I walked into the Mart one day and saw this:
The first thing I thought was “New Orleans!”.
Which makes sense because this is a sculpture of Louis Armstrong, who was born in New Orleans on July 4, 1900.
The artist is Niki de Saint Phalle.
The Louis Armstrong sculpture is part of Niki de Saint Phalle’s homage to prominent African Americans, Black Heroes.
Miles Davis, Josephine Baker, Michael Jordan, Tiger Woods, and Tony Gwynn are also featured in the series, but I did not see them at The Mart.
Tags:Chicago·louis armstrong·merchandise mart·new orleans·niki de saint phalle·river north
While archiving older photos I came across these that I’d taken in New Orleans and never posted. Kind of a random assortment of photographs.
Horse-drawn carriage tours
Saw these in the New Orleans airport. Has anyone tried them?
Secret public bathroom is by this courtyard at the French Quarter Visitor Center.
Ahem. Three years ago Sam proclaimed the correct word to be vagitarian.
Reminded me of Lolcats. (sorry for the crappy cell photo)
Tags:Animals·carriage·chewable toothbrush·horse·hot sauce·lolcat·mother cluckers·new orleans·sam·tshirt·vaginatarian·vagitarian
Magazine Street, New Orleans
Magazine Street, New Orleans
Juan’s Flying Burrito, Magazine Street, New Orleans
Grilled gulf shrimp, applewood smoked bacon, pineapple salsa, jack and cheddar cheese in grilled flour tortilla at Juan’s Flying Burrito, Magazine Street, New Orleans
Dallas & Rachelle, Magazine Street, New Orleans
Magazine Street, New Orleans
Magazine Street, New Orleans
To get away from the French Quarter, one day we spent a few hours on Magazine Street in New Orleans. The street is long and has stretches of local stores and restaurants interspersed with some of the most gorgeous, colorful, and wrought ironed houses you’ve ever seen. It was fun to see a different part of New Orleans, one less touristy but still safe with lots to do. The part of Magazine Street we were on was very hip. There was some graffiti, some really trendy stores, and Juan’s Flying Burrito was very good to eat at, but also muy hipsterville.
NOLA, French Quarter, New Orleans
NOLA, French Quarter, New Orleans
I heard that regardless of what you think of Emeril Lagasse, some people love him and some people hate him, his restaurants in New Orleans are fabulous. He did win a James Beard award, after all. The last time I was in New Orleans, I didn’t plan ahead and couldn’t get in to eat at one of Emeril’s restaurants. This time we planned ahead. After some beers at Crescent City Brewhouse, we had a fabulous dinner at NOLA.
Gulf Oysters and Crabmeat Baked in the Wood Oven with Garlic Butter and Herb Bread Crumbs :: NOLA, French Quarter, New Orleans
“Shrimp & Grits” Sautéed Gulf Shrimp, Grilled Green Onions, Smoked Cheddar Grits, Apple Smoked Bacon, Crimini Mushrooms, Creole Tomato Glaze and Red Chili-Abita Butter Sauce (topped with crab meat) :: NOLA, French Quarter, New Orleans
Grilled Pork Porterhouse with Brown Sugar Glazed Sweet Potatoes, Toasted Pecans and Caramelized Onion Reduction Sauce :: NOLA, French Quarter, New Orleans
NOLA Banana Pudding Layer Cake with a Graham Cracker Crust, Homemade Vanilla Wafers and a Warm Fudge Drizzle (a la mode with Drunken Monkey Ice Cream) :: NOLA, French Quarter, New Orleans
I thought that the food was really delicious and well prepared. I can see how Emeril says his style is New New Orleans. There are some of the classics you’d think of in Cajun and Creole cooking, but with a modern twist. Also, the service was really great. I loved our wait staff. Our waiter was really knowledgeable, but into joking around with us all the same. There was also a bread girl who came around to tempt us with her wares. Instead of getting a bread basket at the table, as the bread was made, she’d bring it out from the kitchen and offer it to us. I had the onion foccacia roll, a tiny french loaf, and a jalepeno cornbread muffin, all hot out of the oven. So good.
For anyone who is visiting New Orleans and wants to go out one night for a nice dinner, I’d recommend NOLA. I also want to try one of John Besh‘s restaurants next time I visit.
Crab Cakes, Bourbon House, French Quarter, New Orleans
You probably don’t know this, but I love crab cakes. Louisiana has fabulous crab cakes, so I try to order them whenever I can while visiting. So far of the trips I’ve been down there, my most memorable crabcakes have been:
Mr. B’s and Bourbon House are both part of the Brennan’s empire. I wonder if that’s why they both serve their crabcakes with ravigote. In any case, the New Orleans is not stingy with the crabmeat like other places I’ve been where the crabcake is mostly cake and not crab. YUM!
Tags:bourbon house·crab·crab cakes·French Quarter·louisiana·new orleans
