New Orleans - The Hungry Nomad

Cajun, Creole, Farm-to-table, Lafayette, Louisiana

UPDATED: A Foodie’s Guide to Lafayette, Louisiana (the Capital of Cajun Country)

April 16, 2018 No Comments

It’s that time of year. Festival season has arrived in Lafayette which also means that no-guilt ‘eating and drinking’ season has also begun (not that cajuns need an excuse to have a good time). The biggest star of Lafayette’s festival season is Festivale Internationale de Louisiana which brings together Acadian and Francophone singers from around the world for a weekend of performances, culture and celebration. Many people from all corners of the globe gather in this small town for the celebrations and it’s quite a unique experience. As a result, I am preparing this guide for those out-of-town visitors and locals alike looking for some local gems to dine at and to experience cajun cooking (and the occasional non-cajun meal). As a caveat, my followers will know that I am not cajun, nor am I even from here but having spent the past what is now FIVE years in this town and being an avid foodie, I’ve tasted my way through town and can confidently list my favorite places to dine which is quite personal to my taste. I hope you enjoy my picks.

1. Bread and Circus Provisions | 258 Bendel Road | (337) 408-3930

This gem of a restaurant was recently a semifinalist for Best Chef South for the James Beard Award! Yup. Our own Lafayette has a James Beard nominated chef. And its quite well-deserved too. It all started with a condiment and charcuterie stand at the farmer’s market at the Horse Farm in Lafayette and evolved into a restaurant a few years ago and brought with it a breath of fresh air to the local Lafayette dining scene. This hip restaurant features local favorites with a modern and unique twist. Our favorites are the neapolitan-style pizzas ranging from the bee sting (my favorite) to the runaway (see menu).

2. Louisiana Crawfish Time | 2019 Verot School Rd, Lafayette, LA 70508 | (337) 988-2645

It took me a few years to warm up to crawfish but once I did I couldn’t get enough. I find myself craving it and the experience all year round. There are MANY great spots in and around Lafayette to get your crawfish fix and many locals have crawfish boils with family and friends. But for those of us out-of-town transplants who don’t know the first thing about boiling crawfish, Louisiana Crawfish Time is an amazing spot and is only open during crawfish season. The crawfish and boiled shrimp is some of the best in town. But the line-up to get your hands on those beautiful little gems can be hours long. Trust me though, it’s well worth the wait.

3. Central Pizza and Bar | 423 Jefferson St, Lafayette, LA 70501

This pizza bar is a newcomer to the downtown area and such a great addition to Jefferson street. The interior decor and the great menu make it the perfect spot for a stop if you’re in town for Festivale. Their doughy bread is enough reason to go.

3. The French Press | 214 E Vermilion St | (337) 233-9449

Chef Justin Girouard spins out some delicious local fare with his own personal touch. He makes his own boudin (not blood sausage as in France but Louisiana’s version of boudin: a mixture of pork, rice, and spices. A great place for brunch and lunch. Everything on the menu is delicious but an all time favorite of mine is the Cajun Benedict (see my post dedicated to the Benedict…because it is that good)!

4. Bon Temps Grill | 1312 Verot School Road | (337) 706-8850

Bon Temps Grill is where we take our out-of-town guests for a good local meal. Bon Temp Grill serves “Swamp Edge” cuisine in an urban Cajun atmosphere. The restaurant layout is cool and the food is fantastic. Favorites include the tuna tartar served with a side of potato chips and the buttery bbq shrimp. Don’t leave without tasting the bbq shrimp, it is absolutely to-die-for! And if you are bold enough try some of the frog legs.

5-13

5. Pamplona Tapas Bar | 631 Jefferson St | (337) 232-0070

Pamplona Tapas Bar is our favorite go-to spot for Spanish tapas and wine. The restaurant features Spanish cuisine en par to many tapas we’ve tasted in Spain and other cities around the world. The cocktails are unique and to-die-for as are the large variety of spanish wines. So if you are looking for something other than your traditional cajun, hit up Pamplona located in the heart of downtown Lafayette.

6. The Saint Street Inn |407 Brook Ave, Lafayette, Louisiana 70506 | (337) 534-8112

This is one of my all-time favorite Lafayette restaurants. The menu changes seasonally and is innovative, edgy and delicious. The Saint Street Inn was founded by Nathan Stubbs and Mary Tutwiler, two journalists turned chefs determined to keep the cooking local. Seafood from the Gulf, produce from Acadiana’s farms and innovative cooking set the table for an inspired menu. Nestled in the heart of one of Lafayette’s oldest neighborhoods, the Saint Street Inn also plays host to a variety of community events, from benefits and fundraisers to live music events and cookoffs. Both the kitchen and bar stay open late and there’s always a spot on the big front porch to sip a local brew and watch the sun go down.

7. Johnson’s Boucaniere | 1111 Saint John St| (337) 269-8878

Johnson’s Boucaniere opened in 1937 in Eunice, La and relocated to Lafayette some years ago. Boucaniere which means ‘smokehouse’ in english is a popular spot for lunch in Lafayette. At JB they smoke all of their speciality meats which include pork sausage, pork and turkey tasso and beef jerky. They also serve plate lunches from their in house made smoked meats which are made fresh weekly. Make sure not to miss this one.

8. Pop’s Poboys | 740 Jefferson Street, Lafayette, LA 70501 | ((337) 534-0621)

I’ve never been a fan of Po-Boys (shocking!) until I tried Pop’s. Pop’s Poboys opened in April 2015 and is located in beautiful downtown Lafayette. Chef Collin Cormier and team bring eclectic flair to Louisiana’s favorite sandwich and beyond. Their twist on the traditional poboys are out of this world delicious. Favorites so far include the Banh Banh shrimp and the Hot Hot for all those fried chicken lovers out there.

1435710299266 — *Photo courtesy of Pop’s Poboy website*

9. Carpe Diem! Gelato-Espresson Bar | 812 Jefferson St, Lafayette, LA | (337) 534-4155

If you crave real gelato and dreams of being back in Italy make your way to Carpe Diem located on Jefferson street to get your cravings fulfilled.

10. The Rusted Rooster| 105 St Landry St, Lafayette, LA 70506| (337) 534-4135

Hands down my favorite breakfast spot in town. Sadly, it is not open on weekends. But if you can do not miss this gem located downtown. If you love fried chicken as much as I do then you will not be disappointed with the variety of fried chicken and biscuit options on their menu. The restaurant is only open for breakfast and lunch so make sure you get there early. Also, do yourself a favor and order the ‘hangover’. You’re welcome.

For those adventurous types willing to venture outside of Lafayette for some good food and cultural experience then don’t miss the following spots that are located just a short drive from Lafayette.

11. Cafe Josephine | 818 Napolean Ave, Sunset, LA 70584 | (337) 662-0008

We were recently introduced to this hidden gem by our neighbors who insisted we make the drive out to sunset to dine there. Not only were we not disappointed but we have now become regulars. Chef Troy works magic in the kitchen and whips out creative dishes that one wouldn’t expect on a menu in Sunset, Louisiana, like the crabmeat spring rolls, cajun pho, and other fantastic options. There is a little bit of everything on the menu for your not-so-adventurous diners to those seeking a little ‘magic’. Their bar menu was on point. The food is worth the drive but the experience itself is enough reason to go.

12. Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant | 525 N Main St, Washington, LA 70589| (337) 826-7227

We quite literally stumbled upon this restaurant while in Washington for the day. The restaurant and location is steeped in history and is well worth the drive. Construction of the Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant began in 1819 and was completed around 1823. Restored in 1977, the Steamboat Warehouse Restaurant, located on the banks of Bayou Courtableau, remains a feast for the eyes and appetite.

13. Mama’s Fried Chicken | 2307 Jake Dr, Opelousas, LA 70570

For the fried chicken lover that will venture out to anywhere to get their hands on a good piece of flaky, juicy chicken, then Mama’s Fried Chicken should NOT…BE… MISSED. Just a short drive from Lafayette, Mama’s fried chicken is exactly what you would picture if you aren’t from the south. Have you ever had fried okra? If not then you need to reconsider your life choices. Pictured below is the best piece of fried chicken that I’ve ever had…it was so good that I made my husband drive out to meet me so I could watch his face when he tried his first bite. He doesn’t appreciate fried chicken like I do but even he could agree that Mamas was the best.

(Please note some of the photos are taken from the restaurant’s online gallery: French Press, Johnson’s Boucaniere + Central Pizza)

Mexican Food, New Orleans

Johnny Sanchez- CBD (New Orleans)

November 28, 2016 No Comments

When you have two celebrity chefs and one restaurant opening the expectations tend to be high. Aarón Sánchez and John Besh’s collaboration brings traditional Mexican cuisine to the heart of New Orleans. If you are going in expecting burritos and enchiladas then you are in for a disappointment. The menu features items such as the ‘coba triadic’ a raw fish ceviche, crispy Brussel sprouts and kale salad (See Menu) alongside several typical mexican dishes such as tacos and enchiladas.

The restaurant is located on Poydras street in the CBD. The decor is cool and hip: Giant graffiti art covers one wall and beautiful chandeliers hang from the high ceilings. The bar is the perfect spot for happy hour drinks and tacos.

We went early Saturday evening at around 6.30 p.m. Besides a few other patrons the restaurant was still empty. The menu was one page with a handful of small plates, tacos and large plates. We decided to order several small plates in order to try as many dishes on the menu as possible. First up was the Cobia Tiradito, a ceviche consisting of leche de tigre fish, cucumbers, avocado and other vegetables ($16). The flavors were great but it was drenched in rock salt which took away from the overall flavor.

Next up was the Queso dip ($10) which was good for the first 5 minutes but turned into hard cheese within minutes. As far as queso dips go, this dish was not anything extraordinary. For a healthier dish to counter-balance the quest dip, we ordered the Kale salad ($12). It was the best thing about our meal even though it too was too salty.

The beef flautas ($12) were an epic failure and we left the dish untouched. It was dry, salty and just not what you would expect at a place like Jonny Sanchez.

Overall, we were left unsatisfied and decided to stop ordering before we were disappointed further. The best part of the meal was the plantain chips and salsa dip although after having the top layers of the chips suddenly the chips became stale leading one to assume that they reuse their chips!

There is nothing I hate more than trying a new restaurant and being so utterly disappointed. Needless to say, Johnny Sanchez will not be added to our list of ‘must-dine’ spots in New Orleans. With so many amazing places to eat in New Orleans, the competition is tough and restauranteurs need to be on top of their game. The celebrity name can only take you so far when the food is just not good. I hope that this place improves because it is a beautiful restaurant in a spot that lacks other similar options.

Bakery, Breakfast, Brunch, Louisiana, New Orleans

My New Favorite Girl, Willa Jean (New Orleans)

January 9, 2016 No Comments

A whole lot has changed since we moved away from New Orleans in 2012. New neighborhoods are popping up all over the city along with so many new businesses. It makes my heart smile to see the city doing so well and my stomach even happier to experience so many new restaurant openings. One of the ‘newer’ places that have recently opened that I am just in love with is John Besh’s Willa Jean in the CBD. It is the mastermind of BRG Executive Pastry Chef Kelly Fields and Pastry Chef Lisa White (of Domenica and PIZZA Domenica) which is named after Fields’ grandmother.

I love the space which is designed by Curtis Herring. It adds a modern and elegant touch to iconic southern food. Brick walls, Edison bulbs and the restaurant’s “Uneeda Biscuit” mural add a stylish touch to traditional southern classics.

The bakery serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, allowing the two chefs to show off their savory sides. The lunch and dinner menus are organized by “snacks,” “tartines/sandwiches,” “salads and soups,” “hot plates,” and “extra stuff,”. The Intelligentsia Coffee program is delicious but Willa Jean also serves boozy slushies as well as tea- and coffee-inspired craft cocktails.

If you need to find me on any given morning in New Orleans, chances are I’ll be here sipping on my coffee and enjoying the space.

Open Sunday through Thursday- 7am-9pm; Friday and Saturday- 7am to 10pm

French Quarter, Ice Cream, Macarons, New Orleans, Pastries

Salon by Sucre- French Quarter (New Orleans)

May 11, 2015 No Comments

Sucre’s Joel Dondis and chef Tariq Hanna have finally opened their French Quarter masterpiece Salon by Sucre. Sucre is one of my favorite spots for dessert in New Orleans and it seemed like the only logical next step to expand to the French Quarter. In fact, I am not sure what took them so long to make the move. It definitely fills a void in the quarter for great dessert shops. The new Salon is nestled in on Conti street across from the state Supreme Court building. While sipping wine on the second floor balcony looking at the historical building across the street, we could hear the horse carriages go by giving one a feeling of stepping back in time. That is why I love the French Quarter so much. Salon by Sucre features a dessert store on the first floor along with a new coffee bar along with seating upstairs for lunch, dinner and afternoon tea service. While sweets are the primary reason for my trips to Sucre, on this occasion we opted to try out their menu. A bottle of wine along with a cheese and charcuterie plate were ordered and thoroughly enjoyed. Their selection of wines is endless and the options for cheese and charcuterie were perfect.

Beer, Food, Italian food, Louisiana, New Orleans, Pizza, Romantic

Wood Pizza Bistro and Taphouse- Warehouse District (New Orleans, LA)

March 11, 2015 No Comments

The newest restaurant addition to the Warehouse District is Wood Pizza Bistro & Taphouse located just across the street from Cochon. We were in town for Mardi Gras and as expected all restaurants were packed before the parades began. Initially, we wanted to have a sandwich at Cochon Butcher but with a line up around the corner we thought twice. Looking around I noticed this unassuming new restaurant with a large outdoor seating along an old brick wall. It reminded me of many places in New York and I was immediately attracted. It turns out that head chef, Will Salisbury, grew up in Long Island (no wonder) and spent months eating his way through Italy (as I have). So it was a win-win.

The restaurant as the name gives away serves pizza and salads. Not any kind of pizza but the real wood-burning oven kind. Inside, the restaurant is cozy and small with a small pizza assembly open-concept kitchen tucked in the corner and a larger bar serving awesome regional beers (40 beer taps with lots of craft brews from Louisiana and the South).
The pepperoni and mushroom pizza was delicious with a perfectly baked crust, generous amounts of fresh mozzarella cheese, mushrooms and pepperoni. The large salad was generous enough to feed our party of 3 all washed down by our pitcher of beer. Wood has definitely raised to the top of my go-to places in Nola for good eats on a patio. If you are craving pizza, you know the real Italian kind then definitely head to Wood. You won’t regret it!

Food Festival, French Quarter, New Orleans, Travel, USA

New Orleans Wine and Food Experience 2014, NOWFE

June 8, 2014 No Comments

The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience takes place every year over the Memorial Day long weekend. In it’s 22nd year, the festival has become one of most incredible culinary events in the nation, attracting over 10,000 gourmands and connoisseurs as well as art and music lovers. Each year, hundreds of wineries and restaurants participate. Menus feature local flavor and innovative new creations inspired by diverse cuisines. Top chefs from around the city create culinary experiences like no other. Over two dozen restaurants feature special dining evenings throughout the New Orleans festival. The weekend also features over 1,000 wines from around the world, with special tasting events from wineries. The events this year included the Grand Tasting events at the Convention Center, the Royal Street stroll in the French Quarter, the Big Gateaux show and seminar series to hone your palate. It ended with a grand finale gala. The NOWFE is the perfect way to experience New Orleans Cuisine at it’s best. Chef’s from all the best and greatest NOLA restaurants showcase their talent on the plate.

The Hungry Nomad team was there in full force this year to experience NOWFE at its fullest and share with our readers. Hope you enjoy the photos!

The Royal Street Stroll:

Big Gateaux Show:

The Grand Tasting:

Food

Pizza Domenica- Uptown (New Orleans)

June 1, 2014 No Comments

New Orleans is buzzing with energy and new developments on all ends, especially in the dining scene where it seems that new restaurants are opening monthly if not weekly. The latest exciting restaurant opening is Pizza Domenica the newest addition to the Besh Restaurant Group led by the talented Alon Shaya of Domenica Restaurant and named as one of Travel and Leisure’s Hottest New Restaurants in the USA.

Pizza Domenica is located Uptown and takes a more casual approach to Italian dining. The counter-service layout is interesting to say the least if not a bit confusing. Diners line up and choose their order from a large chalk written menu on the wall. They then pay at the counter and are given a number cleverly placed on a bottle of olive oil. They then wait for a table to become available. Once one is available you are quickly escorted to the table and a server then comes to bring your order. If you want to add to the order you can do so at the table. Which begs one to ask, why then does one have to order at the counter? The entire process was a bit confusing and frustrating to say the least. Many diners have since complained of this aspect of the restaurant but on the numerous occasions I’ve visited since it’s opening, we found it to be straight forward and efficient.

The food on the other hand is outstanding as can only be expected from Alon Shaya and his team. First up was the garlic knots with a side of whipped provolone cheese dripped in olive oil. This little piece of heaven was so good that I could go back only to have a bite of this. A warm, gooey twisted dough tossed in garlic butter served with an airy, light and creamy dip made with provolone cheese.

As for the pizza there are 19 to choose from and really you can’t go wrong. My favorites so far have been the ‘Basil Pesto’ and the ‘Calabrese’. I have yet to taste the other 15 unique pizzas offered on the menu. As for the actual pizza itself, the dough is baked to a perfect crisp on the outside and chewy on the inside. The toppings are generous and fresh with a ham slicer in the open-concept kitchen to slice the proscuitto and other toppings on the spot. It can’t get better than that!

Overall, Pizza Domenica is yet another great addition to the New Orleans dining scene. So good that since it’s opening I have driven from Lafayette to New Orleans just to get another bite out of their pies.

Bakery, Breakfast, Brunch, Coffee Shop, French food, New Orleans, Sandwich Shop

Breakfast at Tartine- Audubon Park (New Orleans)

May 28, 2014 2 Comments

Deep inside the green and lush neighborhood of Audubon Park lies a tiny little restaurant which locals flock to: Tartine. It’s a place where quality, substance and good wholesome cooking are the main ingredients to success. Ever since discovering this gem a few months ago we have been back every time we visit New Orleans (which tends to be a lot since we lack good food in Lafayette).

Tartine serves delicious home made breads and sweets, sandwiches, salads and of course tartines. In France, a tartine is a piece of toasted bread smothered with different ingredients. Simple but so satisfying.

Simplicity and freshness is what makes Tartine so special. For example, the baguette served with a side of strawberry jam, butter and a big slice of brie cheese is one of the most amazing things I’ve tasted. The Croque Madame was large and very filling and did not fail to impress our guest.

The salmon tartine is the Count’s favorite, featuring generous amounts of salmon, eggs, capers and what I believe to be pickled cabbage. We always order an extra loaf of bread because once you start eating you just can’t get enough.

The salads and sandwiches are also to die for. On our last trip, one of the chefs was busy grilling flank steak covered in chimichurri sauce for their special of the day, steak salad and steak sandwich.

New Orleans, USA

Dinner at Peche- Warehouse District (New Orleans, USA)

May 22, 2014 No Comments

Another great restaurant by the Donald Link restaurant group has opened on the corner of Magazine and Julia streets in the warehouse district. This time, it is called Peche and focuses on simple coastal seafood with a unique, modern approach.

The restaurant showcases an open kitchen where diners can see the fire and seafood grilling in the back, an oyster bar serving fresh gulf seafood including oysters, crab meat, and fresh gulf fish and a large bar. The result is a very fresh seafood-oriented menu (although if you really want red meat there are a few options there as well). The decor is rustic seaside with exposed wooden beams throughout the open plan restaurant. One thing I noted while we were dining was the noise level. It was extremely loud. Too loud. We had to shout to hear each other at dinner.

Our meal included many various dishes from the menu including oysters (both Connecticut and Gulf), frog legs, smoked tuna dip, shrimp toast, and tuna tartare and salmon. For the main entrees our table shared two whole fish: red fish and mangrove snapper.

Almost everything we ordered tasted perfect but I did find the fresh oysters to be extremely salty. Too salty to eat. I was told that that is how oysters from the East Coast taste. But I’ve had enough oysters to know that that is not the case, especially not with gulf oysters. I heard others complain of the same. But other dishes were quite perfect. The smoked tuna dip served in a bowl with a side of crackers was so good, I may have finished one completely on my own.

The Whole grilled fishes were served on a large plate smothered in delicious sauce. The red fish was sizzled to perfection and covered in a citrusy herb topping which made it extremely tasty. The snapper was prepared in a different sauce but was just as good. In the end there was nothing left except two fish skeletons staring up at us in shame.

And while completely full at this point, stuffed with enough seafood for a month, we ordered dessert. My favorite was the chocolate, peanut butter and banana pie and citrusy key lime pie.

Overall, dinner at peche was a great experience. The food, decor, service and ambiance make for a great night out. I guess the New Orleans Saint’s feel the same as I do, throughout the evening we saw some of the players including one of my favorites, Jimmy Graham. Donald Link has done it again. I’m wondering what will come next, Boeuf the steakhouse?

Food, New Orleans, USA

Lunch at SoBou- French Quarter (New Orleans, USA)

May 4, 2014 No Comments

While staying in the French Quarter we decided to check out some of the new restaurants that have opened in New Orleans since we moved away to Philadelphia last summer. Our list included SoBou, the new contemporary restaurant located in the W Hotel by the same family as Commander’s Palace (a personal favorite).

This ‘South of Bourbon‘ restaurant focuses on tapas style small plates and modern twists on Southern classics. Led by chef Juan Carlos Gonzalez the food proved to be fresh, innovative and exciting. The decor is modern, elegant and trendy. Many tables have beer taps built in for easy access.

We went for lunch around 1 pm and the restaurant was winding down with less than 3 tables. However, it took a very long time to get anything on our table. And while our server was knowledgeable and attentive, it did not take away from the fact that we waited for what seemed like 30 minutes to get our first order served.

The Yellowfin tuna cones were served in a small tomato infused cone filled with a pineapple ceviche, tuna, topped with basil and avocado ice cream. It was small enough to eat in one bite. However, I was not a big fan of the ice-cream/fish combination. I’m a firm believer that fish and dairy should not be mixed at a meal let alone in one dish.

Next came the Butternut Squach Beignets, large deep fried balls of dough mixed with duck debris and squash drizzled with a sweet foie gras fondue sauce and chicory coffee ganache. The Count loved the mix of sweet and savory flavors of this dish but for me it was too much fried dough.

For our main entrees we had the SoBou Burger and Rosemary Crusted Oyster Salad. The burger was plain and simply delicious. Grilled to perfection giving it that smokey grilled flavor that many burgers these days lack.

The oyster salad was a great light lunch option. The oysters were lightly crusted in a rosemary breading cooked just right, set on top of a bed of tossed greens in a light sauce.

We also ordered a side of fries and were surprised to note that we were charged that extra dollar for ketchup. It threw us off a bit given that you really don’t expect to be charged for ketchup in an upscale restaurant such as SoBou. And while we may be spoiled up east in Philadelphia and New York with the special attention we’ve been given by chefs and wait staff, small details such as this really do take away from the experience.

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