New Orleans in June

In 2009, our road-trip plans included a swing through New Orleans in part to experience the delectable cuisine that this region had to offer.   Due to the job offer at the time, we detoured and never made it to the Big Easy.  As a reward of sorts to surviving our first home buying experience and our renovation to follow, we picked up two tickets South to visit the missed destination from two years ago.  Before we headed South, Kims father Rizalde and his wife Mila had also decided to make the trek to join us on our culinary excursion, making this a family adventure with like minded food connoisseurs. 

With Rizalde and Mila arriving before us, they had the advantage to scope out the area prior to our arrival and sample some of the world famous cuisine prior to use, admittedly, making me a bit jealous.  Staying at the W Hotel downtown, we were only two blocks from the French Quarter, making it an easy jaunt to the famous area of New Orleans.  Upon arrival, family hugs and celebration were at hand with a couple of cocktails to boot at the hotel.

Our first evening included a walk through the Quarter, one of many as I had  found out that the French Quarter is all about walking, walking, and more walking.  I found the area to be a bit dirty compared to Toronto and DC but in line with New York City.  Yes, I know, Katrina happened here big time but come on, it's 2011 and as the locals told us, the trucks of donated money to the region went to the 'tourist' areas to generate future growth but at least buy some vacuum trucks I have seen in other major cities.  Moving past the trash, we enjoyed an excellent first dinner in New Orleans with a locally recommended hole-in-the-wall place that is known for the best fried chicken.  Can't say the fired chicken was the best at all, even a bit over-done, but they did feature the best fried pickles I have ever experienced.  The night ended up with a tour back along the famous Bourbon Street, accompanied with stops at various bars to keep the to-go cups full as it is truly legal to have open container! 

The famous Bourbon Street did surprise me a bit as I felt like I was living a freshman-in-college dream.  Open container law, strip clubs, sex shops, topless women on the street, and live music emitting from every bar on the street.  Being 39 now, I was a bit over it but still found it entertaining to some degree while still maintaining a healthy understanding that those days of unlimited drunkenness and foolish public behavior are long gone.  While distracting my wife's wandering eyes from the gay bars featuring live dancers, we finished the night with some great desserts before retiring at 1am.

New Orleans provided my wife's father and his wife with a great opportunity to attend a time-share presentation, allowing us to experience a bus tour of the city, all parts of the city.  This opened our eyes to the famous 9th ward in New Orleans where Brad Pitt has a project and where little recovery money was spent, but after understanding why this would just return to another ghetto, the money was spent better elsewhere, democracy in motion.  In addition, it gave us some quick insight into the crazy history of New Orleans, prompting us to take a ghost tour and a visit to a true Voodoo shop.

The ghost tour itself opened our eyes to some crazy history and stories in the French Quarter.  Kim having an experiencing of seeing a ghost at a hotel property during a bathroom stop prior to realizing it's history, made the walking tour that much more interesting.  Hangings, slavery, rape, dismemberment, torture, and overall craziness were all parts of story during this tour.  The Blacksmith shop was quite interesting with being the oldest operating bar in the United States and a history of a child death on it's premises.  Our picture from the other side of the road showing a child figure and an adult figure in the foreground, made this trip well worth it and landed Josh's ass back in the seat of realism and some belief in the super-natural.

This ghost tour led us to a palm and tarot reading in the square.  If we did not believe in this 'junk' before as Josh did, this left us with way to many thoughts and beliefs to ponder.  Her accuracy was beyond explanation and left us knowing that there is something beyond and perhaps there truly is a Twilight Zone.  This evening also included a trip to an Absinthe bar which may have attributed to the experience with the traditional serving of the liquor, but in the end, I truly believe that there is more out there, call it supernatural or not.


Cocktails, family, great dinners of Frenchman's street, fantastic Jazz bands, and plenty of walking, made this excursion well worth it.  From visiting a scene from the Bond movie (Live and Let Die (see below)), to the famous beignet (Kim and father Rizalde), a true Absinthe bar, and great family time, we will hit this road again with the next stop being the Philippines.

Wine, Planes, and Automobiles

Last weekend re-affirmed our decision to move to Norfolk.  The air was filled with excitement, and the air was 78 degrees.  No better way to celebrate than with a new dress (thank you tita Anne), strappy sandals, a cute guy (Josh, of course), and a nice drink.  Since we were on our way to a wine, food, and fashion show—check, check, and check!

With the windows wide open, and Rockstar cranked up, we found ourselves in one of Pungo's treasures, (or maybe only treasure) the Military Aviation Museum. 

Dedicated to WWII, this private collection of navy and army planes, illustrates such a memorable time period.  The day's event showcased Echos of Time's elaborate collection of costumes bringing to life fashions from caveman to spaceman.

It was a quaint event in a quaint town, and I found a delicious, refreshing, and non-pretentious wine from Lake Anna, Totally White.

 

With the sound of a plane flying overhead, we thought of no better place to spend the rest of the afternoon than the Oceanfront. 

Catch 31 was a great catch, $11 martinis and the cool air directly from the ocean, was wonderful.  It was like being on a first date.  Watching the gapers and beach cruisers was plenty fun.  People with their dry towels—well of course, the water's still cold—with their look, not touch attitudes towards their beach experience.  Mind you there were plenty with bikinis, tankinis, and all sorts of other inis, incomprehensible really since the temperature at the beach was a mere 61 degrees.

 Two Type Tuna Tartar and Carpaccio with Arugala and Egg Salad

T

Fried Oysters with a Beurre Blanc Sauce

Rockfish with Mashed Potatoes, Creamed Spinach, Bacon, and Fried Oyster, with a side of Lobster Macaroni and Cheese
 
Come 7 p.m. we found ourselves at the back of a wine store in a surprisingly, contempo sexyish, fusion restaurant, Eurasia.  Words truly cannot describe this culinary dining experience.  Both lost for words about the experience in its totality, Josh and I would have to call it a culinary climax.  It was a beautiful experience!

The Inaugural Stop...Washington D.C

What better way to kick start this US expedition than to first receive the blessing from our forefathers in our nation’s capital? And of course Julia Child’s.

After fifteen stops on the Metro, we come to our stop “Smithsonian”. Not being a huge political junkee, a quick snap of the US Capitol Building and the Washington Monument, looking more phallic than ever, suffices my appetite. What I was craving for was the Julia Child exhibit at the Smithsonian.

A quick check through security and a glance at the map, and I felt like a little girl racing to grandma’s house. As soon as we were in front of the thresh hold my eyes lit up. We were here! In Julia’s kitchen! And I heard it, coming from one of the television sets; I can still hear it resonating in my head, Julia saying “Bon Appetite!” After carefully reading all about Julia’s cooking gadgets, we were drawn to a television set which featured Julia thoroughly explaining how to prepare roasted chicken. “First you must wash the chicken thoroughly…” Julia even layers strips of bacon on the top of the chicken, so it can self baste, and she trusses the bird as though it were a mental patient in solitary confinement. By the time it was ready for the spit, that poulet was paying homage to Hannibal Lector. You could hear great laughter from everyone visiting the exhibit, as Julia was effortlessly funny and endearing. Looking at her stove, kitchen table, cupboards and all, I envisioned what it would be like to be over for dinner with the Childs. The love they had for one another translated into Julia’s delicious cooking. A few more shots of any foodie’s Mecca, one last glance and there it is Julia’s mantra, “Never apologize in the kitchen.” Never again Julia, never again, I promise.

We walk around the Smithsonian a bit more, and come across a collection explaining all about oyster fishing in Chesapeake. Typical of me to have paid any attention to it, as I absolutely LOVE oysters! Quick snap of the oyster plates from the 1930’s.

Exiting the Smithsonian onto Constitution Avenue we head over to the infamous 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, just to say, “Hi” to the Obamas. We both think, how far do you reckon we’d be able to get if we jump the fence?

We were now off to The Palm, an institution for businessmen, political figures and celebrities. Founded in 1926 by John Ganzi and Pio Bozzi, they opened their first location in New York City. Today they are located all over the United States, with now three international locations.

As we enter through the front doors, we make our way over to the bar. What a treat! We just walked into happy hour. Apps ranging from $7 to $12 were now all $3.50. How exciting. Kobe beef, filet mignon and, oh no baby! Oysters at a dollar each, how did they know?
Hoping to try a little bit of everything, we dive right into the menu with our first round; filet mignon, crab cakes, and of course oysters on the half shell.

The filet mignon was served like mini sliders, a cold trio with a very fresh and clean taste to the pallet. The medium rare cooked beef stacked with a fresh basil leaf, imported buffalo mozzarella and balsamic aioli, served in between two mini buns, make you put both hands up in the air. What a well thought out flavor combination. Talk about a capri twist.
The crab cakes served with a mango salsa and chipotle mayo was next. Not in usual crab cake form, it looked like a macaroon. Staying true to my ways of wanting all the flavors on my plate in one bite, I take a hearty piece of crab, top it with the mango salsa and dip it in the chipotle mayo. Yum! There’s a smokiness to the crab, the chipotle kicks it up a notch and the mango provides that cooling sensation your pallet is looking for.

La piece de resistance was my oysters. House made cocktail sauce with horseradish on the side, it was definitely an aphrodisiac that made me cross my legs! The freshness of the oysters with the tanginess of the house made sauce and lemon, I almost stood up with excitement. Paired alongside Kim Craford’s Sauvignon Blanc, from New Zealand, was a decadent orgy on my tongue.
Round two, kobe beef, chicken tenders, jumbo shrimp and yes, oysters. As we order another glass of wine, we brace myself for what’s to come. Could we handle more food?
With these flavors, yes! The kobe came out with a flavor that no Canadian could ever be exposed to (me). It was like beef butter melting on the tongue, with the fixings of any burger, of course prepared under Canadian Health Standards, at medium rare. Let me reassure you, if was not “any” burger.

Sit down for this one, because the chicken tender, were more than tender, it was Atila The Hun and Napolean battling in my mouth. The penko and parmesan cheese dusted, pounded out chicken breast was a flavor I still cannot describe to serve it justice. Paired with their Asian plum sauce, it was a FUSION! And yes, I am yelling it.
The jumbo shrimp was accompanied by the house made cocktail sauce which was also served along side my oysters, complete with horseradish on the side. But, darling, the shrimp was massive! It was succulent and sweet, a great taste to leave on your tongue and pallet at the end of the evening.

Visiting The Capital was short and sweet, but left us with enough to keep our eyes out on coming back. A patriotic feeling, with the backdrop of the White House and the Washington Monument, makes you feel good about your country. Like a big, “Hell Yeah!” The weather was perfect, although cloudy, it was the ideal temp to venture into the downtown core. What was a long walk, did not seem like such. If anything, we weren’t guilty at the end of dinner. For a city, I was surprised with the amount of open space, especially along the Ellipse, which was where we realized was the foreground to the most famous protests in history.

We ride back on the Metro, and I feel like I am being transported back into time, with it’s tangerine leather seats and matching carpet that runs from end to end of the car, it was like remnants of a 70’s airplane. 13 more stops to go, and our minds, hearts and stomachs are happy. Good night D.C. it was a pleasure.

Special Thanks To: Kurt Hamilton, Assistant GM of The Palm Restaurant (www.thepalm.com)

Pack Your Bags

Hitch along for the ride as we travel around the United States. We'll keep our optimism as we've left a lot behind, but don't think we're not going to love our new found freedom. Whatever comes our way; we'll be resourceful, mindful, and will eat and drink well. So pack your bags, as we Keep Left!