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Monthly Archives: October 2014

Ignatius Eatery (Magazine St., New Orleans, LA)

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It’s the weekend and there’s nothing I look forward to more than weekend brunch. Call me a fatty! Ignatius Eatery is a very homey brunch restaurant on Magazine St. It’s the perfect blend of Southern cooking meets breakfast. Quite a few years ago, this spot was a coffee house called Rue De La Course. It’s where I spent my undergraduate days studying. It brought back so many memories…coffee, school, and what I thought at the time was the worst stress I’ve ever felt. Now, Ignatius has taken what I remembered to be this little coffee shop and revamped those old memories into a different kind of hangout spot…

 

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Shrimp Remoulade Salad. Shrimp. Cucumbers. Grape Tomatoes.

 

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Poche’s Pork and Jalapeno Boudin. Creole mustard.

 

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Creole Seafood Gumbo. 

 

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 Corn and Crab Bisque. 

 

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Crab Omelette. 3 egg omelette. Creole Cream Cheese. Local crab meat. Stone ground grits. Fresh fruit.

 

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Tons of crabmeat!

Not pictured above, but the restaurant even kept Rue De La Course’s old coffee mugs, which I thought was a really nice touch. Years ago, this place was filled with college kids intensely studying for their next big test, but now I see a different crowd…middle-aged folks, retirees, and couples like “The Chef” and I.

It’s homey, but the food is refined. I really loved the omelette dish, because it had tons of crabmeat! The grits were cheesy and delicious. The Shrimp and Remoulade Salad is also a great choice and it went so well with the gumbo. I was slightly disappointed with my Corn & Crab bisque, since it wasn’t thickened like I expect chowder to be. It probably needed to be reduced down a bit more…

Overall, everything was the perfect mix of South Louisiana meets brunch. I would love to come back to try the Dinner menu.

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Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

 

Ignatius Eatery on Urbanspoon

 




Meauxbar Bistro (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

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Meauxbar is a trendy bar and restaurant located in the French Quarter. There’s definitely a mixed crowd…businessmen, couples, and large groups. It’s fitting for most groups except young families, obviously! The customer service was superb! We received awesome recommendations from our waitress and the rest followed…

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Sweetbreads. Toasted Brioche. Roasted Sunflower Seed Butter. Pickled Strawberries. Madeira Demi Glace.

 

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Pork Belly & Watermelon. Red Wine Vinaigrette. Pickled Watermelon Rind. Arugula.

 

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Chicken Liver Pate. Roasted Beet Caviar. Grilled Bellgarde Bread.

 

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Moules-frites. Pastis. Fennel.

 

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Basil Semifreddo. Basil Lime Syrup. Louisiana Melon. Coconut Tuile.

(Not pictured here is the Chocolate & Salted Caramel Dacquoise)

The menu offered many small and large plates. I prefer to choose many small plates…it teases your taste buds, in a good way! My favorite dish was the sweetbreads.They were large and juicy…just the way I like it.  I’ve had my fair share of sweetbreads and here in Louisiana, and we tend to do a light, herby and buttery sauce, but Chef Kristen Kessig prepared it with a deeper flavored sauce, which was different and I loved it.

Of the desserts my favorite was the Basil Semifreddo. As simple and light as this dessert may sound, it’s packed with layers of flavors and was recommended by Chef Kessig herself! The Chocolate & Salted Caramel was delicious too. I mean, how can chocolate cake and salted caramel not be delicious?

Overall, “The Chef” and I had such a great experience. It was a great environment for date night and the food left us satiated, yet wanting more!

 

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Rating: 4/5 spoons

 

Meauxbar Bistro on Urbanspoon

Three Muses (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

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I’ve always had such a great time on Frenchmen St. Live music. Great eats. Art. Best of all? It’s where the locals go! I love the diversity of restaurants, bars, and dives. There’s an Art Market on Thursday to Sunday nights. At Three Muses on this particular night, Luke Winslow King was performing. They did their own twist on modern songs as well as their own folk-jazzy-blues songs haha…That was the best way I could describe it. It was the perfect night for a few drinks…

 

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West Bank Daiquiri. Flor de Cana. Pineapple Lemongrass Syrup. Lime Juice.

 

 

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Minor Swing Margarita. Hibiscus/Jalepeno-infused Cabeza Tequila. Solerno. Lime. Grapefruit Soda. Spiced Salt.

 

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Earl Grey Gardens. Cathead Honeysuckle Vodka. Earl Grey Syrup. Lemon Soda. Thyme.

 

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LA Blue Crab Rangoon. Sweet Chili-Pineapple Sauce.

 

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Two Run Farms Lamb Sliders.  Tomato Chutney. Herbed Goat Cheese.

 

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Gulf Fish Tacos. Citrus-Cumin Slaw. Cotija. Aioli Verde Corn Tortillas.

 

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Beer Braised Kurobuta Pork Belly. Apple Chutney. Scallion Pancakes.

 

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Sweet Potato Flan. Ameretti Cookie. Whipped Cream.

 

Everything from the meal to the environment was great! The restaurant is really small and there is initially a wait outside before you can wait inside by the bar.”The Chef” and I met a spontaneous Irish couple, while waiting to enter the bar. They were visiting New Orleans and it was so refreshing to bump into complete strangers on the most random of nights.  Gotta love NOLA! After waiting at the bar a while, then you’re seated. Grab a drink while you wait. They’re delicious! I had the West Bank Daiquiri, Earl Grey Gardens, and the Minor Swing Margarita. My favorite was the Earl Grey Gardens. I wasn’t the biggest fan of the Margarita.

All of the dish concepts were an international fusion of foods, but were executed so well! Of the dishes that we ordered, I really enjoyed the Crab Rangoons, Fish tacos, and last but not least, the Sweet Potato Flan.

If you’re looking for a great hangout, good music, and delicious food, Three Muses is the spot! Keep in mind that it’s really small and it’s better suited for small groups.

Cheers! To great food and good company!

 

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Rating: 4/5 spoons

 
Three Muses on Urbanspoon