It was our last day to celebrate our 50th Wedding Anniversary so we were hell bent on jamming it full of great food and exploration of the city we love so much. So we started off with lunch at Cochon Butcher in New Orleans. On our trip to NOLA two years ago we had an amazing dinner at Cochon so we expected our lunch at Donald Link’s and Stephen Stryjewski’s offshoot to be good. But we just had no idea how good!
Cochon ready for Mardi Gras.
The main dining room and bar at Cochon Butcher in New Orleans
The open kitchen at Cochon Butcher
We arrived at Cochon Butcher right around noon and worried that we would have a hard time parking. Instead we got lucky and found a spot right across the street. We entered the restaurant and butcher shop and we were quite surprised to find that there were only two people in line ahead of us to order. We got behind them and looked at the menu board to make our selections. A moment later I turned around and the line was out the door. As they say – timing is everything! And since the line was so long I figured it would be wise if I found a table for us while Steve ordered our lunches. I spied a high top by the front door that was emptying and made a beeline for it. It was the perfect spot for people watching and eyeing all of the goodies for sale in the butcher shop.
One of the meat cases at Cochon Butcher. Just look at that Tomahawk Rib Eye lower right!
Lots of fresh meat and condiments for sale
The butcher at work!
I can’t wait until we can return to New Orleans in an RV so I can come here for my meats. The refrigerated cases were filled with fabulous looking cuts of meat and beautiful sausages. Being those cases were shelves that were displaying the many jars of condiments produced in house. Steve also remarked about the open kitchen in the main dining room where you could also see the butchers at work. It was lunchtime and the whole place was bustling.
Another look at that delicious sandwich
Photo Credit: Website
My yummy Grilled Pastrami and Swiss with Sauerkraut on Rye with Spicy Bread and Butter Pickles
Before we knew it our lunches we delivered to our table on cool, retro tin plates and my delicious dark roast coffee was poured into a tin mug. Steve ordered the Cajun Pork Dog in a Pretzel Bun and inhaled it so fast that I never had a chance to take a photo or even have a taste! I swear he would have ordered two more if we weren’t have dinner a little earlier that usual. (Our normal dinner time is 9pm so an 8pm reservation at Brigtsen’s is considered early by our standards.) I ordered the Grilled Pastrami with Swiss Cheese and Sauerkraut on Rye. I honestly hesitated to order it because I am very picky about my pastrami. There are only a couple of places outside of New York that really make great pastrami. One is in Philly across the street from where I was born, Famous 4th Street Delicatessen. And the other is 3 G’s Gourmet Deli in Boynton Beach, Florida near where I live. For me pastrami has to be sliced thinly, juicy and be spiced just right. Not too fatty. Not too lean. The pastrami in my sandwich at Cochon Butcher was perfect! And the spicy Bread and Butter Pickles that accompanied my lunch were a great counterpoint to the rich very savory sandwich.
National Cemetery in Chalmette
Live Oak Trees on the battlegrounds of the Battle of New Orleans
A cannon from the Battle of New Orleans at the end of the War of 1812
A sign detailing the National Cemetery and Battlefield
The Malus-Beauregard Plantation in Chalmette
Details about the Malus-Beauregard Plantation Home
When we finished our lunch at Cochon Butcher we decided to do a little exploring and went to visit the site where the Battle of New Orleans was fought. We learned about it on our Steamboat Natchez cruise on the Mississippi and wanted to see where this pivotal battle in the War of 1812 was fought. So off we drove to Chalmette. As you can see there is always something to do and loads of great places to eat in New Orleans.
