Mayhaw Man

Ahh yes, but your opinion may change after lunch at Commander's. They will ask you at the beginning of your meal if anyone will be ordering Bread Pudding Soufflee for dessert?.....just say YES PLEASE! It is without peer in the "redoing of a classic dessert" catagory. They ask ahead because it is made to order and takes a while for it to rise to all of it's rich, caloric goodness. And incidentally, in response to another thread that I have resisted responding to because of a fear of over caffeinnated respondants , the coffee at Commander's, as with most decent New Orleans restaurants is very good (it is also very strong, it is not bad form to ask for a little hot water if you don't like it that way. many people ask)

10:00-4:00 Monday - Friday Uglesich's is interesting in that it started out as the New Orleans equivelant of a meat and three place for the working class people in the neighborhood. It still is. It is a might more than your average po boy joint, but still not as much as you might drop at alot of other places around town. The Uglesich's just happen to be great with seafood and this is truly one of those places that was "discovered" and while many foodies clomp over for a great meal, the place has not substancially changed in years. I seriously doubt that Anthony Uglesich had ever read a copy of Gourmet or Food and WIne before he was in it. He just knows what tastes good and enjoys producing this food for others with similar tastes. This place is a case of someone with an innate feel for great things to do with food, serving it the way he would like to see it served to him were he dining on his own. Dollar in, dollar out, your taste buds will have difficulty doing better elsewhere.

You may also find this helpful, although as I have mentioned before elsewhere, the sight is not user friendly for some reason that the Picayune must like, as they haven't changed it in years. The reviews listed for the places are all relatively recent. A Link to the Semi Useless Times Picayune Website

Here, Here Busboy. Well Put.

1) How about a great dive for Jambalaya?.....Coop's Place on Decatur Street serves great Jambo and is an interesting place to observe local Quarter denizens in their native habitat behaving like natives. It is also cheap, and quick, and no kidding, chock full of sausagy goodness. 2) While it tends to be forgotten, K-Pauls has stupendous Seafood Gumbo and usually has a daily special of chicken and andouille or some other derivitive. While it falls into the category of "highly spiced" (Paul Prudhomme was Bamming long before Emeril ever thought about it) , it is usually chock full of stuff and the soup part of it is divine. Gumbo, along with the rest of the soups there, at Mike Anderson's is dependable and full of seafood. They also have the best (once again, my opinion) red beans and rice in New Orleans. 3) Pascal's Manale on Napoleon Ave (you can ride the St Charles Streetcar for an interesting way to get there) has the dish all others are measured against. Go there. Fun place. Atmosphere hasn't changed in 50 years (and to some degree neither has the wait staff or the customers ) 4) For Muffalettas Central Grocery is king. Po Boys are another matter. Domilise's, Mother's (get a debris roast beef, mmmmm), Johnny's, Casamento's, Mandich's, Uglesich's, Liuzza's by the Track, and Crabby Jacks (owned by Jack Leonardi, a great guy and good friend who is also the owner of Jauqimo's, current home of Austin Leslie, formerly of Chez Helene and The Fry King of Planet Earth). Great sandwiches abound in this town. In case you are wondering about all of the Yugoslavian names on the po boy list, those guys have been running the oyster trade down here for 100 years. Where else could you find someone named Tee Ben Mahalovich? (real name, head of seafood association) 5) There is Morning Call for an alternative to Cafe Du Monde, and the beignets are the same. Morning Call is still king in my opinion, if for no other reason than it is such a great location 6) For Creole Food, the Praline Connection in Faubourg Marigny (near French Quarter on Frenchman) is superb. The real deal and some of the best desserts (in a southern centric kind of way) that you will ever eat. I love their chicken livers almost as much as I love my wife, and that is alot (and the chicken livers never question my intelligence, unlike my wife, who does so on a regular basis ). Eddie's on Law Street is great for their Tuesday night buffet. It is run by the Baquet family, truly old names in the New Orelans Creole Scene. You have to see it to believe it, but just as a warning, it is really hard ot find, has no parking, and for the non native, is in a neighborhood that might remind you of urban Haiti. It's actually not a bad neighborhood, but you might be thrown off by the look. But the people are great and the food is out of hand good. The Bacquets have another location on Maple Street just up from Jauqimo's, same food, in a much more refined atmosphere. Dooky Chase is great and dependable. Still being operated after all of these years by Leah Chase and her family. The photos on the wall are great. The Chase family was at the center (as was their restaurant as a meeting place) of the Civil Rights Movement in New Orleans and there are many mementos from that period on the wall. Most of those folks have continued coming back for the ensuing 40 years. Great Food. Cooked by people who care. Highly reccomended. Both for the experience and the food. Awesome fried chicken. This may well be, and I will argue with all comers (in a friendly, non confrontational sort of way ), the best place to eat great food at a reasonable price in the United States. Enjoy your visit. You can diet when you get home. Hope this helps.

Uglesich's is blissfully free of any pretentious protocol. Just great food made by people who care about it. You do need to get there early (or at least go prepared to stand in a corner or outside on the sidewalk observing the operations of the dairy across the street), especially if there is some kind of convention in town (there usually is). It is a very small place, pretty much a classic lunchroom. Beer cases stacked in the corner, deliveries piled helter skelter around the back of the restaurant, etc. Take the time and go there. Unlike alot of places that are small and get as much press as they do, they are not overrated. These people are geniuses. Wonderful food and the nicest, most helpful staff you would ever care to meet. Ask what's good or ask your neighbor's while you are standing on line. New Orleanians are not short on opinions about food (or anything else for that matter) and will be glad to steer you in the right direction.

Is brunch/lunch only on Sunday, or weekdays too? Explanation please, how is it a "real hoot"? Lunch is everyday. I believe the "hoot" he is referring to is that Galitoire's is old New Orleans at it's quirkiest. The menu doesn't change much. People tend to order the same thing over and over from the same waiter that they "had" when they were children. Wine buckets are placed on the floor, bread is placed directly on the table cloth and the powdered sugar from the fried eggplant appetizer (mmmmmm) is on everything and everybody. Until the upstairs opened (huge news in New Orleans) there were people who made a reasonable amount of money standing in line to hold lunch spots for people, as they did not take reservations for about the first 75 years. I have been eating there my ntire life. Had my first communion dinner there, met my future inlaws there, etc. Pretty much every large event in my life and the lives of many other New Orleanians has been celebrated there. It is THE classic in a town full of classics. It is fun for locals who come in and gladhand it around with familiar faces and it is fun for out of towners to come in and watch the spectacle and eat some fabulous food at the same time. There is a bizarre sense of "sameness" there that is hard to find anywhere else. Certainly Antoine's is older, but it is stuffy and the food is frankly, though classically done, average at best. I have attached an article which kind of explains how seriously people take this place. This whole thing got blown way out of proportion and became silly in the extreme. If you will look at the archives on NOLA.com and slick on Chris Rose, you will find some very opinionated and very funny coverage of the bizarre events surrounding the controversial switch from hand chipped to cubed ice Seriously silly business about ice

You know how NOLA goes. The tourists think they will never see this person again, then his mouth proceeds to write a check his butt can't cash, and it's easier just to have someone present to act as a deterrent. Reduces the lawsuits as well. O.K. I can agree with that, pretty much, as over the years I have been in waaay more annoying situations at the House of Blues than I have ever encountered in places more suited to local soul fans than to out of town scene boosters. The Funky Butt, Donna's, The Glass House (now THERE was a club), Luigi's in the old days, Tips, Muddies, Jed's, etc. all of these people were generally there to see the music and not so much to create a scene and have all of their friends look at them . Just for the record, alot of things happened in those bathrooms, but I never saw an attendant, even though half of Bolivia's finest was being consumed in them way back then. In fact, I once had my photo taken with Ernie K Doe at Jimmy's (circa 84) in front of the "novelties machine". I proudly have it on display on my wall of shame and bad living. My children are so poud of their daddy

Ugghh, the House of Blues in New Orleans is unsafe? Security? Huh? If there is any place safe in New Orleans it is the House of Blues. They charge rediculous covers to keep out the riff raff and have "guys with those headsets that make them seem so important" everywhere. I think that, for some misguided reason, Isaac Tigrett and the rest of the ownership at the House of Blues feels like the bathroom guys are just part of the Blues Club experience. (Most of the real blues clubs they are imitating barely had bathrooms, but I digress). On any given night the place is so full of tourists with money in their pockets, cocktails in their hands, and cigars jammed in their facesthat it may be the safest place in New Orleans. If they are worried about security they should put attendants in the second floor men's room at City Hall. Talk about some unsavory characters . If I am not mistaken they have bathroom guys in most of the clubs. It may have started the trend in the New Orleans unit, but they have apparently carried it to other stores. There are alot of unsafe places in my fair city, but the can at the House of Blues is not one of them.

The House of Blues began doing this in New Orleans from day one (I would be interested to know if they were doing it in Cambridge, which opened a little earlier). New Orleans also has attendants at the Fairgrounds and at the Dome. I am sure that it is a quaint little throwback to days gone by, when labor was cheaper and you could still make a living running an elevator, but I find it annoying. That is not to say that these guys don't have a perfect right to be plying their trade, just that I am pretty good at not pissing all over my hands and even better at washing them after I pee, and require very little assistance. I also do not like to feel obligated to tip just because I need to take a leak. Let's face it, that is kind of getting you "coming and going" . Ya gotta tip the bartender and then, after enjoying the bartenders valuable service and the fruits of his or her labor, you then have to tip some guy while you divest yourself of the bartenders work. DOUBLE TAXATION, say I! Now taking that service to a whole new level ......I like the scene in "History of the World" where Harvey Kormann (sic) says to Mel Brooks after rendering him assistance with taking a leak..."tap?" "It's good to be the king".

Craig Claibornes New York Times Cookbook as a reference/idea book as much as for a cookbook. An excellent Junior League Book printed in the seventies (still in print a t Amazon and Barnes and Noble) in Monroe, LA called "The Cotton Country Collection". It is an excellent collection of both South Louisiana Cooking and of the traditional Southern recipes served in the Delta. The baking sections have some of the best "down home" desserts I have ever seen in one collection. Also, the original Silver Palate seems to be losing it's cover for the second time (note to self..buy duct tape), so I must use it alot as well.

Well, since it has hung on this long, I stand corrected. What do I know about the interests of the food reading public?

Thanks for all of the interesting links. As someone who has a "friend" who gave up home brewing to take up home distilling, I found them very interesting. That is a wonderful still they have in that photograph, God knows what Vendome would charge to make another. Vendome equipment is wonderful and comes with a wonderful pricetag to boot. Never have developed a taste for rye however, much prefer corn or fruit brandies.

Softshell Crab poboy - Deep Fried Softshell Crab served on Zip po boy loaf with spicy mustard and tartar sauce.........eaten while listening to Los Lobos at the New Orleans Fairgrounds Hey, I 've had my fantasy sandwich. I guess my fantasy invloves a repeat.

Leftover Muffelletta 1/2 from Central Grocery (added Zatarains mustard, wrong I know, but delicious) Bag of dried shrimp (can you buy these anywhere but the gulf south?) Ice Tea (as per usual)

Kantaro Sushi-1541 W Carson-Torrance I found this place several years ago when I was staying at the Hilton in Long Beach. I was waiting out front for a cab, and I overheard a group of Japanese business guys discussing where they were going with their dining companions. I asked them about it and was immediately invited to come with them. I am very glad that I did. I have been back many times to this little "hole in the strip mall" in Torrance. The food is wonderful, the clientelle is primarily Japanese (from Japan). I have seen lots of JAL crews in there and steady stream of "salarymen" scarfing monkfish and squid, gorgeous tuna, and washing it down with copious amounts of Sake (suprisingly, many of these guys like a number of the California brands). As a bonus, there are always videos of those very interesting Japanese game shows on. I wish that there was a Japanese game show channel, they are hysterical. As I have stated before, I believe the following "The quality of an oriental restaurant and and the quality of the strip mall it is located in is almost always inversely proportional". That is to say that some of the best places I have ever eaten Japanese or Chinese or Thai food have involved places tucked in between oriental markets, laundromats (Kantaro is next to one), and check cashing places, and porn shops. I think the reason for this is that these places are mostly family run and the proprietors are depending on the quality of their food and word of mouth to carry them, not location or advertising or great reviews in The Times.

Other than that bit about licking your horse, I don't know why you wouldn't be invited back. Of course, I'm just a newbie there myself. ---Guy Penn Brewer, It's your old Abita Pal. How are things up your way? I will have to try to look in on the site on Friday night. Still making mountains of Malta? Hope things are well. BH

I picked mine up at an antique shop in New Orleans for $15.00. It is a nice old ceramic one. Neither piece looked very worn, although they are (I think) fairly old. It is an old pharmaceutical one. God knows what was being ground in it in it's previous life. But it works really well and I like the way it looks.

If the scientists there spend enough time and effort testing out the gizmo, perhaps they will have to change the name of the institution to "The Lawrence Liverless Laboratory"

I would like to put in my vote for Zatarains Creole Mustard. An excellent product made in Louisiana. Light yelow in color with lots of seed flakes (I guess, lots of brown chunks anyway). Spicy, clean, pure mustard flavor. I also make mustard from Coleman's and use it frequently in rubs and salad dressings, particularly thin slaw dressing. As far as French's type mustard goes, I don't have uch use for it, but if I am going to use a yellow mustard for hot dogs I use Crystal Yellow Mustard. It is a very mustardy (aromatic and spicy) deep yellow color and quite spicy

Acme Oyster House Oyster Po boy (dressed plus dill pickle slices) Really good "skin on" fries Pecan pie Large ice tea I need a nap

Here is a link to the Guardian that gives a nice synopsis of the sucessful Irish intiative to reduce the use of plastic grocery bags. THe trash got so bad before this plan went into effect that people called the little disposable bags "the Irish National Flag". They were everywhere. Stuck in fencerows, blowing around the streets, pinned to the grills of cars, etc. They have had great success and I, for one, would like to see something like that law adopted here in the States Ban the Bag

In the "best deals" category I would like to put in my vote for Commander's Palace. Three course lunch for under $20 with one dollar martinis. You can include bread pudding soufflee as long as you order when you sit down, as it is made to order and takes a while (fine at dinner, but usually a little too long at lunch). Weekdays only. I like Clancy's (get the mussel's, they are awesome and the liquid they are served in is good enough to drink. Bad manners i know, but you don't know any of those people ) and Brigsten's. I enjoyed Cuvee (and Kenny La Cour's Northshore place is good as well, Dakota). Herbsaint, Bayona, and Peristyle are all great (although I think Bayona is rediculously expensive, but I live in New Orleans and probably think alot of things expensive many of you left and right coasters would not blink at) For a Sunday casual walk and eat, you could do worse than a snack at the bar at both the Palace Cafe and Mr. B's, coffee and pastry at CC's and finish up with a big meal at NOLA (Emeril's BIG food place). Yes it is full of sycophants who are hoping for a glimpse of the little Portugese elf yelling Bam!, but it is an interesting place to eat a casually served, but delicious, over the top type meal. The double cut porkchop with sweet potatoes is good and the desserts are good to great (the portions are rediculously large, so plan on sharing or not eating it all or exploding, your choice) *edited for crummy typing

I have heard that the woman who owns Commander's forced him to interact with the cutomers and changed the pronunciation of his name (the E is really silent at the end of his last name). Is it true? If I could drop Julia Child's name I would too. I can't wait to see her in an interview now!!! I always knew she was a great role model and this just proves it once again. I have visited her pots and pans at the Smithsonian more times than I should admitt. When Emeril moved up at Commander's he was filling some pretty big shoes (both literally and figuratively ) in Paul Prudhomme's, who at the same time had moved down to Chartres street and was starting the Louisiana Food revival (or whatever you call what happened) at K Paul's. Emeril had to do at least as well as Paul to keep his job in the short term and he had to make the place way more interesting if he wanted to keep his job in the long term. Working for Ella Brennan is not easy. She is a very demanding woman and knows more about the restaurant business than most of us will ever hope to know. If you don't have the chops you will not be employed very long. She is also very interested in seeing her own people do well. It is very likely that Ella helped both Paul Prudhomme and Emeril Legasse out financially (that has been the rumor around town for years, and I believe it) when they were starting their own places and would have likely helped out Jamie Shannon had he ever chosen to leave Commander's. Sadly, he never got the chance, due to his untimely death. I have known Emeril since he was at Commander's and got to know him reasonably well right after he started Emeril's (in a vendor/owner relationship) and always found him to be a reasonably unassuming guy, nothing like his current TV persona. His staff thought the world of him and have followed him from place to place, as he has moved alot of New Orleans guys around the country to run his ventures (the guy running the Orlando location was a dishwasher at Commander's when he was in high school). I have a number of friends that consider him a friend and say that he is nothing like his bigger than life TV self. I'll take their word for it. Just for the record I can't watch more than about 5 minutes of Emeril live. Not because of him, but because of his audience, who seem as if they might be warming up for the next taping of Jerry Springer.

I hope nobody in New Orleans sees that device. I have always enjoyed the trucks belonging to various grocery stores cruising the neighborhoods looking for their shopping carts. Something so wrong about it tht it almost seems right (actually, that would explain alot of what goes on around here). It seems to work kind of like the yellow bikes in Amsterdam, but not to the advantage of the stores, as I am sure that it costs them a ton of bread keeping up with those carts.