New Orleans, LA

(please excuse the darker than usual pictures, it looked better in the LCD screen.. haha)

In front of Luke..

I’ve written about Luke before, I had breakfast at Luke. It was a good experience so I went back to try dinner there. I wanted to try the Authentic Brasserie’s dinner menu and see how it held up to the other heavyweights or if it was just a watered down version of Besh’s Restaurant August. Lets see how it fared!

seafood gumbo á la Creole

LeMaire’s crab and corn bisque

For the soups, we had the Seafood gumbo á la Creole and  LeMaire’s crab and corn bisque. The Seafood Gumbo had a decent kick and the flavors were all there. How can you go wrong with a crab sticking out of the soup? haha The Crab and Corn Bisque was unique.. I recall a sweet and savory soup filled with chunks of crab meat. It was really nice. 

Louisiana speckled trout

gratin dauphinois

ravioli of local crabmeat

The main courses were a Louisiana speckled trout entree and a Ravioli of Crabmeat entree with a side of gratin dauphinois. The speckled trout was a la amandine, basically a fried fish filet that can be breaded in an almond batter or topped with almonds. It’s preparation was solid and the little roasted potatoes along with the haricot verts were quite tasty.

The Ravioli of Crabmeat was simmered with garlic, cream, lemon and fresh herbs. Very rich in flavor and not too heavy on the stomach! The sauce was more of a broth-like consistency. I was expecting a thick pasta-like sauce (it was a pleasant surprise). The gratin dauphinois is basically a french preparation of potatoes where they slice the potatoes really thin and layer it with cream and cheeses. Like potatoes au gratin but not.. I liked it, but it just needed a touch of salt. (still prefer Craft’s Potatoes though)

bread pudding

Apple tart tatin

And now for the desserts… Bread pudding topped with vanilla ice cream and an Apple tar tatin topped with a caramel ice cream. This was an assault on your sweets’ senses. It was VERY sweet! Some people really like that, I’m not totally fond of it. Everything was really good though.. if only it were 2 bites, that would have been ideal. Overall the dinner was enjoyable. The service was up to par and the food hit the spot. It’s a very casual setting, so just bring yourself!

Overall Rating:   (out of 7 )
just as good as the breakfast there! =)

www.lukeneworleans.com

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New Orleans, LA

Wasabi is a “hole-in-the-wall” Sushi restaurant and Bar located slightly Northeast of Jackson Square and the French Market. It’s at the corner of Frenchmen and Burgundy, it’s pretty difficult to miss it. I use to go here a lot before Katrina.. after the storm I never thought to go back there. (I discovered Kanno ) But there are reasons to visit this fine sushi establishment, I really enjoy the Squid Steak! lol

Wasabi Shui Mai

Squid Steak

Okay.. you may be wondering why the hell would someone go to a Japanese
restaurant and order “Dim Sum”… (aka the Wasabi Shui Mai) I’m a risk-taking eater.. unlike my unadventurous girlfriend! haha The shui mai
was spicy and had decent flavors, but I wasn’t a fan of the texture..
it was a bit oversteamed for my liking. Now onto the Squid Steak..
it was just as I remembered it, bold flavors and a sizzling platter. The
picture does not do it justice. Definitely try it out if you go..

Baked Salmon

Rice Paper Roll

The second half of lunch was comprised of a Baked Salmon Roll and the Rice Paper Roll. The Baked Salmon was kind of pricey for it’s portion size. Besides the price, it was actually pretty good. The Rice Paper Roll was filled with avocados, eel, and crunchy stuff. I liked the contrast in texture (yeah so what? I enjoy crunchy rolls lol) and the dipping sauce was unique and went along with it quite well.

It’s okay to have those “favorite places” to eat at regularly.. but every once in a while, you gotta change it up and try out some new places. If you’re in the market for different sushi in New Orleans, you should probably give this place a shot.. Service is good and the atmosphere is very cozy. You’ll enjoy yourself!

Overall Rating:   (out of 7 )

www.wasabisushiandbar.com

900 Frenchmen St, New Orleans, LA

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Metairie, LA


With barbeque so widespread in the South, you gotta go through a lot of “not so good” places before you find something you can be happy with. The Texas Bar-B-Q Company is one of the better bbq places in the New Orleans area. It’s location is hidden behind another noteable bbq place called Corky’s. In Metairie off Veterans Blvd on Houma Blvd. You can miss it, so pay attention..

In front of “the Company”

Cornbread… quite possibly the Jiffy mix? lol (I love the Jiffy mix)

Fresh Onion Rings

Pulled Pork Bbq

BBQ Ribs

Everything is cooked really well. The Ribs were slow cooked and provided a very tender meat. The pulled pork was also very moist and tender. My only complaint would have to be the overload of sauce. I’m not a huge “drench my ribs with sauce” guy.. if you are, this is the place for you. The onion rings were really good and large.. now that I think about it, all of the portion sizes were huge. Come with full stomachs and leave very satisfied! =)

Overall Rating: 1/2 (out of 7 )

I’ll try to hit up other BBQ places too.. let me know if you have any recs!

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New Orleans, LA

A while back in Culinary school I made a dish for a “Friends and Family” type dinner. It was Butter-poached Lobster, Herb Gnocchi, and Steamed Asparagus with an Herb oil sauce. I would have to say, that dish was one of my top 10 dishes of all time. The rich, tender, moist Lobster paired with the Gnocchi and al dente Asparagus.. flawless.. I borrowed the gnocchi recipe from Thomas Keller’s Bouchon.. I changed the recipe and added different herbs and cheeses, very delicious!

Butter-poached Lobster, Herb Gnocchi, and Steamed Asparagus

Sometimes you just gotta enjoy life and eat rich! (sumptuous; elaborately abundant) And it doesn’t have to cost you an arm and a leg. Preparing the meal at home can easily save you tons of money.. cut the food cost and service fees. But most of the time it’s so much easier to pay the professionals to do the work. I’m all for it! =)

Xanga.com, World Wide Web

Is it just me or does food/cooking get no love from Xanga? Don’t get me wrong, I have much respect for Xanga and it’s creators, hell I’m a XANGA for LIFER so I guess I’m in with love this Xanga thing? Well that’s where I got this question from.. I was reading that “Xanga for Life” advertisement banner and I didn’t see the love..

Xanga for Friends, Themes, Subs, Blogs, Videos, Photos, Fun, Laughs, Love… Life…

I think it’s time to take the Xanga food freaks seriously.. hahah Do you know number of people who own a TV just so they can watch the Food Network? or the masses of people who watch Top Chef?… or the original Iron Chef? My blog is currently 6 months old and I now have 733 subscribers! And all I write about is food.. I love you guys! (commenters and non-commenters) Thank you all for the love and inspiration!

So this is what I came up with…

XANGA for Food??? sweetness! lol

Yeah Xanga, I’m taking job offers… I calculated and over the past 6 months, I’ve probably invested about $3000 into this blog..

And since I am a Lifetime Member… I’ll probably live until I’m 100 years old.. I’m 24.. so that’s 76 years.. at $500 a month…

so $500 x 12 months = $6000…  ($6000 x 76 years) + ($44,000 travel fees) = $500,000 total

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Houston, TX

So you want hole-in-the-wall? Here’s a very good place to go if you’re ever in Houston. They serve all kinds of Southeast Asian stuff but they’re mainly known for their Hu Tieu, thin rice noodle, similar to laksa and the cambodian Kuyteav.. It’s savory, garlicky, slightly sweet and uber-refreshing! I go with my family almost everytime I go to Houston (which is a lot! lol)

Hu Tieu

Closeup on the Noodles

The noodles are loaded with Chicken, Shrimp, Pork, Offal, Scallions, Cilantro.. you can add fried garlic and it’s served with a bowl of broth.. it’s really good! Seriously.. The place looks like every other Vietnamese pho joint.. nothing fancy, not super clean.. just really great food. I can taste it right now! mmmm…

Overall Rating:      1/2 (out of 7 )

yes it deserves that rating.. i love it..

(281) 875-0399

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New York City, NY

Village Yokocho is a very unsuspecting Japanese diner in East Village.. if Japan had diners, I imagine they would serve this kinda of stuff? The place is relatively big compared to a lot of the other New York City restaurants, but it does not lose it’s comfortable, welcoming Japanese feel..

Tuna Sashimi Sweet Potato puree

Fried Squid Legs

Korean Pancakes

Yakitori

It was late and we were hungry.. so we took a bus to Yokocho. I love cites that have good places to eat really late at night (not Taco Bell).. One of the first recommendations was the Tuna Sashimi with some kinda of Sweet Potato Puree.. the texture was interesting and very refreshing.. (she noted that some people did not like it.. aquired taste maybe?) I liked it. The Fried Squid Legs was the unanimous pick (out of 3 people) as the best dish… we ordered it 2 times this night..lol

The Korean Pancakes left a lot to be desired. It personally lacked any kind of significant flavor. And for the Yakitori, they skewered Chicken, Beef, Meatballs, Quail Eggs and Shrimp.. It was all very tasty, But the shrimp was mostly for show, they should have used larger shrimps? Regardless, good grilled food!

Broiled Fish

Claypot Tofu

And besides the ordering of a 2nd Squid Leg dish (which was just as good the 2nd time around) We had the Broiled Fish and Claypot Tofu. The fish was a bit over-salted.. It could have been really good.. = and the Claypot was another favorite. I love spicy foods and this one helped to please my palate and clear my nasal passages too! =) Lovely little restaurant.. you should check it out too!

Overall Rating:   1/2 (out of 7 )

6 smiles if just the squid and the claypot alone!

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New Orleans, LA

William’s Plum St. Snowballs is located at the corner of Burdette and Plum St off South Carrollton Ave.. It’s in the middle of a residential neighborhood.. very unsuspecting! It’s not your fancy dessert stop or “come in and sit down joint”.. It’s literally just a snowball stand. Their niche? Besides the wonderful flavors and innovative packaging idea (a chinese togo food container for the large ones), they grind the ice extra fine (it’s a beautiful thing) and from what I hear, they make their own condensed milk (which is delicious!). 

Where the line usually starts..

Praline and Cream Snowball w/ Condensed Milk

Strawberry Shortcake Snowball w/ Condensed Milk

We arrived pretty early, they open at 12 noon, so we were able to avoid the crowd. On a hot New Orleans day, you’ll find a line of people out the door. No problem though, they have the service broken down to an art and will have you in and out very quickly. The 2 flavors we ordered was the Praline & Cream and the Strawberry Shortcake, each with Condensed Milk. It’s a WONDERFUL treat.. great flavor, perfect ice (like snow!), and that awesome condensed milk on top. Hit them up before summer’s out! (good thing summer in the South lasts forever!)

Overall Rating:   1/2 (out of 7 )

probably the best snowballs in town.. =)

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New Orleans, LA

Luke is a new restaurant in downtown New Orleans.. it’s located inside the Hilton on St. Charles! I believe it’s owned by Chef Besh of Restaurant August. Even though they are a self-proclaimed “Authentic Brasserie”, my visit on this day was mainly for some good breakfast!

organic two egg omelet: Benton’s smoked ham, wild chanterelles, Emmenthaler and spinach

My date had the Benton’s smoked ham, wild chanterelles, Emmenthaler and spinach Omelet.. I enjoyed it very much, but she wasn’t too fond of the chanterelles.. she felt they were slightly bitter? I like the chanterelles a lot! And with the spinach and Emmenthaler cheese… It was a wonderful combination.

organic two egg omelet: jumbo lump crab, asparagus tips, fleur-de-teche cheese and chives

creamy Anson Mill grits

I had the Jumbo lump crab, asparagus tips, fleur-de-teche cheese and chives Omelet. Eggs, Crabmeat and Asparagus.. I believe every man, woman, and child should try this atleast once in their lives. I didn’t detect the Fleur-de-Teche cheese, but nevermind that.. it was good with or without it.. And the grits were creamy and tasted like they we suppose to, nothing spectacular, but good.

My last bite…

Well I plan on coming back to Luke again sometime for lunch or dinner.. I’m curious to see what they have to offer. I like the ambiance, very casual and comfortable.We were welcomed with a smile and the service the prompt! Most importantly, the food was great.. what more can you ask for? If you’re looking for a good place for breakfast in New Orleans, this is your spot. A little pricey for morning food, but well worth it!

Overall Rating:   (out of 7 )

www.lukeneworleans.com

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