A Season of Sacrifice

The binge has finally ended.... Or has it?

As we last discussed on Friday, it's been a non-stop party around here since Christmas. But why fool ourselves into thinking that the good times have stopped rolling simply because some of us are supposed to abstain from eating the flesh of hooved animals for the next few Fridays?

After the resounding success of our "Farewell to Meat" series during Carnival, we have decided to embrace our Catholic upbringing with a new series this Lenten season: "Fish Fridays." From boiled crawfish and raw oysters to turtle soup and trout amandine, we will explore the bounty of our local waters through our favorite seafood dishes. So when Friday rolls around and you are trying to decide how to avoid going vegan for the day, look no further than here.

Finally, we wish everyone good luck with your respective Lenten sacrifices. As is my custom, I will be making a run at a self-imposed prohibition on deep fried foods, pizza, and sweets for the next 46 days. (Hopefully though, this year I will avoid counteracting my attempt at health and wellness with late night overindulgences of peanut butter and honey.) Rumor has it that Bloggle, a/k/a NOLAWineGuy, is giving up Twitter, but I'll believe that when I see it.

As for The Pope, well... he gave up on giving up stuff a long, long time ago.

NOLA Foodie Time Warp (Part 2): McKenzie's

Blogger's Note - This is Part 2 of our series on the recent return of two iconoclastic New Orleans eateries. For Part 1 on the reopening of the original Bud's Broiler click here.

I have a confession to make. I grew up exactly one block from the McKenzie's Ice Cream and Donut Shoppe in the 900 block of Harrison Avenue in Lakeview. From time to time, unbeknownst to my parents, in the mid-afternoon I would slyly walk down the garbage alley to McKenzie's, trade three quarters for two buttermilk drops, and eat them on the walk back home.

Phew. I have been holding that one in for a long time. I feel much better now.

I swear. The rumor of the reopening of the McKenzie's on Harrison has been part of Lakeview folklore since the store closed in 2001. Yes, I know that there are several Tastee locations in the GNO area that serve the McKenzie's specialties. But the closing of the McKenzie's on Harrison was a huge blow to Lakeview. And the reopening was an even much more needed pick-me-up - especially post-K. Last week, that day finally came.

As I waited in a long line (just like I did at Bud's), the above sign taunted me so much that I almost knocked over the dozen or so St. Dominic girls standing in front of me. I stopped just short of telling myself, "OK, I think I can take on all of them at once in the case that they get the last of the turtles." (if Buttermilkdrop Norris wants turtles, he gets turtles.) Finally I made it to the counter, placed my order, and hurried home like a crack addict that wanted to hide his latest score from his fellow junkies. And there it was:

Behold in all it's glory: the buttermilk drop. The Folk Singer - a newbie to these treats - described it as "a donut stick on steroids." Works for me.

Marve at the turtle. I don't know what evil genius figured out how to fit so much chocolate on top of such a tiny cookie, but I would like to thank him.

The new Tastee/McKenzie's also serves basic grits and eggs breakfasts and "Krystal" (or "White Castle") style burgers at lunch. I hope they stay around for a long, long time.

NOLA Foodie Time Warp (Part 1): Bud's Broiler

Blogger's Note - This is Part 1 of a two part series highlighting the recent return of two of my favorite "only in New Orleans" eateries. Sometimes the simple meals are the ones we miss the most after they are gone.

Sauce. Just cover me in sauce.

Sure, other Bud's Broiler locations have been up and running since shortly after Katrina, but this month's reopening of the original on City Park Avenue has been greatly anticipated. (Hell, even my dog* was excited.) I could not wait to get my hands on the above #4 with sauce, grated cheddar. and onions.

A note about the hickory smoked sauce: I think one of the most underrated touches at Bud's is how they keep a pot of sauce warming on a burner at all times. A small but crucial step in the euphoria that is a #4.

In the instance of fairness, I decided to skip the french fries in favor of trying another one of Bud's specialties: #7 - a butterflied and charcoal grilled hot dog with chili, cheese, and onions. This is why life in New Orleans is worth living.

It was a divine experience, which called for much patience considering that there were 10 people ahead of me in line when I got there and 15 people in line when I left. As I ate in the upstairs dining room (which thankfully has a much improved A/C window unit), I overheard a woman talking on her cell phone while she waited for her number to be called: "Girl, you are never going to believe where I am. Bud's Broiler on City Park. I swear yo Gawd they have the same dirt on the floor. You got to come here for lunch this week." She took a bit of poetic license in her description. The joint is actually cleaner than it has ever been before, even though they somehow preserved the old wooden tables with names carved in the them. There are even a few outdoor tables for seating.

As much as I love Bud's, my feelings pale in comparison to those of The Pope. His first question upon hearing of the reopening: "24 hours?" Unfortunately such is not the case, so La Papa will have to continue making his late night sojourns to the one on Clearview. In any case, during "normal" business hours, The Pope Mobile need only make that short drive to City Park Ave to accomplish a long journey down memory lane.

* This link is safe for work. Sound is not necessary but preferential. You can fast forward to 1:30 if you would like.

Let the F(e)asting Begin...?

As of midnight, the Mardi Gras binge has ended and the Lenten season of temperance has begun. But, in New Orleans, ... has it really? Honestly. Does abstaining from meat really constitute a sacrifice in this city? I can understand if you live in a landlocked town where steak, ribs, and sausage are considered three of the five major food groups. (Not that there's anything wrong with that). But what about in the Crescent City where the bounty of the sea is so plentiful?

For the past few years, my personal Lenten sacrifice has been to abstain from so-called "trash" foods. No fast food, deep fried goodies, pizza, or sweets of any sort for 46 days. (In addition to foregoing meat from hooved animals on Fridays, of course.) Anyway, even though I have these self imposed constraints on my diet, I feel like I still eat pretty damn well during Lent. How do I do it? Simple: I choose wisely.

So without further ado, here are my "Top 5 Lenten Indulgences." (Sorry, Wendy's seasonal fish sandwich did not make the list.)

5. Sushi - Fresh salmon and tuna in any and all forms kicked up with sriracha. So simple yet so good.
4. Eggs - You could go high class with Eggs Sardou, but there's nothing wrong with a fluffy cheese omelette.
3. Shrimp - With grits, in a spicy remoulade, or barbequed New Orleans style.
2. Crawfish - Still steaming from the pot and piled high on a table covered in newspaper.
1. Oysters - From raw to rockefeller, I can't get enough of them.

Treme Creole Gumbo Festival

When the weather outside is frightful, is there a better way to warm up than scarfing down a steaming bowl of gumbo? Well, The Pope might argue that a nice, cordial glass of Grand Marnier does just the trick. But if for some reason you have a self-imposed rule prohibiting digestifs before noon, then the Treme Creole Gumbo Fest is your next best bet.

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So head on down to Rampart on Saturday, grab a bowl, and maybe pick up a few local gifts for your out-of-town relatives. Because nothing says "Merry Christmas" like a voodoo doll with a pin shoved through its head.

La Boulangerie

I love this place. On most Sunday mornings following a walk around the park with Penelope and Asparagus, you can find Lindsay and I waiting in line for a raspberry croissant(for me), a blueberry muffin or other pastry (for Lindsay), and a plain croissant (for the Hounds).

If you don't know how to bake, or don't have time, why not let La Boulangerie do it for you. You can pick up pies (apple, pumpkin), fruit tarts, breads (all different types), and other pastries. Make it easy on yourself. But call right now, as they are only taking orders up till today. The number is 269-3777.

And Gus, as he is known to his pals, would like a croissant or a baguette.

Po-Boy Fest

As has been mentioned before from September of 2007 until April of 2008 your faithful scribe was exiled from the city of New Orleans. St. Louis is a wonderful town don't get me wrong, but they did not have a Po Boy Fest.

Unfortunately, I could not make the fest last year. Tears flowed, sobs were exchanged, and I spent three days wondering around grocery stores looking for Leidenheimer Bread, Blue Plate Mayo and those slimy pickles. When the cops finally found me, I had a Chisesi ham under my coat.

But I am back, and on Sunday I will be inhaling Po Boys faster than The Pope downs chargrilled oysters. The forecast is beautiful and there is no Saints game. Plus, if we don't eat things like Po Boys, Red Beans, and gumbo, then we become St. Louis. And it is cold in St. Louis.

Ohh, and listen it is Po Boy. I dont care what Father Tom claims nor whatever menus he consults. Languages and pronunciations are constantly evolving and the word is now Po Boy. Besides this is a guy who claims to be a Jesuit Alum yet he graduated from Rummel.

The Blessed Curse of New Orleans Cuisine

Recently Captain Corporate and I shared emails throughout the day discussing restaurants and dishes which typified New Orleans. That conversation and the results of last week's poll led me to the following consensus: The notion of "New Orleans Cuisine" is a myth. Allow that last sentence to sink in for a moment. This does not mean that New Orleans lacks great restaurants or incredible dishes; rather, defining what is the quintessential New Orleans restaurant experience can not be done.

Think about it. Ask 10 people you know to name their ten favorite restaurants and five favorite dishes. Chances are you will get about 60-70 different restaurants and 40-50 different dishes. I leave the description of this problem to Martha Stewart, "its a good thing."

Nationally, New Orleans cuisine has the at times the ball and chain distinction of being labeled as "Creole or Cajun." Thus, visitors to New Orleans arrive with the expectation of having a culinary experiences which will cause their taste buds to explode and cause capsaicin induced hallucinations. Then they arrive and go to Antoine's. And what is this, simple trout with crabmeat and brown butter? This menu is in French. My travel agent and the Food Network lied to me, again.

Sure, the old line French-Creole spots typify what many New Orleanians think of as representative cuisine. But what about the Vietnamese Shrimper from Arabi? The Italian welder from Kenner? Or the Polish physician? Bayona's website says it all, "Our restaurant gives you New Orleans, our menu gives you the world."

Each person and family in New Orleans has their spots. A spot to celebrate, a spot when Mom does not feel like cooking, a spot for after funerals, a spot to take out of town guests, a spot to take out of town family, a spot that reminds Dad of his Dad.

New Orleans has the blessed curse of being a destination spot for food lovers around the globe. They come expecting something different and they get it, but not exactly what they thought they were going to get. A roast beef po' boy may be the best example of this. Debris, scraps, crusty french bread, arterial ailing gravy, and dressing; yet, that simple sandwich is just as representative of New Orleans as the Bread Pudding Souffle from Commander's Palace.

What a fabulous burden. When those taste seeking travelers from Tampa come to visit, they learn about Cafe Minh, Nor-Joe's, and Upperline. Tulane students and alums single handedly keep Jacque-Imo's open.

This blessed curse of ours comes with a duty to keep supporting the variety of restaurants we call our own. Think about this. According to Fr. Tom, there are 909 restaurants in the greater New Orleans area. That means you could eat out every night for almost 3 years without ever going to the same restaurant twice. Go eat out, its your civic duty.

I guess Richman missed these places.

Thanks to the Coon Hunter, a great story that if after you read it, you don't find yourself craving a delicious po' boy, muff, or burger than you are either a vegetarian or dead. In either case, my sympathies go out to you.

NOLA has gone from Chocolate City, to Sandwich City.

Also, stay tuned for Peter's run down from Taste of the Town. Ohh yeah, we cover big time events now, bras and dahlins.

Wednesday in The Square, I think it was from April to June

Attention all those working downtown or preparing to clerk in downtown New Orleans this summer, the Wednesdays in the Square series should not be missed. Every Wednesday from April through June a stage and mini, mini-Jazz Fest type venue is set up in Lafayette Square. Lafayette Square is conveniently located across from Gallier Hall in the heart of the CBD. Local restaurants and bars man tents with food and libations. While the weather is nice, its a great way to spend an afternoon. After the show stick around downtown and eat out. Consult the Coon Hunter's Map or shoot us an email. Here is a link with the dates and bands scheduled to appear.