La Boca

Ahh, La Boca; what would I do without you? I love restaurants that seem to transport a diner somewhere. La Boca takes me to a very happy place. A place where dark wood beamed ceilings, exposed bricks, and windows open onto bustling Fulton Street. La Boca, I want to write a sonnet about you. But I dont have any pieces of paper with only 14 lines on it.

Another trip there this past weekend with Doc, the Expert, Lindsay and I reaffirmed my belief that La Boca is the best steakhouse in New Orleans. Incredibly reliable, their beef has few equals in these parts (including some from Snake River Farms), attentive service, a small but food focused wine list, and last but not least, Carter Oosterhouse from television's Space Trading Spouses. Lindsay, on left, believes Carter to be a hunky beefcake.

Below is what I think to be a beautiful hunk of beef. The skirt steak, topped with a smattering of the classic chimichurri and the roasted red pepper chimichurri. In many circles, I am known as the "Jackson Pollack of chimichurri." You can even see the remaining bits of my pisco sour and my belly. Lucky you.

Are you getting hungry? The hangar steak medium rare makes many vegans second guess their decision. The flavor is deep, the texture silken. Look at the artful photography, as it captures the knife and fork resting in between battles. The juices of the meat awaiting their eventually ride on a bread basket to your mouth. This is some hot food porn. That last word should bring us about one million more new viewers.

A deep, rich Susana Balbo Cabernet Sauvignon, some provoleta, and some fries rounded out another meatacular meal. For good meaure I added on a Grand Marnier. Why?

Well, we heard rumors that the Pope was lurking around the Warehouse District under the guise of working. And by working I mean, His Holiness was entertaining some nationally known, and hence not us, food writers. He was very mum about who was there. Secrecy being a fallacy of the papacy.

Following work the Pope retired to the Red Eye, where our intrepid photgrapher snapped what is believed to be the only known photo of the Pope...drinking...in a bar...surrounded by women. As you can see, the Pope in his element is a very happy man indeed.