Bruschetta. Hummus with Red and Gold Beets. Blue Cheese & Honey. Tomato Confit.

Porchetta. Pork loin wrapped in Kurobuta pork belly. Carmelized Onions. Salsa Verde. Arugula. Fennel aioli. Hoagie.

Kurobuta Mac & Cheese. 

The Reuben. Corned beef. Sauerkraut. Swiss Cheese. “2k” Island Dressing on rye.

The Wayfare. Fresh house-cut mozzarella. Grape tomato. Kalamata olives. Orange segments. Romaine. Red Wine Vinaigrette. Blood orange infused olive oil.

Pulled Chicken Dijon. Basil puree. Dijon Vinaigrette. Tomato Confit. Kalamata olives. Diced house-made bread. Butter Pickles. Arugula. Shaved red onion. Dijon mustard on sesame seed kaiser roll.

The restaurant isn’t quite hidden, but the sign is hard to find and I’ve almost missed it twice. I went to lunch with my friend on a Wednesday afternoon and there were plenty of tables. There’s a daily menu so some menu items may change daily.

The bruschettas: The Hummus with Red and Gold Beets and Blue Cheese & Honey were my favorite. There wasn’t anything special with the Tomato Confit.

The Porchetta sandwich was sooo good. My friend is still speaking of it til this day. We shared it, but I think I could’ve definitely eaten the whole thing. It was filled with moist, savory pork with a slightly crisped hoagie bun. The only downside was the chips, which were burnt tasting and unsalted (or not enough salt) and I found that to be the same at the restaurant and when I ordered takeout.

The Mac & Cheese was super cheesy and perfectly textured. They use the Cavatappi macaroni…the elongated macaroni noodle. The pasta was perfectly al dente and cheesy, just the way I like it.

When we ordered takeout, the Reuben was so delicious. It was still slightly crispy on the outside even by the time I got home. The Pulled Chicken Dijon had good flavor, however, was a bit dry and I actually took off one of the buns and created my own open-faced sandwich, because the bread was a bit overwhelming.

Wayfare is a little taste of everything. They have great appetizers and a solid selection of our favorite sandwiches. Their drinks were pretty good too! If you’re looking for a great after work hangout or daytime deli, Wayfare is the place!

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Shrimp Remoulade Salad. Shrimp. Cucumbers. Grape Tomatoes.

Poche’s Pork and Jalapeno Boudin. Creole mustard.

Creole Seafood Gumbo. 

 Corn and Crab Bisque. 

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

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.

Rating: 3.5/5 spoons

Pastry display. 

Macarons. 

Americano. 

Cappacino. 

Soft Scramble. Daily veg.

Homemade Sausage, Egg, and Pork Sandwich. 

From top to bottom there was something so refined about every menu item. It was pretty busy, but service was still great! I loved the soft scramble. It was very delicate so I would recommend adding a sandwich to make the meal a little heartier. I really liked the almond croissant (not pictured). It was light flavored with amaretto and wasn’t too sweet. Unfortunately, I’m leaving Houston so I won’t be able to frequent Common Bond as often as I’d like, but I’ll definitely be back. 

Rating: 4/5 spoons

Gets my vote for the cutest restaurant logo and sign! 

Toast with Proscuitto & Ricotta with Honey.

Omelette with Bacon & Cheese and Cheesy Biscuit. 

I accidentally ate some of the cheese biscuit on the proscuitto plate and realized that the honey only added to this already delicious treat. I’m a carb girl…Biscuit and bread could be my dessert!

Hangar Steak. Tarragon aioli. Eggs. Lyonnaise Potatoes.

Jam Aebelskivers. 

What the heck is an “Aebelskiver” you ask?? It’s basically a Danish pancake ball…a very delicious one. It was so buttery and moist with the perfect amount of jam to compliment it. I’m 100% sure the other flavors (lemon curd, maple syrup, caramel, chocolate) are just as delicious!

Chocolate and Creme anglaise Sweet Crepe. 

All around THE BEST BRUNCH I’ve had. It’s more delicate and light compared to your typical loaded and elaborate New Orleans brunch. I tend to over order or sometimes I just like a light mid-day snack and Toast offers a variety of items…a simple option is the toast dressed with a variety of things like prosciutto, egg, smoked fish, and more! Otherwise, everything else is great…just check out the pictures above. Here is a link to their menu: http://www.toastneworleans.com/menu.html

The only thing I’m sad about is the seating..it’s a tad bit small, but it adds so much character!

Trust me…you’ll only thank me! Bon appetit!

After every graduation there’s the lingering question of “What next?”.

If you ask me, it’d be food!

Menu. 

5 Selection ( 3 meat/2 cheese) Plate. There’s a wide variety of different meats and cheeses so we decided to let them surprise us!

Bread.  Crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Perfect choice for the meat and cheese plate.

Tangiers Torta. Two Run Farms Lamb. Feta. Pickeled Fennel. Harissa & Cilantro. Ciabatta.

This was on the special’s menu. It looks deceivingly heavy, but the ciabatta as well as the protein portion was light and satisfying.

Hooks Cheddar. House smoked turkey. Avocado. Basil. Tomato. Mayo. Ciabatta.

Setup almost like a california turkey club, but the touch of basil made it even more refreshing. Loved it!

I can’t lie…these are actually photos from two visits to St. James Cheese Company. Two visits…within one week’s time. I enjoyed my first meal so much that I had to return and that’s when I tried the Hooks Cheddar!

Great deli meats and a wide variety of mouth-watering cheese choices! The only downside would be the limited space, although there are quite a few tables. Due to it’s growing popularity, I’d expect a wait for a table, especially on weekends.

If you like mouth-watering, melty goodness in your tummy, I’d suggest you try St. James Cheese Company!

Pate and Chips. 

3 Little Frenchies. Beef, Duck Confit, and Foie Gras Butter Slider.

Stuffed Jumbo Lump Crab “Shells”. Baked with Garlic and Lemon Fondue.

Now, when we ordered this dish, we were expecting actual crab shells, but enjoyed the play on words AND the overflowing amounts of crabmeat stuffed within the pasta “shells”.

Baked Oysters.

Bibb Salad. Butermilk Blue Cheese Dressing. Spiced Pecans. Added Benton’s Bacon.

Slow Cooked “Blade” Steak. Added Crabmeat..I could never get enough of this stuff. I could honestly top anything off with crabmeat…even dessert lol.

I was very surprised with this restaurant! The dishes were simple, delicious, and exactly what I had hoped for in a Besh steakhouse. Each of John Besh’s restaurants have character…this restaurants embodies a true New Orleans steakhouse. Great steak, delicious appetizers, fun environment…I was actually surprised by a few reviews on the meals not being “worth it”, but honestly I think some may have spent more than they had hoped at Harrah’s.

My favorite dishes had to be the Crab Stuffed “Shells and the Blade Steak. The shells were literally stuffed with crabmeat…no extra fillers, just pure crabmeat. It was a great dish that left you wanting more. The steak was perfectly cooked to med-rare and well seasoned!

I’m normally not a fan of “steakhouses”, but this one definitely surprised me! If you happen to pass by during your trip to Harrah’s or you’re just looking for a great place for steak, I highly recommend Besh Steak.

Amuse Bouche. Vietnamese BBQ

“Emeril’s” New Orleans BBQ Shrimp. Petite Rosemary Biscuit and Fresh Chives.

Charbroiled Oysters and Escargot in Butter.

Steamy Buffalo Chappapeela Farms Duck Wings. Shaved Celery. REd grapes. Whippe Blue Cheese Creme Fraiche.

Crisp -Point Judith Calamari. Olive Salad. Parmesan. Smoked Tomato Sauce

Crisp – Point Judith Calamari. House Made Pepper Jelly. Crisp Okra. Black Pepper-Buttermilk Ranch

Seared Scallops and Softshell Crab.

Maple-Soy Lacquered Chapapella Farms Duck. Dirty Fried Rice. Pickled Local Vegetables.

Shrimp and Linguini.

Truffled Shrimp “Louis” Salad. Iceberg Wedge. Applewood Smoked Bacon. Chopped Eg. Asparagus. Tobiko.

Canteloupe Sorbet.

BAM! Bombarded with the whole dessert menu! Man, is it good to have friends in the industry. Being the foodies that we are, the chef and I have made friends in the industry and we were treated like kings and queens. To top it all off, they served us with a buffet of desserts:

Key Lime Ice Box Pie. Torched Cinnamon Meringue. Honey Graham Crust.

Emeril’s Banana Creme Pie. Graham Cracker Crust. Caramel Sauce. Chocolate Shavings

Chocolate-Sambuca Mousse Cake. Au Lait Semifreddo. Espresso Bean Bark

Chocolate Peanut Butter Pie. Oreo Crust. Caramel Sauce.

Walnut Foster Bread Pudding. Cinnamon Candied Walnut. Bruleed Banana.

What a memorable meal! Tons of food and all with that Emeril’s flair! Great execution of every dish. Rich with flavor and leaving my mouth watering..even now.

NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANTS REVIEWS

• Bayou Hot Wings
• Borgne (Hyatt Regency)
• Boucherie
• C’est La Vie Bistro [Closed]
• Cafe Zen
• The Company Burger
• Coquette
• Coulis
• Cowbell
• Dante’s Kitchen
• Dat Dog
• Dick and Jenny’s 
• Emeril’s Delmonico
• Emeril’s Restaurant
• Gott Gourmet (Brunch)
• Gott Gourmet (Lunch)
• Katie’s Restaurant and Bar
• La Petite Grocery
• La Petite Grocery (Brunch)
• Luke
• Milk Bar
• NOLA (Emeril Lagasse)
• Ralph’s on the Park
• Restaurant R’evolution
• Root
• Stanley’s Restaurant
• Stein’s Market & Deli
• Truburger
• Tartine
• Vizards
• Yuki Izakaya

NOLA DESSERTS

• Angelo Brocato
• Cafe Du Monde
• Honeydeux

NOLA EVENTS

• New Orleans Oyster Festival 2012

HOUSTON

• Fat Bao
• Local Foods
• Straits
• Torchy’s Tacos
• Uchi

SAN ANTONIO

• Luke

FLORIDA

• The Pancakery

Market area. 

NY Wall!

Deli Aisle.

Potato Salad.

Roast Beef Special. Cold Roast Beef. Swiss. Cole Slaw. Rye Bread w/ Russian Dressing.

The Coleslaw was SO goood…..glad it came on both sandwiches!

Pastrami on Rye Bread. The pastrami was thin and crispy on the outside and deliciously savory on the inside. Loved it! I haven’t tried the corned beef yet, but I’ll save that for next time.

Local Zapps Sweet Potato Chips and Zero Calorie Root Beer.  Didn’t care too much for these two. The chips were a little stale, but I believe that’s just how sweet potato chips usually are. They don’t hold much of a crisp. As for the root beer, you could tell it had zero calories…and by that, I mean not good. Although these side items were a little so-so, the overall meal was great!

Truly authentic NY deli…Eating here reminded me of my trip to NYC and eating at Carnegie Deli minus the 40 minute wait. The space is a bit tight, but there’s enough tables for people to dine in.

Will I return again? I already have. After this visit, I even returned yesterday to try the Turkey Panini and it was delicious. Not your ordinary Turkey panini…great depth of flavors in such an ordinary menu item. It’s obvious that every element here is made in house…sauces, pickles, and especially the deli meat.

If you’re looking for a place with delicious sandwiches, this is the place…Stein’s Market & Deli, you have my vote for Top 5 Sandwich Spots in the city!

View from my seat..

Table with a view! 

Casual dining at its best!

Enough pictures of the restaurant..let’s get to the food! When “the chef” and I looked at the menu, many of the appetizers stood out to us much more than the actual entrees so we created our very own tasting menu…

Complimentary Ciabatta bread and Cornbread. 

Miss Hay’s Stuffed Chicken Wings. Homemade Hoisin Dipping Sauce. 

LOVED this dish…I’m typically not a fan of “fusion” types of food, but here, American + Asian = DIVINE! The authentic Vietnamese egg roll stuffing inside a juicy deep fried chicken wing was interesting and leaves you wanting more…

Duck Confit and Fried Egg Pizza. Parmesan Cheese. Truffle Oil. Baby Arugula.

Although it appears large, it’s light and savory…

Aged Allen Benton’s Country Ham Salad. Moonshine Spiked Watermelon. Arugula. Feta Cheese. Citrus-Herb Vinaigrette. 

Gumbo of the Day: Cochon and Andouille Gumbo.

New Orleans Style Crab Cake. Spicy Corn Relish. Crystal-Butter Sauce. 

Good but not my favorite. The corn relish balanced the heavily seasoned crab cake and gave it a refreshing kick with the Crystal-Butter sauce. 

Crispy Smoked Duck and Mushroom Boudin Balls. Tomato-Bacon Jam. Creole Mustard. 

NOLA Banana Pudding Layer Cake. Graham Cracker Crust. Vanilla Wafers. Fudge Sauce. 

One thing I’ve learned is when you’re craving a good ol’ homemade banana pudding, you won’t get it at these upper echelon restaurants…but what you will get is an overly decadent yet still so delicious version. Not too far from the original homemade kind…fresh slices of banana, light pudding cream, graham cracker crust…loved it! 

Great experience at NOLA in Nola! Great service. Cool and casual vibe. Great place for a laid back night but very good food. Props to Mr. Emeril Lagasse!