Food - The Hungry Nomad

Foodopia at the new Fitler Dining Room (Philadelphia, USA)

April 26, 2013 1 Comment

Dinner at Fitler Dining Room can be summed up as having been one of the best dining experiences I’ve had in Philadelphia. The intimate 32 seat bistro might be a new name on the Philly dining scene but the staff sure aren’t. Chef Marzinsky was formerly a chef at Pub & Kitchen, Stateside and the Diving Horse and is certainly making some magic at FDR.

The food alone is worth visiting this small hidden gem for. But everything else about the experience happened to also be perfect. From the beautiful decor consisting of white subway tiles, low voltage lamps over each tabletop, white marble counter facing the open kitchen to the amazing french playlist playing in the background.

Our friday night meal started off with an order of the beau soleil oysters served plain and simple on a bedding of crushed ice. The oysters smooth, silky and fresh. (See Menu)

Next came the roasted and pickled beets served with bottom mushrooms, fried onion rings, black truffle and buttermilk dressing. The earthy flavors of the bright beets were pleasantly complimented by the crispy onion rings.

While not a big fan of steak tartar after a very unpleasant experience back in Paris (details which I’ll spare my dear readers) I was hesitant to try the beef tartar at FDR. Yet, the Count who is a serious carnivore insisted and minutes after my first bite (but too late to have another one) I found myself secretly wanting more. This dish made up of lancaster beef filet mixed with crunch walnuts, piave vecchio cheese, sunchoke-chips and chanterelle mushrooms was so good. The combination of textures and tastes was perfect.

The Potato Gnocchi with the burgundy snails, butternut squash and chartreuse butter was consistent. Although next to the other dishes it did not particularly stand out for me. I found it to lack a bit of flavor.

For our entrees we ordered the beef cheek, stuffed skate and fluke. The Skate consisted of truffle and leek stuffing glazed with marble potatoes and a vermouth nage poured tableside. Wow, was it ever amazing. The strong flavors of the truffle was balanced by the nage, but the depth and variety of flavors resulted in one of the best seafood dishes I’ve yet to taste in a restaurant.

The beef cheek, a new addition to the menu was wonderful and was practically inhaled by the two diners at our table who ordered it. Braised with a tasty barbecue sauce served with greens and pan fried potatoes.

The Rhode Island Fluke was cooked to perfection and served on top of broccolini, cauliflower, winter citrus, chive emulsion and a salsa tonnato. The sauce is what really made these dishes so delicious and alluring.

Dessert consisted of everything on the menu. The Banana pudding, early grey creme brulee, chocolate cake and carrot cake. I am personally not a fan of bananas and can only eat them in a shake where the flavor is drowned out. But I had to try this pudding after every one at our table raved about how good it was. And yes it was good. Just not for banana-phobes like myself.

The warm chocolate cake served with a crunchy peanut butter ganache disappeared within seconds of hitting the table. It was that good.
The carrot cake was served with a scoop of vanilla ice cream, raisins and caramel sauce. The cake was very sweet and syrupy. If you don’t like your dessert too sweet you wont like this one. But it was an instant hit at our table (in fact all 4 desserts were big hits).
The earl grey creme brulee served with a hard sugar top was also great. My favorite part is cracking the hard sugar with my spoon and mixing the crunchy sugar with the creamy smooth filling. The earl grey flavor was definitely there although not too strong to drown out the taste of the velvety creme brulee.

As the photos will show, we arrived at 8 pm and were the last ones to leave the restaurant. It was such a warm, inviting atmosphere that it was really hard to leave. In fact, the experience was so good I almost hesitated before writing this review because I don’t want to let the secret out (although I’m sure the restaurant opening is not much of a secret amongst the foodies in Philadelphia).

Food, Philadelphia, USA

Dinner at Fork- Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

April 19, 2013 1 Comment

Last week I started a photography class at Fleisher Art Memorial and had the pleasure of meeting a fellow classmate and foodie who is part of the International Wine and Food Society. He was a wealth of knowledge on the Philadelphia food scene and where I must dine prior to leaving this beloved city which I have grown to love so much. One of his top recommendations was the new and improved Fork, another was Bibou which I have yet to try. Of course the next night, I found myself sipping on a glass of wine at Fork’s bar waiting for a table.

Chef Kulp revitalized this once gem of a restaurant in Old City by joining recently and creating the new and innovative menu. He came over from my beloved Torrisi Italian Specialties in New York City. The result is fantastic. Everything we tasted was flavorful, fresh and brilliant.

The decor at Fork is elegant, sophisticated and beautiful. The open kitchen faces the dining room which is lit with dim lighting. There is a banquette running along the wall lined with dining tables. A large bar in the center of the restaurant and a lit up tree in close to the kitchen.

The menu was what I would describe as ‘farm to table’ but was ever so quickly corrected by our server who called it ‘local’ instead. I guess restaurants are trying to move away from labeling their cuisine as ‘farm to table’ since its become an overused term which many places use freely while not sticking to the principles. Local however, means that all their ingredients are locally sourced. In the end it really means the same thing. The food is local!

Upon ordering our meal we were served with a board of bread with a fancy Italian name, but lets call it what it was: a chewy bagel with a spread of house made cream cheese.

For our starters we ordered the First of Spring Salad and Veal Carpaccio. The Spring salad combined many local greens and sliced radishes served in a ginger creme fraiche. A wonderfully healthy salad and a great start to our dining experience. The Vitello Tonnato was a delicious serving of veal carpaccio, raw tuna with tonnato sauce. My only critique of the dish was the cubes of cucumber which were not crispy and had a soft texture (sort of like when your fridge is too cold and your cucumber freezes as a result). It would have been a perfect dish had those cubes of cucumbers been crisp and fresh. We were served with a complimentary dish, the Smoked Quail. It was served with quail claw in tact. I’m assuming this helps reinforce the ‘local’ aspect of the dish. Nevertheless, despite the claw looking up at me the dish was wonderful. I’ll definitely order it the next time around. The quail meat was tender with a smokey flavor served in a cherry sauce, green almonds and heirloom chicories.

I was advised to stick with the pasta and so it was no surprise that for our main dish, all three at our table ordered from one of the pasta dishes. The black and white pici being my dish was my favorite of the three, although all three were so good it was hard to determine which was better than the other. I’d say that when ordering a pasta dish at Fork you just can’t go wrong. The black and white Pici was the most interesting dish. The pasta itself was as described, black and white, as half was darkened with squid ink. The crispy bread crumbs was such a wonderful addition and added a crunchy texture to the soft noodle dish. The seafood was fresh and flavorful. The Smoked Pumpkin Tortelloni (a larger version of the tortellini) was served in a brown butter sage flavored sauce with crunchy walnuts. I’ve seen versions of this dish at many Italian restaurants and it is hard not to love the sweet aromatic flavors present in this dish. The one at Fork was one of the best I’ve tasted with the addition of the walnuts which again added a welcoming crunchy texture.

The Pappardelle is always a favorite. This one did not fail to impress. A perfect portion of pappardelle noodles mixed with goat meat and topped with aged ricotta. It was simply delicious.

Although the price of dinner was more expensive than your average restaurant in Philadelphia, the impeccable service, impressive wine list and quality of the local ingredients make it well worth the visit.

Food, Food Festival, Philadelphia

A recap of Manayunk’s StrEAT Food Festival (Philadelphia, USA)

April 17, 2013 No Comments

On Saturday April 13th Manayunk held its biannual Street food festival on Main Street. The event drew out food trucks, foodies and crowds of people looking to taste what the city had to offer. From fried cheese curds to Mexican burritos there was a little bit of everything for everyone. The sun was shining, the music was pumping and the crowds were eating and drinking. It was the perfect way to spend a sunny Spring Saturday in Philadelphia. Some of the best food trucks in town were gathered on Main Street delivering their signature dishes with a strawberry twist to hungry crowds. Many food trucks even ran out of food (sadly a few were already closed by the time I got around to them). Among the most notables were Say Cheese, Cosmic Catering, sugary cupcakes from Sweet Box Cupcakes, Philly cheese steaks from Street Food Philly, cheesy mac and cheese from Mac Mart, gourmet Philly style sandwiches Lil Dan’s, the most amazing fried cheese from The Cow & The Curd, savory gourmet sandwiches from Farm Truck Philly, the Good Phellas, juicy burgers from Spot Burgers, Vernalicious, Italian style pizza from Nomad Pizza, the best sweet and savory crepes from Bonjour Creperie and Trinidadian food from Mini Trini.

The Cow & The Curd blew me away with those tiny pieces of cheesy delight. I mean, fried cheese: Enough said.

The crepes from Bonjour creperie were oh so sweet and fluffy: oooey, gooey marshmallow, mixed with chocolate and ground graham crackers. Their crepes were very original and had a mix of dynamic flavors like their bacon, chocolate and strawberry which surprisingly was sweet and salty and mouth watering good.

The guys at Farm Truck Philly definitely had the coolest truck on the block. Featured art work on the back of the truck are available for sale and the truck was covered in graffiti-like art.

Cosmic Catering had some interesting vegetarian flavors in a pretzel like bread cone. What a brilliant idea.

If you missed this year’s Manayunk Street festival, mark it on your calendar for next year but don’t fret, you still have the rest of the week to participate in their dining week.

Burgers, Food, Philadelphia, USA

Burgers at Shake Shack- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

April 16, 2013 1 Comment

It seems our generation (or atleast everyone I know) is slightly obsessed with Shake Shack burgers, claiming it to have the best burgers in the USA. That to me is one serious claim, one that can only be backed up by having tasted every single hamburger in the United States. Either way, I had to check it out for myself. The Shake Shack in Philadelphia is located downtown in the Rittenhouse Square neighbourhood. There is usually a long line, sometimes out the door. On the day we went it happened to be practically empty which was a nice surprise given that we were extremely hungry and not in the mood to wait.

A large wall sized menu covers the wall describing what and how to order. We ordered the Shake Burger and the SmokeShack Burger. Both good.

The hamburger patties were made to order and made it slightly more flavorful than an all out fast food joint. We ordered with a side of fries which were disappointing. Overall, our experience at Shake Shack was slightly underwhelming. I’m not sure what I expected going in. I guess I thought I was in for tasting the ‘best’ burger in the USA only to come out having had an average burger with less than average fries. Can someone enlighten me on what makes Shake Shack so damn good?

Food, Hanoi, Hotel, Travel, Vietnam

The Hungry Nomad’s Guide to Hanoi (Vietnam)

April 12, 2013 12 Comments

Before leaving for Vietnam, I had heard mixed reviews. Travelers either loved it or hated it. Many said it was their least favorite country based on the attitude of the locals and how they were treated. I was skeptical going in and was expecting to come out the other end disliking it. I went in equipped with my prejudice and tales of other’s travels. But, after spending several weeks in the country, the verdict is in: I loved it (and my travel companions loved it). I loved the people, the food, the country and history. Of course, there are always isolated incidents of doing bad business, not bargaining properly and getting ripped off, or coming across someone who is having a bad day and just feels like being nasty. But I didn’t find my experience to be any different from my time in other countries like Thailand (remind me to tell you the story of the time I got kicked by a seller in Bangkok after walking away from a bad deal on a necklace).

We spent three whirlwind days in Hanoi. Arriving late at night, we were greeted warmly at our hotel, Le Mercure in the Hoan Lake District (94 Ly Thuong Kiet Street) [See map]. Our first traveller mishap occurred when my travel companion left his brand new iphone in the taxi. The hotel which had cameras on the outside, called the taxi agency and tracked down the driver who within 10 minutes brought back his phone! Besides their wonderful service, the hotel was beautiful, elegant and very clean. The staff were professional, courteous and very helpful. A continental and Asian breakfast was served from 6-10 am. A travel and tour agent desk was also located close to the dining area which helped us book many tours around Hanoi. After having spent a few days in Hanoi, we were extremely happy with our hotel choice and chose to spend an extra night after returning from Halong Bay.

Day 1 in Hanoi:

Food, Israeli Cuisine, Philadelphia

Israeli Cuisine at Zahav- Society Hill (Philadelphia, USA)

April 10, 2013 2 Comments

Zahav meaning ‘golden’ in Hebrew is an Israeli restaurant in Philadelphia named as one of the best places to dine in the City. It is also one of the most aesthetically pleasing restaurants where you are easily transported to the Mediterranean coast in which Israeli delicacies are served fresh in a family-style setting typical in the Middle East. Rustic tables, imported stones and high wooden beams all work hand in hand to bring out the Middle Eastern theme of the restaurant.

Our dinner started with the Salatim– a range of small plates and orders of hummus. All served with a side of laffa bread, a delicious Israeli version of the traditional Indian naan or Greek pita. It was delicious and I probably ate too much for my own good. We also ordered the crispy haloumi cheese, fried cauliflower, Brussels sprouts with whipped feta and fried kibbe. We were looking forward to ordering the Mesibah tasting menu which features a whole roasted leg of lamb grilled over coals and braised with pomegranate sauce; however, we were sadly told that it had to be pre-ordered before coming in to the restaurant since the demand for it is so high. Apparently, Anthony Bourdain paid Zahav a visit for his show ‘No Reservation’ and ate the lamb, which has now become the most popular dish. So we settled for items off the ‘Shipudim’ or main course menu which was just as tasty, yet surprisingly small in portion. The selection included a range of meats including lamb kabob, kofte and chicken. While we were still a bit disappointed about not having the leg of lamb that we wanted, we left quite satisfied with our meal.

Food, Hanoi, Travel, Vietnam

Street Food in Hanoi: Bún Chả (Bún noodles with grilled pork patties in broth)

April 5, 2013 1 Comment

Hanoi is a major foodie destination and many like myself come equipped with an appetite, ready to try almost anything and everything (although I draw the line at eating Vietnamese dog, which I learned is still common amongst the elders). Every foodie traveling to Hanoi should already know that street food is a way of life here. A life which many tourists don’t dare to try. And while I was daring and ready to sit down at any of the many small street food stands, traveling with a physician prevented me from doing so. I was constantly reminded of all the reasons I should not be eating street food including parasites and traveller’s diarrhea to name a few. But how could I ignore all the smells and aroma permeating the Old Quarter. So, I took the risk and dragged the physician along with me (he refused to try but instead stared at me in horror while I sat down to eat).

Street food is central to the life and culture of the city. At any time of day, you will see crowds of people crouched on street corners slurping away on fresh pho (literally fresh, the chicken was alive only a few hours prior to cooking). While I was excited to try some phở, I ended up sitting down on my first day for a mystery meal. Mystery because each stand only serves one dish. And I did not know what dish it was I would be eating, having selected the spot based on the crowds of people munching away. All I know is that it was good. Very good. And I wanted more. But what was it? No one spoke English. So I took a photo and decided to investigate later.

I later learned that the mysterious and delicious meal I had (all less than a dollar) was the popular and quintessential bún chả dish. A serving of crispy, caramelized slices of pork (although at the time I could swear it was chicken), along side a a bowl of bun noodles, and a bowl of warm light fish sauce based broth with small slices of pickled green papaya. A plate of fried spring rolls –nem cua bể was served alongside the bún chả. Probably the most delicious spring rolls I’ve yet to taste in my quest for Vietnamese food. A combination of minced pork, glass noodles, mushrooms and bean sprouts wrapped in egg roll and fried. All this was served with a basket of fresh herbs and vegetables.

Once the dish arrived, I was not sure what to do with it or how to do put it together. In such a scenario, imitation is essential. I looked around and noticed that all the localers (who were eyeing me suspiciously) dumped the grilled pork patties (thit bam) into the broth. Next, the noodles were dipped in the broth picking up a piece of pork on the way before gently placing in the mouth.

Food, Italian food, Philadelphia, USA

Popolino- Northern Liberties (Philadelphia)

April 2, 2013 1 Comment

What do an Irish, a Moroccan and a Mexican have in common? Popolino! Peter McAndrews the owner of Popolino- the Irish, our server- Moroccan, and the manager- Mexican! You wouldn’t be able to tell walking into the restaurant which feels as Italian as you can get. You may even feel like you are walking into an episode of the Sopranos waiting for the director to call “cut”.

As a fan of Peter McAndrew’s Modo Mio and Paesano’s we wanted to try his other restaurants starting with Popolino (meaning ‘commoner’ in Roman dialect). The experience at Modo Mio was so amazing that we went in with really high expectations for our meal. And while the two restaurants have many things in common including the menu tourista, it ends there. Even though many of the items on the menu closely reflect those offered at Modo Mio- the quality of the food and service was definitely not the same.

At the center of this BYOB restaurant was the Tavola Calda, a ‘hot table’ selection of room temperature antipasti Roman Style ($10). As one of the starter options, diners could walk around and choose from all the different dishes.

We tried the hot table, Mozzarella in Carozza, Arugula Salad and complimentary bruschetta. Amongst it all the mozzarella in carozza dish stood out as the most delicious: a large stuffed Italian bread, egg dipped, pan friend and served in a creamy anchovy caper butter.

The starters were the best part of the night since the pasta left us all unsatisfied. The Bucatini all’Amatriciani was overcooked, slightly cold and lacking the amazing flavors we tasted at Modo Mio. The Gnocchi di Castagne was my least favorite. The gnocchi itself was doughy and chewy. The best part of the dish was the chestnut and ricotta sauce mixed with mushrooms, white wine and tomatoes. It was again a disappointment especially when compared to the gnocchi served at Modo Mio. The Cannelloni with oxtail and Gorgonzola cheese was the best of the three dishes. Although, I found it to be too oily and greasy.

Only one person from our party tried the menu tourista as it really is an abundance of food. For the mail meat dish, our friend ordered the Porchetta. A crispy roasted suckling pig served with coriander, goccia, porcini and provolone gauzetto. He seemed to thoroughly enjoy every bite, ranting and raving about the experience. As for the rest of us, we looked forward to our dessert.

The desserts at Popolino are standard desserts available at most Italian restaurants. Amongst our orders were the Panna Cotta, tiramisu and chocolate cake. While they were all good, none stood out as being outstanding and memorable.

Our friends, being Philly natives did not seem overly impressed by Popolino and I had to reassure them that Modo Mio was quite a different experience. This restaurant has a lot of potential given that it is a McAndrews establishment, the menu looks good and the decor is brilliant. I only hope that in time the food becomes as good as McAndrew’s other restaurants.

Information
Tavole Calde (or “Hot Table”)
Menu Turista
Cash Only
BYOB

Opening Hours
Monday, Wednesday, Thursday, Friday,
Saturday & Sunday
Lunch – 11.00am – 2.30pm
Dinner – 5.00pm – 10.00pm

Tuesday – Closed

Food

Good Morning Vietnam!

March 8, 2013 No Comments

For the rest of the month, I’ll be eating and photographing my way through Vietnam. From Hanoi to Ho Chi Minh, I’m so excited to be experiencing real street food, slurping away on pho banh hao and my favorite vietnamese sandwich, bahn mi. If you have any recommendations or tips ranging from hotels, sites and food, feel free to send me an email at tala@hungrynomad.net.

Food, New Orleans, USA

The Hungry Nomad’s Guide to New Orleans

February 1, 2013 2 Comments

Let’s face it besides the awesome music and rowdy drinking scene most people come to New Orleans for the incredible food. That is why it is essential to spend your time wisely and get the most out of what the city has to offer. I am often asked where I would recommend out-of-towners to dine in their short time in this colorful town and so I finally put together this guide to share my favorite spot sin New Orleans with my readers. I hope you enjoy!

Day 1:

The French Quarter:

Starting out in the French Quarter admire the wrought-iron balconies, tall shutters, courtyards and the sound of horse carriages strolling by. Start your walking excursion at the French Market located alongside the Mississippi river. Make sure to pick up some local hot sauce or my personal favorite selection of Tabasco sauces. You will soon smell the scent of beignets from Cafe du Monde. Stop over for some of their famous sugar coated beignets and chicory laced cafe au lait.

Next, listen to some local musicians on Royal street. The street is closed off on weekends allowing local artists to set up at every street corner. Next, visit the St. Louis Cathedral and Jackson Square with its manicured lawns. If you are in the mood to learn what the future holds in store, sit down with one of the fortune tellers and let your fortunes be told. Back on Royal street you can try a little antique shopping and visit some of the amazing art galleries. Wonder around and get lost in the labyrinth of streets in the quarter and follow the noise to Bourbon street to see one of the most happening streets in America (see post on Bourbon Street). You might be hungry at this point. For one of the best meals of your life stop over at Mr. B’s ($$$) on Royal Street for their world famous barbecued shrimp. Not feeling like having shrimp but want some of those oysters which Nola is famous for? Then head over to Drago’s ($$) for some of their world renown chargrilled oysters. If you want to eat somewhere where the ambiance screams New Orleans then make your way over to Acme’s Oyster House ($$) to experience some live oyster shucking and eat it fresh or chargrilled to perfection. Then wash it all down with a strong bloody mary.

The CBD and Warehouse District:

While the French Quarter is ever consuming with so much to see, do, and eat make sure you venture out of the Quarter and see the other beautiful parts of town for I can assure you there is so much more to New Orleans than the French Quarter (just ask the British who settled west of Canal Street). Walking out west from the French Quarter you will pass Canal Street which was once the glorious commercial hub of town but has unfortunately failed to keep its glory. Beautiful hotels are intertwined with cheap shops and run down storefronts. However, in this area you will find some of my favorite places to eat. If you are looking for a true Italian meal head over to Domenica’s ($$) at the Roosevelt Hotel (http://www.domenicarestaurant.com). Here renowned local chef John Besh and Alon Shaya (my former landlord) cook up some of the best Italian dishes in town. For Franco-German cuisine, head to Luke ($$) another of John Besh’s delicious restaurants where you can have fresh oysters or my favorite, the burger and fries (http://www.lukeneworleans.com). Walking further you will cross over into the Central Business District where restaurants such as the Herbsaint ($$) will deliver some of the best French food offered in the South. Sitting outside you can drink your wine and watch the Saint Charles trolley go on by (http://www.herbsaint.com).

For dinner, keep walking until you cross over to the Warehouse District. The new yet old trendy part of town where loft style living and restaurants and bars line the streets (Nola’s own version of the Meatpacking district). Here you will find some of my favorite restaurants including Cochon, La Boca and Root. If you love pork you will love Cochon ($$) (http://www.cochonrestaurant.com). The ambiance isn’t so bad either. One that comes with a full house. I highly recommend making reservations in advance for this one. If you’re wanting the experience but don’t have time, walk over just next door to Cochon to its sister shop, Cochon Butcher (http://www.cochonbutcher.com) for some amazing gourmet sandwiches and beer. If pork is not so much your thing but you love a good steak then the Argentinian Steakhouse, La Boca ($$$), will satisfy all your red meat cravings (http://www.labocasteaks.com/). A small Argentinian steak house offering tender beef, chimichuri and fries. Reservations are a must. Root is another popular restaurant which offers some of that hearty Southern flavors with a modern twist.

Day 2:

The Garden District:

Take the trolley to the Garden District and explore the old mansions, cemeteries, shopping and restaurants (note no shopping in the cemetery). For a truly exceptional meal and experience try Commander’s Palace ($$$) for their fancy Sunday brunch where a jazz band will serenade you with each bite (http://www.commanderspalace.com). During the week you can also take advantage of their 25 cent martinis at lunch. After your meal and many martinis walk across the street to Lafayette cemetery and explore one of the oldest cemeteries in the US as seen in endless Hollywood movies).

If a meal at Commander’s Palace is not in your budget then don’t miss the best sandwich in town at either Milk Bar ($) or Stein’s Deli ($) (http://steinsdeli.net) where you can try unique sandwiches such as my favorites the Jeff Berger (prosciutto and honey) or the Robert (prosciutto, mozzarella and balsamic vinaigrette) at Steins or the Psycho Chicken at the Milk Bar. Either continue your journey on Saint Charles street or walk down to Magazine street stopping at Prytania to take in the architectural beauty of all the homes.

Uptown:

Once on Magazine, explore the many shops, galleries, antique stores and more. When you are done with all your shopping take a coffee break at one of the many shops on the street. If you fancy sweets along with your coffee then make sure you don’t miss Sucre ($). One of my favorite places to go to fulfill my chocolate cravings. Their macarons are deadly but so are their french pastries and gelatoes. You just can’t go wrong with this one (http://www.shopsucre.com).

Next, rent a bike at Mike the Bike Guy and make your way west on Magazine street to Uptown. For the best french bread and pastries stop at La Boulangerie, a local favorite serving the best french baguettes and baked goods in town. A great breakfast option and my personal favorite is Tartine, a hidden gem behind Audubon Park. If you are looking for good restaurants you are in for a treat since along Magazine street line some of the best in town including la Petite Grocery (http://www.lapetitegrocery.com/) and Lilettes (http://www.liletterestaurant.com) ($$$) which offers delicious french food. Make reservations in advance . Right next door to Lilettes is Bouligny Tavern (http://www.boulignytavern.com/) a small and trendy wine and tapas bar. They also happen to make some of the best cocktails I’ve yet to taste.

If wine and tapas are your thing you may also enjoy the Belgian restaurant just north of Magazine at Delachaise ($$) (http://www.thedelachaise.com/). For a more traditional New Orleans drinking scene head over to the Columns Hotel on St. Charles street (http://www.thecolumns.com/). For those wanting a break from Southern food try the trendy Vietnamese restaurant, Magasin Cafe ($) (http://www.magasincafe.com). A little further up on Prytania is my favorite local ice-cream shop at the Creole Creamery (http://www.creolecreamery.com).

Carrolton/Oak Street:

At the end of Saint Charles, past the beautiful campuses of Tulane and Loyola, past the famous oak tree filled Audubon Park is where Saint Charles ends and Carrolton street begins. This is one of my favorite areas in town. There are many great restaurants in this tiny area of town. People will line up for a traditional Hamburger, fries and grilled pecan pie at the landmark diner, Camellia Grill. For Spanish tapas, sangria and flamenco dancing go to Cafe Granada (http://www.cafegranadanola.com) a little further up. Right next door, there is also the popular Lebanese restaurant, Lebanon Cafe (http://www.lebanonscafe.com/), and my favorite tapas bar, la Boucherie right around the corner.

A little further up is Oak Street- a colorful street filled with small shops, bars and restaurants. For burgers and some delicious comfort food head over to Oak street to Cowbell (http://www.cowbell-nola.com), while on Oak Street check out the quaint shops and bars. If you want a once in a lifetime dining experience go to Jacquies-Imo’s Cafe (http://jacques-imos.com). It’s definitely one of the most unique places I’ve ever dined at in the world. You won’t really understand until you experience it yourself.

From here its a short taxi ride all the way North on Carrolton to my favorite spot to relax and take in the natural beauty of the south: City Park.

Day 3:

City Park:

City Park is one of the most underrated natural beauties in New Orleans often overshadowed by by it’s smaller sister Audubon Park. If you have enough time on your trip make sure not to miss it (it is also a good way to burn all the calories from eating at all the above restaurants). A trip to the park can include renting bikes, boating on the lake, visiting the New Orleans Museum of Art and much more. Spend the day with activities in the park. Then walk down to Esplanade where you can enjoy lunch or dinner. Many great restaurants and local favorites are located on Esplanade street including the famous paellas at Lola’s (http://www.lolasneworleans.com/) , the steak-frites at Cafe Degas (http://www.cafedegas.com/) or Mexican food at Santa Fe (http://www.santafenola.com). It is then a short bike or cab ride back down Esplanade to the French Quarter. And you are done! You have completed a full tour of New Orleans. There is still so much I have left out including Po-Boys at Parkway Bakery and Tavern, fried chicken at Willie Mae’s Scotch house, gumbo at Mothers and sno-cones at Hansen’s.

More time?

For those with more time, you may find the new and upcoming neighbourhood around Freret street worth a visit. There are some great bars and restaurants lining the street including hot dogs at Dat Dog Nola ($), burgers at Company Burger ($), southern food at High Hat Cafe and brick oven pizza at Ancora Pizzeria ($$).

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