new orleans – Page 5

Three Muses (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on October 11, 2014 by chefsgirl

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…

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

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

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

LA Blue Crab Rangoon. Sweet Chili-Pineapple Sauce.

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

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

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

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!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Maurepas Foods (Bywater, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 18, 2014 by chefsgirl

Late night dining is always so hard to find, especially on a weekday. Maurepas Foods is open 11 AM to 12 AM so it was a perfect place to catch dinner with “The Chef” right after work. The feel is very hip and it’s located in the Bywater area, which is booming with new restaurants!

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

Maïs Arepas (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 12, 2014 by chefsgirl

What I usually love about New Orleans is the intermingling of flavors, but what I love about Maïs Arepas is actually the opposite. I love the authenticity of everything. One cuisine we don’t see much of around here is Colombian. I haven’t been to Colombia nor do I claim to know the cuisine very well, but what I do know is that I want more…

The Bar.

Magarita!

Empanadas Caleñas. Colombian-style yellow cornmeal pies. Shredded beef. Sofrito & Papa criolla. Aji Valluno.

Open Sesame!

Arepa Sampler. Trio of mini Arepas: Shredded skirt steak with Hogao valluno/Pulled pork with Aji & cotija cheese/Shredded Chicken with avocado & green peppers

Maiz de la Rueda. Grilled maïs on the cob. Spicy butter. Aioli. Cotija Cheese.

Marinera Arepas. Grilled jumbo shrimp. Citrus Creole slaw. Avocado. Pink Sauce.

I am trying to find words to describe the delight in each bite I had that day and I’m at a loss for words. Honestly, the pictures say it for me…But in case it hasn’t caught your eye yet, the arepas (pronounced: a-ray-pahs) are cornmeal-based pita-like bread that is stuffed with flavorful Columbian seasoned meats like braised pork, juicy beef, or even shrimp. There’s a variety to choose from! The corn was probably THE best corn I’ve had…seasoned so well. So buttery…And lastly, the empanadas were cornmeal-crusted, which was refreshing and very similar to the arepas.

What I love about Maïs Arepas is the attention to plating, that you don’t typically see in more rustic-style foods. Normally, the food speaks for itself, but here, everything from the plating, the smells, and the flavors spoke to you.

Rating: 5/5 spoons!

Baru Tapas Bistro (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 2, 2014 by chefsgirl

I’ve been wanting to try Baru for sometime now, but it’s always been closed when I’m craving tapas (on Sundays). Well, I finally made it to Baru and I have to admit that I’m a bit sad…sad that I haven’t been here sooner!

It’s a small restaurant with outdoor seating on Magazine St. Perfect on a “cool” evening in New Orleans…

Margarita. Tequila Reposado. Grand Marnier. Agave. Lime Juice. Guiajillo Salt.

Tequenos. Phyllo Stuffed Mozzarella Fingers. Sucro Sauce.

Guacabello. Grilled Portobello. Avocado. Tortilla.

Empanadas de Caraota. Cornmeal Pies. Black beans. Kale. Chihuahua Cheese. Cabbage. Aji.

Ostras Fritas. Cornmeal Crusted Oysters. Cilantro Aioli. Carmelized Onions.

Chuzoes de Entrana. Grilled Skirt Steak. Chimichurri. Bollo.

What a great meal! The meal started off with probably the best margarita I’ve ever had. I am no alchie, at least I don’t think I am, but I can handle my liquor, and this margarita had great flavor and a great kick. I thought I’d at least get an opportunity to try the Sangria, but didn’t get that chance…

Tapas are perfect for meals when you just want a little bit of everything and that’s just what Baru did and they did it so well! My favorites had to be the Tequeños (cheese sticks), Empanadas, and the Steak. My only disappointment would be the Guacobellos, which were lacking a bit of salt and may have been a bit too lime-y for my taste. But considering how delicious all the other dishes were, I can’t wait to come back! Wonderfully crafted cocktails and delicious tapas!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

The American Sector (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on September 1, 2014 by chefsgirl

I’ve been to American Sector quite a few times, but this day in particular, “The Chef” and I visited the The National WWII Museum in New Orleans and American Sector is just around the corner! It has a modernized old diner feel, which is perfect for an afternoon bite after exploring the museum. We were there for happy hour so we got a few bites off the menu as well a few main entrees…

Happy Hour: BBQ Sliders. Pulled Pork BBQ. Fried Onion Strings.

Meat Pie. Ground Beef. Trinity. Spicy Mayo.

Excuse the blurry photo..I just wanted it in my mouth already!

Notice the flaky dough..Love it! Meat pie…basically an empanada and you know I feel about empanadas!

5 Spiced Braised Pork Belly Ramen. Noodles. Bok Choy.

Smoked Sea Scallops. Baby beets. Market Greens. Cane Syrup.

Overall, it was a great mid-day stop! Great small bites, however, I was slightly disappointed by the size of the scallop in the salad. The ramen was a little too deep and dark in broth flavor for my taste. My favorites had to be the Pork Belly sliders and the empanadas (of course!). There’s something about small bites that tickles my tastes buds and the hominess of the dish didn’t hurt!

I would definitely recommend visiting for lunch or dinner as the main dishes are pretty good. The American Sector is very kid friendly and have a good selection of some tasty-looking ice cream shakes.

Other notable dishes: Fried Gulf Oyster Salad, Gulf Shrimp Po-boy

Rating: 3/5 spoons

Ba Chi Canteen (Audubon, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on August 31, 2014 by chefsgirl

Tan Dinh is an authentic Vietnamese restaurant located on the Westbank of New Orleans…it’s menu includes a wide variety of items ranging from pho, BBQ pork with vermicelli noodles, to one of my favorites, the Lemongrass Chicken with rice. With their growing popularity reaching out to those who live across the river, they’ve finally opened Ba Chi Canteen, however, their menu is a bit more eclectic and draws from Thai, Indian, Chinese, and Vietnamese influences. I’m not usually a fan of “fusion” or blending of cultural flavors but Ba Chi has got it right!

Bacos: Coconut Curry Chicken w/ Basil Aioli & Sweet Potato.

Curry Beef Stew w/ Roti Bread.

Roti Quesadillas. Pulled Pork. Kim Chi Guac. Thai Chili tomatilla.

Special: Lemongrass & Basil Pork Lettuce Wrap.

Garlic Butter Chicken Wings.

So the Chef and I love to order and create our own little tasting menus, but little did we know that the portion sizes were quite large. My favorite was the Roti Quesadillas, which was a special but should be a permanent item on the menu! What makes this different from a typical quesadilla is the buttery and flaky roti in place of the normally grilled tortilla. Buttery. Savory. Crispy! I’m drooling just thinking about it! My next favorite was the Curry Stew with Roti. Clearly, I have a thing for roti!

I was very surprised that Tan Dinh, an authentic Vietnamese restaurant, would consider branching off with a modernized asian fusion restaurant, but they did it and they did it well!

If you’re looking for great asian flavors and want to try something new, I definitely recommend Ba Chi Canteen.

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Cure (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on August 21, 2014 by chefsgirl

There are so many times “The Chef” gets off of work late and we have no idea where to get dinner. There are tons of food trucks, but they usually only stay out late on weekends or are inconsistent with where they’re located. We’ve found our “Cure” for late night dinner…

The Bar.

Green Hill. Washed Rind Cow. Georgia. Sweet Grass Dairy. Chiriboga. Raw Cow Blue. Germany. Obere Muhle Co-operative Dairy. Cabot. Clothbound Cheddar. Vermont. Cave-Aged.

The Curewich. Fried Eggs. Cheddar. Braised Bacon. Weiss Guys Roll.

Duck Liver Pate. Sungold Cherry Tomato Vanilla Jam. Butter Toasted Panko. Micro Salad.

It’s modern, sophisticated, and has great food options for late night eating, bar bites, etc. How can you say “No” to a Curewich?? It’s packed with a perfectly cooked, pan-fried egg, smokey bacon, and melty cheese. One bite into this and it oozes with delicious, egg yolk that could be sopped up as a sauce to combine all the flavors in this simple-but-not sandwich. This is late night dining with flare!

The cocktails are elegantly mixed and have the right amount of kick needed after a long day at work!

Rating: 4.5/5 spoons

Pho Noi Viet (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

Posted on August 7, 2014 by chefsgirl

Vietnamese food has been popping up all over the city…and it’s no wonder! The food is always refreshing, tasty, and great for those on a budget. I’ve been skeptical of the new wave of Vietnamese restaurants, and you can’t blame me since that’s where my roots lay. Nothing can compare to mama’s homemade meal, but I’m very surprised at what Pho Noi Viet had to offer…

Goi Cuon. Spring rolls.

Jasmine Tea (left). Chystanthemum Tea (right).

Com Thit Nuong. Rice with Grilled Pork.

Pho Tai Chin. Rare Beef & brisket.

Everything was great! I love the hominess of the food especially with the rice dish with grilled pork. There’s a hominess that’s difficult to describe, but reminds me of my mom’s cooking. I really enjoyed the iced green tea…floral and refreshing. I really wouldn’t mind getting one to go right about now! The menu is very simplified and they lack Bo Vien (meatballs), which is a staple in the Pho industry, but other than that, service was awesome and the food was delicious!

Regardless of the limited menu and the lack of meatballs, those are minor when looking at the overall and I will definitely come back to try out other menu items!

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

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Tag Archives: new orleans

Three Muses (French Quarter, New Orleans, LA)

Maurepas Foods (Bywater, New Orleans, LA)

Maïs Arepas (CBD, New Orleans, LA)

Baru Tapas Bistro (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

The American Sector (Warehouse District, New Orleans, LA)

Ba Chi Canteen (Audubon, New Orleans, LA)

Cure (Uptown, New Orleans, LA)

Pho Noi Viet (Garden District, New Orleans, LA)

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