Comments on: “Real Cajun” Book Giveaway (And Citymeals-on-Wheels Benefit Recap)

By: SchmidtCassegrain

SchmidtCassegrain — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 14:43:14 +0000

Fav memory – starting in on a bucket of crayfish with a beer in hand. Peeling each shell away carefully at first, not wanting to waste a morsel. Halfway through, eating only what I could get with a single swipe at the shell. Three-quarters through – game over. The bucket beat me. Then watching a drunk conventioneer flag down a police car thinking it was a taxi. A perfect day in all and the start of a love affair with NO.

By: mikomiao

mikomiao — Wed, 10 Jun 2009 03:07:52 +0000

eating a dozen freshly shucked oysters at the bar at Acme Oyster House knowing that they were done right in front of you.

By: allkindsoffood

allkindsoffood — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 23:40:59 +0000

the eating options were endless in new orleans and definitely didn’t spend enough time there so i’ll have to go back. loved cochon and herbsaint both, but one of the other highlights was fried chicken at willie mae’s.

By: T.C.

T.C. — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:40:44 +0000

lol @ vjchin at the lot and lots of boobs. And there’s okra in jambalaya? There’s okra in gumbo. I’d need to have authentic gumbo and etouffee too if I get to visit the Big Easy.

I think like jambalaya because it’s similar to paella, another fav. rice dish.

By: graybar gastronome

graybar gastronome — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 21:01:37 +0000

i couldn’t agree with you more, steve, on the point that the service industry is a highly-regarded career path in new orleans and that lifers were the norm at institutions like commander’s, galatoires, etc. but, it’s no secret that a lot of these lifers were displaced by the storm for one reason or another, and the service industry has suffered in replacing the ones that left.
the service at commander’s has consistently improved with each of my post-katrina visits, but they are still working towards achieving the seamless pre-katrina level. and please don’t get me wrong, i believe that the community needs to support all of these restaurants while they “rebuild”; i was simply making the point that the flawless service i was accustomed to at commander’s was one of my favorite new orleans food memories.

By: NOLA Steve

NOLA Steve — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:37:45 +0000

“The pre-katrina service at commander’s was something you couldn’t find anywhere else.”

Commander’s current wait staff is heavily composed of pre-Katrina individuals. The service industry is as important to NOLA as the financial industry is to NYC. Therefore, it is quite common and in no way thought of negatively to be a “lifer” in the service industry. The unique feel of a wait staff that is more like family is simply another one of the treasures that makes dining in NOLA so special.

Also – for bread pudding I implore everyone to taste the Chocolate Bread Pudding at Red Fish Grill on Bourbon St., a Brennan establishment. You have to order the Bread Pudding with your entree because it takes over a half hour to bake and prepare. When it comes out, OH MY GOD.

By: graybar gastronome

graybar gastronome — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:28:40 +0000

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.

By: katieny

katieny — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:18:20 +0000

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).

By: vjchin

vjchin — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:03:57 +0000

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.

By: Jacquie

Jacquie — Tue, 09 Jun 2009 20:01:48 +0000

Going to New Orleans for the first time this Friday. First stop on the list, Friday lunch at Galatoire’s