New Orleans - The Hungry Nomad

Basil Leaf- Carrollton (New Orleans, USA)

July 11, 2012 No Comments

Basil leaf is one of the only places in New Orleans where you can find Thai food…and also Japanese?

I tend to stay away from Asian restaurants that offer dishes from the entire region from Chinese to Thai to Korean and Japanese. It lacks authenticity. But when there aren’t enough Thai restaurants to choose from beggars can’t be choosers.On one of our last nights packing up, fridge empty along with stomachs, we started roaming the streets of New Orleans looking for a place to dine. The time: 9:30 pm on a weeknight. Fact: not too many restaurants are open past 9:00 pm in New Orleans on weeknights. We originally had our stomachs and hearts set on Panchita’s-the Mexican diner next to Basil Leaf but upon arrival found them closing up shop. Stomachs churning and McDonald’s becoming a likely dinner option we turned to Basil Leaf. I had always wanted to try it since its one of the only places on the small international culinary strip of Carrollton which I had not yet tried (Cafe Grenada being my favorite).

Even though we were the last ones in the restaurant we were greeted warmly and seated. There were so many choices on the menu from sushi to pad Thai. We ordered the special crab cakes and corn for an appetizer. I hadn’t set my expectations high. At that point, I just wanted to fill my belly with food. Good or bad- it did not make a difference. So I was pleasantly surprised when I took the first bite of the crab cake. It was the first time I had tried crab cake with such a range of flavours and combination. The corn added a sweet after taste to each bite.

For our entrees we ordered the shrimp and chicken pad Thai and red chicken curry. The pad Thai was very good and the serving was huge with a generous amount of chicken and shrimp. The noodles not too soft and the perfect amount of sauce in each bite.

The chicken curry was served with a scoop of white rice and contained broccoli and red peppers. It was also very tasty. I know what you are thinking. I was hungry so anything would have tasted good at that point. But after inhaling the crab cakes I think I could judge the tastiness level quite accurately. And both dishes were great. This review is based solely on the two dishes that we had. I cannot comment on their non-Thai dishes that they offer but I can say that their Thai food was what you would expect at any typical Thai restaurant.

We came in extremely hungry and tired and left with our bellies full and happy.

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sushi

Little Tokyo Small Plates and Noodle Bar- Carrollton (New Orleans, USA)

July 10, 2012 1 Comment

Little Tokyo Restaurant chain is one of the best sushi places in New Orleans. The restaurant has been around for 25 years after the Yusuke family moved to New Orleans from Japan. The North Carrollton and South Carrollton have Karaoke rooms while the North Carrollton offers a Hibachi room- a fun option if you are going in large groups. The South Carrolton location has a younger vibe and nightly live entertainment with some very talented local musicians.

The restaurant has fish shipped from Tsukiji market in Tokyo three times a week which leads to authentic dishes and the freshest ingredients. Many rolls are New Orleans inspired with funky names to go with the rolls. After repeated trips to Little Tokyo and trying many of the rolls we have found our favorites: Chocolate city (spicy tuna, snow crab and avocado wrapped with soy paper, seared tuna and crunchy on top with mixed sauces), the burning man (spicy tuna and crunchy inside, pepper tuna and avocado on top with ponzu and eel sauce) and the burning woman (snow crab roll with pepper tuna and avocado on top with ponzu and eel sauce). See menu. Being a big fan of ramen my favorite is the variety of ramen noodle dishes you can find at Little Tokyo Small Plates and Noodle bars. You can choose your soup base, level of spiciness and add as many toppings as you’d like.

Little Tokyo is our go-to spot for good sushi and ramen for the range of options on the menu and uplifting ambiance.

Gourmand, Iranian, New Orleans, Turkish

Courtyard Grill-Uptown (New Orleans, USA)

July 9, 2012 No Comments

Courtyard Grill is the only place in New Orleans where you can feast on Iranian and Turkish cuisine. It is located on Magazine street and offers both indoor and outdoor seating. The Turkish chef blends his cuisine with the traditional Iranian recipes leading to a menu full of delicious dishes.

The meal started off with a refreshing doogh beverage. Doogh is a yogurt drink blended with water and sprinkled with dried mint. It is a very popular drink in Iran and is always served with the traditional kabob and rice dish.

We were also served with a basket of bread and a side of spicy tomato sauce. It tasted like a Turkish version of Salsa. The bread was perfect. It was chewy and crispy on the outside. The best I have had in New Orleans.

For our main entrees, I chose the boneless chicken kabob served with a side of basmati rice, onions, grilled tomatoes, pickled cabbage and yogurt. The serving was just perfect. Not too much and not too little. The chicken kabob was marinated in saffron and was juicy and tender. The basmati rice was just as it should be: cooked perfectly so that it was not too soft and not too hard. The pickled cabbage and sliced onions were a great touch to the meal.

The next entree was the Koobideh kabob. Koobideh is your Iranian version of a hamburger but while a hamburger is served on a bun the koobideh is served with rice. The koobideh was also tender and juicy and not overcooked. Always sprinkle your kabobs with a Persian spice called sumagh. It adds flavor and helps break up the fat.

Overall, if you are hungry and want a perfect and delicious meal then you should definitely try the Courtyard Grill. The owners are wonderful people and the service is great. You can’t go wrong with any of your choices since all are delicious and fresh.

Cajun, Gourmand, New Orleans

Emeril’s Delmonico- Central City (New Orleans, USA)

July 8, 2012 No Comments

I walked into Emeril’s Delmonico with high expectations since it was my first time at an Emeril Lagasse restaurant. We wanted to try at least one of his three restaurants before leaving New Orleans. The choices were Emeril’s Delmonico, Emerill’s and Nola Restaurant. We decided to try Delmonico’s given the location and type of food. Emeril’s Delmonico is located in the historic garden district right on St. Charles in a beautiful building and serves traditional creole food. We were seated at the piano bar while we waited for our table. Towards the end of the night people were dancing and the ambiance was fantastic. The decor is elegant and full of history.

We were immediately greeted at our table with water and a basket of bread and butter. The server was very attentive and went through all the specials and answered all our questions.

Our first starter dish was the dry aged New York strip carpaccio, arugula, caper and pecorino. The description sounded delicious and the presentation was great; however I was very disappointed with the actual taste. I love beef carpaccio and order it often whenever it is offered on a menu. However, this carpaccio dish was covered in a mayonnaise sauce and capers. I attempted to clear the sauce to the side but it still took away from the rich flavors of the meat and pecorino cheese. Typically, this dish is served plain with shaved pieces of beef, pecorino cheese, arugula, drizzled with olive oil. Overall, neither of us liked it and weren’t impressed.

The next starter dish was the barbecued shrimp over baked grit cake. Now, this dish was what I expected of an Emeril’s restaurant. The flavor, presentation and creativity were all there. The barbecued shrimp sauce was one of the best we have had in New Orleans (second to Mr. B’s). I have never had grits served as a cake and really enjoyed it.

For the main course, the Count ordered the dry aged moulard duck breast served with sweet corn choux, Swiss chard, roasted poblano and cheddar grits drizzled with a house made tasso jam ($29). The meat was so dry which was a surprise since duck is a fattier meat and tends to be juicy. Overall, it was not a dish worth $29. It certainly didn’t taste like a $29 dollar dish although the presentation and service were five star.

The next entree was the jerk spiced lamb sirloin served with pickled pork braised collard greens, black eyed pea cake, mango chow chow and house made pickapeppa sauce ($32). I don’t know what it was about the dish but I really disliked it and couldn’t touch plate. I am not a picky eater at all but there was something with this dish that did not sit right. I expected a lot more and was disappointed as soon as I took the first bite.

As a result of the above, a side plate of fries were ordered. The fries themselves were not crispy. The skin was soft and some of the insides hard. However, the tart lemon sauce which it was mixed in was good. Perhaps that is why the skins were soft and soggy.

We should have known to leave without having dessert but decided to try something else to sweeten our taste buds . Two chocolate cheesecake bites were ordered. Again, nothing special. Nothing to remember. And nothing to set apart Emeril’s Delmonico from all the other wonderful restaurants in New Orleans. For the prices and and name, we both thought we were in for a real treat only to leave the restaurant disappointed. There are so many wonderful, delicious and reasonably priced restaurants in New Orleans. It does depend on what you are looking for. If you are looking for a classy and elegant ambiance then you will enjoy this restaurant. However, if you want a really great New Orleans dining experience I would recommend going to one of the many other great restaurants (Mr. B’s and Commander’s Palace to name a few).

Gourmand, Ice Cream, New Orleans, Sno Cone, Summer

Hansen’s Sno-Bliz Shop- Uptown (New Orleans, USA)

July 6, 2012 No Comments

A sno cone is one of the top highlights of summers in New Orleans. In the midst of a hot, muggy and sweaty day you can look forward to cooling off with a sno cone from one of many great sno cone shops around town. Hansen’s Sno Bliz shop is a New Orleans tradition and I was told by many that I must try it out before leaving town. And so I found myself waiting in that long dreadful line on one of the hotter New Orleans days to get my hands on one of these famous sno cones.

An hour later… after getting to know my neighbors in line I finally made it to the the inside of the shop. Another fifteen minutes and I was at the front counter. The inside of the shop is…old. I am guessing that they are trying to maintain that old feel to the place so that it resembles what it looked like when it first opened up many years ago. You can look forward to taking a step back in time where life was simple and there was no AC.

Once you get to the counter you are greeted by the owner and her helpers. The owner is the granddaughter of the founders of Hansens. She is warm, friendly and dripping with perspiration from a hard days work. You order your size, flavor and add any extras. I went with the cream of nectar stuffed with a scoop of vanilla ice cream and a drizzle of condensed milk. The Count ordered the limonade- he likes his sno cone tart and fresh.

And finally after an hour and twenty minutes (we timed it)- we got our hands on our very first Hansen’s Sno Bliz. The texture of the ‘sno’ was definitely superior to many I have had in the city. As someone put it- it is like biting on to pieces of a cloud. That’s how it feels. It is smooth, creamy, light and fluffy.

One thing I would like to share is the poor hygiene and sanitation of the place. The Count pointed out the fact that the ice was handled by a young man wearing no gloves and pushing the ice into the ‘sno’ machine. He was sweaty and itchy which resulted in him scratching himself all over and wiping off his sweat with his bare hands followed by handling the ice and pushing it in the machine. The counter was a mess and seemed like there was no real order. The staff had to run back and forth between the rooms to grab different flavors. I guess they are trying to change little but it seems that things would run more efficiently if small changes were made. I have been to other sno cone shops in the area which are cleaner and more sanitary. I guess people down here are so fond of their childhood memories of this place that they fail to notice these small details. Would I go back? Certainly? Is it worth taking the risk of getting sick? Completely!

Gourmand, New Orleans, Pizza

Ancora Pizzeria and Salumeria-Uptown (New Orleans)

July 5, 2012 No Comments

So little time was left in New Orleans and yet so many delicious restaurants to try. It was hard to narrow down the choices to all we could possibly consume in our one week feast prior to our departure. Ancora Pizzeria was an obvious choice since it is the only place in New Orleans that offers true brick oven pizza straight from Naples. And really, who doesn’t love a good Neopolitan pizza.

What is so special about a brick oven pizza imported from Italy? You may want to refer to my post on Nicli Antica Pizzeria in Vancouver.

The Neapolitan brick oven pizza is a new phenomenon in New Orleans although I was up to date on the trend having recently returned from Vancouver where they are popping up all over the place (Barbarella and Nicli to name only a few).

We ended up at Ancora Pizzeria on a Monday night feeling confident that the wait would not be long. And we were right. There was no wait to be seated since half the restaurant was empty- rightfully so on a Monday night. However, we were starved. And I mean S-T-A-R-V-E-D. I had not had a real meal all day looking forward to my pizza and being too busy running around with last minute errands prior to the move. Our server took our order in a timely fashion but failed to warn us that there was only one chef on staff that night given the night of the week and that there were three tables ahead of us. This resulted in us waiting over an hour for our pizza. Had I known that the wait would have been so long I would have ordered a starter to settle my stomach. Anyhow, this was only a slight hiccup as once the pizza arrived it made the wait well worth it and all else was forgotten.

Ancora’s pizzas are made from flour, water and sea salt. No commercial yeast is used as they make clear on their website. In fact the dough takes three days to prepare from start to finish. Now that is dedication. The selection is limited but all the better since every single dish uses high quality products resulting in one delicious pizza. Staying true to their name they only serve pizza and a selection of house cured meats (see menu).

The pizza crust was thin, crispy and chewy. It was perfect. There were minimal toppings but all of high quality. We ordered the Margherita and another one which is not on their online menu. Both pizzas consisted of fior di latte mozzarella cheese, tomato sauce and basil. The second pizza had fresh tomatoes and garlic added to the mix for a wonderful burst of flavors.

As the photos reveal there were several burnt bubbles which I have been taught is a big no-no when presenting a Neapolitan pizza- but it didn’t take away from the flavors. All in all, Ancora Pizzeria serves one mean Pizza and the best I have had in New Orleans.

I love Freret street and how its being revitalized by local businesses. The Cure, Company Burger, High Hat, Dat Dog and Ancora Pizzeria have really made this street the place to be if you are looking for good food followed by great drinks at the Cure.

Ancora Pizzeria & Salumeria on Urbanspoon

Gourmand, New Orleans, Sandwich Shop

Muffuleta at Central Grocery- French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

June 21, 2012 1 Comment

As the guests poured in to New Orleans for the wedding my tour guide duties grew. On another day in the french quarter after walking around with over ten family members everyone was hungry. Too hungry to sit in a restaurant and wait. So I suggested Central Grocery for their famous Muffuletta sandwich.

Many cities have their own ‘must have’ sandwich. While in Philadelphia, you must try the Philly Cheese steak, in Montreal, the Montreal smoked beef in Paris perhaps the Jambon-beurre (or the falafels in the Marais one could argue) and in New Orleans, the Muffuleta. Central Grocery is home of the first Muffuleta. In fact, this is the very place that the first Muffuleta was created. Many other shops would soon follow the trend and make their own version of the Muffuleta. Now many New Orleans restaurants carry it as a staple on their menu.

What is a Muffeleta you ask? It is a sandwich consisting of Sicilian sesame bread stuffed with layers of Genoa Salami, Ham, Pepperoni, Provolone, emmentaler and mortadella cheese followed by a big scoop of the special olive salad.

Once you enter the shop you may think that you have entered the wrong place. It is in most part an old Italian deli serving Muffuleta’s at the counter. To get your hands on one of these New Orlean’s wonders, you must form a line on the left side of the stand.

Once at the counter, you have very limited options: you can either get a whole Muffuleta for $14.50 or half a Muffuleta for $7.50. The sandwiches are all premade and sitting behind the counter. Once you order and pay you take your sandwich to the back of the deli where there are counter top seatings and a vending machine to buy a drink.

For a family of ten- 3 full muffuletas were more than enough. In fact we had left overs which we savoured for later.

The family all enjoyed the sandwich which was not only filling but cheap. I myself am not a big fan of the Muffuleta. I find it to be too oily and the olive dressing too salty. I can taste the oil with every bite. I have also tried the Muffuleta at other places in the New Orleans area and found it to be similar in taste and generally not to my liking. But don’t take my word for it. Most people love this New Orleans sandwich and I am sure Central Grocery takes pride in creating their very own famous sandwich.

Coffee Shop, Gourmand, New Orleans, Pastries

Coffee at Velvet Espresso Bar- Uptown (New Orleans, USA)

June 19, 2012 No Comments

Velvet Espresso Bar is located across from Wholefoods in Uptown. It is a very small eclectic coffee shop offering only about 6 counter seats. The shop uses a more sophisticated method of brewing coffee than your average coffee shop (the vacuum brew method). They use two regular beans: Intelligentsia’s and Stumptown. They also offer breakfast and lunch consisting of small sandwiches and sweets (see menu). New Orleans definitely has a void for good coffee shops and Velvet Espresso is a great and desperately needed addition. I hope Velvet Espresso Bar motivates others to fill the espresso void and open more solid coffee shops where the staff are knowledgeable and passionate about their coffee.

Burgers, Gourmand, New Orleans

Company Burger- Uptown (New Orleans)

June 18, 2012 No Comments

There are many places in New Orleans where you can get your hamburger fix. Ranging from the peanut butter burger at Yo Mama’s bar to wet and sloppy at Buffa’s or Port of Call. However, one of the newest additions to the New Orleans burger family, the Company Burger, offers a more refined American burger.

The owner, Adam Biderman takes a lot of pride in his restaurant. I was lucky enough to have met him the day I went in. I got a brief lesson on his approach to the American burger and restaurant history. His beef patties are all hormone and antibiotic free, with the patties made in house from scratch. The buns for the burgers are baked on the Northshore using his own personal recipe. There is also a condiment station offering a wide array of sauces ranging from garlic mayo to basil mayo.

Who can resist their carrot and chocolate cake stand? I have of course heard about their tasty burgers but whats more I have been told repeatedly about how they have the best carrot cake in town. So without hesitation a carrot cake was added to our order. Biderman told us that the secret to the amazing carrot cake is his mother’s home recipe. I must get my hands on her recipe. It was probably the best tasting carrot cake I have ever had…no exaggeration.

The place was modern and clean. I really appreciate a restaurant that pays attention to sanitation and cleanliness. Many burger joints in the city (some hole in the walls with good burgers as I have mentioned) really pay no attention to sanitation whatsoever and I sometimes question what else is being served with my burger. But not at Company Burger- the place was spotless clean and whats best you can literally see whats cooking right in front of you.

Before I get too carried away, back to the issue at hand: the burgers. We ordered two single patty burgers although Biderman later told us we should have ordered the Company Burger- a doubly patty burger. I don’t think I could have finished it. I struggled with my own single patty burger.

The burger bun was perfect. Not soggy. Not wet. Not stale. But fresh, chewy and pretty much what a burger bun should be. The patty was delicious and meaty. What I mean by meaty is that you can actually taste the char grilled beef. Sometimes less is more. This is what a hamburger should be. At Company Burger, your burger is served without condiments. You have the option of adding fresh jalapenos and a variety of sauces at the condiment stand.

Okay. So now back to dessert. We were also given the chocolate cake to try. They offer only two kinds of dessert: the carrot cake and the chocolate cake. Both tasty, however, I devoured the carrot cake in less than a minute whereas the Count devoured the chocolate cake alone. It’s personal preference I guess but for me the carrot cake ruled.

Burgers, Gourmand, New Orleans

Comfort Food at Cowbell (New Orleans, USA)

June 16, 2012 No Comments

When we first walked into this place I immediately felt like I was home for Sunday dinner. The place has a casual ambiance and the menu offers many comfort foods. I’ll begin by telling you that I loved it before I get into the details.

Brack May– “philosopher, social entrepreneur and teacher” was formerly a chef of the former Cobalt and opened this homey restaurant last year. The place uses many eclectic pieces and elements from post-Katrina (including their sign which as I was told was the door from a washed up car from Katrina). The inside is wonderfully decorated. My favorite: the host stand, black tiles and the lighting fixtures. Maybe I can ask them to come decorate our home?

The menu has a range of comfort foods from mac ‘n’ cheese, grilled cheese with a side of soup and of course their amazing natural beef burgers and fries (notably the chili cheese fries).

In order not to feel guilty of what was to come we decided to order the mixed green salad served with goat cheese. The dressing was slightly oily but nevertheless it was good.

I was in the mood for anything unhealthy and so of course I ordered the chili cheese fries as a side to my burger. Best decision ever. The fries were so good and the chili cheese topping even better. Needless to say I single-handedly finished the fries without the Count’s help. The burger came next. I was completely full after only a few bites. I love a good burger, especially one that is made with detail and love. The cowbell burger tasted like those high quality burgers my parents made at home. The beef was tender and tasty. The condiments were fresh and were topped off with the special pink sauce they serve with every order. It was definitely one of the best burgers I have had in town.

As we were leaving we noticed their sign hanging outside which stated ‘eat happy’. What a great motto. From now on I’m going to always eat happy.

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