“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.
46 Comments | RSS comments feed for this post
46 Comments
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Never been, but it’s top of my list of places in the US to visit. I think eating beignets on the street while listening to live jazz sounds like the perfect way to spend a day.
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The first thing would definitely be a muffuletta. No question about it.
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I’ve been wanting to get back to N.O. since my last visits… Sept. 1999 and Feb. 2000. It’s been too long! At the risk of sounding cliche, I can never get enough of the beignets and coffee and chicory at Cafe Du Monde. And the turtle soup at Commander’s Palace isn’t bad either. Maybe this winter…
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The lady and I were discussing New Orleans the other day. It’s on our “Food Tour Dream Vacations To-Do” list. First stop: Beignets at the Cafe du Monde place people talk about.
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Having grown up in the Northeast, and eaten a lot of bad food pretending to be jambalaya and gumbo, I’d love to eat anything in New Orleans. Sitting in some sort of jazz club, listening to good music and downing a plate of jambalaya with real andouille that makes my face burn.
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I’ve never been there, so the first thing I would eat is something dripping in a creamy sauce and overflowing with spice. :)
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I’ve never been.. but I’ve always wanted to try Crawfish.. they did this special on NO crawfish on the Food Network once.. and I’ve been dying to try it ever since.. (don’t get me wrong, I’ve tried crawfish before.. just not how they prepare it in NO)
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First thing I would eat in NO?
Raw oysters, followed by an oyster rockefeller soup followed by an oyster po-boy
Then I’d go visit Anastasia
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Shrimp Po’ Boy and a Hurricane
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First on my long list would be a Po Boy from Domilise Sandwich Shop & Bar:
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Shrimp Po’ Boy
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Never been to NO before.
I probably got for authentic Jambalaya first. *drools*
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I’d adopt a Katrina Orphan….see our gardener has just retired…….
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The best thing I’ve eaten in New Orleans (which, in my opinion, has the best food in the country) is the French Toast at Petunia’s. I went there the first day of my trip and ended up there every morning for breakfast because it was that good. Not a single dish at Commanders Palace or any other place I went to could eclipse it.
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I haven’t been yet, but can’t wait until I have enough vacation time to ensure I will be able to try everything I want to eat while I am there. First up would probably be either the oysters or crawfish etouffee. Then shortly after, the beignets of course.
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Mumm…. I agree with wayne, all sorts of oysters! Crawfish, Jumbalaya… the list never ends.
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I had trout meuniere at Mandina’s once. It is still the best piece of fish I’ve ever eaten. But the most fun was taking the streetcar out to the Camellia Grill and having just about anything.
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My last weekend in New Orleans, about a year ago, was about as perfect as it gets. A big party at Arnaud’s with throw back oysters Rockefeller and soft-shelled crab. Grabbing beers with our waiter afterward who had that real New Orleans, but sounds like Brooklyn, accent. A big night out that may have included a hand grenade or two. Spending the entire next day hungover, eating Popeye’s, watching “I remember the New Millenium” on VH1 as storms rolled in, never leaving the shotgun-style house in Uptown. STILL love those pig ears and the bacon/osyter sandwich at Cochon, btw.
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I meant Antoine’s, not Arnaud’s.
i fondly remember hitting up mother’s with my mom right after getting to nawlins.