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Started By
Message
Back from my weekend: Cochon, August, and others were awesome.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 5:52 pm
Posted on 1/22/12 at 5:52 pm
Just got back from our weekend trip, and had a damn good time. I'm terrible at writing, but here's my attempt at some brief reviews.
Friday night: Cochon
Great atmosphere, great service. Tables are surprisingly close together, which could be a bit awkward for some, but I found it to be entertaining. The table to our left was a hilarious older couple (the husband kept getting in trouble for staring at everything we ordered) and provided great amusement during the short wait between courses. Arrived around 7:10 for our 7:30 reservation and were seated immediately.
Drinks:
Satsuma Mojito: Not sweet, made with fresh Plaquemines Parish satsumas. Lots of chunks of them in the drink to enjoy. Kinda weak, but very good.
Lemonade w/ bourbon Wife ordered this one, I don't remember what the second drink I ordered was. We ended up switching because she liked mine more. The lemonade was WAY too sweet and overpowering. Was pretty disappointed in this one.
Appetizers:
Ribs w/ watermelon pickle: These were amazing. Cooked to the perfect level of tenderness so that they fell off the bone, but still had good texture. The watermelon pickle was unreal - lent the perfect amount of sweetness. Very large portion (close to half a rack it seemed) for an appetizer.
Fried rabbit livers w/ pepper jelly: glassman said I had to order these. glassman was correct. They were simply unreal. Cooked perfectly, breading was very light. Pepper jelly didn't have much kick at all, and was fairly sweet. The livers were tender and creamy, not overpowering at all. These are a must order.
Entrees:
Brisket: Wife's dish. The brisket was, sadly, very underwhelming. The texture was great, but the flavor was exceedingly lacking. It reminded me of pot roast more than anything. Luckily, the horseradish potato salad served with it was wonderful. Perfect amount of bite from the horseradish, nice and creamy overall, with good crunch from veggies and the potatoes themselves.
Bacon & oyster sandwich: I don't think I'll ever be able to order an oyster poboy after having this. Toasted white bread, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and something between a tartar sauce and remoulade as the dressing. Very, very smoky, crispy bacon. Oysters were fried perfectly, and were delicious.
Dessert:
Moonpie: Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, marshmallow, and Dr. Pepper sorbet. Was really, really good. The cookies where thin and crisp, marshmallow was warm. Great ending to a great meal. This item did take a good 15-20 minutes to come to the table after we ordered it, but that's because another server had stolen ours. Our server was very apologetic, and brought us shots of their moonshine to make up for it. The moonshine was great...lots of nutmeg flavor. Reminded me a great deal of eggnog.
Total without tip: $110 (4 drinks, two apps, two entrees, dessert)
Saturday Morning: Stanley
Loved this place...kinda wish we'd gone back for breakfast on Sunday. Portions were HUGE.
Bananas Foster French Toast: Uhhh...yum. Accompanied with vanilla bean ice cream. It was really, really good.
Breaux Bridge Benedict: Big chunks of French bread topped with boudin, poached eggs, cheese, ham, and a Creole hollandaise. Eggs were cooked perfectly, making the runny yolk the perfect thing to unite all of the elements. This was a wonderful beginning to a long day of walking.
Total without tip: $35
Saturday Lunch: American Sector
Ate here after the WWII museum. The restaurant is gorgeous. Our server sucked, but I'm fairly certain that was entirely her fault and not an issue with the restaurant as a whole. If I'm dropping $50 on lunch for two, I don't expect to need to remind the server to refill my water.
Drinks:
Jezebel: I'm a huge fan of Hendrick's gin, so when I saw it used in a cocktail I was all about it...it's too bad that the cocktail sucked. Way too sweet. Oh well, shoulda known better.
Entrees:
French dip: Wife decided to go with it instead of straying out too much. It was damn good, but nothing special/out of the ordinary.
Perfect pig poboy: Very reminiscent of a banh mi. Pickled veggies, cilantro, mint. Lots of pork products...if I recall correctly, pulled pork, pork belly, and ham. I thought it was great. The lightness of the veggies and herbs were a perfect contrast to the fat of the pork belly.
Total without tip: $50
August to come soon...I need a break.
Friday night: Cochon
Great atmosphere, great service. Tables are surprisingly close together, which could be a bit awkward for some, but I found it to be entertaining. The table to our left was a hilarious older couple (the husband kept getting in trouble for staring at everything we ordered) and provided great amusement during the short wait between courses. Arrived around 7:10 for our 7:30 reservation and were seated immediately.
Drinks:
Satsuma Mojito: Not sweet, made with fresh Plaquemines Parish satsumas. Lots of chunks of them in the drink to enjoy. Kinda weak, but very good.
Lemonade w/ bourbon Wife ordered this one, I don't remember what the second drink I ordered was. We ended up switching because she liked mine more. The lemonade was WAY too sweet and overpowering. Was pretty disappointed in this one.
Appetizers:
Ribs w/ watermelon pickle: These were amazing. Cooked to the perfect level of tenderness so that they fell off the bone, but still had good texture. The watermelon pickle was unreal - lent the perfect amount of sweetness. Very large portion (close to half a rack it seemed) for an appetizer.
Fried rabbit livers w/ pepper jelly: glassman said I had to order these. glassman was correct. They were simply unreal. Cooked perfectly, breading was very light. Pepper jelly didn't have much kick at all, and was fairly sweet. The livers were tender and creamy, not overpowering at all. These are a must order.
Entrees:
Brisket: Wife's dish. The brisket was, sadly, very underwhelming. The texture was great, but the flavor was exceedingly lacking. It reminded me of pot roast more than anything. Luckily, the horseradish potato salad served with it was wonderful. Perfect amount of bite from the horseradish, nice and creamy overall, with good crunch from veggies and the potatoes themselves.
Bacon & oyster sandwich: I don't think I'll ever be able to order an oyster poboy after having this. Toasted white bread, tomatoes, shredded lettuce, and something between a tartar sauce and remoulade as the dressing. Very, very smoky, crispy bacon. Oysters were fried perfectly, and were delicious.
Dessert:
Moonpie: Chocolate chip oatmeal cookies, marshmallow, and Dr. Pepper sorbet. Was really, really good. The cookies where thin and crisp, marshmallow was warm. Great ending to a great meal. This item did take a good 15-20 minutes to come to the table after we ordered it, but that's because another server had stolen ours. Our server was very apologetic, and brought us shots of their moonshine to make up for it. The moonshine was great...lots of nutmeg flavor. Reminded me a great deal of eggnog.
Total without tip: $110 (4 drinks, two apps, two entrees, dessert)
Saturday Morning: Stanley
Loved this place...kinda wish we'd gone back for breakfast on Sunday. Portions were HUGE.
Bananas Foster French Toast: Uhhh...yum. Accompanied with vanilla bean ice cream. It was really, really good.
Breaux Bridge Benedict: Big chunks of French bread topped with boudin, poached eggs, cheese, ham, and a Creole hollandaise. Eggs were cooked perfectly, making the runny yolk the perfect thing to unite all of the elements. This was a wonderful beginning to a long day of walking.
Total without tip: $35
Saturday Lunch: American Sector
Ate here after the WWII museum. The restaurant is gorgeous. Our server sucked, but I'm fairly certain that was entirely her fault and not an issue with the restaurant as a whole. If I'm dropping $50 on lunch for two, I don't expect to need to remind the server to refill my water.
Drinks:
Jezebel: I'm a huge fan of Hendrick's gin, so when I saw it used in a cocktail I was all about it...it's too bad that the cocktail sucked. Way too sweet. Oh well, shoulda known better.
Entrees:
French dip: Wife decided to go with it instead of straying out too much. It was damn good, but nothing special/out of the ordinary.
Perfect pig poboy: Very reminiscent of a banh mi. Pickled veggies, cilantro, mint. Lots of pork products...if I recall correctly, pulled pork, pork belly, and ham. I thought it was great. The lightness of the veggies and herbs were a perfect contrast to the fat of the pork belly.
Total without tip: $50
August to come soon...I need a break.
13
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:00 pm to Schwartz
Job well done
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:03 pm to Schwartz
Great reviews... (must not bring up the un-Kosherness of your meat selections..lol)
I've only tried American sector of the places you went to. Cochon is high on my list.
Stanley sounds like a good brunch spot.
I've only tried American sector of the places you went to. Cochon is high on my list.
Stanley sounds like a good brunch spot.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:09 pm to Schwartz
I won't ever steer a poster wrong. Looking forward to the August review. 
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:27 pm to Schwartz
Wow, sounds like a great time. Thanks for the reviews, planning on going on a New Orleans retaraunt spree soon. Looking forward to the August review as well.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:32 pm to Schwartz
Very nice. Thank you. Oh, and could you copy and paste those in the dining guide? Chicken told me to ask you to do that.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:50 pm to Schwartz
quote:Can't wait to try it. Oldest son had a great meal back around The Game of Which We Shall Never Speak.
Cochon
quote:I really hope to hit it in May,too.
August
Thanks for the work.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 6:54 pm to OTIS2
Working on August right now...while eating frozen pizza. 
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:05 pm to Schwartz
good reviews; thanks for sharing. i had the perfect pig poboy when i ate at American Sector a week and a half ago. really good sandwich. one friend got the french dip and really enjoyed it. another friend got the short rib sloppy joe...it was literally as big as her head; we took a picture for evidence... . i've eaten there on both my trips to the WWII museum. been very pleased both times.
regret not hitting Stanley's on this trip. had brunch there last year; love that place.
been to Cochon 3-4 times; food and service have been excellent every time.
look forward to reading the August review. took the wife there two years ago...we both loved it. did the 5 course tasting with wine. well done.
excellent choices....
. i've eaten there on both my trips to the WWII museum. been very pleased both times. regret not hitting Stanley's on this trip. had brunch there last year; love that place.
been to Cochon 3-4 times; food and service have been excellent every time.
look forward to reading the August review. took the wife there two years ago...we both loved it. did the 5 course tasting with wine. well done.
excellent choices....
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:07 pm to Schwartz
August part one:
Saturday night: August
First off, let me say that this was one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever seen. Our reservation was for 8:00, so it was already very dark outside. Approaching the outside of the building from Canal, the opulence and exquisiteness of the whole thing is very well hidden until you're right on top of the restaurant.
Stepping through the heavy double doors flanked by gas lanterns, the hostess stand and bar area are dark but welcoming. Immediately to the right is one of the main dining areas: brilliantly lit, raw brick walls are a great contrast point to the beautiful detail work and graceful, shining chandeliers in the room. Large windows look out over Tchopitoulas Street, giving those outside a glimpse at the impossibly white, impossibly wrinkle free linens, gleaming, polished silver wine buckets, and bustling service people.
At this point, I was exceedingly glad that I'd heeded glassman's advice and wore a jacket. I saw a few men wearing slacks and shirts, and while they didn't look out of place, I felt it a disservice to the experience as a whole to not look my best.
A few steps down a hallway led us to the room where we dined. A beautiful and stark contrast to the dazzling brilliance of the front dining room, this room was dimly lit, with dark rich woods surrounding us. Photographs of individual ingredients adorned the walls. Above us, a ceiling fan lent a welcome breeze to the warm air. And speaking of above us...a few hundred thousand dollars worth of wine. The mezzanine, in a U-shape, stood above our heads, proudly displaying bottles of deliciousness behind glass.
Speaking of wine, I was happy to see a sommelier working her way between tables, retrieving bottles, her wine stained napkin draped over her arm. I personally don't really enjoy wine that much, but I always find it to be reassuring to have someone who takes the beverage so seriously present; it certainly lends a sense of credibility and assuredness to the whole affair.
Once seated, we were quickly greeted by Jeff who was to be our...wait person, I suppose? August has a service methodology which I've never seen before, but thoroughly enjoyed. The main server (all that I saw were men) wore suits, took the orders, made suggestions, ran drinks, refilled waters, etc. They were all paired with wait staff wearing traditional whites and black aprons. There were also dedicated food runners, who would present the plate to you and describe the dish in detail (even though you'd just ordered it and should remember what it was.)
Overall, the service was some of the best that I'd ever witnessed. Jeff, if this review somehow finds its way to you, I'd truly like to thank you for an outstanding dining experience. (And once again, props on your pen selection. The Zebra F-301 is a fine writing instrument.)
Drinks:
Gin and tonic: Hendrick's, tonic water, ice, cucumber garnish. So simple, yet so easy to screw up. August did not screw this up. First of all, the drink arrived at the table roughly 3 minutes after I ordered it. The pour was so fresh that the first sip flooded my mouth and sinuses with still settling gin vapors, instantly placing me in an outstanding mood. My wife had some sort of girly mixed drink that she loved. It was pink, and I wasn't interested in it.
Amuse bouche:
I missed out on the description of what exactly this was due to the symphony like quality of the screeching harpies at the table next to us (drunk, loud, middle aged white women are really annoying ) but it was delicious. Served in a chicken egg, it was a foamy custard with a strong note of garlic. Topped with a single leaf of parsley and small dollop of caviar, it was delicious. Airy and dense at the same time, very strongly flavored.
Saturday night: August
First off, let me say that this was one of the most beautiful restaurants I've ever seen. Our reservation was for 8:00, so it was already very dark outside. Approaching the outside of the building from Canal, the opulence and exquisiteness of the whole thing is very well hidden until you're right on top of the restaurant.
Stepping through the heavy double doors flanked by gas lanterns, the hostess stand and bar area are dark but welcoming. Immediately to the right is one of the main dining areas: brilliantly lit, raw brick walls are a great contrast point to the beautiful detail work and graceful, shining chandeliers in the room. Large windows look out over Tchopitoulas Street, giving those outside a glimpse at the impossibly white, impossibly wrinkle free linens, gleaming, polished silver wine buckets, and bustling service people.
At this point, I was exceedingly glad that I'd heeded glassman's advice and wore a jacket. I saw a few men wearing slacks and shirts, and while they didn't look out of place, I felt it a disservice to the experience as a whole to not look my best.
A few steps down a hallway led us to the room where we dined. A beautiful and stark contrast to the dazzling brilliance of the front dining room, this room was dimly lit, with dark rich woods surrounding us. Photographs of individual ingredients adorned the walls. Above us, a ceiling fan lent a welcome breeze to the warm air. And speaking of above us...a few hundred thousand dollars worth of wine. The mezzanine, in a U-shape, stood above our heads, proudly displaying bottles of deliciousness behind glass.
Speaking of wine, I was happy to see a sommelier working her way between tables, retrieving bottles, her wine stained napkin draped over her arm. I personally don't really enjoy wine that much, but I always find it to be reassuring to have someone who takes the beverage so seriously present; it certainly lends a sense of credibility and assuredness to the whole affair.
Once seated, we were quickly greeted by Jeff who was to be our...wait person, I suppose? August has a service methodology which I've never seen before, but thoroughly enjoyed. The main server (all that I saw were men) wore suits, took the orders, made suggestions, ran drinks, refilled waters, etc. They were all paired with wait staff wearing traditional whites and black aprons. There were also dedicated food runners, who would present the plate to you and describe the dish in detail (even though you'd just ordered it and should remember what it was.)
Overall, the service was some of the best that I'd ever witnessed. Jeff, if this review somehow finds its way to you, I'd truly like to thank you for an outstanding dining experience. (And once again, props on your pen selection. The Zebra F-301 is a fine writing instrument.)
Drinks:
Gin and tonic: Hendrick's, tonic water, ice, cucumber garnish. So simple, yet so easy to screw up. August did not screw this up. First of all, the drink arrived at the table roughly 3 minutes after I ordered it. The pour was so fresh that the first sip flooded my mouth and sinuses with still settling gin vapors, instantly placing me in an outstanding mood. My wife had some sort of girly mixed drink that she loved. It was pink, and I wasn't interested in it.
Amuse bouche:
I missed out on the description of what exactly this was due to the symphony like quality of the screeching harpies at the table next to us (drunk, loud, middle aged white women are really annoying ) but it was delicious. Served in a chicken egg, it was a foamy custard with a strong note of garlic. Topped with a single leaf of parsley and small dollop of caviar, it was delicious. Airy and dense at the same time, very strongly flavored.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:18 pm to Schwartz
Damn...need the money shot...you go to sleep?
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:39 pm to Schwartz
Apps
Gnocchi with crab:
Wife ordered this one, and I only stole a small taste. The gnocchi was perfectly dense with just a little bite to the pasta. Light cream sauce and generous yet thin shaves of cheese topped everything. I don't know if there were lumps of crab in the sauce or gnocchi, but the flavor was in the bite I got: strong crab flavor, but not overwhelming.
P&J garlic crusted oysters, bacon and cream cheese dumplings:
This dish was, simply put, near perfect. The dumplings were about the size of an almond, stuffed with gooey cream cheese and perfectly salty and crunchy bacon. The sauce seemed to be pesto based. I ended up nearly licking the bowl clean. Rich, salty, garlicy...it was wonderful. A few fresh halved cherry tomatoes were thrown in after cooking so that they were barely wilted on the outside. They soaked up the sauce beautifully. There were also a few bites of lardon mixed in that added a perfect blend of salt and fat to the dish.
My only complaint with this dish: the oysters themselves. They were delicious, but severely lacking in abundance. The dumplings provided plenty of substance and flavor, but I still would have liked to see the oysters be a bit more prevalent.
Lamb, roasted vegetables:
Perfectly mid rare lamb saddle stuffed with pulled lamb shoulder. I'm unsure exactly what the sauce was, but it was divine. The saddle was delicious. Lots of that "lamb" flavor without being overpowering, cooked wonderfully. The shoulder was a perfect accompaniment, lending rich and dark flavors to the dish.
The vegetables were lined up on the left side of the plate, interspersed with rounds of browned lamb sausage. The sausage was tender, salty, not overly fatty, and had great flavor. As for the vegetables: I could have made a meal of just them. I've never seen such wondrous colors on cauliflower. Roasted to perfection, along with Brussels sprouts. My one complaint with the dish is that I could have used a few more veggies.
Smoked marrow encrusted filet:
Yes...I know. Who the hell orders a filet at a place like this? Well, my wife does evidently. I'm glad she did, too, because it was amazing. The marrow crust had the perfect crunch and deep, rich flavor. The steak was beautifully seasoned and cooked. It was served with some sort of cheesy potato mash.
Dessert:
Chocolate napoleon:
Spongy, dark chocolate cake. Moist, bittersweet.
Chocolate toffee crunchy wafer
Chocolate mousse
Another wafer
Ice cream
Not overly decadent, but delicious.
Banana pudding
I only stole one bite of this, but it was amazing. Was deconstructed, served with nilla wafer ice cream. Looked delicious.
Presented alongside the bill were 4 bites (per person) from the pastry kitchen. A cookie, blueberry turnover, caramel cake, and...something else that I don't recall. Great touch to complete the evening.
Overall, this was one of the finest dining experiences that I've ever had, and I can't wait to go back.
Total, without tip: $220
Gnocchi with crab:
Wife ordered this one, and I only stole a small taste. The gnocchi was perfectly dense with just a little bite to the pasta. Light cream sauce and generous yet thin shaves of cheese topped everything. I don't know if there were lumps of crab in the sauce or gnocchi, but the flavor was in the bite I got: strong crab flavor, but not overwhelming.
P&J garlic crusted oysters, bacon and cream cheese dumplings:
This dish was, simply put, near perfect. The dumplings were about the size of an almond, stuffed with gooey cream cheese and perfectly salty and crunchy bacon. The sauce seemed to be pesto based. I ended up nearly licking the bowl clean. Rich, salty, garlicy...it was wonderful. A few fresh halved cherry tomatoes were thrown in after cooking so that they were barely wilted on the outside. They soaked up the sauce beautifully. There were also a few bites of lardon mixed in that added a perfect blend of salt and fat to the dish.
My only complaint with this dish: the oysters themselves. They were delicious, but severely lacking in abundance. The dumplings provided plenty of substance and flavor, but I still would have liked to see the oysters be a bit more prevalent.
Lamb, roasted vegetables:
Perfectly mid rare lamb saddle stuffed with pulled lamb shoulder. I'm unsure exactly what the sauce was, but it was divine. The saddle was delicious. Lots of that "lamb" flavor without being overpowering, cooked wonderfully. The shoulder was a perfect accompaniment, lending rich and dark flavors to the dish.
The vegetables were lined up on the left side of the plate, interspersed with rounds of browned lamb sausage. The sausage was tender, salty, not overly fatty, and had great flavor. As for the vegetables: I could have made a meal of just them. I've never seen such wondrous colors on cauliflower. Roasted to perfection, along with Brussels sprouts. My one complaint with the dish is that I could have used a few more veggies.
Smoked marrow encrusted filet:
Yes...I know. Who the hell orders a filet at a place like this? Well, my wife does evidently. I'm glad she did, too, because it was amazing. The marrow crust had the perfect crunch and deep, rich flavor. The steak was beautifully seasoned and cooked. It was served with some sort of cheesy potato mash.
Dessert:
Chocolate napoleon:
Spongy, dark chocolate cake. Moist, bittersweet.
Chocolate toffee crunchy wafer
Chocolate mousse
Another wafer
Ice cream
Not overly decadent, but delicious.
Banana pudding
I only stole one bite of this, but it was amazing. Was deconstructed, served with nilla wafer ice cream. Looked delicious.
Presented alongside the bill were 4 bites (per person) from the pastry kitchen. A cookie, blueberry turnover, caramel cake, and...something else that I don't recall. Great touch to complete the evening.
Overall, this was one of the finest dining experiences that I've ever had, and I can't wait to go back.
Total, without tip: $220
This post was edited on 1/22/12 at 7:53 pm
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:41 pm to Schwartz
quote:
I'd heeded glassman's advice and wore a jacket.
I mean... really????
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:44 pm to Schwartz
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:45 pm to glassman
That was the exact though running through my mind when we walked in.
You're that important to me, Uncle glass.
You're that important to me, Uncle glass.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:46 pm to Schwartz
quote:
Schwartz
One of the best reviews ever posted on here. Great job.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 7:49 pm to Schwartz
quote:
You're that important to me, Uncle glass.
I love all members of the tribe.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 8:13 pm to Schwartz
Great reviews Schwartz. You are wrong though. You are a great writer.
Oh and I hope it isn't hard for you to remove your head from glassman's arse.
Oh and I hope it isn't hard for you to remove your head from glassman's arse.
Posted on 1/22/12 at 8:15 pm to Winkface
I'm sure he'll do something to piss me off tomorrow, don't worry.
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