Here’s one more post in our special edition for those heading to the Sugar Bowl soon. Search “New Orleans” for more ideas on how to enjoy the big easy and have fun down there!
Classic cajun and creole food abound in the New Orleans restaurant scene but there is also a variety of other cuisines that have made themselves home at this culinary capital city.
The Commandor’s Palace is a quintessential grand dame restaurant built in the garden district back in 1880. It is one of the many Brennan family restaurants and their family home is next door. Long run by New Orleans restaurant Matriarch, Ella Brennan, since her passing it is now in hands of 2 cousins in the next generation of Brennan’s.
The distinctively cheerful building is located just across from Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 , a great place to walk off brunch or to take in some culture before dinner. The interior is always busy and bustling and loaded with French furnishings.
One of my favorite features are the whimsical walls speckled with perching birds that seem to have hatched out from the wallpaper. They serve New Orleans cuisine with a twist and there is usually a great band roaming this palatial palace.
Shaya restaurant… be still my taste buds, be still… Modern Israeli cuisine and other international influences meet New Orleans ingredients. The clean, contemporary interiors are warmed by the woodburning oven in the center of the restaurant. For brunch or lunch, I highly recommend their amazing Shakshouka — I can taste that fresh tomato sauce as I write {did you know Alaska air has a non-stop from Seattle to New Orleans… I’m considering it right now}.
The vegetable focused menu and small plates for sharing make this a refreshing option amongst the heavier cuisine in the area, but then, there are those enthralling wood fired puffy pita breads that come to the table and refuse to be ignored… well worth every lack of resistance.
Innovative Alon Shaya has left the restaurant to open his new restaurant Saba, where he promises new and improved “steamy and plush” pita {what…. you can improve upon these?} and more “Israeli dishes with Louisiana influences”… sign me up for that Fried Oyster Po’ boy in a pita…
I really realized I was in a different land on a Sunday night on Oak Street when we came across this Crawfish Boil being cooked on the side walk in front of The Maple Leaf bar. Once cooked this mélange was transported indoors and poured out onto the pool tables, draped in plastic, for everyone to devour. This is a typical way of sharing food down here, but for this PNW gal, experiencing this community feast was transformative.
To the background of incredible live jazz music, crawfish shells were cracked and the tender meat sucked out, sausage slices, mushrooms and potatoes were popped into mouths around the table, corn was bitten off the cob, and it was all washed down with favored beverages, really an incredible, authentic New Orleans experience.
Casa Borrega is another other-worldly experience in New Orleans this greek revival home was renovated with salvaged elements and is steeped in Mexican culture and heritage.
The owners wanted to bring Mexico City street food to the Crescent City, which they have nailed. The distinctive flavor profile of the cuisine is enhanced
with south of the border music {live and/or piped} and walls covered with art and momentos with a spanish accent. A fun, festive and delicious experience unlike any other.
Alright, maybe it was the name that first attracted me to Cafe Amelia in the French Quarter. Prior to lunch on my last visit to the big easy, previously, I have only had a chance to “lécher la fenêtre” {lick the windows} of this famously charming little spot.
Last summer, while attending the International Food Bloggers Conference, I decided to try one more time and was thrilled to hear that they had a table for me in the Princess of Monaco courtyard where I lingered over a satisfying cup of chicken and andouille gumbo and this flavorful plate of Satsuma Pepper glazed Gulf Prawns while listening to the music of the fountain and watching the people flow by on Rue Royale.
I loved learning about the history of this beautiful restaurant, and the fact that the “The Princess of Monaco courtyard” was not named for Grace Kelly. It is a reference to the first Princess of Monaco, Alice, who’s mother was Amelie, click on American Princess to read the full, fascinating history.
Intrigued? Remember, Mardi Gras is coming up!! See you there!
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