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Rock-n-Sake Bar & Sushi (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 3, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

It’s been a few years since I’ve been to Rock-n-Sake. I went years ago and loved it, but after moving out of the city for a few years, I hadn’t had the chance to try it again until recently. The feel is still very warehouse-y modern with some techno-y club music in the background. It can be loud at times, but I didn’t mind the hustle and bustle on a night out with friends.

Pork Belly Lettuce Rolls. Grilled Pork Belly. Carrots. Butter Lettuce. Hoisin Cilatro Glaze.

NEW! Sautéed Shishito Peppers.

Tuna Ceviche. Fresh Tuna. Lemon and Lime. Sriracha. Ponzu. Green Onion.

Beef and Asparagus Maki. Asparagus. Thinly Sliced Ribeye. Teriyaki Sauce. Sizzling Platter.

Killer Scallops. Sea Scallops. Garlic Butter Sauce.

My friends and I initially came for Happy Hour, but unfortunately it’s only on Tuesdays. No biggie, but we were disappointed since happy hour is what drew us there. The really good food made up for it. My favs were the Baked Salmon, Tuna Ceviche, and the Killer Scallops. The Baked Salmon was cooked so perfectly! Other restaurants tend to overcook the Salmon Roll and it comes out dry but this was perfection Rock-n-Sake! Tuna Ceviche was awesome. Wish I didn’t have to share. The Killer Scallops were good BUT a bit pricey for only 4 scallops. Be sure to check pricing without your waitress because it’s listed as Market Price on the menu.

Ordered: Baked Salmon. Red Dragon Roll, Tuna Ceviche, Beef and Asparagus Maki, Killer Scallops, Simple & Spicy Hamachi, Shishito Peppers.

LOVED: Baked Salmon. Tuna Ceviche. Killer Scallops. That’s a lot of favs considering how many items we ordered…and they were all so delicious.

What NOT TO LOVE: Happy Hour on www.thehappyhourfinder.com is not honored here even though it’s listed. Happy Hour is only on TGITuesdays for the roll of the month as well as 1/2 priced wine and liquor. Can be noisy here at times especially on the weekends.

Rating: 4/5

Banana Blossom Thai Cafe (Gretna, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 2, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

I re-discovered this restaurant recently with a group of friends and the hubby and I couldn’t help but return. When the old Cafe Zen relocated to the corner center of this strip, we accidentally went inside this restaurant but never gave it a chance. Now, they’ve “blossomed” into something great. They’ve never updated their signage so it could easily be missed. The sign says “THAI” in red letters and that’s it…

Roasted Brussel Sprouts.

Roti.

Fried Rice with Fried Chicken.

Pad Thai.

YUM! Solid dishes all around and our waitress was so spunky and sweet! She had the best recommendations. We ordered the brussel sprouts as her suggestion and it was beautifully plated but equally as delicious. We also ordered our usual Roti and Pad Thai. Be sure to request for spice if you like a little kick. I forgot and was so sad! We opted for Fried Rice with Fried Chicken and it was actually amazing! If you’re in the Gretna area and are looking for a good Thai spot, try Banana Blossom!

LOVE: Solid Thai food. My fav was the Fried Chicken Fried Rice. Great fresh strawberry mojitos!

What NOT to LOVE: Pad Thai is a bit dry but still good. Signage is poor so it can be easily missed. Look for Yoga Krewe and Cafe Zen nearby.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Royal Thai (Harahan, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 1, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Another Thai gem! I use to think there was limited good Thai food in the city, but I’ve realized there’s plenty hidden throughout the city. The latest and greatest find is Royal Thai located in Harahan.

Chicken Thai Basil.

Green Curry.

Pad See Ew.

Royal Dip.

Thai Chicken Wings.

Curry Puff.

Nothing failed to please! My friends and I LOVED the Royal Thai dip and ordered a second..maybe even a third??? (Along with maybe 5 rounds of sake…) Everything was great. We ordered the Pad Thai, Pad See Ew, Chicken Wings, Curry Puff, and Green Curry. I loved every single dish. The restaurant is not too far from the Elmwood Shopping Center, but it is hidden in a more warehouse-y commercial area. It’s so worth it!

LOVE: Royal Thai Dip. Solid and delicious classic Thai dishes. Affordable drinks.

What NOT to LOVE: nothing?

Rating: 5/5 spoons

Crêpes à la Cart (New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 1, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Crêpes à la Cart is a catering service that serves delicious crêpes with filling of your choice. They’re at all the NOLA festivals and can be hired for an event as well. I’ve had them 3 times this year! I had crêpes at the Fried Chicken Festival 2016 and Gretna Food Truck Festival 2016 this past weekend and at Wednesdays at the Square (WATS) a few months ago. My verdict? Delicious! They are definitely hit or miss depending on who’s working the booth. Great crepes and service at the WATS and Fried Chicken Festival, but a big FAIL at Gretna Food Truck Fest 2016. Execution and service was slow and poor that day. My favorite flavor? Speculoos, a delicious cookie butter found at Trader Joe’s. I’ve seen them use a generic cookie butter brand also but it’s still good.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Gretna Food Truck Festival 2016

Posted on September 30, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

September 16-18, 2016

With the oncoming swarm of festivals and food trucks I decided to share a recent festival: The Gretna Food Truck Fest. It’s definitely smaller than the annual Gretna Heritage Festival, which includes live bands, great food, and games for the kids. The food truck fest more of a casual fest to try handful of food trucks in the city. Here’s what I was able to fit in my belly…

La Cocinita Food truck Tacos: Chicken, Pork, and Beef. Chef dressed. I’m a Taco lover and these were good but didn’t quite hit the spot. I felt it lacked sauce and flavor. I would prefer a little more kick and sauciness in my tacos so we’ll have to go with 3/5 spoons!

Rating: 3/5 spoons

Frencheeze. 1. Macaroni Cheese Balls. 2. Angus Beef Sliders. Hoisin Sauce. Bacon. Pickled Red Onions. Creamy Sriracha on Milk Bread.

I use to go to Frencheeze SO much especially when they were docked at Saenger Theatre. I’m a cheese lover so obviously everything was delicious. The macaroni cheese balls were superb, but the sliders were so-so. I would say to stick to the cheese Frencheeze. The sliders were good, but maybe I wasn’t a fan of the hoisin fusion thing going on.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Crepes à la Cart : Unfortunately, this was not pictured. I honestly had a poor experience since I waited 45 minutes +++ for a crepe that I devoured in 2 seconds, not to mention how poorly my crepe was executed. Luckily, I had great company. My experience the next day at the Fried Chicken Festival was much better and I waited no more than two minutes. The crew at Gretna Fest definitely needed a LOT of help and work, but maybe they were understaffed for some excusable reason. I cannot rate Crepes à la Cart but I will share a post in my next entry about Fried Chicken Festival!

Chef Johnson’s. Mac-An-Cheeses. The Chili Mac. Red Beans & Ricely Yours.

Chef Johnson’s Food Truck and Menu has a ton of character! The food is visually delicious. My favorite food at the Gretna Fest was the Chili Mac…It was SO good! My not-so-fav had to be the Red Beans and Rice only because we are in THE city for red beans and rice and I found this particular one to be a bit bland and lacking in “kick”. Regardless, the Chili Mac was my favorite at the Gretna Food Truck Fest!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

The Gretna Food Fest was a good start to the Festival season. I can’t wait for what’s in store at the Gretna Heritage Festival October 7-9. It’ll be a great time for the kids, family, and friends! Artists such as LeAnn Rimes and Melissa Etheridge will be performing!

Be sure to buy your tickets online: http://www.gretnafest.com/ . They are $15 per day online vs. $30 at the door. Your choice!

Red’s Chinese (Bywater, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 18, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

In a recent foodie function, I heard about a hole in the wall Chinese joint in the Bywater that I “just had to try!”. I didn’t think much of it since it appeared to be in an isolated area with no noticeable signs. When you find your way to the entrance, no one would ever guess that there was such a nice restaurant inside! It appears to be an old bar or convenience store from the outside, but what a surprise on the inside!

Craw Rangoons.

Pork Belly Buns. Pickled Daikon. Kim Chi. Mayo. Cilantro.

Chicken Dumplings. Black Vinegar. Fried Onions. Scallions.

General’s Chicken. Deep Fried Chicken. Bourbon Soy. Peanuts. Cilantro.

The food was surprisingly delicious. I’m not one to normally crave Chinese, but Chef Tobias, although not of Chinese descent, really knows how to throw down a well-done family style meal. My favorites were definitely the appetizers. Pork Belly Bao > Rangoons = Dumplings. The General’s Chicken was good, but order a small. The large was a bit much for our party of 3.

What I love: It’s not quite fusion, but a few small surprises here and there such as the Craw Rangoons!

What not to love: The location. Extra sketchy. Park nearby and walk with groups.

Rating: 4.5/5 spoons

New Orleans Coffee & Beignets

Posted on September 15, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

When I first saw this place, I was skeptical. I mean, who can beat the classic Cafe Du Monde beignets that we grew up with? My hubby and I made a bet on whether or not it was as good or even better than the original Cafe Du Monde. I definitely lost, because these beignets were rollin’!

New Orleans Hamburger Company is now linked with this location as well so dinner and beignets can both be eaten here. I didn’t have the chance to try the savory foods yet, but I will definitely come back. The beignets here are equally, if not better, than the original Cafe Du Monde but I prefer Cafe Du Monde’s hot chocolate. Pros: Drive-Thru! Cons: Hot chocolate is OK. I’m not a fan of the Beignet bites. Too crunchy?

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Panda King Fine Dining Dim Sum (Gretna, LA)

Posted on August 20, 2016 by chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

As the weekend approaches, I’m excited and embarrassed to share my latest discovery. Panda King Dim Sum has been around for years. I tried it years ago and my dim sum snootiness kept me from coming back. I would only enjoy dim sum when I’m traveling to Houston, San Jose, or other major diverse cities because there’s such a lack for authentic dim sum in NOLA. I decided to give it another shot and here’s what I’ve found…

Fried Squid. (Like Calamari)

Rice Noodle with Shrimp.

Pork Spare Ribs. Mushroom Sticky Rice. Shrimp and Pork Xiu Mai. Har Gow.

Xiu Mai. Tofu Skin. Chicken Feet. Beef Tripe.

I am so surprised! The preparation and flavors for some items were slightly different but still very delicious. The Chicken Feet had more of a Szechuan flavor or seasoning, but I enjoyed it! The main room is the Fine Dining Room at Panda King, however, they expand into the buffet room on the weekends. Next time, I’m craving dim sum I won’t let my food snobbery get in the way because I really enjoyed everything and the service was pretty good! It’s no Din Tai Fung (Michelin star-rated dim sum), but it definitely satiates the craving! (By the way, DTF (Seattle) review coming very soon!)

Rating: 4/5 spoons

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Author Archives: chefsgirlnola@gmail.com

Rock-n-Sake Bar & Sushi (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Banana Blossom Thai Cafe (Gretna, New Orleans, LA)

Royal Thai (Harahan, New Orleans, LA)

Crêpes à la Cart (New Orleans, LA)

Gretna Food Truck Festival 2016

Red’s Chinese (Bywater, New Orleans, LA)

New Orleans Coffee & Beignets

Panda King Fine Dining Dim Sum (Gretna, LA)

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