November Food News
By Su-Jit LinWhile October was well spent celebrating the food and drink of Germany at venues like Deutches Haus, the next few months belong to France. At least, according to Omni Hotel. Chef Anthony Spizale, a NOWFE Gold Medalist, recently traveled abroad to experience time-honored French culinary traditions firsthand, and carried himself so well that he was invited to prepare and introduce the “Savor the Flavors of France” menu at the James Beard House in New York City. He’s now bringing that certain je ne sais quoi to the Rib Room through December 31 with special lunch, dinner, and cocktail menus, available alongside the normal offerings, letting New Orleanians get a wee bit closer to their French roots with every bite of coq au vin de Bourgogne, braised short ribs a la Bordelaise, or sautéed sea scallops proven cale. Confit of duck and wild mushroom spring rolls start you off right, and for gourmets, Escargot devigne vol-au-vent tops off a delicious salad.
More European influence can be seen in the just-opened French and Spanish restaurant, Rambla, the newest enterprise by restaurateur Kenneth LaCour of Cuvee and Dakota. An obviously tapas-focused destination with no designated bar area, a casual but upscale setting, and a menu basically consisting solely of small plates, this brand new spot is all about the Basque tradition of sitting, enjoying, talking and staying a while.
But at Zoe at the W (on Poydras), conversation will steer in a distinctly more American direction as Chef Roberto Bustillo pulls out all the stops for football season. New tapas starting at just $6 make great add-ons to the amazing $25 Tailgate Teaser package, which includes two Kobe beef burgers, four garlic chicken wings, and two Miller Lites. This bargain is available every Monday all day long, and two hours of validated parking allows you to enjoy your downtime hassle-free. Just make sure to bring a teetotaler, since the Category Cocktails, a delicious selection of drinks from $1-5, is a special that ends only when hurricane season does—November 30.
Wander across Canal to Hostel for more drink specials if you decide Sangria is not your friend. Tuesdays there give you a head start on the weekend with generous twofers on martinis, beer, and appetizers from 6-10 PM. Wednesdays have the same deal but with wine, and a bottle gets a free cheese plate to munch on. Thursdays are great for meals, offering a three-course dinner for $20 until 10 PM, and even Fridays offer bargains—all food is half off from 6-8 PM while happy hour runs until 9, and starting at 11 PM, $3 mojitos and margaritas help you lose track of time.
After sleeping that night off, you may just wake up in time to find God on Sunday. Now don’t think for a minute I’m talking about the House of the Lord…I’m talking about the House of Blues. Which, here, is almost the same, isn’t it? Gospel brunch has returned to the HOB, the Zion Harmonizers providing entertainment while you get your omelets, cheese grits, and chicken jambalaya on, washed down with unlimited mimosas. For $40 and $20 for adults and their children, respectively, it’s a sure winner; but at 9:30 AM, it may be a tad ambitious. For the faint of heart, lunch service is back and starts at 11:30.
Lunch has also made its triumphant return to Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse. Wednesday through Friday, lunch portions starting at $9.50 can be had, but if you’re a local, I recommend taking a half-day at work if this is your noon spot. $5 Gray Goose martinis and Ketel One Bloody Marys may keep you there a while.
Newcomer U.S. Prime has opened its doors down on Tchoup in the Ambassador, and though it’s a new restaurant, it’s backed by a vet: Gary Barnett, one of Shula’s original chefs. A casual, contemporary establishment with echoes of SoHo, its ambience belies the quality of food served, as do the rock bottom prices that’ll have your eyes bugging right out of your head. All USDA certified prime, a 10 oz. filet or 12 oz. strip can be had for around $25, and ribeyes and petite filets go for $20 and under. And if that weren’t enough to entice you, gourmet sauces are available as add-ons, and they also throw in a salad and two sides for the above prices. If steak is not your thing, chemical-free natural Gulf shrimp, free-range chicken, and fresh vegetables offer something for everyone. Particular dishes to note is the crab cake (literally the best I’ve ever had)—exquisitely crunchy, made with lump blue crab meat and with a house-made mild remoulade—and the spinach and noodle casserole, a creamy, flavorful twist on your common creamed spinach. Go on a Thursday with the girls and enjoy $2 martinis before, during, and after that big meal.
Another big’un in beef would be the extension for the Steak and Seafood for Two promo at Morton’s. Until November 28, couples can enjoy two single-cut filets, a choice of seafood (shrimp, crab cake, or scallops), two salads (go for the Morton’s over the Caesar, which is overwhelmingly anchovy-tasting), two sides and a dessert to share for just $99. What’s really nice about this, though, is that diners can upgrade their steaks for only a few bucks more.
After all that self-indulgence, it’s back to reality, and Whole Foods is helping out this holiday season at both Metairie and Uptown locations. At 1-3 PM on Saturday, November 8th at Arabella Station and 5-7 PM on Tuesday, November 18th at the market on Vets, free samples from their Taste of Thanksgiving lines are being handed out to lend inspiration to our home menus.
All I have to say is that this is just the warm-up … our stomach lining has a lot of growing to do in the next few months, and don’t worry—that bulky cable-knit sweater Grandma made you and your favorite college hoodie will hide all signs of holiday sinning before you need to go summer slimming again!