Getting Crabby Makes Me Happy

One of my most favorite places to eat while in Washington, DC is Old Ebbitt Grill near the White House. I've eaten wonderful lobster rolls and swordfish items at lunch. I've watched friends enjoy steaks (I'm not a big steak eater personally). My current Lt. Governor boasts his love for their burgers. And my personal favorite is their crab cakes.

Just before leaving for this trip to the District I learned that a friend of mine from northern California and her family would be on vacation in Washington at the same time I'd be here for a conference. Amy and I met as part of a global education program for teachers several years ago and have remained great friends; I've even flown out to California to attend an OKC Thunder v. Sacramento Kings NBA game with she and her son, Ethan, because he, like myself, is a major Thunder fan.

On a trip to DC related to that global education program, Amy and I along with another of our friends from the same program at Old Ebbitt. As her family arrived into town last night she mentioned that she wanted to go there for dinner that night. So we went.

Amy, Ethan, and I got super Crabby (and, thus really happy) with our crab cakes, while her husband, Bruce, enjoyed some oysters and her younger son, Cade, enjoyed pizza and tater tots. I can honestly say that I've never had better crab cakes than at Old Ebbitt. If you know of someplace (even far away from Washington, DC) to get better crab cakes please let me know. I'll try out your suggestion, because I just love to get Crabby 😉.

See Food, Seafood

My plan for lunch yesterday was to go to Central Grocery in New Orleans for a a traditional muffaletta.  However, Central Grocery, unbeknownst to this simple NOLA visitor, is closed on Sundays.  So I just kept walking for a couple of blocks and then turned the corner.  As I'm turning it hits me "I'm still hungry and there is a seafood restaurant right here.  Why not?"  So I did!  I walked right in to The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar.

Being early on a Sunday afternoon and being further into the French Quarter than most first-time NOLA visitors might venture, I had plenty of seats from which to choose.  I opted for a place at the bar where Heather greeted me.  In addition to my lunch, I very much enjoyed visiting with her.  Just know that if she makes a menu recommendation...take it!!  I thoroughly LOVED both items she suggested.  Additionally, she was so gracious on refilling my sweet tea multiple times (maybe 12...hey, I was thirsty from walking the Quarter that morning).

I had mentioned to Heather of my lunch plan at Central Grocery and she agreed that they had the best traditional muffaletta.  But she then said "we have a great seafood muffaletta.  I scanned the description and agreed that was what I needed so I ordered a half (if you've never had a muffaletta please know that they are usually 9-10 inches round.  It was LOADED with stuff and I eventually had to use a fork to eat the "droppings" from my plate.  The sandwich was a bit dry, due to the nature of the Italian style large bun and all the fried seafood, but Heather did set a condiment caddy by me so that I could add ketchup, mustard, mayo, Tabasco, etc.

Seafood Muffaletta
Fried shrimp, oysters, crawfish, and catfish with olive salad

Just as I thought I was done she asked if I wanted dessert.  I gave a pause before answering, long enough for her to ask if I liked bread pudding.  I said "not usually".  She responded that it was never one of her favorites either but that they have an amazing white-chocolate-praline bread pudding that is just "wonderful".  Since she didn't lead me astray on the muffaletta I went for it.  Let's just say...I'd eat a whole pan of this stuff and wouldn't share with anyone...sorry Mom.  WOW, it was good...no...great...no...great x 2.

White Chocolate Praline Bread Pudding

I will definitely be adding The Original French Market Restaurant and Bar to my NOLA travels in the future.

And remember, happy eating is only and adventure away.

Emeril's: the Real Deal

I've eaten at Emeril's New Orleans before, but the experience tonight just blew that totally out of the water.  My previous experience included my giving one of the best possibly compliments that I can make regarding a restaurant's seafood gumbo..."it's almost as good as Aunt Mary's gumbo".  Honestly, if I even think that a gumbo comes close to my dearly departed Aunt Mary then you should know it is some TOP NOTCH gumbo.

This morning I called Emeril's to make a reservation for one (I'm traveling alone right now) and they recommended that I sit at the Chef's Window...a bar that looks directly into the kitchen so that you can see what's going on in the preparation of food.  I jumped at that chance.

Upon my arrival and my perusement of the menu, I settled on their summer special of a Five Course Menu; you have a choice of three items for each course on this tasting menu.  Before my five courses began to arrive, I was served a plate of breads and a perfect little appetizer salad.  Then the fun started...

assorted breads

appetizer salad

Fresh Angel Hair Pasta
Louisiana Crawfish, Smoked Mushrooms,
Local Tomatoes, Tarragon, Parmesan

Yellowfin Tuna--Butter Lettuce Cups
Pork Belly Confit, Hoisin, Jalapeno, Crips Rice Noodles

Andouille Crusted Rainbow Trout
Grilled Vegetables, Shoestring Potatoes,
Glazed Pecans, Creole Meuniere Sauce
**Signature Dish of the House**

Creative Fish of the Day
Grilled Swordfish, Japanese Eggplant,
Panko Breadcrumbs, Spicy Rapini, Alabama Peach Vinaigrette 

Vanilla Creme Brulee
Seasonal Fruit, Shortbread

Cappuccino

And remember, happy eating is only an adventure away!

Cajun Food + Digits

During my recent visit to Louisville, KY for work some of my colleagues and I opted to venture out for lunch on our own rather than dining at the convention center.  One of my colleagues had previously visited J. Gumbo's in downtown Louisville (a very short walk from the Kentucky International Convention Center) and made a compelling recommendation to the rest of us.  She was so right about the quality of the food that we returned there for a second visit during the week...yep, that good!

Having family heritage from Cajun Land in southern Louisiana I am sometimes skeptical of gumbo.  Over the years I've been pleasantly surprised and overwhelmingly appalled at what different restaurants will serve as a gumbo.  So I made my initial order with some skepticism.  To help tame down the skepticism I did order a "split decision"...for $1 over the price of the more expensive of your two options you can get two medium bowls of food rather than one large bowl of a single item.  My two items? Well, one had to be Gumbo (just to try it) and the other was the Voodoo Chicken.

First the Gumbo: well it wasn't Aunt Mary's (best I've ever had, with close honorable mentions for my dad's other sisters) but it was very close!  Let's just say that gumbo coming anywhere close to being compared with Aunt Mary's (in a positive light) is gumbo that gets a thumbs up from me.  Second the Voodoo Chicken: if you can't handle spicy then DON'T order this because it is HOT HOT HOT.  I had to actually tame it down some by mixing in some sour cream.  Despite its heat its flavor is AWESOME.  I strongly recommend it!!

For our second visit two days later I did a single order of Crawfish Etouffee.  It was light and creamy and served over rice.  It could have a used a bit more crawfish mixed in, but overall a wonderful flavor!!  The highlight, however, of this visit wasn't the food (which was great).  The highlight was the flirtacious attention from one of the waitresses.  Well, those who know me know that I can flirt back and let's just say, "whoot, whoot", that SunShyne gave me her "digits".  It's her "birthday month" and she is just having fun celebrating.  She was lots of fun and a great help at J. Gumbo's.  I'll definitely be back again.

Until next time, happy eating is only an adventure away.

"Po Boy"? Oh No Boy!

One of the things I enjoy about McAlister's Deli, and many other places, is their frequent buyers program. Each time your purchase a tea or a meal they punch a card. Once you have 9 punches per card you get a free tea or free meal depending in card. Today I redeemed a fully punched card for each a tea and a meal and enjoyed a totally free lunch!!

McAlister's is currently highlighting shrimp specials which are headlined by a new shrimp Po Boy style sandwich.  Using my free lunch cards, I decided to try a Cajun Shrimp Po Boy and a side of pasta salad.  This sandwich features a bunch of buttered & peppered shrimp coated with a chipotle mayonnaise and paired with tomato slices, lettuce, and coleslaw on top of crispy French bread.  I'll preface my next comments by saying I enjoyed the flavors of both the sandwich and the pasta salad.

The Cajun Shrimp Po Boy I was served today

Now, part of my ethnic ancestry includes strong Cajun connections with southern Louisiana.  While I'm definitely NOT a Po Boy expert, I've had a fair number of them over the years.  The protein on a traditional Cajun Po Boy is almost always fried: fried shrimp, fried claims, fried oysters, fried chicken, and even fried alligator.  This was my first shrimp Po Boy that was not fried.  Additionally, I've never had a Po Boy with coleslaw.  While it added a different, and somewhat positive, texture it is just not part of what I consider Po Boy.  Finally, the Cajun spice or heat has always been part of the spices incorporated into the batter for frying the protein.  Although a good Po Boy will need mayonnaise or mustard for moisture purposes, the use of the chipotle mayonnaise as the source of the spice/heat was just not what I was anticipating.

As noted in the preface above, the sandwich was a good sandwich and I'm sure I'll have another one at some point.  However, this sandwich is NOT anything that I can in good conscience call a Po Boy.  I'd encourage you to try one and let me know your thoughts!

And remember, happy eating is only a journey away!