After we got settled in and took a little rest we headed over to Commander’s Palace for the Jazz Brunch. Commander’s Palace is right on Washington, about 4 blocks from St. Charles so it was an easy walk to the restaurant. We walked out of the sunshine and through the entrance and we were immediately engulfed by the air conditioning (I felt like I was walking into an old fashion ice box) We sat in the main dining room just to the right of the entrance. All of the tables had bushels of balloons on them- which provided a festive atmosphere (almost child-like...as if I expected Mickey and Minnie Mouse to pop out from the Kitchen and greet us table side...anyone who has been to Disney will know what this experience feels like).
I knew it was going to be a fancy experience when the waiter placed the napkin on my lap for me, but I had no idea about the incredible food experience that lay ahead. We all ordered the Jazz Brunch special-- I ordered Turtle Soup with Sherry, The Cochon de Lait, and the famous bread pudding soufflé known as the “Queen of Soufflé."
The first course came out with 4 waiters in tow. With an ease only accomplished through months of practice, the waiters -in perfect synchronization- poured the soup into our bowls. Then with the swish of the waiter's wrist, my turtle soup was magically dressed with Sherry and ready to eat. It was Delicious! The broth was rich and very creamy with a texture similar to that of bean soup. The flavor was also nice and strong with a good amount of salt (Just the way I like it!)
Then the main course came out and I almost died! It was a roasted pig's shoulder-pulled pork style-drenched in delicious gravy with red peppers and other vegetables. The pork was graced by the presence of two perfectly poached eggs drizzled with gourmet hollandaise sauce. All of this was sitting on top of a buttered southern biscuit! It was TO DIE FOR! I cannot even tell you how delicious this dish was and how much I loved it! The pork was so tender...the gravy so flavorful and the eggs and hollandaise sauce paired with the southern biscuit really added a unique texture to the dish. It was a circus of flavors perfectly coordinated for my palate.
Then the DESSERT came and I think I may have died and gone to heaven! The soufflé was magical, but non challant, a pale creamy color with a sort of blush to the fluffy bread. Immediately after setting the dish on the table, the waiter broke the soufflé with one deft thwack of the spoon and poured whiskey cream sauce into the steaming pastry! The first bite was so magical, it was one of THOSE perfect food moments! I savored the perfectly balanced dessert. I was smiling while trying to chew while trying to exclaim to my mom and aunt how good it was!
My mom’s pecan pie was EXCELLENT as well! The flavoring was so subtle- you could tell it was a REAL homemade pecan pie and not some fake store-bought pie. My Aunt Noreen had a great praline parfait that tasted like the Onassis dessert at Christos in Pittsburgh- the cinnamon honey ice cream encased by a vanilla cookie cylinder with whipped cream and pralines as dressing.Then we left Commander’s Palace with our wallets a little lighter and our stomachs WAY fuller!
We took the street car down to the French Quarter and we did a bit of boutique shopping and we headed to The Historic New Orleans Collection Research Center to look at some New Orleans restaurant menus from the 19th century.That evening, we met at my boss Liz’s house for dinner at 7:00. The food was fabulous. Chicken cacciatore with garlic bread and a side salad. Simple and delicious. A "little Italy" right in the middle of Louisiana! I wasn’t even hungry after Commander's Palace, but the dinner was very good and I really like the chicken dish (which I had never had before).
The next morning we went to the Prytania movie theater to see An American in Paris. It was a perfect Prytania-Classic-Movie-Day. We had delicious freshly popped popcorn which we munched on while watching a Bugs Bunny Cartoon (prelude to the featured film). Afterward we helped ourselves to the complimentary Coffee and cookies and headed back out into the sunshine in the direction of Magazine Street which is known for its eclectic boutiques and old school cafes.
That evening, we returned to Commander's Palace (Because one time wasnt enough) for cocktails, appetizers, and dessert! I had the Oyster a la “Dom” which was absolutely amazing. It came out in a little ceramic bowl and inside was a cream sauce that was heavily flavored with tarragon and potatoes. The poaches oysters were bathing in this heavenly sauce and atop all of this was a crispy flaky pastry. The oysters were piping hot and plump- when you bit down on the oyster there was an explosion of flavor! We all got different kinds of desserts. My aunt Noreen had a chocolate volcano explosion type dessert, I had the bread pudding soufflé again, and my mom had a delicious peach and marzipan with mint sauce dessert. It was a perfect ending to a perfect weekend visit! Thanks for coming down to the Crescent City Mom and Aunt Noreen!
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