USA - The Hungry Nomad

Opening of Prime Stache in Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

April 29, 2013 2 Comments

An invitation to a restaurant opening is always a good time. Even more fun when the owner of the restaurant is Philadelphia Eagle’s own Brent Celek. The restaurant is located in Old City in a beautifully restored brick building. A giant mustache sign will help those in search of the restaurant.

The inside of the restaurant is also covered with exposed brick, a long bar and nice dining area.

The modern American menu offers classics such as a Stache burger, pastas, fish tacos and salads. The cocktail list is extensive with fresh and unique drinks such as the peach julip.

To start off our table was served with a tomato and onion salad with a classic vinaigrette sauce. Really nice way to start off the experience. After the salad, plates and plates of delicious treats were brought out. First the fried rock shrimp tossed in a spicy sauce yet still crispy.

The lightly breaded pepper calamari was surprisingly spicy with the addition of fried cherry peppers. It definitely added a kick to the dish.

We were then served with an order of the Sweet Pea and Edamame Ravioli. I was not particularly impressed with this dish. It seemed overcooked, there was too much dough and all the pieces were stuck together.

The fish tacos were a big hit at our table. Tender pieces of grilled tilapia topped with red cabbage and carrots tossed in a citrus-flavored mix served in small white tortilla shells. They were gone before they hit the table.
The baked salmon was served with a side of grilled broccoli. This was definitely one of the healthier dishes on the menu. The fish was very tender and melted in my mouth.
For the vegetarians amongst us, there was the vegetarian lasagna stuffed with eggplants and ricotta cheese. It was a classic lasagna substituting vegetables instead of meat served in a marinara sauce. No one at our table found it to be special or unique. It was missing the small details in flavor and ingredients that make a dish stand out.
The hamburger served with a side of house-made chips was good, although it was the least favorite dish at our table. Perhaps, it was because of the high volume of the event, but the hamburger patty was over cooked, dry and flavorless. The burger had no real substance. It was left half untouched. The two favorite dishes of the evening were the meatloaf and the butternut squash cavatelli. I’m not really a big fan of meatloaf but I found this one to be very meaty and delicious and something I would definitely order again. The butternut squash cavatelli however, was extraordinarily good. It came served with shredded pieces of pork and cheese drowned in barbecue sauce. Very hearty. Very good.

Overall, the decor, ambiance and food make Prime Stache a prime location to hit up on any night of the week.

Food, Philadelphia, USA

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?

Asian, Philadelphia, USA

Dinner of Contrasts at Fire and Ice Restaurant- Old City (Philadelphia, USA)

April 15, 2013 No Comments

I was invited to Fire and Ice to try their new menu created by Chef Chris Nguyen. Driving by to find the restaurant I saw a neon blue sign. My first thought was that it was surely a club with the same name not the restaurant I was searching for. My second thought was that I was going to eat bad bar food. By the end of the night, I had learned an important lesson: never judge a restaurant by it’s kitsch decor.

The friendly host at the front of the restaurant greeted us and walked us to our table lining against the cushioned white wall shining with dim blue lights across from the long bar. Loud hip hop music bumped through the cushioned walls and we learned that there was a private party in the back lounge area. The ambiance was definitely that of a club, and I’ve never dined in a club before. We were reassured by our server that it was a lounge and not a club, although I’m not sure how to differentiate between the two. The neon blue lights definitely gave it a club feel.

Our server was attentive and knowledgeable and really went out of his way to accommodate us. Shortly after our drinks were served, the Chef himself came out to tell us about the cuisine and his new menu which is his version of Asian comfort food that he grew up on. He was a very passionate man who through the new menu has implemented a fusion of Thai, Korean, Vietnamese and other Asian flavors. The result: delicious, innovative and unique.

I was really surprised at how good everything tasted. Every single dish we ordered was perfect and you could see the passion that was put into it. Others who were invited had the same prejudice only to be pleasantly shocked by the dining experience. However, in the end there is a steep contrast between the food served and the decor and ambiance of the restaurant/bar/lounge. Perhaps it compliments the theme of the restaurant, ‘fire’ and ‘ice’. The contrast between amazing cuisine, served in a neon blue disco setting. I won’t be surprised to hear that he opened his own Asian restaurant in the future, because, Yes- he is that good!

The Food:

We ordered a little bit of everything including the tom yum soup (Rice noodles and a spiced lemongrass broth), the Shaky Beef (wok seared sirloin, wilted watercress, pickled onions, peppered vinaigrette), Kim Chi Trilogy (cabbage with ginger, marinated crisp tofu and spicy radishes), char-grilled chicken satay served with spiced peanut sauce and a turmeric fried rice, the Char Sui Pork Loin (a deconstructed barbecue pork bun), Kal Bi lettuce wraps, pad Thai and phad kee mao (egg noodles, egg, julienne vegetables, red curry and chicken).

The tom yum soup was very authentic and tasted like many I had in Thailand- spicy yet simple.

The Shaky Beef was the chef’s take on the Vietnamese Bo Luc Lac, chopped steak served with watercress with the addition of fries and an egg.

I love kimchi and loved the Kim Chi Trilogy starter dish. The Chef pickles his own kimchi and and has created a lovely small dish as a result.

The chargrilled chicken satay reminded me of an Indonesian dish I had not so long ago. Generous portions of grilled chicken were served alongside a tasty turmeric fried rice and peanut sauce.

The winner had to be the Char Sui Pork Loin, a deconstructed pork bun which was so rich in flavors that we both wanted more (although we resisted the temptation).

Kal Bi lettuce wraps was the chef’s version of the Korean Kal Bi. I loved his rendition of this dish.

The shrimp pad Thai was one of the tastiest we’ve had to date. It was very well prepared and was completely authentic and close to those we tasted on the streets and restaurants of Thailand.

We also really enjoyed the phad kee mao which was egg noodles mixed with red curry, chicken and vegetables. Hints of spice from the curry were in perfect harmony with the noodles and vegetables.
For dessert we had the flan, chocolate cake and fried donuts. The fried donuts were served with a chocolate and orange sauce and were very good.
The Flan was my favorite. It was prepared well and served beautifully.

The chocolate cake served in a raspberry sauce was also delicious and was the perfect end to an interesting evening.

Verdict:

While the decor of the restaurant, crowd and decor threw us off, we loved the food so much that we were raving to our friends all weekend and will definitely be back for more of chef Nguyen’s creations.

Philadelphia

Rangoon Burmese Restaurant- Chinatown (Philadelphia, USA)

April 10, 2013 No Comments

I’ve never been to Myanmar (formerly Burma), let alone had Burmese food so when the opportunity arose to dine at Rangoon Burma in Philadelphia, I was there in a hop, skip and a jump. The restaurant is located in the heart of Chinatown and offers a clean and elegant dining environment and great friendly service.

The menu resembled Indian with the spices, Thai with the coconut milk and Malaysian with the thousand layered bread. Indian, Thai and Malaysian are one of the most intricate and delicious cuisines in the world (at least according to my taste palette) and a mix of all three resulted in fireworks. The meal started off with an order of the thousand layered bread with a side of potato curry. It resulted in multiple orders. Thin, chewy yet crispy and greasy layers of bread that once dipped in the curry side resulted in the perfect bite.

The crispy fried Burmese tofu with spicy dipping sauce was out of this world delicious. It was so light and fluffy, fried to perfection served with a spicy chili sauce. This also resulted in multiple orders (to be fair- there were 6 of us). The Burmese dumplings were a little bit too crispy for my liking on the outside. Yet, others at the table really seemed to enjoy these which were served with a sweet dipping sauce. We all ordered separately but ended up sharing all the plates. I advise shared plates for any readers who are tempted to pay Rangoon Burma a visit. For my main dish, I had the Glass Noodle Salad which resembled the Thai glass noodle salad I have tasted in Thailand. It was a mix of slippery glass noodles, onions, mushrooms, chicken, carrot and many other fresh ingredients. It was delicious.

The Burmese Spare ribs were very spicy, tangy and mouth watering good. The ribs were slathered in a spicy herbal sauce which tasted like green chili peppers. The meat was tender and fresh. While the sauce was too hot the white rice that went along with dish helped distill some of the spiciness.

The other two main courses ordered by the table included a chicken coconut curry and a kung pao chicken. While they were good, they resembled fast food Chinese and did not stand out as having any distinctive Burmese flavors. For dessert we had the Furlada. A sweet drink dessert of milk, rose syrup, pudding, raisins, tapioca and Asian fruit jellos. Topped with ice cream. It was very sweet and creamy similar to Filipino Halo-Halo or Hawaiian Shave Ice. It was not very good. Next time, we will leave dessert for some where else in Chinatown.

Philadelphia

Matyson- Rittenhouse Square (Philadelphia, USA)

February 11, 2013 No Comments

Matyson is a small and elegant BYOB located in the Rittenhouse Square neighborhood serving new American cuisine. I had learned about the weekly tasting menu which showcases fresh local ingredients including a Lobster menu. However, we went on a Friday night where the tasting menu was not an option. The majority of the diners were over 50; although, later in the evening the clientele changed to a younger age bracket.

The manageable one page menu had your standard meat dishes and several appetizers (see menu). We all had high expectations to start, having recently dined at the Farm and Fisherman where everything was perfect. Our meal at Matyson however, was quite anticlimactic.

The appetizers consisted of the Veal Sweetbreads ($12)– a mix of veal, cauliflower, watercress, herbs, sweetbread and a creamy sauce. The Shaved Tuscan Kale ($10) was one of the highlights of the evening. A combination of shredded kale, quinoa, squash, pepitas, parmesan and oregano. It was a good kale salad but nothing extraordinary or original.

I ordered the appetizer special- a lobster cannelloni roll served with squash and barley in a creamy sauce. The dish was a unique twist on a lobster roll and I thoroughly enjoyed it but was not blown away.

Our table also ordered the Rock Octopus ($13)- a combination of potatoes, fennel, soffrito, and za’atar. The octopus was tender and blended well with all the other ingredients.

For the entrees, we ordered the chicken, sea bass, beef cheeks and pork belly. A good range of all the meats in order to really be able to assess the food. Besides the beef cheeks which the Count thoroughly enjoyed, the rest of us were quite disappointed with our dishes (especially for the price per dish).

The Braised Beef Cheeks ($26) came with dutch cabbage, beef tongue pastrami, mushrooms and greens in a thick gravy. The meat was very tender and juicy and the savory sauce made for a perfect combination.

I ordered the Striped Sea Bass ($26) which was presented in 3 pieces in a vertical dish over a poppy seed gnocchi, hedgehog mushrooms, radish and crème fraiche. The bass was fried and extremely dry and fishy.

The best part of the dish was the gnocchi- although even that was nothing special. I was so disappointed by my meal that I could not even finish it (even though I was still very hungry).

The Berkshire Pork Belly ($26) was served with mustard greens, apple, charred scallion and black garlic. Our friend who had ordered the dish was not impressed either. For the price paid and the impeccable service we all expected an outstanding dining experience but instead were left quite underwhelmed.

The Lancaster County Chicken ($24) was served with sour cherries and crunchy farro. The chicken ordered by my dearest friend was the worst dish of the night. We never order chicken at restaurants but after the outstanding experience at Farm and Fisherman (the chicken in hay) we decided that perhaps chicken was the way to go at a fine dining establishment. While it looked beautiful when presented it failed in everything else.

The meat was very dry and flavorless and was definitely not worth the $24. Again, a disappointed diner at our table.

After our meal we really didn’t want to stick around for dessert. But the Count went ahead and ordered the Chocolate S’more ($9). It was a really nice way to end our meal as it was a delicious serving of chocolate cake, graham crackers and hazelnuts- and let’s face it who doesn’t love chocolate?

At the end of our meal, we all decided that the best part of our dining experience was one or two of the appetizers. The Count however, who ordered the beef cheeks and kale salad, really enjoyed his meal and did not see why we were all left so disappointed with the experience. Frankly, our sentiments were that this place is hyped by reviewers on Yelp. There are countless numbers of amazing BYOB restaurants in Philadelphia serving exquisite dishes and Matyson did not measure up to many of them. Perhaps, the tasting menu is another experience- now I’ll never know.

Uncategorized

Philly Style Sandwiches at Paesano’s (Philadelphia, USA)

February 2, 2013 1 Comment

For the ultimate old Philly dive baresque sandwich experience (or hoagie as the locals call it) head over to the Italian Market or Northern liberties for the best sandwich in town at Paesano’s (no exaggeration). I already fell in love with chef McAndrew’s Modo Mio and now Paesano’s.

Sandwiches cost between $6 to $9 dollars. What makes it so special? The range of flavors and ingredients which are blended to make the best hot and cold sandwiches in town. The menu is simple yet sophisticated (See Menu). Although the shop has won many awards for it’s famous Arista sandwich we opted for the Gustaio and Daddywad.

The daddywad- a mix of italian hoagie, hot and sweet peppers, tomato, onions, arugula and sharp provolone. It was on serious sandwich ($8).

My eyes went straight to the Gustaio since I love anything lamb based. It was a mix of roasted lamb sausage, sun dried cherries, mustard, Gorgonzola and fennel ($9). It was an amazing mix of sweet and savory flavors and tasted like a Moroccan Tagine served in a sandwich. I loved it!

Paesano’s is definitely the best sandwich I’ve tasted in Philadelphia since my arrival. It trumps any cheese-steak any day. So to the tourists out there make sure you skip the cheesy cheese-steak lines and have yourself a real, sophisticated hoagie at Paesano’s. That’s what Anthony Bourdain did on his recent stop in Philly for his new show the Layover.

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 ($$).

« Previous 1 2 3 4 5 6 … 10 Next »