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| The modern, chic interior of Mesón 923 in Nola's Warehouse District. |
John and I have been spending several long weekends of late in New Orleans, one of our favorite cities in the United States. New Orleans is pure magic—from its inimitable spirit and phoenix-like qualities to its culture, architecture, gardens, dining and hotels. Several of our New York friends have relocated to the Crescent City recently, and this gives us ample opportunity to fly south for a few days.
Happily, our relocated pals love to eat, so we spend languid weekends at wonderful brunches and Sazerac-fueled dinners. Sazerac is the cocktail of choice in New Orleans: rye whiskey paired with Peychaud’s Bitters, one sugar cube, a splash of Herbsaint and a lemon peel. Potent and punchy.
But back to Big Easy eats. Mark Twain once said, “New Orleans food is as delicious as the less criminal forms of sin.” And, indeed, Nola restaurants are wonderful, decadent and a bit sinful.
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| One of chef Baruch Rabasa's elegant dishes at Mesón 923. |
This past weekend, we tried two new-ish Nola restaurants that sent us over the moon. The first, Mesón 923, occupies a spare, contemporary, bi-level storefront in the happening Warehouse District. While the name may be Spanish (mesón translates as “restaurant”), Mesón 923 is not a tapas restaurant or a paella joint. Settle in under the watchful eye of gracious owner Astrid LaVenia and set sail on an accessible, yet exotic culinary journey courtesy of very talented chef Baruch Rabasa. Rabasa is definitely one to watch, I was bowled over by his masterful cooking. Kick off your meal with the sublime yellowfin tuna tartar with Asian pear and quail yolk. While tuna tartar has become something of a fine-dining menu staple, here the preparation surprises and delights with its freshness and colorful presentation. Next up might be the daily preparation of scallops or the slow-roasted duck breast with Vidalia onions and root vegetables. Stunning! Note to the wise: Forget the much-vaunted, resting-upon-its-laurels Restaurant August just down the street, and hightail it to this sleeper gem.
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| The exterior of Sylvain restaurant in the heart of the French Quarter. |
The other highlight of our quickie escape was our friend Sean McCusker’s six-month-old Sylvain, situated in the heart of the French Quarter upon bustling Chartres Street. A former New Yorker, McCusker has crafted his dream restaurant, a busy, casual-chic eatery in a historic setting with an eclectic, wonderfully priced menu. Sylvain is everything I want in a buzzy, hopping bistro. Start with the stellar, buttery chicken liver crostini topped with sprouts or the surprisingly light fried eggplant with a lemon aioli. Move on to the shaved Brussels sprouts salad with apples, Pecorino cheese and hazelnuts. Then luxuriate over the perfect duck confit with stewed white beans or the classic Sylvain burger with sharp cheddar cheese and crispy fries. Pair your meal with a cool Albariño or Walnut City Wineworks Pinot Noir. Sylvain is a winner!
We are back to New Orleans next weekend, so stay tuned for even more updates.
To see more photos from my trip, click here.