Another Great Meal or Two originally published on Food and Fond Memories on December 29, 2009 by sandyaxelrod Leave a Comment (Edit)
Another Great Meal or Two
Seafood Sabayon with Caviar and Brioche served in an Egg Shell
The Beautiful Dining Room at Restaurant August
Though we thought we might never eat again we were headed to Restaurant August for dinner last night. We followed our MapQuest directions perfectly except that we missed the right turn onto Tchoupitoulas Street. And that’s when it all went bad. Between one way streets and no left turns we thought we were never going to get to the restaurant. Steve tried calling and their message said they were closed! We started believing that even if we found the place they wouldn’t seat us. Not that we were starving after the enormous brunch we had. We actually finally found Restaurant August and a parking space right in front at around 10:10PM. We entered fully expecting that the host would tell us we were too late but instead he very graciously showed us to our table in the warm and welcoming dining room. There were so many fabulous sounding items on the menu that we decided to order a salad, two appetizers and one dinner and share everything. Our delightful captain Danelle told us that there was one entree special – Lobster Larded Wagu Flank Steak over Salsify Puree with Foraged Mushrooms and Oxtail Jus. We were sold. Before our appetizers arrived we were treated to an hors d’oeuvre of Seafood Sabayon with Caviar and Brioche served in an Egg Shell. It was divine and gave us just a hint of the amazing meal that we were in store for.
This was followed by P & J Oysters Three Ways
Lobster Larded Wagu Flank Steak over Salsify Puree with Foraged Mushrooms and Oxtail Jus
Dark Chocolate Napoleon
We started with a salad of Organic Greens with Pumpkin Seed Brittle, Point Reyes Blue Cheese and Pumpkin Seed Oil Vinaigrette. The blue cheese was so creaming and mild tasting that even someone who didn’t like blue cheeses would love it. And the brittle was incredible! It was sweet and peppery at the same time. This was followed by P & J Oysters Three Ways – pan seared, crispy with Louisiana caviar and horseradish crusted; and Handmade Potato Gnocchi tossed with blue crab and black truffle. The chef’s mix of flavors and textures was just exquisite. Then our entree came and we practically licked our plates. Miraculously we found room for dessert. We shared a Dark Chocolate Napoleon which was sheer Nirvana. On the bottom was a Valrhona flourless chocolate cake which was topped with dark chocolate brittle with bits of white chocolate and all of this was crowned with toffee ice cream. The dessert was not too sweet, just right. And the ice cream had just a hint of saltiness! Again that wonderful combination of flavors and textures to achieve perfection.
Antoine’s
Antoine’s
This morning we slept in, or at least as in as Hershi would allow. After coffee we headed out for a day of lunch and shopping. It was very cold, in the 40’s so we weren’t sure how much we would stay outside. We took a chilly walk to find a place for lunch and found ourselves right in front of Antoine’s. The bar menu looked casual and interesting so we decided to stay. Steve order a Kobe beef burger with cheese. For me warm chicken salad with raisins, grapes, hearts of palm and roquefort with an orange marmalade vinaigrette. And we shared souffle potatoes. These are potatoes that are very thinly sliced sort of like you would for a thick potato chip and then fried once at a low temperature. After draining and cooling they are refried at a high temperature which makes them puff out so they become hollow inside and crisply tender on the outside. They were quite a treat as was our entire lunch. But the best was touring the restaurant. It was established in 1840 and is still family owned. There are 15 dining rooms and a fabulous wine cellar. There are cases and cases lining the walls that are filled with memorablia. It is really like a museum and certainly a New Orleans institution.
Antoine’s
Antoine’s
By the time we finished lunch it had warmed up quite a bit so we decided to take a walk on Rue Royal and do some shopping. And shop we did!! By the time we finished Rue Royal and The French Market we had so many packages that it was painful to carry them so we headed to the car to drive back to the RV, relax for a bit and get ready for tonight’s dinner at NOLA which is one of Emeril Lagasse’s restaurants. But more about that tomorrow.
