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Trenasse (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

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It was a Monday night and my husband and I decided to celebrate our first month of being married. Cheesy! I know. But why the heck not? My husband and I tried brunch at Trenasse with some friends not too long ago and had a good experience. After brunch my friend continued to rave about the Escargot and Crawfish Pie and neither were available for brunch. We had to try dinner!

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Escargot “Trebeache”. Sauteed escargot. Button Mushroom. Charred Tomato. Browned French Wine. Wine. Lemon. Garlic and Butter.

 

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Louisiana Crawfish Pie. Crawfish. Creamy Pepperjack Cheese Filling. House made pie dough.

 

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Pan Roast Cauliflower Steak. St. Andre’s Brie. Rough-cut Pistachio Pesto.

 

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TThe Wedge. Crisp bacon. Crumbled blue cheese. Green Goddess Dressing.

 

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Special of the night: Veal and Lobster Ravioli Duet

 

I loved it! My favorite dishes were the Escargot and the Crawfish Pie. The escargot is served differently than your traditional Escargots à la Bourguignonne, a garlic herb butter sauce, but it was really refreshing to try it served a different way. The crawfish pie was perfectly crisped on the outside and filled with a perfectly seasoned crawfish and pepperjack filling. We also ordered the cauliflower steak, Wedge Salad, and the Veal and Lobster Ravioli duet. The cauliflower steak was pretty good! The Wedge salad was refreshing. Honestly, we only ordered the extra salad to appear “healthy”. The Veal special had to be the most disappointing. The veal was over-salted that we couldn’t even finish the last piece. On a brighter note, the lobster ravioli were delicious and balanced the over seasoned veal a bit. Overall, everything was great! Service was super friendly and I loved the ambiance.

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Rating: 4/5 spoons
Trenasse Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato




Pho Bang (Westbank Expressway, Harvey, LA)

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In New Orleans there’s a growing trend towards Vietnamese food. A ton of new “Vietnamese” and pho restaurants are opening in town, but there’s very few that can beat Pho Bang. When I was growing up Pho Bang was the place to go right after church on Sunday. It’s like Vietnamese brunch! Many years later, I am still going to Pho Bang and there are a few locations throughout the city. Two are located on the Westbank, one in the East on Chef Menteur Hwy, and one is located in Kenner on Veterans Memorial Blvd.

IMG_8054ePork Spring Roll. 

 

 

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Pho Chin Nam. Combination Rice Noodles in Beef Broth. Eye of Round Beef. Beef navel.

 

The beef broth is authentic and flavorful and the meat is fairly lean. You can customize your bowl with different cuts of meat, but my favorite is the Pho Chin Nam. It’s simple and it’s just what I always order. The BBQ pork spring roll is a great appetizer as well! There are combination rice and noodle dishes that are offered if you’re not craving a hot bowl of soup especially in this New Orleans weather. My favorite non-pho dish is the Com Bi Thit Heo Nuong (aka Marinated grilled BBQ Pork on top of rice dressed with Tomato, Vietnamese pickles, and Lettuce). If you’re looking for a legit and authentic bowl of pho and Vietnamese food, this is where it’s at!

What’s not good: Bun Bo Hue, smaller portions

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Rating: 4/5 spoons
Pho Bang Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Barcelo Bavaro Punta Cana: A Guide to Eating at an all-inclusive resort

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Barcelo Bavaro Resort in Punta Cana, Dominican Republic was my first time experiencing an all-inclusive vacation. The resort has everything you can possibly need: shopping (although quite pricey), arcade for children, the adult arcade (the casino),24/7 doctor available (which I actually visited!), and of course a plethora of restaurants to try. When dining out at an all-inclusive you can’t help but order everything and eat to your heart’s content, but there’s a smart way to do it.

DINING and EATING TIPS to any all-inclusive resort:

  1. DO NOT have high expectations and expect a fine dining experience. The service is excellent, but food is generally very par with an occasional surprise. I’m not saying that you won’t enjoy your food, but from a foodie’s point of view I’d give everything a 2-3/5 spoons.
    • Restaurants are categorized by cuisine so you’re able to choose a cuisine of your liking for that night. My favorites were Sante Fe Steak Restaurant and La Fuente Spanish Restaurant. My least favorite was Kyoto…I would definitely pass on sushi in the Dominican Republic next time!
  2. AVOID bread. Most are stale probably due to the humidity but an occasional dinner roll does not hurt.
  3. EAT in moderation. Don’t overstuff yourself! Find what you love and enjoy it. It’s hard to turn down “free” food but you have to realize that you can’t eat it all. Don’t sacrifice how you feel because you wanted to eat everything.
  4. Don’t be afraid to venture from the resort to try local foods. Although there are a variety of restaurants, the themes and style of cooking tend to be very similar. I didn’t have the chance to venture too far but here’s a list of casual local places that I tried: (reviews coming next blog!)
    1. El Pollo Borracho
    2. Los Waffles
    3. El Churro Charro
  5. Brush up on your Spanish! It’s not necessary on the resort as most concierge, bellhops, and waitresses are able to speak English, but if you want to explore outside of the resort and speak to Taxi drivers, there’s definitely a language barrier. Definitely pick up on some basic Spanish or try the Google Translate app on your phone. It’s super handy, but let’s hope your phone service is great!

 

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La Caribe (adults only) breakfast and lunch buffet.

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La Comedie. French Restaurant.

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Mexican Lindo. 

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La Fuente. Spanish Cuisine

 

I may be a foodie and a little critical of the food and restaurants of the resort, but would I go again? Most definitely! It was such a great getaway and I loved restaurant hopping all the time. How can you say “no” to open bar and open buffets all day? After this experience, I can’t wait to try my next all-inclusive vacation!




Ippudo (West Side, New York, New York)

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I had just flown into New York and was really craving a good bowl of ramen. My last trip to NY I went to Ippudo on the East Side, but heard that Ippudo in Korea town was a bit different and I couldn’t wait to try it!

This location is way homier and more welcoming than the more modern Ippudo East Village location. There’s a large central bar for small groups and singles. I came alone that day so it was perfect!

 

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Yamitsu Goma Kyuri. Japanese Cucumber. Ippudo’s Sesame Garlic Oil.

Brooklyn Kaedama Ale Draft.  Ippudo NY Exclusive Beer.

 

 

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Ramen Toppings. Soft-boiled egg. Pickled Mustard Leaves. Bamboo Shoots. Pulled Chashu Pork.

 

 

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Akamaru Modern. Original pork broth. Ippudo’s secret Umami Dama paste. Pork Chashu. Cabbage. Sesame Kikurage Mushrooms. Scallions. Fragrant Garlic Oil.

 

It was just a little before noon but when you’re a New Orleanian and on vacation, it’s never too early for a beer. Considering Ipppudo has their own exclusive brew called Brooklyn Kaedama Draft. It was warm and pretty strong to start the day with, but I loved it! I started the meal with the Japanese cucumber appetizer (Yamitsu Goma Kyuri). It was refreshing, light, and perfect to snack on in between bites of ramen. The Akamaru Modern ramen was delicious. A simple broth filled with delicious, perfectly textured noodles. These noodles are a bit different from other ramen shops. They’re thinner and more al dente in texture. Love it!

I love this location and the more chill and laid back vibe. It’s more welcoming, but the more modern Ippudo on the East Side is good for a night out with friends. The food is great at both! Check out my review of the other location here: Ippudo East Village . With so many ramen shops scattered all throughout New York City, it’s very hard to choose from, but I’d say that Ippudo is one of my favorites so far!

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons

Ippudo Westside Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato



Turntable (East Village, New York, New York)

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On my recent trip to NYC I stopped by Turntable in East Village, NYC for a late night bite. THE BEST Korean style fried chicken! What does that mean? Double deep fried chicken in an extra crispy batter. It’s become very popular especially through a nationwide chain called Bon Chon Chicken, but I’ve had Bon Chon and prefer Turntable over Bon Chon any day.

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Yogurt Soju. 

 

 

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It was an eventful day and I was starving. We arrived later on a Saturday night around 10 but my sister and I didn’t have to wait at all! It was definitely busy though. I love the artsy warehouse feel and nightclub music. We started the night with the yogurt soju. There were quite a few interesting drinks that came out to tables around us that looked like humongous lava lamps with steam coming out of them. If we had more people with us, we’d definitely order those fun drinks but we opted for the simple, delicious, and strong instead. Shots of soju were poured all night and it drank like a dessert, but don’t be fooled. It’ll kick in quickly!

We didn’t order much. Just 12 wings in Soy Garlic Flavor. That’s all you need. The batter was a medium in thickness and extra crispy. The chicken was so moist and flavorful. My whole time in New York, I wanted to go back again, but never had the chance. If you decide to try Turntable, please have some for me!

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons
Turntable Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Restaurant R’evolution (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

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Merry Christmas everyone! It’s Christmas Day and you’re looking for something to do. Food options are scarce. Grocery stores are closed and very few restaurants are open. If you’re looking for a place to eat, here’s  a quick list:

Last year “the Chef” and I ate at Borgne and went a little overboard and over-ordered. Great meal but we were stuffed! This year we chose Restaurant R’evolution in hopes that we’d order lighter in preparation for Christmas dinner. We didn’t need a reservation, but I highly recommend calling first during the holidays! I went to Restaurant R’evolution about 3 years ago and we had a phenomenal meal. I was curious to find out what Christmas day had in store for us…

 

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Mimosa and Charred Satsuma Old Fashioned. Blanton’s Bitters. Sugar. Bitters Orange.

 

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Black Truffle Beef Tartare. Black truffe aioli. Pickled Vegetables. Grilled Bread.

 

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Roasted Baby Beets. Goat Cheese. Molasses-candied Pecans.

 

 

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Artichoke-Merliton Au Gratin. 

 

 

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Shrimp Fricasée and Grits. Charred Tomato Velouté. Tasso. Fennel.

 

 

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“Visiting Fish” a la Plancha. Jumbo Lump Crabmeat. Lyonnaise Potatoes. Absynthe Meunière Sauce.

 

 

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Saving my stomach for Christmas Dinner. Ordered a hot coffee for dessert!

 

We were smart this year and decided to order a little on the lighter side. I started with a nice mimosa. “The Chef” ordered the Old Fashioned. Both were great. The charred satsuma was a nice touch in the Old Fashioned and gave it a lot of flavor with a nice kick! Our first dishes were the Roasted Beet Salad which seemed small, but was very wholesome. The Beef Tartare was delicious! That aioli was loaded with real black truffle flavor. None of that truffle oil stuff! The only letdown of this meal was the artichoke and merliton au gratin. It was a little on the mushy and salty side and wasn’t our favorite BUT…

“The Chef” loved his shrimp and grits. Smoky flavor. Meaty Shrimp. mMm! My entree was the “Visiting Fish” a la Plancha. The fish was flaky and moist and was resting on a bed of delicate and thinly sliced Lyonnaise potatoes.  What really surprised me were how flavorful they were. When you think potatoes, you think starchy and possibly dry but these were amazing.

If you happen to decide on dinner at R’evolution, the Christmas menu looked absolutely delicious. It’s not your typical Christmas dinner and not-your-mama’s kitchen, but it’s delicious and great for groups. Attire: Dressy. Price: $$$$.

Tip: If you ever see sweetbreads (not a type of bread!) on the menu, order them! Last time I went they were HUMONGOUS and it was so memorable. I loved it!

 

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Rating: 4.5/5
Restaurant R'evolution Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Stella Maris

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I never thought I’d say this, but Chalmette has some pretty good food options! Stella Maris is a Mediterranean restaurant located within an ethnic grocery store. If you’re ordering to-go, then meet at the counter, but have a seat if you’d like to sit down and enjoy your food there.

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Gyro Plate. Hummus (optional hummus or rice).

 

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Lamb Kebab. Hummus.

 

Before I talk about the food, I will have to mention that service is a bit lacking. I frequent here regularly so I’ve met every single server and can tell you that they are sweet, but Stella Maris is in the process of training more waitresses and many of them have yet to actually try the food and service may be a bit lacking or slow. Honestly, it’s hit or miss BUT the food is very consistent. My go-to dish is the Gyro Plate (pronounced year-oh, but for some reason they pronounce jai-ro here). It’s delicious! You have the choice of ordering with rice or hummus. I alternate since both options are great! I’ve tried the Lamb Kebab here, but for those who are sensitive to more gamey flavors and meats, then I would avoid it. It’s very fresh though!

Stella Maris is my favorite lunch spot in the Chalmette area, but service needs work. For that reason I’d give it 4/5 spoons. Minus 1 star for service, but 4 star food!

 

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Rating: 4/5 spoons
Stella Maris Cafe & Grocery Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Willa Jean (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

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I’ve been eyeing this restaurant since it started building in the up and coming area near the Downtown Rouse’s and Blaze Pizza (click here for review). When I found out it was a Besh Restaurant Group (BRG) project, I definitely had to try it! Every restaurant within the BRG has been a success and has been on par from service to food. What I love, is that every restaurant is different from the last.

 

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Ambiance and Decor.

 

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Willa’s Juice. Botanist Gin. St. Germain. Pema. Blueberries. Nola Blonde Ale. 

 

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Crostini Party. Boudin. Salmon. Beet. Avocado.

 

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Lisa’s Cornbread. Pourier’s cane syrup.

 

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Hot buttered Crab Roll. Garlic. Pickled Red Onion. Toasted soft bun with chips.

 

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Louisiana Shrimp Bisque. Brandy Cream. 

 

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Cookies & Cream. Edible Cookie Dough. Vanilla Milk.

 

Even though Willa Jean is a bakery/restaurant, it has more of a restaurant feel but you can definitely stop in for some pastries. I would recommend the blueberry muffin. It’s different and refreshing. I love the added ginger which adds an extra layer of subtle flavor.

As for the dining experience, service was friendly and everything flowed so smoothly. I started with the Willa’s Juice Cocktail, which was a fruity gin type drink. The Crostini Party was a fun appetizer to share between two people but no more because it’s difficult to split the different crostinis (I’ve tried it.). The four crostinis that came out were: the Salmon, Boudin, Beet, and Avocado (most fav to least fav, but they were all really good). Next, we ordered the cornbread, which I can never say “No” to, but if I had to cut anything out it would be the cornbread because we over-ordered. The Shrimp Bisque was solid, but wasn’t the most memorable dish of the night. My favorite dish was the Crab Roll. Who doesn’t like “hot butter” and “fresh crab”? Everything was so perfect about this roll and we don’t have anything like it in the area, but if we did, this roll would be hard to beat.

Lastly, we had the Cookies & Cream. This was definitely NOT your typical cookies-n-cream. What’s unique is the  Vanilla Milk that they serve with the Cookies, which I felt was a dessert on its own.

Must haves: Crab Roll, Cookies and Cream dessert

If you’re looking for a great laid back place to eat, Willa Jean is a must-try. With the variety of breakfast pastries in combination of lunch and dinner menus, it’s a great place for all around good food.

 

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Rating: 5/5 spoons
Willa Jean Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato