Creole - The Hungry Nomad

Cajun, Creole, Gumbo, Lafayette, Louisiana, Seafood

“Swamp Edge’ Cuisine at Steve & Pats Bon Temps Rouler (Lafayette, LA)

February 6, 2014 1 Comment

From Philadelphia to Lafayette, our latest move has landed us in the heart of Cajun country. And while many locals enjoy the likes of shrimps and grits and shrimp and sausage gumbo in their homes, we have to scavenge the country looking for good cajun food. This is how we found Steve and Pat’s Bon Temps Rouler, a modern restaurant serving traditional and innovative cajun food (see menu).

Whenever Gumbo is on the menu I never fail to order it. Gumbo, especially a good home-style gumbo is a traditional Souther Louisiana which quickly became a favorite with my tastebuds. The Smoked Bird & Andouille Gumbo at Steve and Pat’s was no exception.

The meal started with the Tuna tartar. A generous portion of chopped raw tuna served on top of fresh lime marinated avocado in a bed of citrus ponzu sauce, served with home made potato chips. It was a creative spin on the traditional tuna tartar and definitely one of my favorite versions.

Next came the creamy Bbq shrimp and grits….followed by another….and then another (it was that good). The Jumbo shrimps were cooked in New Orleans style BBQ sauce which was creamy, buttery and oh so good served over roasted jalapeno cheese grits.

The Count ordered the Garlic Panneed Frog Legs for our guests because when in Cajun country, we must eat like the cajuns. Frog legs are perhaps the one thing that I have never tried and am not willing to try but by the bare bones that remained on the plate I assumed that it was one tasty leg of a frog.

The Seafood Creole Cobb Salad was a great salad for those who love their seafood. Generous portions of lump crabmeat and shrimp served with a few pieces of mixed greens, cherry tomatoes, apple wood smoked bacon, cheddar, boiled egg and red onions. The large portion makes it a great main dish however, I found that the proportion of seafood to mixed greens was a little too much.

Food, New Orleans, USA

Breakfast at Stanley-French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

June 11, 2013 No Comments

Stanley Restaurant is the place to go for mouthwatering brunch. The experience doesn’t get any better than sipping on your morning coffee while overlooking Jackson Square and the Cathedral. Stanley is Scott Boswell’s casual sister restaurant of the amazing, Stella. The menu includes innovative twists to traditional dishes, including the eggs benedict po-boy and banana foster french toast.

Our breakfast consisted consisted of the Eggs Benedict Poor Boy and the Korean Barbeque Beef Poor Boy. The eggs benedict poor boy was a brilliant take on the traditional eggs benny. Poached eggs, a slice of Canadian bacon and creole hollandaise layered on top of a piece of toasted french baguette.

And just when I thought that I had tasted the best thing on the menu, I took a bite of the Count’s Korean bbq beef po-boy. Sweet and tangy layers of marinated roast beef layered with spicy kimchi and cilantro on a toasted french bread. It was so delicious that I almost wanted to order another. I guess I know what I’ll be ordering next time I’m at Stanley.

The food at Stanley is delicious. So is the view and decor of the restaurant. The service is okay, since the restaurant is always busy, the staff seem a little bit rushed and not very friendly. It is a shame because everything else in this restaurant is stellar.

New Orleans, USA

Dinner at Dickie Brennan’s new Tableau- French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

June 6, 2013 1 Comment

On the corner of Chartres and St. Peter Streets in the French Quarter, the new Dickie Brennan restaurant has opened sharing the space with the beloved Le Petit Theatre. The new restaurant, Tableau, is a wonderful addition to the Brennan restaurant family. Walking in to the restaurant, you can still smell the fresh paint, giving it that crisp, new, clean look and feel. The three story, seven dining room restaurant got its inspiration from the last Spanish governor occupying the land. A grand staircase spans three stories of the restaurant, connecting private dining rooms, balcony dining with a view of Jackson Square and courtyard seating, for an authentic New Orleans dining experience. The tall white walls and black wrought iron chandeliers give it a grandiose feel yet the service and ambiance is not stuffy or pretentious. Mr. Dickie Brennan himself even walked around all tables introducing himself and making sure we enjoyed our meal. What a nice and humble man he was.

The menu, developed by Chef Ben Thibodeaux, showcases regional ingredients and classic French Creole dishes with a unique twist. The cuisine is sophisticated, yet true to tradition, with great depth of flavor. We started our night with glasses of Brennan’s Chardonnay, a smooth, buttery white that the our entire table enjoyed. Next, came the Creole French Onion Soup– one of my favorite dishes. It was a delicious treat and definitely one of the best I’ve had. Caramelized sweet onions in a veal stock mixed with andouille, spiked with local beer and topped with a cheesy gruyére crouton. Delicious!

For our main entrees, our table ordered the Creole Courtbouillon and the Roasted Duck. The roasted duck breast and thigh was braised in a Bourbon-cherry duck jus. The flavors strong and rich.

The Courtbouillon is a traditional New Orleans seafood stew with gulf fish, shrimp, oysters and crab-meat in a rich broth served with popcorn rice. If you love seafood it is a great option as it is a large serving of a variety of seafood in a rich broth. It can definitely be shared by two.

Dessert consisted of the Praline Monkey Bread Pudding and Hot Chocolate Pot de Creme. The deconstructed biscuit bread pudding was beautifully presented, mixed with brown sugar and pecans served wit a side of vanilla ice cream and butterscotch sauce. Delicious.

The pod de creme consisted of dark chocolate custard infused with cayenne pepper, topped with house-made marshmallow fluff and caramelized cocoa nibs. I loved it and highly recommend readers to not miss out on this one.

Overall, we had a lovely time at Tableau. Everything from the attentive service to the decor and delicious menu was perfect. What a great addition to the New Orleans dining scene!