chef_eats
read my profile
sign my guestbook

Visit chef_eats's Xanga Site!

Name: Allen
Gender: Male


Interests: Food, Travel, Wine, and Chef Eats New Orleans!
Expertise: Business and Food
Occupation: Chef/Entrepreneur


Message: message me


Member Since: 3/17/2007
Premium

Chef Eats' extras...
~ABOUT CHEF EATS~



Add to Technorati Favorites

My site was nominated for Best Food Blog!



Favorite Entries:

-Faux Iron Chef 2007
-Crawfish Boil!
-NOWFE
-Cafe Du Monde


Chef Eats' Directory:

-Chef's Links


SubscriptionsSites I Read

Groups Blogrings (10 of 17)
Epicureans
previous - random - next

The Art of Cooking
previous - random - next

I love food.
previous - random - next

The Culinary Artist
previous - random - next

Fat Nation
previous - random - next

Xagat-Rated
previous - random - next

* i heart FOOD! *
previous - random - next

Great Chefs of Xanga
previous - random - next

New Orleans
previous - random - next

I bring my camera everywhere.
previous - random - next

View all groupsblogrings

Posting Calendar

|<< oldest | newest >>|
view all weblog archives

Get Involved!

Suggest a link

Recommend to friend

Create a site


Monday, April 20, 2009

In-N-Out Burger





Las Vegas, NV


When I went to Vegas this past December for my friend Ben's bachelor party, In-N-Out seemed to be a must stop for the majority of the guys. I've never been there before this trip and boy was I in for a pleasant surprise. I've been to many burger joints and I have yet to visit a fastfood place with this type of efficient and almost graceful-like service. As for the food.. let me tell ya!


Simple menu




Tons of workers (hard workers)




Piles of Fries




Double-Double anyone?

We ordered 4 fries and 4 Double-Double Burgers "Animal Style".. Luckily I was with my buddy Kaider who happened to be an In-N-Out connoisseur. He explained that there was a "secret menu" that only those in know actually know about. According to In-N-Out's "Not-So-Secret" online menu.. Animal Style is a "Burger of your choise with hand-leafed lettuce, tomato, a mustard cooked beef patty; add pickle, extra spread, with grilled onions." The inside of eat bun was nice and crisp which gave the juicy burger just the right amount of texture and crunch! Pound for pound this definitely one of the best burgers I've eaten.. and it costed nothing but a few bucks!

I don't know if it's the quality of the workforce on the Westcoast but I cannot stop raving about how well everything was prepared and presented. We need your establishment down here in New Orleans! Well done!





Overall Rating:        (out of 7)

Great impression and exceeded already high expectations


 

 




Chef Eats' Directory:
-Click here for MORE Chef Eats' Entries-

Updated regularly, So eat up! =)

 

 

 

 


Monday, April 06, 2009

1st Annual Louisiana Roadfood Festival





New Orleans, LA


It's festival time down in New Orleans! Many different food/music festivals like the Jazz Fest, French Quarter Fest and even this newcomer.. the Louisiana Roadfood Fest. The premise is pick out where the foodies go.. not in terms of fancy eats, but more of the diners, drive-ins and dives kinda deal. Good ol fashioned home cooking!









On this day I sampled over 15 different things. One of my favorite items was the Jambalaya made by the people at the Tabasco Country Store tent. The Jambalaya was loaded with many different sausages ranging from Alligator to Andoullie! Strong cajun flavors along with a spicy but not too overwhelming finish made this one of my highlights of the festival!









Chef Eats' Directory:
-Click here for MORE Chef Eats' Entries-

Updated regularly, So eat up! =)

 


Monday, March 30, 2009

Cafe Rani

 

 

New Orleans, LA




I've been very disappointed with the quality of food and service as of  late. I don't like to write bad reviews, but when it's necessary.. you gotta do it. Cafe Rani is a very nice looking restaurant nestled in a courtyard on Magazine Street. But that's pretty much where all of the good stuff come to an end. The services was passable even though our Spinach Dip appetizer didn't until after our entrees and not until we had to remind her. Who knows how long it's been sitting under the heat lamp..



Spinach and Artichoke Dip


As far as the quality of Spinach and Artichoke Dip was concerned.. you can see it in the picture. A few pieces of spinach mixed in with some thickened cream and some cheese. The flavors were average, but the look was a huge turn off. The best part had to be the wheat pita bread.



Crawfish Monica



Shrimp Eggplant Rani


Crawfish Monica, "Crawfish tails served in a cajun cream sauce with angel hair pasta, with parmesan cheese and fresh herbs". It was actually the highlight of the meal. The sauce was good and flavorful. Second was the Shrimp Eggplant Rani, "Layered medallions of breaded eggplant, portobello mushroom smoked gouda, roasted onions & peppers, wilted spinach with grilled shrimp and a pesto-alfredo cream sauce atop cappellini pasta" I've got to be honest.. it wasn't terrible. Could have used a bit more salt, but I didn't mind adding it.



Side of Broccoli

And we ordered a side of Broccoli and this is what we got. A plate with over-cooked dirty broccoli that to my culinary expertise, was thrown on a plate from 5 feet away. They might as well have thrown it from the kitchen. I guess the meal would have been more enjoyable if the service was more efficient and the spinach & artichoke dip were a little better, and maybe if the broccoli was prepared properly.. but please excuse the pun when I say, "it left a bad taste in our mouths".

This is why we need food bloggers in this world. We need to be held accountable for our actions. Chefs and servers should take pride in what they do, and when they don't.. people need to know.

 

Would you ever go back to a restaurant after having a bad experience? Another chance perhaps?

I don't know myself..

 


 

Meal Rating:  


no further comments..

 


 

 




Chef Eats' Directory:
-Click here for MORE Chef Eats' Entries-

Updated regularly, So eat up! =)







Friday, March 06, 2009

GW Fins 7 Course Tasting




New Orleans, LA


Not too long ago I went back to GW Fins with Barry,  an old culinary school buddy of mine. At Fins our friend Byron threw together a 7 course tasting for us. If this restaurant wasn't already one of my favorite places to eat in New Orleans, it's definitely at the top of the list!




Tuna Course




Scallop Course

We started with Smoked Sizzling Oysters. I failed to produce the pictures, I was a bit excited when they first came out. lol But they were indeed plump, fresh and juicy! The Tuna was served sahimi and tartare style. Delicious, fresh, and with a kick from the wasabi.. I liked it very much. For the 3rd course we had the Scallops in a buttery citrus sauce. Light, Perfectly cooked and seasoned.. it was the ideal dish to take us into the thick of the meal!



Pompano Dish



Snapper Dish




John Dory Dish


It seems GW Fins has alway had a touch of Asian in their dishes. The Pompano was served in a Thai-like broth, with a lot of fresh Asian herbs and even a flat rice noodle? I was very impress with the depth of flavors. And the fish was grilled very nicely! The Snapper was seared and served with some plump, tender shrimp.. The crisp skin gave the fish a great texture to match with the flaky moistness! And to round out the trio of fish, the John Dory fish is a deep sea delicacy. To put it plain and simple, it was cooked perfectly. The sear gave it a nice caramelized flavor and the meat was very tasty.



Mini Apple Pies


For dessert we had some Mini Apple Pies with gorgonzola and I believe it was browned butter gelato? At this point we finished a bottle of wine and had several other spirits and drinks. I apologize for the lack of memory on my part. But I do remember it being a delicious meal! If you've never been here.. my personal opinion is that Gw Fins serves the some of the best seafood in the city.






Meal Rating:        






Chef Eats' Directory:
-Click here for MORE Chef Eats' Entries-

Updated regularly, So eat up! =)



 


Thursday, February 26, 2009

Pho Tau Bay




Gretna, LA



I've been losing my roots.. When I was younger I use to go eat Pho almost everyday. It's cheap, delicious, and very satisfying. Lately I've been eating back at my childhood spot. The same spot where the owner is a Caucasian-American who speaks fluent Vietnamese and married to a Vietnamese woman. It's where my mom use to yell at me and tell me stuff like, "That man is white and he speaks better Vietnamese than you do!".. it's where ,"Drink up all of the soup or you'll be punished!" happened. Maybe that's why I've been so reluctant to come back? haha







Pho Nam Bo Vien

Well there's not much to say.. I have the Pho Nam Bo Vien or Beef Soup with Beef Brisket and Vietnamese Meat Balls. It's the same as I remembered growing up. It's a clean broth that coats your mouth and sits on your tongue! The beef if tender and the herbs are fresh. I've been eating very often, as of late. It's a shame it took me this long to get back there!


Currently
Take Five
By Dave Brubeck
see related



Next 5 >>