Splurge of the Week: Tamarind opens for Lunch

Starting this thursday, Tamarind Restaurant will be open for lunch!

Located on the edge of Lee Circle, Tamarind offers upscale asian cuisine with french execution. Chef Dominique Macquet is truly creating something very special with ever single dish. Pictured below is Dominique's take on chicken noodle soup aka Pho:

I must say, Tamarind for lunch is not exactly good value, but quality and execution make it my "splurge of the week." The best value i saw on the menu was the chicken vermicelli salad pictured below:

The flavor of this chicken is exceptional and unlike any chicken i have ever been served with vermicelli. Another interesting note on the menu are the Bahn Mi (po-boy) and soup (pho) combos. There are 4-5 options of different vietnamese style po-boys you can order: each of which come with a cup of chicken pho. The po-boy combos run around $14-$15 per plate/combo. I really enjoyed my shrimp Bahn Mi (pictured below). I cant believe chef Dominique is using royal red shrimps = my favorite! Fact of the day, Royal reds are caught in deep waters off the coast of Florida. Chef

Dominique is baking his Bahn Mi bread fresh daily and the sauce he uses to moisten the sandwich is truly remarkable. This very well may have been the best Bahn Mi of my life.

This restaurant is top quality and is positioned for success. If you are in the CBD or Warehouse district looking for a great power lunch, this is your spot. Complimentary valet parking in front. Enjoy!

Mardi Gras 2012

Where is the value @ during Mardi Gras? Easy...Popeyes Famous Fried Chicken.
Tip: Go to the Popeyes on Magazine. The Magazine store is far and away the best Popeyes in the city! And if you ain't ordering spicy, you might as well not order at all.

Other good values on the route include, Beignets from New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood on St. Charles Avenue which can easily be ordered on the way into using there incredible free restroom facility! This can become a Mardi Gras must on a nightly basis. The $2 pitchers @ Reginelli's on Magazine are also very helpful on Lundi Gras!

So i gained five pounds in five days, but it was totally worth it. Thinking about it, the best value of Mardi Gras is the people watching and amazing parades! Both free and very interesting.

Magasin Vietnamese Cafe Opens Today

I have been waiting 3 years for a good vietnamese restaurant to open up in Uptown and tonight is the grand opening of Magasin Vietnamese Cafe. Located @ 4201 Magazine, this quaint 1,500 sf space has just undergone a total renovation. This space used to be a dirty corner store that was a nuisance to the neighborhood. Now 4201 Magazine is a charming, hip, modern restaurant. Uptown needs good vietnamese and i have high hopes for Owner Kim Hung's first New Orleans venture. Pho's are $7.50 and up. The menu is comprehensive and authentic. See below. I cant wait to try it out!

NEW TO MAGAZINE: The Daily Grind

Located inside of the historic Henry's Bar (5101 Magazine) is a brand new restaurant / grill called The Daily Grind (TDG). The Daily Grind will be opening it's doors for business this Mardi Gras & will be curing and saving hundreds of hangovers.

(Pictured above is Darren's beef taco = $3 per taco)

Owner & operator, Darren Gogreve prides himself on his fresh ground hamburger meat and homemade grilling sprays. He also features a vietnamese style Bahn Mi bun for many of his sandwiches. Burgers average around $8.50 a piece.

Darren is also experimenting with tacos, cheesesteaks, salmon burgers, tater tots, nachos, and other comforting food items. (Salmon burger photo below)

Darren puts a lot of effort and care into everything he makes & is a great guy to shoot the shit with. He decorated the restaurant interior in what can only be described as "Naturally Nawlins."

FYI, I am trying to convince Darren to put a baked potato on the menu as a healthier altnative to french fries, but Darren is not much of a listener when it comes to me. Please mention to him that a baked potato would be a great addition when you visit.

Definitely catch a beer, some video poker, and burger at this fantastic man-hole of a bar.

Gustavo Ayón: MVP of the 2012 Season

It is hard to find anything positive to write about when it comes to the 2012 New Orleans Hornets. At 4-21 we might as well start aiming for the #1 pick in the draft. Pero, hay una cosa buena para Los Hornitos, se llama Gustavo Ayón. MY MAN!!!

This guy plays with so much heart and hustle. Gustavo is very skilled and has good size. El nuestro superhéroe. Hopefully, my jersey arrives any day now.

So why is a food value blog writing about a basketball player? Because this guy is great value. We have Gustavo for approximately $1.5 million per year for three years compared to Emeka who is making about $14 million per year. In my opinion Ayon is equal to Emeka in skill and contribution to the team. Now that is good value in New Orleans.

I am going to take this opportunity to nickname Gustavo El Cerceta Mangosta!

Food Thought of The Day: Island Food

Most New Orleans residents are well aware of the crazy success The Rum House on Magazine Street has had in it's first two years. There is barely a table open no matter when you try and get in. High schoolers & college students alike love their island inspired menu along with some beach'y drinks.

The founders and owners of the rum house had little experience in the restaurant world before opening on Magazine, BUT what they did have was a great idea. The Rum House fills a serious void in the New Orleans food offerings. They have a definite niche.

I ask you, who are their competitors? Could their location be any better?

So, my thought of the day is someone needs to open up another Caribbean inspired restaurant where the entrees are under $20 and the drinks are fresh, fruity, and cold.

It is time that the rum house gets some competition!