Coquette

I searched Yelp for lunch deals and came across Coquette. It's located at 2800 Magazine Street in the Garden District. We took bus #11 down Magazine Street and got off at Washington.

 

Coquette offers a three course lunch for $20.

 

One of the first course options--Gumbo z'Herbs. This was thick, rich and delicious.



 

2nd course--Shrimp & Grits with Grilled Kale, Cherry Tomatoes and Tasso. This was also delicious. The grits were smooth.

 

Another 2nd course option--Fried Wild Catfish with Sweet Potato and Pickled Green Tomatoes. The catfish was soft and juicy.

 

Spiced Funnel Cake with Strawberries and Vanilla Parfait.

 

 

Chocolate Tart with Peanut Butter Sorbet and Chocolate Soil. The tart is a deep chocolate--rich & creamy and it paired so well with the peanut butter sorbet.

 

 

 

2013 05 07

Cafe Beignet

There are 2 Café Beignet locations in the French Quarter. In the evening, the one at the Musical Legends Park is the place to be.

 

The park is located at 311 Bourbon Street. You can enjoy live music while having a light meal, drink or beignet.

 

 

Café Beignet

 

Their beignets are light and fluffy. An order of 3 is $3.99 at the Musical Legends Park.

 

 

 

2013 05 06

Restaurant August

John Besh won the James Beard award for Best Chef in 2006. He has a family of restaurants in New Orleans and his flagship restaurant is Restaurant August, a contemporary French restaurant.

 

Restaurant August is located just outside the French Quarter at 301 Tchoupitoulas Street. They have a wonderful 3-course lunch for $20.13.

 

Delicious homemade French baguettes--warm, soft inside with a crunchy exterior.

 

Amuse Bouche of Cauliflower mousse.

 

 

Pate of Local Pork with Housemade Pickles and Marmalade with Toasted Brioche. The pate was smooth and flavorful.

 

The other appetizer choice was Salad of Ponchatoula Strawberries and Ryal's Chevre, Arugula, Pistachio Butter and Aged Balsamic. The strawberries were so sweet but I still liked the pate better.

 

Main Course of Berkshire-Duroc Pork Belly and Kimchi Rice Bowl, Poached Egg and Spicy Brown Sugar Vinaigrette. This was delicious--the flavors blended so well.

 

The other main course option was Gulf Sheepshead Poele, Corn Custard, Spring Legumes and Tomato Vinaigrette. This was absolutely delicious. The fish was tender and moist and the corn custard was amazing.

 

Louisiana Blueberry Pavlova with Caramelized Coconut Milk and Blueberry Sorbet.

 

This was my dessert--Dark Chocolate Chiboust (thick mousse) with Almond and Burnt Caramel Ice Cream. Loved it!

 

 

Mignardise--the cutest littlest Pralines and White Chocolate Key Lime Truffles.

 

I couldn't believe we got all this for about $20. This was definitely the best deal in town.

 

 

 

2013 05 06

GW Fins

My sister-in-law had been to  New Orleans recently and really liked GW Fins. We were lucky to get a last-minute reservation.

 

GW Fins is located in the French Quarter at 808 Bienville Street.

 

Their biscuit was white as snow. It was very light but on the sweet side.

 

Smoked Sizzling Oysters--$11 for 1/2 dozen. These were delicious. The oysters were cooked perfectly and had a light smoky flavor.

 

Seafood Gumbo with Oysters, Shrimp & Crab--$8. This was very good and flavorful but I still liked Johnny's gumbo better.

 

Wood Grilled Spanish Octopus with Kalamata, Blood Orange and Fennel--$8. The octopus was well grilled but my husband thought the blood orange was too bitter for the dish.

 

Soft Shell Crab in Creamy Brown Butter with Toasted Cashews--$11. This was my favorite dish of the entire trip. The soft shell crab was juicy and plump.

 

Sautéed Wild Redfish with Sweet Corn Spoonbread, Louisiana Crawfish Maque Choux and Roasted Corn Butter--$27. This was delicious. The fish was so well prepared--it just melted in your mouth.

 

 

 

2013 05 05

Acme Oyster House

There wasn't a line out the door when we walked by Acme's Oyster House. We stopped in for a dozen.

 

Acme is located at 724 Iberville--just across the street from Felix's Oyster House.

 

 

Their oysters were not as good as the oysters at Felix's. They weren't as large and they had flecks of dirt in them.

 

We also had a bowl of seafood gumbo. This was our least favorite gumbo on this trip--salty, gummy from the ocra and not very flavorful.

 

 

 

2013 05 05

Thursday Night Dinner

We missed last week's dinner but here's this week's.

Carpaccio Di Salmone Affumicato--Thin Slices of Smoked Salmon, Shaved Parmigiano-Reggiano, Erbe Fini, Red Onions, Capers, Extra Virgin Olive Oil & Meyer Lemon paired with Villa Sandi Prosecco, Il Fresco DOC Brut Treviso from Veneto, Italy

  

 

Risotto Di Ruspante--Arborio Rice Cooked with Homemade Country Style Chicken Sausage, Confit of Leeks, Organic Escarole & Parmigiano-Reggiano paired with 2011 Angeline Pinot Noir Reserve from Sonoma, Santa Barbara & Mendocino Counties

  

 

Maiale Al Forno--Slow Cooked Pork Medallion Served in Sugo Di Bracato Flavored with Pancetta, Cannelini Beans & Garlic-Herb Gremolata paired with 2011 Gainey Vineyard Merlot from Santa Ynez Valley

 

 

Crostata Di Fragole--Strawberry Galette Garnished with Vanilla Crème Fraiche paired with 2011 N x NW Wallula Benches Vineyard Riesling from Columbia Valley, Washington

 

 

 

2013 05 16

Johnny's

Johnny's Po-Boys is one of our favorite places to get a po' boy in the French Quarter. It's divey but worth it.

 

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Johnny's is located at 511 St. Louis Street.

 

One of the specials for the day was alligator po' boy. We thought this was going to be fried alligator meat but turned out to be a sausage. Can't really tell it's alligator. It came with seafood gumbo which was quite delicious. It was nice and dark and full of seafood.

 

I love their oyster po' boy dressed with lettuce, tomatoes and pickles. The oysters are perfectly fried but still juicy and the bread is soft & chewy. Prices have really gone up. The sandwich now costs $14.95, plus another $0.60 to dress it. Another effect of the BP oil spill.

 

After we had ordered, someone mentioned that their muffaletta and red beans and rice is delicious. We'll be back to try that next time.

 

 

 

2013 05 05