Po-Boys Don't Eat Out

Lent is upon us, and I wondered with Mardi Gras over would my blog once again flounder, but then came my tax return. And with that cash in hand I went on a tour de chow down, from po-boys, buffets, and all the way to fine dining and back. And while my waist line may not be benefitting, I have an idea of what the heavenly banquet will be like, cause if they don't have debris gravy in heaven, I might have to sneak some in.

Gravy should be on most things.

So let's start at the beginning of my journey. On Meaty-Thursday, the beefiest of days between Ash Wednesday and the first Friday of Lent I decided I had to make it to Domilise's Po-Boy and Bar for the Roast Beef & Swiss. Domilise's is tucked away on Annunciation street, and is about as homey and run-down looking as a place can be, while still having charm. And this po-boy is magic, covered in debris gravy, creole mustard and some amazing roast beef, this Meaty-Thursday trip was well worth it. Have it with a bag of Zapp's Voo-Doo BBQ if you want the whole New Orleans sandwich experience at one time. If you think you can handle it.

The next stop on the culinary circuit was the Treme institution of Creole cooking, Dooky Chase Restaurant. Open since 1941, leaders of the civil rights movement gathered here for meetings in the 1960s. The owner, Miss Leah Chase is a local legend and an award winning chef. We went for the lunch buffet, and the red beans and rice with sausage was possibly the best version of red beans I might have ever had. The food is buffet style and so for a decent price you can eat as much as you want. Also being served that day was pork chops, catfish, and a small salad bar. I didn't see many patrons spend much time lingering over the salad bar. The downside is the soft drinks are not free refill, so my advice, drink beer, you won't feel silly paying for a couple of 'em.

And to end my gastro-cation, (yes, that was a stretch) I went to Dante's Kitchen Uptown right off of River Road in the River-Bend, for one of the best meals I might have ever had. I might be sounding hyperbolic, but really, it was some of the best food I have ever had the chance to gourmandize, because yes, I do consider myself a gourmand after this week. We started with the Charcuterie, a fancy meat and cracker platter. And while it was a bit small for an appetizer, the pork salami that we had was amazing. It came with whiskey mustard, pickled watermelon, and figs. Then they brought out sweet molasses bread dripping with a spoonful of honey butter, which we gobbled up. My friend Mar ordered the braised beef cheeks, which where phenomenal. We ordered two sides to share, grits, and turnip greens, which both blew me out of the water. And I had the braised rabbit pasta, which was transcendent. The food honestly brought me closer to God. We finished with a walnut-apple pie and a chocolate-meringue cloud. And I thought about going outside to smoke a cigarette, it was that good. Maybe I just haven't had upscale fine dining kind of food in awhile, but seriously, check out Dante's if you live in New Orleans, or if you're visiting.

Keep eating.

Yeah You Right, Joe.