Hello, Weekend

Yes, I realize that today is only Thursday. But with the long Memorial Day weekend on the horizon, we are all preoccupied with the upcoming three day weekend full of booze, beaches, and goatburgers.


The sun sets over the New Orleans Greek Festival.

You read that right. Goatburgers are a new addition to the menu at the New Orleans Greek Fest, which runs Friday evening and all day Saturday and Sunday.  Save for Friday evening when the grounds surrounding the Holy Trinity Cathedral swell with sweaty runners who wait patiently for their free beers after finishing the 5K, Greek Fest is a nice treat for those who enjoy outdoor festivals but loathe large crowds. Most of the food is prepared by the church community, and you can taste the love in the spinach stuffed spanakopita and spit-roatsed lamb sold by the pound. And with plenty of cold beer and ouzo to wash eveything down, the atmosphere is laid back and relaxed on the banks of Bayou St. John.

Have a great weekend.

NOWFE

Next week the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience celebrates it's 20th anniversary of eating and drinking for a good cause. Those of you who are NOWFE experts have likely already reserved your tables for the wine dinners on Wednesday and decided whether you will attend one of the Grand Tastings on Friday night or Saturday afternoon.

In last year's piece for NOWFE, I wrote a very vanilla post with a brief synopsis of each event on the calendar. Such blog posts are helpful for the uninitiated and assists in promoting an event which generates a lot of business for the local hospitality industry at a time when they are making one final push before the dog days of summer. However, after my experience at NOWFE 2011, I decided to embrace the spirit behind this year's challenge and ask myself the simple question:

NOWFE: Is It Worth It?

Let's break it down event by event:

• Wine Dinners - Are They Worth It? - It depends. We had great luck in 2009 when Medlock Ames poured at Vizard's but were disappointed last year with the food at Arnaud's, although the wines from Far Niente and Nickel & Nickel were impressive. That's the inherent Catch 22 with many of the NOWFE wine dinners - often times the most interesting wines are paired with restaurants whose food falls below expectations. My best advice is not to short change yourself in either category. If you can't find a menu which peaks the interest of both your thirst and your hunger, then spend your money elsewhere.
• Vinola - Is It Worth It? - I have never been, so I honestly have no idea. Spending $150 to drink wine for 2 hours on a Thursday afternoon seems quite decadent, but the wines are supposedly expensive and the lineup of chefs and restaurants is definitely impressive. The Pope went last year and said that it was a blast, but of course he did not pay for his ticket. If I had the afternoon off from work and had not already committed to some other NOWFE event for this year, I would probably just to see if it lives up to the hype.
• Royal Street Stroll - Is It Worth It?  - In a word, no. Last year, Royal Street Stroll was a certified clusterf*ck, and the rain was not entirely to blame. There are too many attendees, the lines to refill your wine glass are too long, and the food was non-existent. Someone had to say it.
• Seminars - Are They Worth It? - Again, I have limited experience with this category, but this component of NOWFE seems to be the most educational and therefore the most appealing for true wine geeks.
• Grand Tastings - Are They Worth It? - The Grand Tastings mimic the Royal Street Stroll in that they both involve long lines and lots of people. But the Grand Tastings traditionally offer both food and wine of better quality and more abundance. Now, most of the wines are poured are main stream, where as the wine dinners and Vinola feature more single vineyard varietals and reserve selections. But in terms of bang for your buck, it's tough to beat the Grand Tastings.

What say you? Is NOWFE worth it?

Opa!

Those seeking a little outdoor entertainment this Memorial Day weekend need look no further than the banks of Bayou St. John, where beginning tonight the Greek Festival will be celebrated for the 38th year in a row. The celebration kicks off with the Olympic Run/Walk, which provides the perfect calorie-burning excuse to indulge in the Greek community's homemade delicacies after the race. While many Greek Festers opt for the gyro and feta fries, I am partial to the traditional Greek dinner featuring stuffed grape leaves, meatballs in a tomato sauce, baked pasta, and buttery delightful triangles of phyllo dough filled with feta. It's a meal that even Odysseus would make a detour for on his journey back to Ithaca.

With the Greek Fest, Cochon 555, and NOWFE filling up the calendar this weekend, it's a good thing we have Monday off to recover.

NOWFE

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience kicks off tomorrow night with the Ella Brennan Award Dinner & Auction honoring Chef Paul Prudhomme, but that's just the beginning of a five day stretch of dinners, tastings, and seminars. For the uninitiated, deciding which NOWFE events to attend can be an overwhelming decision. Fortunately, a few days ago our friend Todd Price gave his own run down on how to budget your time, money, and propensity for hangovers during NOWFE.

As Todd astutely pointed out, NOWFE is one of those cases where (no matter what your tolerance level) attending every event is simply not possible. So what to choose? Well, if you are dumb enough to forego Todd's advice in favor of our own, then may God have mercy on your soul and continue reading at your own peril:

• Vitners' Dinners (Wednesday) - We have had very good luck at the NOWFE winemaker dinners, both at Vizard's and La Cote Brasserie. The costs have risen markedly in the past 2 years, but even at $125, that is still a great value for a multi-course dinner with wine pairings. Think about how much you spent on your last 4 course meal with a bottle of wine. Plus the input of the winery representative is not to be underappreciated; this is a great way to make acquaintances before visting wine country. Now, to be honest, if you have not yet booked your table yet for a Vintner's Dinner, then you're probably too late in the game. But cancellations do happen, so get your name on a waiting list just in case.
• Vinola (Thursday) - If I didn't work for a living and could take off a Thursday afternoon for a 3 hour wine tasting without the partners at my firm seriously questioning my value as an employee, I would have booked my tickets to Vinola a long time ago. This exclusive tasting offers the breadth of the Grand Tastings but in a more intimate setting. The only problem is that the $150 ticket may cost you $1500 in wine purchases later down the line if you like what you taste.
• Royal Street Stroll (Thursday) - It's likely that many of you received the Living Social email in your inbox offering half-off tickets to this year's Royal Street Stroll, and kudos to those who pulled the trigger early before that deal sold out. I don't know if this year's stroll will be even more crowded than usual, but one thing for certain is that King Patrick and his Krewe of Cork will be having a grand old time.
• Seminars (Friday & Saturday) - By far the most underutilized events at NOWFE, these hour long sessions can be quite educational if you are willing to spend the money. Two years ago The Pope raved about how the folks at Riedel taught him how the size/shape of wine glasses can noticeable affect a taste profile. What more do you need beside the La Papa seal of approval?
• Grand Tastings (Friday & Saturday) - Ask yourself these questions: Do I mind eating and drinking stand up, occassionaly having to wait in line for a glass of wine, and grazing on small portions rather than being served at a sit-down dinner? None of the above bother me, which is why I enjoy the Grand Tasting. But some people may find better value by spending a little bit more for the formality of a Vinter's Dinner.
• Cochon 555 (Saturday) - Unrelated to NOWFE but being promoted in conjunction with, Cochon 555 is a pork and wine lover's dream. The premise: 5 Chefs, 5 Pigs, 5 Winemakers. Attendees are treated to a whole hog cooking competition by the participating chefs, and then they get to taste the results along with other pork dishes and pours from the five representing wineries. Can you say... porkgasm?

Tickets to all NOWFE events (except for the vintner dinners) and to Cochon 555 can be purchased online. You can thank us later for taking care of your Memoral Day weekend plans.

Jazz Fest for People Who Like Wine

The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE), a wholly owned subsidiary of the Jimi Hendrix Experience begins next Wednesday with a series of wine dinners in New Orleans (and one in Baton Moulin Rouge). The vintner dinners pair a winery with a restaurant and the price includes tax, tip, and wines in most cases. A few dinners have sold out already, so act now. If I were going Calcasieu and Domenica would be at the top of my list if money was an object and M Bistro if it was not. But a little birdie told me The Pope's sister will be at G.W. Fins, so you have got that going for you, which is nice.

Perhaps the most enjoyable event of the weekend, the Royal Street Stroll, takes place on Thursday evening. The galleries lining Royal Street pair up with wineries for a very enjoyable evening of drinking and looking at art. Hint: Dogs playing poker will only increase in value the longer you own it.

Rounding out the week's events are seminars, wine auctions and the immensely popular Grand Tastings. Imagine the floor of the Superdome littered with confetti and Garrett Hartley carrying off a ticket to the Super Bowl. Now replace the confetti with wine and Garrett Hartley with Dread Pirate Robert and you got the vibe of the Grand Tastings.

So, finally to conclude for once and for all, the NOWFE gives you the opportunity to eat, look at art, relish in the glory of the Saints, and more all while drinking wine. What is not to love? Well, besides Dread Pirate Robert, he smells like mold.

State Dinner 2009

After much debate and a furious bout of internal memoranda, La Cote Brasserie in the Renaissance Arts Hotel was chosen as the situs for the 2009 Official Blackened Out State Dinner. Turnout was stellar as we had by far not only the largest table, but the most people at one table as well. The wines were from Eberle Winery.

First up was a glass of Chardonnay and some passed apps. Crawfish and lobster stuffed peppadew peppers = good, fried alligator in a General Tso's reminscent sauce = better, boudin croquettes missed the mark. The boudin was a cold and uninteresting. The Chardonnay however compensated for the faults of the boudin.

First course looked good on paper - seared scallop on watermelon rind jam with grapefruit segments. But as the server placed it down, the scent of 3-day-old houseguest rose from the table. The scallop was seared, but not really cooked and was incredibly "fishy." Complete miss.

But then came the happiness. A salad of cured then smoked then seared duck pastrami with foie gras shavings and a salad of lightly dressed arugula. Just everything you could want out of a plate of food: sultry, extravagant, indulgent, and refined. Best dish of night handsd down. Served with the Syrah Rosé, I could eat this every night of my life and get fat as shit. The rosé would work very well with sticky ribs.

Next up was a tasso crusted piece of redfish over polenta. No complaints here, served with an almost delicate Cabernet. The Pope's comment summed it up, "Another bottle of that one please?"
This final savory course we all waited with baited breath on: a porcini crusted venison tenderloin with valdeon blue cheese gnocchi and pork cracklins. The blue cheese in the gnocchi needed to play a stronger role and this dish would have really been exceptional. Meat was cooked perfectly and the porcini dusting held its own. Paired with a shiraz, had the blue cheese come through the stars would have aligned.

Dessert was Strawberry pain perdu, satsuma ice cream, pralines, and Muscat. By this point, the notes got fuzzy.
The service and staff at La Cote did a hell of a job. It may sound like I complained a bunch, but really it was a great meal and an even better time. Thanks to everyone who came, including The Nun and her table of Misfits. Luckily Catfish Erin and Donnie Boy Riguez brought some after dinner cigars for all. He claimed they were pre-Castro Cubans, but I tend to think they were just Castro Cubans.

It's the Most Wonderful Time of the Year...

Take the tipsy pleasure of Christmas, the atmosphere of Jazz Fest, the excitement of the Super Bowl, and the hooky vibe of Mardi Gras, throw it in a barrel and what do you get? The New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. NOWFE is the single best event in New Orleans. Why? Well for one, a lot of the events have booze. Secondly, they are usually indoors. Thirdly, the munchies are beyond reproach. And finally, it has never once let us down unlike the "Boy Bands of the 80's, 90s, and Today" Box Set we ordered with our ad revenue.

Here is a run-down of some of the things we are looking forward to:

Tonight is the 2009 Blackened Out Official State Dinner at La Cote. It is going to be hot with multiple "t's" in the parlance of Paris Hilton. Other dinners which look awesome are Wolfe's, Melange, and MiLa. If you go to one, we would love to hear your report for a Guest Thursdays. This goes for you Baton Moulin Rougeans attending Juban's tonight as well.

Thursday is the Royal Street Stroll, which is always a good way to enjoy artful canvases and wine. If you ball like The Pope, the FEASTival will probably dominate your Thursday night and Friday morning.

Friday is seminar and Grand Tasting Day. "Eat like a Pig" with Donald Link will most certainly kick pork butt, while fellow foodie Lorin Gaudin pairs port and pastry.

The Grand Tastings, both on Friday night and Saturday morning, will fill your appetite for both wine and food.

If you like food or wine or both, you really owe it to yourself to check out NOWFE. You will love it. Listen, I hate to lecture but take out your pen and paper. First off, we are approaching a three day weekend. So along with that new Affliction shirt your mom got you, it is the best present you will get this year. You have an extra day to recover and grill out. Which brings me to my next point.

Chances are you will see meat meet flame this weekend somewhere. Rather than show up with some watered down American lamer lager, go to NOWFE, try something different, and bring that to Uncle Al's. Believe it or not wine does go with barbecue, especially a rosé. Either he will run you out his backyard or you will be greeted as a liberator. No downside there.

And come on, it's not like you have anything better to do. You aren't studying for the same test given every year with an answer key.

The 2009 Blackened Out State Dinner

Once or twice a year, the loyal denizens of this cyber dark alley gather at a predetermined spot to drink and nibble on victuals. These events are timed with the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience and Tales of the Cocktail.

Last year's First State Dinner was replete with delicious food, biodynamic wine (it means you get hungover), and a cougar! You can read about last year's juvenile delinquency here and there.

We also dominated the Tales of the Cocktail at Stella!. No embarassment was spared.

This year the 2009 Official Blackened Out State Dinner will take place at La Cote Brasserie on May 20, 2009. Here is the menu. We chose this location based on a variety of factors including but not limited to: GPS proximity to the Red Eye, the passed apps, Peter's ideal restaurant concept, and the ability of most of us to skateboard there from work.

Scheduled to appear are Peter, The Pope, Lindsay, BB Gunner, Palm Room Hostess, Donnie Boy Riguez (with Catfish Erin on the Accordion), and a host of other characters. But most importantly, you. If you would like to join us, just call over to La Cote at (504) 613-2350 and reserve your spot now. Put together your own table or just lurk from the corner, we don't care. Nor do we judge.

This is a really fun night. Plus, there is always the chance for it to turn into an early morning. And it is Peter's last trip to New Orleans until August 1. So catch him while you can.

Limos by A Confidential.

EDIT

LATE BREAKING NEWS: In a stunning announcement some have heralded as "quite dangerous" Legend will be in attendance at this year's State Dinner. Participants are encouraged to gird thy loins.

And the winner is...

On Saturday, local chefs competed in the first ever Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off in conjunction with the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience. Apparently no one deems this competition worth reporting. No one, that is, save for us.

You heard it here first, folks. The winner of the inaugural Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off is none other than Brian Landry, Executive Chef of Galatoire's. The winning dish: lemonfish topped with jumbo lump crabmeat and crab butter.

Your next question: "What is crab butter?" Well, let me tell you. Chef Landry dumbed down the process for me: He "boiled" crab shells in butter until the butter broke, removed the shells, then whisked the butter back together over ice.

Brian will represent our great state in the fifth annual Great American Seafood Cook-Off, which will be held on August 2 & 3 in the Convention Center in conjunction with the Louisiana Food Service Expo (otherwise known as the "LRA Show" - aka "Christmas in August" for The Pope). More on this event later.

Congratulations, Brian. All I can say is that I, for one, am really glad that you decided to forego dental school in favor of the culinary arts.

Dr. John said it best...

Something about small restaurants grabs my attention. Vizard's redefines small and I could not be happier with my dining experience there. The wines were from Medlock Ames (Ames was in attendance).

Began with a glass of rose. Unlike the blush color of most roses, this wine had an almost copper tint to it. Good start.

First course arrived with a great chardonnay. Rather than stand by the California directive that all chardonnay's must have an oaky, buttery profile, this wine stood out for its delicate approach to a classic grape. First course was a lobster gnocchi with a smattering of mushrooms. Now, usually at these dinners that means if your dish has lobster in it, congrats you won, now do the dishes. Here enormous chunks of lobster rested their head on pillows of potato. Almost a unanimous choice for dish of the evening.

Next a cassoulet salad. Read that last sentence again. Duck Confit, pork belly, white beans, and escargot, (Holy Crap are you kidding me) plated onto a salad of frisee. The heat from the cassoulet heated the frisee and took some of the bitterness out of that green. Wine missed the mark, it being a Red Blend. With something as soulful and deep as a cassoulet salad, a wine with a smoother finish would have perhaps paired better. Not a bad wine, maybe a tad immature. As some have said about myself.

Now, veal tournedos encrusted in whole grain mustard with sweetbreads and a sauce flavored with spices and chocolate. The spice of the dish, which was really the mustard, worked really well with the tenderness of the veal. The sweetbreads were fried perfectly. Little nuggets of thymus gland, so good the I want more impulse took over. Wine was a merlot. Ames began his discussion on this merlot by once again telling everyone that just because Sideways (a terrible movie in my opinion) told American's Merlot is shit, does not mean it is. And this Merlot proved that.

Spinalis. I had no clue what this was so let me explain. It is the cap end of a rib eye. Tender as a filet with the marbling of a rib eye, this is one hell of a cut of meat. The plate was finished with some fried oysters. I think Chef Vizard was going for a play on a carpetbagger steak. Whatever he attempted it worked. Just an amazing all around dish. This course was paired with a Cabernet. Big, juicy and just that slight of hint of tanin. I really loved this wine, we made out.

Ended things with a cheese course, which I really liked as it meant I did not have to wake up in the middle of the night and stare at the ceiling.

Now, usually at these dinners the food is about par. Which is ok, the kitchen is taxed to turn out 45 plates of food at the same time. Well, last night the food broke the mold. All the food hit birdie or even eagle status. I anxiously await a return to Vizards and I suggest you go as well. That kitchen cooks. You know it is a succesful dinner when discussion centers around everyone's favorite dish; and each person argues persuasively for different dishes.

The Pope could not make it and we had to sub a different couple at the last minute. But our table had a great time. So thanks to everyone who made it and thanks to Medlock Ames and the staff at Vizards. We had great company, delicious food, interesting new wines, and an evening to remember. Such a night...

Eagle on the evening, Birdie-eagle on everything.

Mark your calendars for July 17th. Tales of the Cocktail Spirited Dinners.

A great read...

Thanks to the Bride-Has-Been for passing this along. Great detail in this article. If you wanted to get pumped/stoked/amped/jacked about food and or wine or NOWFE, here is your chance.

http://www.bestofneworleans.com/dispatch/2008-05-20/feat.php

Holy Week is upon us

Its almost here. Not yet summer (thanks Live Earth), the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience begins on Tuesday and runs through Sunday. The blog and its devotee can hardly wait for dinner on Wednesday. A few spaces remain so if you still have interest in joining us at Vizard's, call and get a reservation.

Thursday evening, the Royal Street Stroll takes place on Royal. 92% of the galleries on Royal will have food and wine and your job is to march through drinking in, both with your eyes and your mouth, art and wine, respectively.

A multitude of seminars and the Grand Tastings on Friday and Saturday night round out what is sure to be a great weekend. Go, you do not have to work on Monday, and if you do not support events like this they will flee to some town like Little Rock. See I did learn something from Al Gore.

Information here.

Lady and I will spend next weekend in New York. We already have reservations at Craft and Babbo, any other recommendations will be appreciated.

NOWFE Event

Next Friday for lunch, instead of doing somethign stupid, filling up on a prepackaged triangle of soggy bread, processed meat, dopey cheese, and institutional mayo, go to the NOWFE Charcuterie Seminar. Chef Rene Bajeux will inform and feed you. You can not imagine a better day. Meat, wine, French Chefs, at the Casino, amazing.

Official Blackened Out State Dinner Location

As has been mentioned before, the NOWFE event is the culinary equivalent of a nasty Jazz Fest afternoon. And it is time for the readers of ye ole blog to convene and introduce one another.* The State of the Blog is strong indeed. The restaurant we have chosen is Vizards on Magazine. The cost is $85; the wines environmentally conscious. A regular "stuff white people like" Wet Dream. Call (504)529-9912 to make a reservation. Call today, I am serious about this.

Get out there and support eating great food and drinking wine.



*Scheduled to appear but no guarantees made: Lady, The Palm Room Hostess, The Pope**

**Subject to security concerns.

Blackened Out Official State Dinner

Is 2 weeks away on Wednesday, May 21st. More menus are available online. Peruse them and make recommendations. We hope to have a decision here in the next few days. These dinners sell out every year. So let's get cracking.

Also, one member of the Commodore Couple suggested GW Fins, which is already Sold Out. Do not repeat that mistake.

The Official Blackened Out State Dinner

As has been discussed before the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE) will require our utmost attention. One of the key events of NOWFE, the Winery Dinners, will offer the opportunity for all of us to get together, enjoy each other's company, eat, and drink wine. That and get incredibly hammered, spill food on ourselves, and make regrettable decisions.

This is super advanced warning but on May 21st, at 7 p.m. the Official First Ever Biennial Blackened Out State Dinner will be held. Location to be determined; everyone is invited. A selection committee will be formed to choose the venue. Should you wish to lobby for a particular location, please let us know by emailing us at blackenedout@gmail.com. The selection committee will operate in much the same fashion as the Super Delegates. That is if the majority of readers want to go to one restaurant, and the Selection Committee wants to go elsewhere, the Selection Committee may use it's supreme powers to choose another place.

A incomplete list of participating restaurants and wineries (and 2 menus) is available at http://nowfe.com/html/vintner_dinners.html.

Hope you can join us.

Heads Up

Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest promote New Orleans amazingly. But much like the new King of Rex toasts previous kings, the new King of New Orleans events is the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience(NOWFE). It combines the festivity of both and the bacchanalian delights of neither. Let's face it the food at Jazz Fest is good, but the lines, heat, and contact high is probably the real reason it tastes so good.

Think of NOWFE as Jazz Fest for fat kids who like wine. This is not to be confused with the equally enjoyable, but altogether different Tales of the Cocktail. That event is Mardi Gras for fat kids who like hooch.

The weekend typically kicks off on Wednesday Night with a series of vintner dinners. A good sampling of New Orleans restaurants participate. Each restaurant pairs itself with a winery or wine importer to produce a thoughtful, wine focused menu. Check back for recommendations when the 2008 menus are released. But once they are released move fast, these dinner sell out early and often.

Get a group together and do a vintner dinner. The price may scare you off at first. But don't worry the copious amounts of food, wine, and discussion will make such an expense seem reasonable by the end of the night. Peter and I will be attending with some of the characters in tow. Not Legend, he would not survive in such an inhospitable environment. Once a decision has been made, an edict shall issue from The Pope.

The Royal Street Stroll is a classic example of a really good idea. Take an entire street; preferably one that is old, beautiful, and full of art galleries. Put a different winery in each art gallery and let the fun unfold.

The good thing about art and wine is appreciating them only requires one to be vague and mysterious. Phrases such as "Sheepish", "Wild with abandon, yet restrained by wisdom", "Incredibly ordinary", and "A little too influenced by the masters, don't you think" will draw much praise for your intellect from those surrounding you. Be you talking about wine or art.

Other good things to say while strolling through galleries (and falsely convincing yourself you will spit each wine out) can run the gamut from "That Cezanne reminds me of my summer rolling fresh Goat Cheese in the Pyrennes" to "This Prosecco calls to mind an affair I had with an Italian nun."

Of course you could just go and not act like an idiot, but where is the fun in that?

There are numerous seminars throughout the weekend. There are also two Grand Tastings. In which the Superdome is transformed into a garden of earthly delights. More information forthcoming.

Information is available at http://nowfe.com/index.html. Make plans now to attend at least one of these events.