Wanderlust Sunday: Home of the Saints
 "Who Dat?!" is New Orleans football speak for: "Who Dat say dey gonna beat dem Saints?!" | |
Gumbo... jambalaya... po boys... red beans and rice...oysters... fried chicken... are no doubt cooking-up in home kitchens all over town. Along with the traditional tailgate trimmings for football parties, I bet there's a feast to be tasted at every third house.
So for this super Wanderlust Sunday I made a list of things you might serve if you were hosting a New Orleans style party for the game, and daydreamed about what restaurant I'd visit to indulge a taste for them. Now, proclaiming BEST EATS in a city famous for culinary delights can be as controversial as a close call on the field — Here are my personal picks for these menu items. If you know the city, I'd love to hear where you'd eat.
OYSTERS  Acme Oyster House 724 Iberville Street Located in the French Quarter A meal at the Acme Oyster House in the French Quarter is practically required on any visitor's itinerary. There's a reason it's famous. They're known for having the best oysters in town. Oysters — for seafood eaters — are a must-have in New Orleans. Acme prepares them any way you can think of... Fried, grilled, or drowning in butter, on a sandwich or simply shucked and served on the half-shell. Note: conventional wisdom suggests that raw oysters are best if consumed in season, which is months that end in "r." I have read that it's safe to eat oysters year-round, but I bet savvy Super Bowl party hosts are more likely to serve them fried. |
CRAWFISH  Franky and Johnny's 321 Arabella Street Located Uptown Fresh, boiled crawfish are not actually available this time of year, but you can bet many local Super Bowl parties are serving creative creations with tail meat from the freezer. Crawfish is such a local delicacy, it must be included on this list. In the spring, when they're in season, Franky and Johnny's is my pick for the best place to get them. Franky and Johnny's is a charming Uptown restaurant that hardly needs menus because it's always full of regulars. That's a sure sign that everything they serve is good — I've loved everything I had there. |
GUMBO  Gumbo Shop 630 Saint Peter Street Located in the French Quarter Gumbo is to a New Orleans menu what chili is anywhere else. That is to say that you can find a cup of the stuff at most any restaurant, and most surely at a football tailgate. Like chili, the ingredients and recipes vary wildly — I can't think of a disappointing serving I had anywhere in town, but the best I remember is the seafood version from the Gumbo Shop in the French Quarter. |
NACHOS  Juan's Flying Burrito 2018 Magazine Street Located in the Lower Garden District Sure, Mexican fare isn't the first thing that comes to mind when people think of New Orleans, but this place is a Creole taqueria. Besides, nachos are a mainstay of Super Bowl servings, and Juan's is where I'd go to get them. This is a funky joint with edgy art on the walls and menu items like "The Gutter Punk." It's casual, inexpensive, and delicious. |
ROAST BEEF PO BOY  Parasol's Restaurant and Bar 2533 Constance Street Located in the Irish Channel Neighborhood The Po Boy sandwich is a staple of the New Orleans diet, and you can get them in all different varieties. Parasol's, in the Irish Channel neighborhood, is famous for its roast beef. If you've seen this featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives on Food Network, then you know to order it with "debris." |
BURGER  Port of Call 838 Esplanade Avenue Located in the Marigny The burger has a pretty secure spot on the menu of a good football tailgate. Like any city, New Orleans has it's fair share of restaurants to to get a great one. Port of Call in the Marigny neighborhood is my personal favorite — Among other delicious fare, they serve up thick, delicious burgers topped with shredded cheddar cheese accompanied by a steakhouse-style baked potato. |
FRIED CHICKEN  PRALINE CONNECTION 542 Frenchman Street Located in the Marigny Guidebooks will tell you that Willie Mae's Scotch House in the Treme neighborhood is the best place in town to get fried chicken. I'm inclined to believe the reviews, but I've never personally eaten there. The Praline Connection is my favorite spot for fried chicken — they've got great okra, greens, jambalaya and gumbo too. When I visit New Orleans, I always make time for a meal there. |
SHRIMP PO BOY  Radosta's 249 Aris Avenue Located in Metairie, LA The po boy gets two mentions on this list of New Orleans tailgate munchies, because there are too many places to get a good one. Before I had a shrimp sandwich, I thought it sounded like the craziest idea ever — what's the deal with shrimp on bread? Once I tasted one of these babies, I was crazy for them thereafter. Like so many great places in New Orleans, Radosta's is an unassuming little place tucked away in a neighborhood. They make the most delicious "dressed" shrimp po boys I had. Located in Old Metairie, and I'd drive any day from the city to this nearby suburb to get one. |
And speaking of parties...
| There's a virtual party going on at TheWordWire with a "door prize" one lucky reader will win! Today is the last day to enter the drawing — winner gets to choose one of the following items for home entertaining. CLICK HERE to enter to win! Good luck and thanks for playing! | ||
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shoot, i don't even do the super bowl, but (a) i am excited that nawlins is there and (b) all this talk of food and familiar/favorite restaurants makes me wish i were a little more into it.
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Well, Super Bowl is one of those events that has always been more about the celebrations than the actual game for me. I should be embarrassed to admit this, but I'm okay with it: I'm one of those folks who's always more interested in the snacks and the commercials. I'm totally excited this year though, just because I can imagine the vibe in New Orleans. Man oh man -- those folks know how to celebrate!
Enjoy your day!!
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Well, Wordy, you know I love ya, but I wouldn't be a stubborn New Orleanian if I didn't respectfully disagree with a few of your choices. For best raw oysters, it's hands-down the Oceana Grill - which are bigger, cheaper, and cleaner than the ones at Acme. I get my favorite gumbo and fried chicken at Coop's Place on Decatur. My favorite roast beef po-boy can be found at the 24-hour Quartermaster Deli on Bourbon, and personally, I like the shrimp sandwiches at Cafe Maspero's. As you've probably guessed, I still say Yo Mama's burgers are WAY better than Port O' Call's - I'm sure you remember that 'cause we "met" over a burger discussion on my American Nomad blog. But Franky and Johnny's? I'm with ya all the way.
The great thing about New Orleans, though, is that all the faves you mention above can be found in so many different restaurants... which means everyone has lots of options - which also means there's room for a wide array of tastes and opinions.
P.S. By the way, I hope the Saints kick the Colts' arses!
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Oh, disagree away, my friend -- I was hoping someone who knows the place better than I do would weigh in. I only had a few years to taste my way through New Orleans, and it was on a no-frills budget at that.
One of the things I LOVE about NOLA is that its reputation for food is not a tourist gimmick -- it's the real deal that people are serious about. The best meal you ever had in your life is at some out of the way place you've never heard of, and there's so much good stuff even people who've spent their whole lives there can't agree.
I have not been to a single spot you suggest, which makes me happy because it's a list of what to check out the next time I visit. But I won't give up my current favorites... from long distance, those are the places I remember being great!!
Thanks as always for an insightful comment. Have fun wherever you are today. At least we do agree on what we hope is the outcome of the game!
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Agreed on Coop's Place. Fav burger is at the Bulldog.
Franky and Johnny's is awesome -- gimme some crawfish pie!
Geaux Saints!!
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Thanks for your comment -- guess I'm going to have to look for Coop's next time I'm in town! Happy Super Sunday.
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Look at you giving Radosta's the big shout out!! Nice work.
WHO DAT!! Saints are the world champions.
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I have great memories of the place, thanks to you.
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