Dispatch From New Orleans

Live food blogging from Jazz Fest

We're barely one month away from the start of Jazz Fest, which runs seven days over two weekends beginning Friday, April 23. I will be blogging from the Fairgrounds, where the enormous festival is held, and uploading photos of people, performers and food!

Traditionally, food gets kind of short shrift during media coverage of Jazz Fest. And why not? With some 350 acts performing, it's hard not to put the focus there. Simon & Garfunkel headline at the festival, as do Widespread Panic, the Allman Brothers Band, Aretha Franklin, Lionel Richie, The Black Crowes, Pearl Jam, Jeff Beck, and so many more. See the whole lineup.

But what about the food? We're talking Crawfish Bread, Snowballs, Cajun Jambalaya, Po-Boys, Crab Cakes, Fried Green Tomatoes, Banana Bread Pudding, and so much more. See all the food vendors here.  

My plan is to try as many dishes as possible and update this blog as the tastes sink in. I'd love to hear about your own favorite dishes during the festival.

Geez, I'm hungry. Is it mealtime?

Healthy eating in New Orleans

You are right to associate New Orleans with rich food that is emotionally and spiritually nourishing but perhaps not that physically healthy.

But there are a whole bunch of New Orleans restaurants that are healthy on all three levels. They include:

Green Goddess: This tiny place just opened May 2009 in the French Quarter and is a hit with local vegetarians. (307 Exchange Avenue, The menu is described as globe-trotting and includes Sweet Potato Biscuits with Pepper Jelly, the Green Goddess Wedge Salad, and Abado Mess 'o Greens Cuban Sandwich. Lots of meat dishes too. Download lunch menu and dinner menu. (307 Exchange Place, 504-301-3347)

Fair Grinds Coffeehouse: A hip coffee place off Esplanade Avenue in Mid-City, not too far from the New Orleans Museum of Art and City Park. At Fair Grinds, efforts are made to serve organic and fair-traded foods and coffees. My favorite is a little bowl of chickpeas with raisins and spices that you can eat hot or cold. The environment is wholesome as well, with Scrabble games on Mondays, yoga upstairs and all sorts of art and music events. See Vegan News (3133 Ponce De Leon, 504-913-9073)

Bennachin: A West African restaurant in the French Quarter, Bennachin serves plenty of meat, but you can find very delectable vegetarian dishes, wilted spinach, fried plantains and exciting ginger drinks.Very casual. (1212 Royal St., 504-522-1230)

Photos by Jedd Haas

Brad and Angelina's favorite family restaurant?

When Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie visit New Orleans - which is quite often seeing as how they bought a home here and he's going to be our next mayor (not really on the latter count, but we can dream) - they have been seen at a favorite spot for them and their kids.

Angeli on Decatur is pizza and vegetarian joint in the French Quarter (1141 Decatur St.) that is known for its fresh fare, large portions, reasonable prices and friendly servers with a piercing or two. The service is swift and the servers polite. You can tell this is a place with good management. 

Angelina must have noticed the service, and maybe the fact that Angeli is like her own name (just add "na" to the end). She has been seen there with her kids carbo-loading on pizza.

If you go, try the Mystical Pizza with sun dried tomatoes, roasted garlic, onions and goat cheese. You might also like the generous portions of the hummus and pita plate. In general, the food here is pretty healthy, perfect for those from out-of-town who are not accustomed to the rich dishes found in New Orleans.

Plus, in case you're staying in the Quarter, Angeli will deliver to your hotel room door. Phone: (504) 566-0077.

Mardi Gras Misconceptions

If you've never been to New Orleans during January and February, you may believe a few misconceptions about Mardi Gras:

Misconception: Everyone involved with Mardi Gras is drunk all the time.

Truth: Many of us in New Orleans don't drink alcohol at all! Instead, we enjoy the food of New Orleans (gumbo, jambalaya, red beans and rice, crawfish), and eat many King Cakes and drink a whole lot of coffee. At Community Coffee, you can get a limited edition brew called Carnivale Cake. It's a medium roast with touches of vanilla and cinnamon. For more Mardi Gras-ness, try a gift set with a Mardi Gras traveling cup.

Misconception: Mardi Gras consists of one a big parade.

Truth: In fact, Mardi Gras is a whole season that begins on the 12th Night after Christmas and lasts until Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday, the day Lent begins. The dates this year are Jan. 6 to Feb. 16. During the last two weeks of Mardi Gras there are dozens of parades all over New Orleans and neighboring parishes. You could literally go to a parade every night for two weeks. See the parade routes.

Misconception: Mardi Gras takes place in the French Quarter.

Truth: In fact, the French Quarter has very little to do with the Mardi Gras parades that take place all over town. Sure, the French Quarter is hopping with people staying at the wonderful hotels there and eating at the world-class restaurants. But except for the Krewe de Vieux, which is a walking parade, none of the big parades take place there.See the parade schedule.

Haitian refugee created iconic New Orleans cocktail in 1830

From 1791 to 1803, during the Haitian Revolution that ended French rule and gave Haiti its independence, many Haitians ended up in New Orleans. One of them, Antoine Amadee Peychaud, was an apothecary, which was a pharmacist of those days. 

Peychaud apparently took his duties to make people "well" extra seriously. He created a citrus based product called Peychaud's Bitters, and it was central to the Sazerac, a cocktail he invented around 1830. The Sazerac was then a toddy of French cognac and bitters, and was considered highly medicinal. Possibly, the Sazerac was the first cocktail invented in New Orleans. The drink went on to be tweaked over the following centuries, with rye whiskey as its base.

In 2008, the Louisiana House of Represetatives named the Sazerac the official cocktail of New Orleans.

Here's a recipe from Commander's Palace:

Sazerac Cocktail

1 tablespoon Herbsaint

1 1/2 ounces rye whiskey, preferably Old Overholt or Sazerac rye

1/2 teaspoon simple syrup

4 to 5 dashes Peychaud's bitters

2 dashes Angostura bitters

1 lemon twist with the white pith removed, for garnish

Pour the Herbsaint into a rocks glass and swirl to coat the inside. Discard any excess Herbsaint. Fill the glass with ice to chill.

Combine the rye, simple syrup and Peychaud's and Angostura bitters in a cocktail shaker with ice. Cover and shake vigorously.

Discard the ice from the glass and strain the shaker mixture into the glass. Rub the rim of the glass with the lemon twist, add to the drink and serve immediately.

To see master bartender Chris McMillan show how to make a Sazerac, click here.

Official hot sauce of the New Orleans Saints

Something fired up the New Orleans Saints for their NFL Playoff game against the Minnesota Vikings.

Do you think it was hot sauce?

Baumer Foods would like to think so. Their Crystal Hot Sauce is the office mouth-burning condiment of the Saints.

Crystal Hot Sauce was first made in 1923, when the Baumer family first ground up, aged and then bottled cayenne peppers. Baumer Foods was founded by Alvin and Mildred Baumer on Tchoupitoulas Street in New Orleans. Their son, Alvin Baumer Jr. now carried on the tradition.

Each year, 3 million gallons of Crystal are shipped out of the New Orleans plant, and it is sold in 73 countries.

Now that the Saints are headed to the Super Bowl Feb. 7, they're sure to slugging down the hot sauce. As we say in New Orleans, "Bless dem boys!"

See a New Orleans family hand out bottles of Crystal Hot Sauce during last year's Mardi Gras.

Online Special: Six bottles of Saints-branded Crystal Hot Sauce and a Saints koozie for $5.

The 25-cent martini

Who says you have to be filthy rich and go back five generations in New Orleans to lunch at Antoine's?

Truth be told, even mortals like you and I are welcome there.

Furthermore, we can enjoy the lunch specials at this venerated, world-famous establishment that's been feeding the powerful and not-so-powerful since 1840. You'll want to start (and finish?) your lunch with an Absolut flavored vodka martini for only 25 cents!

After that, you can order a complete lunch for $20.10. (Get it?)

Here's the special menu:

Starters (choose one)

• Butternut Squash & Shrimp Soup
• Cognac Baked Oysters
• Fried Crayfish Salad

Main Dish (choose one)

• Chicken Clemenceau
• Louisiana Gulf Speckled Trout
• Shrimp Creole

Dessert (choose one)

• Classic Strawberry Cheesecake
• Pecan Bread Pudding
• Chocolate Moose

Antoine's is at 713 S. St. Louis St. in the French Quarter. For reservations: (504) 581-4422

Which state has the happiest people?

A newly released four-year study shows that people in Louisiana say they are happier and more satisfied with life than people in all other states. Surprised?

Many were surprised that people in mega states like New York and California didn't feel as satisfied. In fact, California, once known as the land of milk and honey, ranked 46th in the study. Hawaii and Florida were the other happiest states. See the story here.

Why so happy in Louisiana, one of the poorest states? I'll tell you why: Food and Drink. Music. Festivals and Events. It's all here.

The quintessential New Orleans Christmas dinner

Looking for something special for Christmas dinner? How about a New Orleans theme this year? With a certain choice in dishes, you can evoke the beauty, sweetness and joy of time well spent in the Crescent City.

The choices are many and delicious. Consider some of these dishes that will be served at New Orleans restaurants on Christmas Day and/or Christmas Eve:

First Courses

Alliagtor Croquettes (La Cote Brasserie)
Oysters and Italian Sausage Gratin (Bayona)
Sweet Potato Bisque (Galatoire's)
Louisiana Crab Cakes (The Bombay Club)

via theinsider.tripvine.com

Eat well, help youth at Cafe Reconcile in New Orleans

Most of us eat very well in New Orleans. But when we have lunch at Cafe Reconcile we are also doing good.

Cafe Reconcile is a nonprofit whose mission is to teach work and living skills to at-risk youth from ages 16 to 22. The students learn the fine art of New Orleans cooking and the fine art of living. Last month, 12 students graduated from the nine-week program, bringing the total graduates to more than 500 since the program started in 2000. Graduating is a big deal. Finishing anything for young adults affected by poverty, dropping out of school, drugs, violence and other challenges is monumental.

Read the rest of the story at theinsider.tripvine.com

Whatcha Eatin'? — New Orleans Saints Quarterback Drew Brees

 After watching quarterback Drew Brees and the New Orleans Saints dominate the New England Patriots on Monday Night Football (38-17), you've got to wonder:

What is this guy eating?

Not too long ago, Men's Journal asked Drew about his favorite foods, among other things. And down here in New Orleans, whatcha eatin' is often the topic of the day, interspersed with whatcha eat yesterday and whatcha planning to eat tomorrow.

See the whole story at theinsider.tripvine.com

Saints vs. Patriots Naked Pizza Throwdown

When the undefeated New Orleans Saints face the three-time Super Bowl champions New England Patriots on Monday Night Football, you may notice fuzzy allegiances.

On one hand, New Orleanians will head to the Superdome for their legendary tailgate parties and then to the game, where their team will whoop the daylights out of the Patriots.

Or, lacking Superdome tickets, rabid Saints fans will don their Saints shirts and hats and run all over town buying snacks for the 7:30 p.m. game on ESPN.

See the whole story at theinsider.tripvine.com

Last Minute Holiday Recipe — Cranberry and Satsuma Chutney

This recipe comes to us from the Red Fish Grill in New Orleans at 115 Bourbon St. in the French Quarter. This very dish will be served at the Red Fish Grill for Thanksgiving.

In case you're not familiar with satsumas, they are like tangerines and are massively loved around here. On nearly every boulevard in New Orleans you find a fruit and vegetable stand with a giant sign announcing that satsuma season is here. For a New Orleans holiday menu, it's nice to include Satsumas. And this is best made a day ahead of time, so get going.

Read the recipe at theinsider.tripvine.com

New Orleans Saints apron for about 10 bucks

 

New Orleans Saints Apron

Daily Deal — Capuccino and Pannini for the Cold Weather

What is it here? Around 60 degrees? And New Orleanians are busy shivering and complaining about the frigid weather. Don't hate us, northern states. Come and join in.

See the whole deal at theinsider.tripvine.com