiana. Service, ambiance, and food are all spectacular, and I will be back as quick as ever I can. Oh! And a tip: Come on your birthday, and you'll get mighty spoiled! :) :) :)  

Feelings Cafe

Hey ya'll; it's been a while. Today has been real lazy (I mean, it's almost 2 P.M. and I'm still in my PJ's!), but I'm not too tired to give you a great review of my latest restaurant experience. On Friday, I cruised to Feelings Cafe, a restaurant I had wanted to eat at for ages but had never had the chance of visiting. I went there because Madame La Bouffe's Kennedy School friends were visiting and she wanted them to have a cultural New Orleans food experience (at least, that's what I gathered). So after horseback riding, I traveled over to the Bywater and met Madame La Bouffe and her friends at the Feelings bar. Being a teensy bit too young to have martinis and such truck, I absorbed myself in a Harry Potter book until (a long time later) our reserved table for 7 was ready. The bar was small yet charming, bathed in a soft red light, with pictures of Elvis and people like him all over the walls. A sweet-faced lady was playing her heart out at a piano in the corner, singing and winking at me occasionally. Because I was close to starving, the bartender passed around a basket of crisp buttery bread, flavored with garlic and herbs. It tided me over nicely, so I wasn't so peckish. 

After what seemed like forever, our lovely table was ready in the beautiful courtyard of the restaurant. There were huge trees behind me, and a small fountain was bubbling and chattering the the middle of the courtyard. Pretty lights were strung about the trees and fountain. It was a cozy, romantic yet airy place, and full of couples. Evidently it was an ideal date night place (heck, my parents decided to get married while having dinner there). The table was beautifully laid, with a crisp linen tablecloth and napkins, gleaming silverware, a small bouquet of flowers in the center (for once, they weren't fake!), and candles, glowing brightly and steadily in the center of the table. I sat myself down in a rickety wooden chair provided. Okay, so I might skip over most of this dinner, because mostly we spent it WAITING FOR OUR DAMN FOOD! But it was worth it, as I found out. For our appetizers, we ordered a whole lot of stuff, but I only ate mine, which was a salmon mousse with caviar. It came plated beautifully, with the mousse in a tiny ramekin and topped with a dainty plop of caviar, and small croutons placed fussily in a circle around the mousse. OMG it was heavenly! Smooth, creamy, and full of salmon flavor, and the caviar! Briny and totally awesome. The croutons were perfect; so crunchy and mild. This was a complete success! 

My only complaint of Feelings is the wait we had for our entrees. We waited and waited, for what seemed like millions of hours. It was 10 o'clock before we got to eatin!  But my entree, the Gulf Fish Nicolas, was utterly worth the wait. A fresh, grilled, Dijon-brushed drum filet, topped with grilled shrimp, sitting on top of a bed of creamed spinach, and paired with a few New potatoes, it was one of the best fish dishes I've ever had. Both the fish and the shrimp were perfectly cooked, and the Dijon lent a delicious sharp flavor, which paired perfectly with the super mild drum. The spinach was utterly fantastic; by far the most wonderful vegetable ever. I can hardly describe it. It was creamy, but there was no cream it sight! Also, it had a delicious buttery flavor, with no butter that I could see! OMG it was just stunning. All in all, a terrific main.

As you probably have noted from me, as I keep repeating it over and over, a dinner is not complete for me without something sweet at the end. My father told me that Feelings was famous for their peanut butter pie, so I ignored all of the other selections and immediately blurted out, "Peanut butter pie PLEASE!" When it came, sporting a huge puff of whipped cream, and drizzled with chocolate sauce, I felt my mouth water. As soon as our waitress placed it on the table, I dove right in. I reckon it's one of the best pies I've ever had. It was creamy, light, and super nutty (pun intended), and I had no trouble in polishing off the whole slice. No picture, you might be thinking? Well, I was way too intoxicated to take out the iPhone. After I finished, I felt horrible letdown. So I took a mindless picture of my empty plate.

The service at Feelings was great, if powerfully slow. Our pretty waitress took right good care of us. The atmosphere was so relaxing and romantic, so bring your date here, and it's sure to please. Feelings Cafe will have my eternal approval, and I'll be back as quick as ever I can! 

Irene's Cuisine

I know, I haven't blogged in a while; I've haven't been out to eat in (what seems to me) ages. I have, however, been trying out lots of new recipes, like Italian Bean and Pasta Soup. But when you're on a home-cooking binge, you have to start eating out sometime. And I got the perfect chance, when my dad's 55th birthday rolled around. Days before, Madame La Bouffe and I chose a great place: Irene's Cuisine in the Quarter. I had never been there and was looking forward to it all day. Finally, it was time to go, and I was literally humming with excitement. We had a 6 o'clock reservation, and were meeting our friends Norah and Charles there. I had one hell of an appetite and had right high expectations.

We were welcomed into the restaurant by Irene herself, and were led to our reserved table in the cozy dining room. It had a orange silk ribbon on it and a fancy "reserved" card, too. There was a clean white linen tablecloth and gleaming silverware resting on the folded linen napkins. A shiny drinking glass was next to our small appetizer plates. We were seated by our waitress, Nancy, and given our drinks. Our friends arrived and were led to our table, whereupon we greeted each other and they got settled in. For our first hors d'oeuvres, Nancy gave us two small plates of yummy hot bruschetta, with some kind of crispy bread on the bottom topped with tomatoes, basil, melted Parmesan, and melted mozzarella. It was an incredibly fresh, delicious, warm way to begin the meal. After we ordered, they took away the empty plates (the bruschetta did not last long) and brought a basket of warm, crusty bread covered with sesame seeds. I didn't taste it until my entree came, so sit tight for my review on that.

We got an abundance of appetizers, of course. Mine was the Spinach and Ricotta Ravioli in marinara sauce with fresh shavings of Parmesan on top. The pasta, which was restaurant-made, was tender and flavorful, and the filling was creamy and vegetal, with a nice flavor of fresh nutmeg. The sauce, a bright, fresh, and light accompaniment, paired with the ravioli perfectly. The salty Parmesan added a nice sharp flavor. It was delicious! 

For my entree, I chose the Meunière Amandine, a delectable-sounding fish main. The fish itself was like a normal meunière, with lemon, browned butter, and parsley. It was topped with chunks of crabmeat and sliced almonds, and a curled slice of lemon coated in more parsley. There were also sautéed green beans and a piped sweet potato mash on the plate. 

The fish, if very subtle, was extremely tender and so was the crabmeat. The meat was snow white. The browned butter-lemon sauce on the fish was rich and delicious. The almonds were tasty when paired with the fish. The green beans were tender-crisp, and the sweet potato was my clear favorite. Smooth, creamy, sweet, and mildly spicy, these yummy spuds won me over immediately. I dipped a big chunk of the delicious sesame bread in the sauce, and ate it up in a few large bites. It tasted wonderful, worlds better than just slathering it with normal soft butter. All in all, a sensational meal.

But for me, a good meal is not complete without a delicious dessert. So when Nancy told me the dessert selection, I immediately chose my favorite. Guess. OK. Lemme tell ya. TIRAMISU! I adore this dessert, so when I heard they had a good version, I at once cried, "I'll have the tiramisu!" Daddy got the chocolate-hazenut truffle with crème anglaise. My dessert came beautifully plated, with a mint sprig and a few blueberries sprinkled on top of the large square of tiramisu. Chocolate sauce was drizzled on the plate as well. I ate the whole dessert by myself. I can hardly describe it. There was whipped cream everywhere throughout the dessert, and with the soft espresso infused ladyfingers combined in the square, it was absolutely wonderful. I snitched a large spoonful of Daddy's truffle, and it, too, was delicious. It was incredibly dark and decadent and chocolatey, and the white, fluffy crème was perfect with it. The dinner was expensive, but it was SO worth it. 

The atmosphere at Irene's was delightful! It was incredibly cozy and warm, and as you looked out at the cold night outside, you just felt great. The service, as well, was perfect, and Nancy took very good care of us. So if you're looking for a great place to eat for a special occasion or for a date night, you'll be in luck if you're near Irene's. If you get a chance, stop by, and you'll get a meal to remember. 

Satsuma

I talked all about Maple Street in my previous post, as you should remember. And I mentioned Satsuma in my list of visited restaurants. Since I have not reviewed it, I will now. 

The day I went to Satsuma had not been a good one. I had gotten five horrible cases of hiccups and a bad stomachache at lunchtime, so that I couldn't eat a thing. I had been worked hard at school all day, and by the time school was finally over I was exhausted and famished. Madame La Bouffe pulled up in her car to pick me up. She suggested going to Satsuma, as though she had read my mind. I agreed at once, and we drove off to Maple Street. 

Satsuma is located down Maple Street a bit, and I had never been there. Madame La Bouffe told me she was fond of it, and I thought it wouldn't be so bad. So we parked and went inside.

First impressions for me: it was a nice place to work on your computer, with a scone or some drink beside you, just like Rue de la Course on Oak Street. It was quiet yet cheery, and the sound of the cooks working in the kitchen added a relaxing note. For our orders, Madame La Bouffe chose a calcium-injected green vegetable drink, and I chose a turkey sandwich from the appealing lunch menu. Right now, you might think, "Look here. I thought this girl was the adventurous type. She eats octopus and stuff. Why is she eating turkey sandwiches all of a sudden! I mean, come on! A turkey sandwich?" Well, for all you skeptics, one look at the menu told me that this wasn't your yucky Bunny Bread, mayo, and Oscar Mayor Turkey sandwich. Let me explain. 

First, the bottom slice of toasted ciabatta was spread with basil pesto. Then, that was topped with lots of sliced turkey. On that, there were a couple of slices of lettuce, and then, on top of that, there was a delicious thick layer of goat cheese. Finally, pickled onions topped the cheese, and a second slice of ciabatta was placed on top. Sounds amazing, right? At first I thought that the flavors were not going to mingle. But after the first bite, I at once changed my mind.

The bread was crusty and comfortably warm, and the pesto, goat cheese, and all the other components' flavors were melded beautifully. In my opinion, this curious yet delicious turkey sandwich would be perfect for any meal, even a huge 3 o'clock snack! 

An "Mmm!" Meal on Maple

Maple Street is a very popular place, for locals and tourists alike. Swap Boutique, P. J.'s Coffee, and Maple Street Bookshop are all there, as well as a couple of especially delicious eateries, spread all about the long street. I, myself, have been to a few of them, The Chill Out Cafe, Le Cote Sud, Satsuma (next post), and Fresco. One of the restaurants I had never ventured into is the Maple Street Cafe. This restaurant had seemed more of an "old people" place to me, and I was never really interested. But one day, I took a walk down Maple Street around lunchtime, and suddenly a wave of hunger washed over me like a tsunami. I'm the kind of person who likes to try new things, in life as well as culinarily speaking. So as I had eaten at mostly all of the Maple Street restaurants, and there were only a couple I had not stopped into, I decided to try out the Maple Street Cafe. So after a quick glance at the menu taped outside, I opened the door and stepped inside.

After I was seated, and was provided with a drink and menu, I took a good look around. It did not look at all bad. On the contrary, it looked quite cheerful, and since it was Lundi Gras, it was decorated with purple, green, and gold lights and baubles. The feel of the place was very nice, and the cheerful chatter of everyone added a nice note. A waitress came over and took my orders. I say "orders" because I ordered a couple of things. You mustn't think I was going to eat everything. A tip I got from a source told me to taste a lot of things, not just eat one or two substantial courses. So I ordered a few things that looked especially appealing. 

After I ordered, my waitress brought me a basket of warm, crusty bread, and a small bowl of flavored butter. The butter was delicious; it had herbs and some kind of spicy thing in it. Spread liberally on a piece of the yummy bread, it was the perfect way to begin a meal. Just as I finished my bread, my appetizers came. I decided to taste the "Mezes," a very delicious dish, I found. It was a platter of hummus, baba ghanoush, and tabouleh, with wedges of warm pita to eat the dips with. There was also a curious vegetable on the plate. It was a yellow pepper sort of thing, with crinkled edges and no center. When I tasted one, I found it quite delicious, with some tart and spice and sweet all at the same time. Then I got down to business. The hummus tasted very good when piled on a pita slice, and it had a nice flavor of chickpeas and tahini. The baba ghanoush was what I really liked. It had a wonderful roast-y flavor, and I enjoyed it immensely. The tabouleh had a proper parsley content, and was nice and flavorful.

The second appetizer I tested was a browned eggplant cake, dowsed in a crabmeat cream sauce. This dish was my favorite out of the whole meal. It had a delicious, almost indescribable flavor, and the pasty texture was somehow wonderful. The sauce was creamy and yummy, and it paired perfectly with the cake.

The entree I chose was called Penne Sui Sui (Pen-a SHWEY-SHWEY). It sounded very simple on the menu; just penne pasta with roasted garlic, butter, Parmesan, tomatoes, and basil. It sounded great, though, and I favored it over the other fancy pastas on the menu. It came with all the roasted garlic, butter, etc. incorporated in a tomato sauce. The pasta was perfectly al dente, and the sauce was simple yet bright and fresh. After the waitress gave me extra Parmesan, and it melted creamily into the sauce, I was in Mediterranean heaven.

In my opinion, a good meal cannot be complete without something deliciously sweet. Like my rhyme? Anyway, after the waitress rattled off the selection of desserts at my request, I considered for a minute, then settled upon the key lime pie, one of my all-time favorite desserts. The slice was a long, thin one, and it was dusted with powdered sugar and had a sprig of mint stuck into the top. It looked good, it smelled good....now it was time to see if it tasted good. Indeed it did. The lime custard was sweet, creamy, and lovely, and the crust was also very sweet and delectable. The filling was a little bit grainy, but the lime flavor tasted authentic and marvelous. 

The check at MSC was modest for all my food, and the service was great, too. All in all, my meal was worth coming miles for. 

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!