Nonna - Cotton - Mecca

Still have not made it in to Nonna...but was at a Good Friday / Easter party catered by Nonna and Cotton.

All I can say is wow....can not wait to get into Nonna for the real deal. The catering staff was first class, the food was fresh, hot and delicious.

The food I sampled is as follows:

1.) cotton duck wrap - still a great appetizer with plenty of flavor - it is a nice step up from the duck camp wraps.

2.) Nonna penne with marinara and beef - I was expecting average here - it was the opposite - the flavors were perfect and a simple dish was turned into a very special serving for the guests.

3.) cotton shrimp and grits - possibly the best version of the dish I have ever eaten. The grits were perfect and the flavor was explosive without much heat. The shrimp may have been overcooked just slightly.

4.) Nonna Italian sausage and meatball - nice serving and the sauce with it complimented the meats very nicely. A very rustic dish that made me think back to my youth when my mom would serve pasta and meat every Thursday. Nicely done.

5.) pimento cheese beignets - I think this is a cotton dish and it was my least favorite of the night - the presentation was perfect but the stuffing had little flavor - I will try this dish again in the restaurant.

I did not know these restaurants catered but they had it down almost perfectly. If you need a cater in NELA, I would not hesitate to call either of these restaurants. It was very nicely done.

Now I have to make time to get into Nonna.