Musings of a late twenty something still trying to figure it all out. Things I HAVE figured out... food, travel and the Windy City. A recent transplant to Boston, I'm starting from scratch.
Assiette de charcuterie from Luke.
333 St. Charles Street.
We ate really well in New Orleans and for posterity I can’t forget the restaurants below.
Mr. B’s. 201 Royal Street, New Orleans, LA.
BBQ Shrimp, jambalaya, cocktails, service… reminded me of Chicago.
Three Muses. 536 Frenchmen Street, New Orleans, LA.
Tasty small plates, feta fries, live music… I could sit here all night.
Cochon Butcher. 930 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans, LA.
ILOVEYOUILOVEYOUILOVEYOU. Bacon melt, brussel sprouts, mini pecan pies, great beer list, great everything… if Cochon Butcher was in Chicago I’d move in.
Some thoughts on New Orleans…
While in the city we traveled to the Ninth Ward with Dan’s high school friend Becki. 6 years have past since Hurricane Katrina and it was humbling to see stretches of the neighborhood still void of homes and people within the city limits. I didn’t take any pictures, just listened. She pointed out the homes being rebuilt on their same sites pre-Katrina, as well as sustainable housing efforts in the neighborhood. We observed a bayou that was brought back into consciousness during fly overs post-Katrina and ornate “Steamboat Houses” that have stood since the turn of the century.
Days later I got a tour of the city from a person who had lived in the midcity area, a divergent path in economy and lifestyle. She reminisced about her flooded home, ultimately sold soon after the flood. Every photo she had taken, her life, her children growing up, was lost. Remnants of X codes used for rescue still were clear where she worked. 80% of the city flooded, everyone touched in some way.
It’s odd to stand in a place and know that no matter how hard you try to imagine, you can never fathom the feelings, loss and impact, both physical and emotional, of such a disaster. And I pray I never do.
In Chicago, we have bars where you can ride a mechanical bull.
In New Orleans, they have bars where you can ride an orca whale.
New Orleans for the win.
Dangerous.
Pat O’Briens. 718 St. Peter Street, New Orleans, LA.
Central Grocery’s Muffaletta’s will fix what ails you.
Central Grocery. 923 Decatur Street, New Orleans, LA.
Garden District, New Orleans, LA. October 2011.
I was lucky enough to have a John Besh restaurant in the lobby of my hotel, Luke’s has one of the most fantastic happy hour deals I’ve encountered in all my years… which included 2 very broke years post-college where I combed happy hour specials 2 hours a day. TWO HOURS A DAY.
Honestly, 2 hours might be an under-estimate.
3pm-6pm, $.50 oysters and all beers, wine and cocktails are half off. $4.50 Saison Dupont… glorious.
Luke’s. 333 St. Charles Avenue, New Orleans, LA.
