Big Easy, Big Eats:
How to Chow Down like a Southern Belle
Sarah Groundwater
The city may have been hit by a disastrous hurricane a few short years ago, forcing it to temporarily fall to its knees, but don’t let that stop you from taking a girl getaway to fabulous New Orleans, Louisiana.
Like any strong woman, NOLA didn’t let a pesky little storm stop her from remaining one of the most enchanting cities in the northern hemisphere. In fact, I’m fairly certain New Orleans subscribes to the belief ‘what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.’ I don’t want to belittle the catastrophe of Katrina, but this city of rolling good times has definitely weathered the storm. And she’s waiting for you and your best friends to get your pretty little pedicured feet down there.
The south was made for women. It just was. Mint juleps, sultry humidity, and ever-present gallantry make this a destination perfect for any diva. Where else does everyone call you ‘sugar’ or ‘baby-cakes’ (and not leering old men, so it isn’t gross) and addresses you as ‘Miss Insert First Name Here’? I like it. It makes me feel special.
But it isn’t Le Bon Temps or the Miss Manners approved etiquette that gets me in this city. It isn’t the streetcars, the flickering gas lamps lighting the sidewalks, or even the elaborate, feminine wrought-iron fronting every 19th-century building.
It’s the food.
New Orleans is overflowing with down-home goodness that will make you close your eyes in pure delight and moan with appreciation with each morsel ingested. I am going to tell you to ignore the big guys NOLA is known for. You needn’t bother with the famous haunts of Tennessee Williams like Galatoires, Brennan’s or Arnaud’s. These establishments are highly overrated, and due to their long-time fame don’t have to be inventive to excite your taste buds.
Take my ‘Top Five’ list in your pretty little hands and go gain yourself five pounds (in no particular order as they will all make you have taste-bud-orgasm).
Number One
Mother’s
www.mothersrestaurant.net
Oh god. Oh god. I actually gasped at the deliciousness of my po’boy at this staple (one of the old staples I approve). Go and have the famous Ferdi Special.
It’s a baguette with baked ham (yum), cheese (yum), roast beef (yum), gravy (yum) and, le piece de resistance, ROAST BEEF DEBRIS! As in the stuff you eat at the bottom of the pan when your mom takes the roast beef out of the oven. All the crispy beef goodness. I feel this needs no other explanation.
Number Two
NOLA
http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/welcome
NOLA is an Emeril (of BAM! fame) restaurant, and a very affordable one. The first thing your girlfriends are going to like about this place is the very fine eye candy. It’s like they’ve found all the most adorable tall, dark and handsome men in America—who also happen to be the sweetest and most polite people—and made NOLA a sort of heaven for girls.
Second is the food. It’s just as good as the cute waiter’s butt. You get warm, jalapeño corn bread on which the freshly churned butter melts and then you cry. I had the traditional buttermilk fried chicken, bourbon mashed sweet potatoes with cream gravy, and snap peas. I clapped. And screamed a little. BOURBON mashed sweet potatoes! Bourbon makes everything better.
I can’t even talk about dessert. It’s just . . . it’s just too amazing to believe. Check out the site. Everything from chocolate bourbon pecan pie (there it is again) to vanilla-root-beer marbled pound cake.
NOLA definitely gets a BAM!
Number Three
The New Orleans School of Cooking
www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com
Okay, although it’s not a restaurant, it is a food experience I highly recommend. It’s a perfect way to learn about the history of Cajun and Creole cooking in New Orleans. Any of the classes are great, the instructors are entertaining and funny, and you will leave full and satisfied. A warning: they want you to buy supplies from their store on your way out, but this is helpful if you want to take the recipes home. Get the Joe’s Stuff; you will be using it in the jambalaya that will become a weekly meal after your New Orleans trip.
Number Four
Petunia’s
www.petuniasrestaurant.com
Come for the Pain Perdu and stay for the endless cups of strong coffee. Or the extreme girly ambiance this place exudes. It’s pink. That’s all you need to know. Therefore, Petunia’s is the perfect breakfast haunt after a night of mint juleps and hurricanes. Wear pearls. And maybe say ‘y’all.’
Number Five
Bayona
www.bayona.com
If you don’t listen to anything else I say, GO here. Go go go go. Not only is it a hidden gem with a lovely back garden where you can sit under the old-school Creole-inspired plants (but it’s New Orleans so I say hit the air con interior), but the head chef is one of America’s leading ladies, Susan Spicer. What better place for girls than a girl-empowered kitchen?
The menu changes often and the specials are incredible. I had roast lamb with goat cheese. I’m sorry, but any place that combines meat and cheese as a main is pretty much the best place ever. [Ed. Note: She's not exaggerating. The meal I had at Bayona still rates number one in my life. I continued ordering long after I was full because I didn't want the magic to end.]
So there you go: The Big Easy’s guide to gastronomy. And keep in mind you’ll get to wash down all this delicious food with the most divine cocktails ever invented. Because guess what? Most of them were invented right here.
Like any strong woman, NOLA didn’t let a pesky little storm stop her from remaining one of the most enchanting cities in the northern hemisphere. In fact, I’m fairly certain New Orleans subscribes to the belief ‘what doesn’t kill you only makes you stronger.’ I don’t want to belittle the catastrophe of Katrina, but this city of rolling good times has definitely weathered the storm. And she’s waiting for you and your best friends to get your pretty little pedicured feet down there.
The south was made for women. It just was. Mint juleps, sultry humidity, and ever-present gallantry make this a destination perfect for any diva. Where else does everyone call you ‘sugar’ or ‘baby-cakes’ (and not leering old men, so it isn’t gross) and addresses you as ‘Miss Insert First Name Here’? I like it. It makes me feel special.
But it isn’t Le Bon Temps or the Miss Manners approved etiquette that gets me in this city. It isn’t the streetcars, the flickering gas lamps lighting the sidewalks, or even the elaborate, feminine wrought-iron fronting every 19th-century building.
It’s the food.
New Orleans is overflowing with down-home goodness that will make you close your eyes in pure delight and moan with appreciation with each morsel ingested. I am going to tell you to ignore the big guys NOLA is known for. You needn’t bother with the famous haunts of Tennessee Williams like Galatoires, Brennan’s or Arnaud’s. These establishments are highly overrated, and due to their long-time fame don’t have to be inventive to excite your taste buds.
Take my ‘Top Five’ list in your pretty little hands and go gain yourself five pounds (in no particular order as they will all make you have taste-bud-orgasm).
Number One
Mother’s
www.mothersrestaurant.net
Oh god. Oh god. I actually gasped at the deliciousness of my po’boy at this staple (one of the old staples I approve). Go and have the famous Ferdi Special.
It’s a baguette with baked ham (yum), cheese (yum), roast beef (yum), gravy (yum) and, le piece de resistance, ROAST BEEF DEBRIS! As in the stuff you eat at the bottom of the pan when your mom takes the roast beef out of the oven. All the crispy beef goodness. I feel this needs no other explanation.
Number Two
NOLA
http://www.emerils.com/restaurant/2/NOLA-Restaurant/welcome
NOLA is an Emeril (of BAM! fame) restaurant, and a very affordable one. The first thing your girlfriends are going to like about this place is the very fine eye candy. It’s like they’ve found all the most adorable tall, dark and handsome men in America—who also happen to be the sweetest and most polite people—and made NOLA a sort of heaven for girls.
Second is the food. It’s just as good as the cute waiter’s butt. You get warm, jalapeño corn bread on which the freshly churned butter melts and then you cry. I had the traditional buttermilk fried chicken, bourbon mashed sweet potatoes with cream gravy, and snap peas. I clapped. And screamed a little. BOURBON mashed sweet potatoes! Bourbon makes everything better.
I can’t even talk about dessert. It’s just . . . it’s just too amazing to believe. Check out the site. Everything from chocolate bourbon pecan pie (there it is again) to vanilla-root-beer marbled pound cake.
NOLA definitely gets a BAM!
Number Three
The New Orleans School of Cooking
www.neworleansschoolofcooking.com
Okay, although it’s not a restaurant, it is a food experience I highly recommend. It’s a perfect way to learn about the history of Cajun and Creole cooking in New Orleans. Any of the classes are great, the instructors are entertaining and funny, and you will leave full and satisfied. A warning: they want you to buy supplies from their store on your way out, but this is helpful if you want to take the recipes home. Get the Joe’s Stuff; you will be using it in the jambalaya that will become a weekly meal after your New Orleans trip.
Number Four
Petunia’s
www.petuniasrestaurant.com
Come for the Pain Perdu and stay for the endless cups of strong coffee. Or the extreme girly ambiance this place exudes. It’s pink. That’s all you need to know. Therefore, Petunia’s is the perfect breakfast haunt after a night of mint juleps and hurricanes. Wear pearls. And maybe say ‘y’all.’
Number Five
Bayona
www.bayona.com
If you don’t listen to anything else I say, GO here. Go go go go. Not only is it a hidden gem with a lovely back garden where you can sit under the old-school Creole-inspired plants (but it’s New Orleans so I say hit the air con interior), but the head chef is one of America’s leading ladies, Susan Spicer. What better place for girls than a girl-empowered kitchen?
The menu changes often and the specials are incredible. I had roast lamb with goat cheese. I’m sorry, but any place that combines meat and cheese as a main is pretty much the best place ever. [Ed. Note: She's not exaggerating. The meal I had at Bayona still rates number one in my life. I continued ordering long after I was full because I didn't want the magic to end.]
So there you go: The Big Easy’s guide to gastronomy. And keep in mind you’ll get to wash down all this delicious food with the most divine cocktails ever invented. Because guess what? Most of them were invented right here.
