Now, years later, we hope to have a bite of that same bread again…

Amuse Bouche. Fried Shrimphead.

Sourdough & Focaccia. 

Soup of the day: Lump Crab meat Gazpacho 

Gumbo of the Day: Duck Gumbo. 

Beef Short Rib with Potato Rösti. Salsa Verde. Horseradish Cream.

Rabbit Fricassee. Garganelli. Bacon. Pumpkin. Madeira.

Gnocchi. Pancetta. Parmesan broth.

Seared Drum with risotto. 

If you’re wondering if we got that buttery bread this time, we sure did! Not in the same amount as we did before since the focaccia bread was pretty delicious too. As for the meal, every dish was so great, that I have to share my thoughts on each dish.Let’s start from the first dish. I’m not the biggest fan of cold soups, but we ordered the lump crab meat gazpacho and it was amazing! It was light, refreshing, and herbacious. I had low expectations, but that was wiped out completely and I almost ate all of “The Chef”‘s portion.

The Gumbo is a must! Herbsaint creates gumbo with a darker, deeper roux, which adds so much flavor. Just get it.

The Beef Short ribs were so moist and the salsa verde was herby and refreshing. For such a rich and savory dish, you never would have thought that it would be so refreshing. Loved it!

The Rabbit Fricassee came in a small cast iron bowl and didn’t look like much, but that bite! That first bite was moist rabbit with a delicate pasta, wrapped in a coating of Madeira sauce. mMm! I can really still taste it.

The Gnocchi was just as good. Gnocchi is a dish that if not seasoned and sauced properly, it can be very bland and boring. Not this Gnocchi! The pancetta added a perfect saltiness and the parmesan broth added a nice, rich finish.

The fish of the day was a drum that was seared to perfection. It was moist and was completed by the most flavorful risotto! This risotto had an Asian flare, but with a French refinement. Even though we were stuffed at this point, I still couldn’t stop eating this risotto.

Judging by my list, pictures, and tummy that night, we probably over ordered. If we didn’t order the last dish, I would have definitely had room for dessert. Either way, the whole meal was worth every penny and remaining belly space. From one dish to another, not a single one had any ounce of disappointment. Now, when I think of Herbsaint, I’ll remember that soft bite of bread I ate right before probably one of my most memorable food experiences…

Rating: 5/5 spoons!

Tequila. Rose. Lemon. Grapefruit. Bonal Gentiane.

Bread. Chili Butter.

Chicken Leg Quarter. Grits. Market Greens. Slow-poached Egg.

Goat Tacos. Pickled Green Tomatoes. Cilantro Harissa.

Sauces.

First off, I loved the chili butter! Butter with chili oil..two sinful goodies all in one, then spread over bread. Mmm! The chicken leg quarter was very homey and moist. If you like goat and are into gamey flavors, then the tacos are for you! Goat meat is definitely an acquired taste, but is definitely worth a shot if it’s your first time because it’s the perfect transition via taco. I will have to say the food menu is limited, but the quality and value is there!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

Amuse Bouche: Bruschetta. MmMm this was delish! VERY close to my favorite bruschetta ever…

Sesame bread. Not my fav, but a good change up from what I’m used to.

Oysters Tommy: Romano cheese. Pancetta. Roasted bell pepper.

Oysters Rockefeller: Spinach. Herbs. Herbsaint.

Oysters Bienville: Crawish. Shrimp. Herbs.

Of the three choices, my favorite had to be the Oysters Bienville. It was savory and melt-in-your-mouth!

Crabmeat Maison. Iceberg lettuce. Jumbo lump crabmeat. Maison dressing.

Sweetbreads. Pan sauteéd. Beurre blanc. Capers. Eggplant. 

Duck Tchoupitoulas. Roasted crispy & deglazed duck. Raspberry reduction. Wild rice. Fresh spinach. Toasted pecans. Bacon.

The meals were a great blend of mostly Italian influence with a pinch of New Orleans and French. There was a hominess to the dishes with a touch of sophistication. Nothing too frou-frou. Loved it!

Afterwards, we stayed at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside. Good view, great food at Tommy’s right around the corner, and excellent company!

Tartine is a cute and quaint little cafe that serves French breakfast and pastries. Before I even show you pictures, I must say that the food here is delicious! All the breads are made in house…nice and crunchy on the outside, but dense and soft on the inside. Breakfast is delicious and lunch is basically a breakfasty version of lunch…(my best explanation). They put a little touch of “Tartine” on every menu item…

Baked Egg in Brioche. 

My favorite part about breakfast foods…the cutting of the poached egg. Who knew egg yolk could be such a delicious sauce! 

Quiche. 

Cafe Au Lait.

Ham Sandwich. Triple Cream Brie. Fig Mustard. Butter Lettuce on a Baguette. 

Salmon Rillete. 

So I’m showing you pictures from two different occasions…one to go order and one sit down in their tiny patio. It’s THAT good..I’ve been here multiple times and just can’t get tired of the food. It’s refreshing and not overly heavy considering you’re eating quite a bit of carbs. All spreads are flavorful and leave you wanting more…

I don’t know what else to say. I love it so much that writing this post is making me want to visit tomorrow morning. I’ll see y’all there! 

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UPDATE 12/28/2012

So as promised, I paid another visit to Tartine and they did it again! I know this is a long post, but I’m sure a little eye candy won’t bother your taste buds…

Soup of the Day: Cauliflower Soup. 

House Pate.  Dijon. Onion Confit. Baguette.

House Smoked Turkey. Gruyere. Avocado. Roasted Gartlic Aioli. Butter Lettuce. Honey Wheat Bread.

Everything was delicious, as expected. The thing I’ve noticed with Tartine is the simplicity of all their menu items. All tartines consist of a skinny baguette baked to a perfect crunch on the outside and dense yet fluffy inside. Each baguette is topped with a fully flavored, well-seasoned spread of choice (salmon, pork, pate..etc). Sandwiches are simple and plain in appearance, but don’t let that fool you…like the House Smoked Turkey Sandwich did to me. The bread was a light and fluffy texture stuffed with deliciously smoked turkey. What really blew me away was how the garlic aioli could add so much flavor. I just wanna add garlic aioli to everything now! I can go on and on…but you’ll just have to try it for yourself! 

My favorite items: 

• Pork Rillette
• Smoked Turkey Sandwich
• Ham Sandwich

Bread and butter! 

Torchon of Foie Gras. 

“What the heck is torchon???” is the first thing I said when “the chef” wanted to order this…For those of you who are wondering the same thing, it describes the method of cooking the foie gras…”au torchon” which translates to “in a towel”. The duck liver loses a lot of fat in the process, but is cooked to perfection! 

If you love foie gras, this dish was perfect…peach infused foie gras with an assortment of dried fruits and nuts.

Toasty sliced bread for foie gras. 

Crab and Corn Cappaccino (above and below)

This delicious “cappaccino” came out on a fancy VERSACE tableset…So sad I didn’t get a picture of the whole set, but what a great reason to go back =) 

The crab came out separately on a spoon for your own mixing pleasure…Just like sugar in your cappaccino!

Crisp Sweetbreads. Herbsaint Meuniere. Forest Mushrooms.

BEST SWEETBREADS I’ve ever had…Note the microcarrot. Very nice touch! 

Foie Gras w/ Peach Brulee (seasonal)

Triptych of Quail: Southern-fried, Boudin-stuffed, Absinthe glazed.

Sheep Ricotta Gnocchi w/ Lobster. Vanilla. Tarragon. Lobster Roe.

White Chocolate Bread Pudding Creme Brulee. Lemon-scented Apricots. Bourbon Caramel Sauce. 

What an experience! I have yet to try a Michelin star rated restaurant, but if I were to guess, this comes uber close. The many levels of flavors…One dish that stood out to me was the Crab and Corn Cappaccino. Not quite a cappaccino, but a soup rendition. I was amazed at how intricate the flavors were..with each bite, I could taste each ingredient stand on its own as it passed my taste buds…You have to try it to know what I mean! 

My FAVORITE DISH had to be the sweetbreads. I’ve never gotten sweetbreads so honkin’ large before! They were juicy and delicious..UNFORGETTABLE! Another notable dish was the Triptych of Quail…3 quails, 3 different ways. My favorite quail was…can you guess? The Boudin-stuffed one! 

Don’t be shy to sit at the bar..great table service, even if you’re sitting at the bar. You’ll be served by their excellent bartenders who are super friendly and accommodating!

Great service, elegant decor, and phenomenal food…You won’t regret it!

Now let’s get to the food….

Bread and Butter!

Fried Oysters.

Pork Belly Fritters.

Duck Breast. Roasted Fennel. English Peas. Citrus. 

Black Drum. Crawfish tails. Green Asparagus. Ricotta gnocchi. 

Old Fashioned Donut. Huckleberries. Oatmeal Crunch. Sour Cream Ice Cream. 

On the house treat. Some sort of jelly swirl…very light treat to a delicious meal! Don’t be fooled like I did, the cup is filled with sand and serves as a holder for the lollipops! There’s nothing edible in there…=P

Everything was delicious. Simplistic yet flavorful. Light, so you’re not overwhelmed with flavors. I don’t think I’ve seen dishes like this anywhere else in New Orleans so  their dishes are definitely original. Only disadvantage was the small portions, but I have quite the appetite so that most likely explains that!