“Real Cajun” Book Giveaway (And Citymeals-on-Wheels Benefit Recap)
Last night was the Citymeals-on-Wheels “Global Street Food” benefit at Rock Center that we gave away tickets to last week. Midtown Lunch favorites like the Dessert Truck and the Treats Truck parked themselves alongside famous chefs from all over the country who were all serving “street food” inspired fare. With a ticket price of $450+ it’s too expensive for most of us, but all the money went to benefit Citymeals-on-Wheels and I have to say- if I had money, this is what I would spend it on. It’s easily one of the best food events of the year (although admittedly this years street food theme catered more to my personal tastes than previous years.)
It was also funny to see all these rich folks sidling up to one of the Red Hook Ballfield Vendor trucks for pupusas and fried plantains, and the Kogi BBQ table for kimchi quesadillas (most of them completely unaware of the madness that took place yesterday.) I overheard one lady ask her son what kimchi was, and listened to him confidently explain that it meant “to cook something in the proper way.” (It’s actually fermented Korean veggies, most commonly cabbage, but close enough guy.)
Of course none of this really has anything to do with finding lunch in Midtown, so for humoring me reading this useless post I’m going to give away my favorite new cookbook! (Which also has nothing to do with eating lunch in Midtown, but whatever.)
Last night I was most looking forward to the boudin from Donald Link, chef of Cochon and Herbsaint– two of my favorite New Orleans restaurants. It completely lived up to expectations, and since Donald Link was in Midtown yesterday I’m going to give away 3 copies of his new cookbook “Real Cajun: Rustic Home Cooking From Donald Link’s Louisiana”. It doesn’t have anything to do with Midtown Lunch’ing but I know there are a ton of closet N.O. fans on this site, so whatever. The book has got great recipes for good Louisiana home cooking, and even better food porn. Why wouldn’t you want it?
To win a copy, post your favorite New Orleans food memory (or, if you have never been, what’s the first thing you would eat if you got to visit the crescent city?) Comments will close at Noon on Friday 6/12 and the winner will be drawn randomly. Good luck!
Posted by Zach Brooks at 8:30 am, June 9th, 2009 under Event, Free Stuff, New Orleans.
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46 Comments
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I have way too many memories for NOLA, but the shrimp Po’Boy with a frosty mug of MGD from Domilsie’s is one, as is a Snow Ball with all the toppings at either Plum Street Snowballs or Hansen’s Sno-Blitz… If you’ve ever spent much time in New Orleans you’d realize eating Jambalaya in a Jazz club is a myth, though you can get it in a tourist trap. The locals get Red Beans & Rice with Fried Chicken from big catering tins at a dive somewhere in the Bywater while Kermit Ruffins and the Barbecue Swingers are playing (if they still play, haven’t been back in a while)… I guess that would be my third memory, ’cause I’ve done that, too…
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I have 4 years of food memories from living in NOLA. While Cafe du Monde is incredible in every way, it is more the cherry on top than the main event. My greatest memory is the first time I walked into Jacque-imos. I’ll never forget being led through the middle of the kitchen – dishwashers and cooks fighting for space – culinary revolution in the air. Jack, the gracious owner who treats you like a house guest, poured shots of tequila for me and the rest of my party. When dinner lasts three hours, you know it’s good. The Maple Leaf, the best music venue in the country, is conveniently located next door, which always provides the perfect opportunity to dance off the massive meal that was just consumed.
@demigodh – Petunia’s is a hidden gem! I would go there any time I had family in town because they would stay in the French Quarter. Hands down the best breakfast in the Big Easy. They have some fried eggplant breakfast that is epic – I look forward to it every time. Glad to see it gets some love on these boards. You feel like you’re sitting in the living room of some old Southern royalty and the food tastes like it’s cooked by your grandmother (unless your grandmother was a terrible cook).
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Po’boy
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Had a blast at Jazz Fest this year–standouts at the fairgrounds included the cochon de lait po-boy, crawfish monica, soft shell crab po-boy, cracklins (hells yes!), and fried eggplant with crawfish sauce (a pleasant surprise at the same booth as the renowned cochon de lait). And the fact that you can buy Miller Lite by the case and they’ll fill it with ice for you.
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My favorite food memory from NOLA is 3 weeks old, taking place after I rode atop a Mule pulled cart throughout the city, heckling patrons as I proclaimed my greatness to all who cared to listen…I had the best oyster/shrimp poboy from Corner Oyster House!
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Jumbalaya followed by Cafe du monde.
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My bachelor party weekend… hungover, with the taste of stale beer, Jaegermeister and stale stripper still in my mouth, rolling out of bed at 3pm and getting a half dozen beignets and coffee with chicory at Cafe du Monde
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My favorite memory was drinking a strawberry milkshake for breakfast (with an omelette, biscuit, and boudin, of course) at Donald Link’s amazing Cochon Butcher. No, this is not a shill, it was truly my favorite place in Nola, next to Cochon. The man can cook!
I was actually at the Citymeals event last night and told Donald Link the above statement in a dorky fan girl-type way and he sort of didn’t care. I would still really love his cookbook, though.
http://www.adinnerparty.net/2009/05/things-consumed-in-new-orleans.html
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Waking up and grabbing breakfast at the Camilla Grill. I have a milkshake blender just to try to replicate their omelets! And chocolate pecan pie for dessert!
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Oh man, I went down to New Orleans about year ago. Friends took me to Franky and Johnnie’s. Got baskets of crawfish. Ate it all and sucked the heads. I’m even allergic to shellfish. That was stupid and delicious.
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Mamacita, I’ll be over to see you after Anastasia
She never finishes the job anyway
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I have not been yet but I am headed down there at the end of the month, and I am looking forward to some po’ boys, étouffée and a beignet or 4! I think po’ boys will be the first stop, it is okay to eat them for breakfast, right?
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fried oyster po’ boy
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I always loved the Oyster Loaf at Casamentos. An entire loaf of bread baked only to hold some wonderful fried oysters. Plus all the waitresses are under 5 feet tall and older than the Live Oaks.
Another favorite was a fried catfish restaurant Uptown, near the border with Metarie that had great friend catfish and the craziest decor. They had a fountain in the driveway/courtyard filled with mermaid statues and water died fluorescent green. Then inside the entire space was ringed with lava lamps. I can’t remember the name for the life of me, though.
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i’d go straight for some deep fried boudin balls… dipped in a remoulade sauce.. mmmmMMmMMmmmm
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Going to New Orleans for the first time this Friday. First stop on the list, Friday lunch at Galatoire’s
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never been before, but man oh man would i die for an authentic jambalaya! nice and spicy with andouille and okra and shrimp :) it’s so hard to find good okra (or even any okra) in new york.
but the only memory i have of new orleans is from a video i watched, when some of my college friends went for mardi gras. the most promiment thing that comes to mind are boobs – lots and lots of boobs.
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Brunch at the Captain’s Place in the Garden District. Brunch at Brennan’s is the next best thing. I used to visit almost every year – I grew up in the south and FINALLY found a decent NO restaurant in NY (Mara’s).
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so happy to see so much nola love on the site! i have way too many favorite new orleans food memories, but i’ll go with my old standby- bread pudding souffle and coffee in the garden room at commander’s. it may be popular among the tourist folks, but when you’re a local, it makes a difference. the pre-katrina service at commander’s was something you couldn’t find anywhere else.
Cafe du monde – hot chocolate and getting the donut powder all over your face. yum: )