As wrote yesterday, I recently came back from my second post Katrina trip. I encourage all of you to go there also. They need the support. I highly recommend going to this year's French Quarter Festival. It is April 13 - 17. Our plans got us there earlier so we will missed it but there is much to do anytime you go including a wonderful art exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art on Paintings of Women in French Society from Daumier to Picasso from the museums of France. It was brought to the city by the French government to promote visitors and help the city. It runs to June 3 and is reason enough to go to New Orleans.
Here is where we ate. From what we sampled, the food of New Orleans has retained its great status.
Upperline offers a modern take on Creole dishes. It was so good we went there twice last time. I had their sampler again as I could not resist. You get smaller portions of Duck Etouffée with Corn Cakes and Louisiana Pepper Jelly, Oyster Stew with Watercress, Andouille Gumbo, Fried Green Tomato with Shrimp Remoulade, Spicy Shrimp with Jalapeño Cornbread, Roast Duck with Ginger Peach Sauce, and Warm Bread Pudding with Toffee Sauce. Upperline is located uptown at 1413 Upperline Street. (504) 891-9822. Book in advance as it remains very popular. We did for all of these as people are starting to return to the city.
Herbstaint refers to itself as “modern New Orleans,” I had three starters and skipped the main course as I could not decide: Shrimp and Green Chile Grits Cakes with Tasso Cream Sauce, frogs legs, and braised short ribs, all excellent. I have been there several times and always found it great. It is located at 701 St. Charles in the warehouse district. (504-524-4114).
Vizard's on the Avenue. This was a new one for us and will be a return visit. Innovative Creole food with a sense of humor. It is located on 2203 St. Charles Ave., (504) 529-9912
Commander’s Place is now reopened after renovations to their Garden District location (see below in middle and right). This is where we took out-of-towners for upscale in the 1950s. We went for Sunday brunch. The food was excellent but the service could be improved. We had a dish called duck debris that had piles of duck on top of a pecan pancake as well as a BBQ shrimp dish. The brunch is three courses. They are probably just getting reorganized. It is located at 1403 Washington St. (504) 899-8221.
We also went to Firorella's for lunch, famous for its fried chicken. Fiorella’s is located near the French Market at 45 French Market Pl (504) 528-9566. We ate some much chicken that we skipped dinner. Each day started at Croissant D’Or located at 617 Ursulines Ave (504) 524-4663. One of the best bakeries I have visited. Here is their front window on the left.
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