Year of the Dragon - Vietnamese New Year!

What a special weekend it was in New Orleans East. Each year, to celebrate the new year, the vietnamese community comes together to throw a huge New Years Party! The festival draws over 10,000 people annually and features the best fair food i know of...

Whether it's a down the line subway style Bahn Mi stand or fresh spring rolls wrapped in front of your eyes, this fair has it all when it comes to vietnamese cuisine. Some crowd favorites include the candied grilled corn on the cob which tasted like a dessert & the suculent beef skewers. There were so many impressive fresh flavors to sample. Value wise, this festival is as good as it gets: $3 po-boys, $3 spring rolls, $3 beef skewers. No admission charge to get in which means you can have a cheaper lunch at the festival than going to a vietnamese restaurant. Feel free to bring a cooler of adult beverages as well. GREAT VALUE!

Another interesting aspect of this party is the live music and games. Kids are running around everywhere, poppers are going off, and spray foam shows up everywhere. All this while classic rock is performed on stage.

The festival runs friday, saturday, and sunday so be on the look out next year.

It's the most wonderful time of the year!

Well, it's almost the season right?

In my opinion march - june is the primetime for getting the best size and price on crawfish. But sometimes you just have that craving for some good ole crawdads!

Prices in New Orleans are currently at $3.40 per pound live. They should get down to around $2 per pound in the heart of the season.

If you dont boil yourself, check out Salvo's in Belle Chasse for their all you can eat specials.

Nothing like a good beer to help bring down those flavorful tails. For an interesting boil, try throwing in edamame, okra, pineapple, and brussel sprouts.

What is new in the world?

The #1 thing you should know going forward in 2012 is that Yogurtland on Prytania is open for business. This perfectly located dessert hot spot is much better value than Pure and Pinkberry. I will say, uptown may have enough fro-yo spots for now, but thank god for the variety of options.

Ignatius Eatery is still cooking up new orleans classics that come hand in hand with a heart attack. Above find the red beans & rice with sausage along with jambalaya. All very tasty, but i have never been so full in my life. Ignatius is good value and BYOB.

Next time you are in Abita Springs, i have found your lunch spot: Mama D's Pizza & More. Homemade bread that is delicious. The half sandwich is enough to feed a family of 9. Can't wait to be back.

The Power of Quinoa

2011 was the year of Quinoa in my house. What an amazing grain I learned to love. Very versatile and decently healthy.

The grain, Quinoa, has spanish origins but will be seen more and more in the USA in the upcoming years.

For best results, grill a variety of colorful vegetables to cut up and mix in with your quinoa. I recommend peppers and corn. Mango and avocado also add a great flavor.

Quinoa can be found in almost all grocery stores (look in the ethnic food aisle or with the grains)and is an extremely good value. If i can cut out white rice and replace that terrible starch with quinoa in 2012, i should move closer to my new years resolution of losing 15 lbs.

Cheers!

Great New Restaurant in the 504 that is not very New Orleans!

ROOT, ROOT, ROOT

Formerly operating as Feast, Root is located at 200 Julia Street which is the corner of Fulton. Same block as La Boca, Rio Mar, and Rock & Sake. As a side note, Feast was the worst restaurant i have ever experienced in New Orleans.

This classy spot is trendy. There is new link to New Orleans in Root's menu or design. Some would call it modern. The layout remained the same post-feast which is probably because of the unique landlord situation crossing over with a historic space.

Pictured above is the M é n a g e à F o i e which was totally unique. Great use of pop rocks inside the cotton candy stick.

My O v e n R o a s t e d Y a r d B i r d Wild Mushrooms, Celeriac, Fingerling Potatoes, “Pan Jus” was outstanding!

Pictured above was compliments of the chef. I believe it was bass. Very tasty!

I can't wait to go back to check out C o h i b a S m o k e d S c a l l o p s Chorizo Dust, Caramelized Cauliflower, Fennel Choucrout which is served in a Cohiba cigar box.

There is a definite WOW factor at Root and you most definitely pay for it. Beware, Root is not cheap or good value. Next time, you want a good date spot that is not your typical New Orleans food, Root is your spot!

The New Place to Shop

These days, it's all about the TRD when it comes to "makin groceries.'

Restaurant Depot is the place to be if you are a real foodie who likes to cook. Where else can you buy a half gallon tub of tzatziki sauce or a two gallon jar of pickled okra?

The value is unrivaled at the TRD or RD. The only hurdle i can think of is that the everyday consumer does not shop for the bulk most of TRD packages their products in.

The Restaurant Depot is not the kind of place you go to buy two sirloin steaks to cook up for dinner on a random tuesday night.

RD is a place you go before you host a big mardi gras party or dinner party. The only thing you can shop for in small quantities is seafood. $6 per pound lobsters makes it affordable enough to eat more than one lobster per year.

There are no shopping carts at the TRD, just huge push carts very similar to Sam's club. In fact, the Restaurant Depot could be described as a Sam's Club for Restaurants.

Anybody can go get a guest pass to check TRD out, but in order to become a regular shopper, you need to bring a tax ID # and fill out a form. Please note, this tax ID does not need to be for something in the food industry.

TRD makes a fun outing as it feels like an adventure. Be sure to bring a coat. Half the store is refrigerated.

Thanksgiving

It must be the best meal of the year! I love how tired the niacin (in turkey) makes me. Couch + NFL + change into shorts = after thanksgiving.

Sometimes i wonder why gravy isnt served with every meal?

I am definitely a marshmallow on top guy. You? Isn't marshmallow a weird word? Look at the spelling...

One question that this years thanksgiving brought up: Is it a normal tradition to serve rice with thanksgiving dinner or is it just my family??

I look forward to christmas dinner, but we all know if comes in 2nd place behind turkey day.