Q: Why did the drunk vegetarian cross Frenchmen Street?
A: To get to 13 Monaghan!
Don’t you love my jokes? No? Well then, I hope you love Daniele’s latest vegetarian post. –Leslie
Have you ever found yourself craving sustenance on Frenchmen Street after a few hours of drinking and dancing at the various music clubs on said street? I know I have. And when that happens, I usually end up at 13 Monaghan. Past the narrow bar area (and the frozen Irish coffee machine), the back of 13 opens into a restaurant area with about a half-dozen tables. It’s a nice little spot to take a break from the crowds and smoke.
There are 2 main reasons I keep going back to 13:
Reason #1
They have lots of vegetarian options on their menu. Being able to choose from more than one vegetarian dish on a restaurant’s menu is quite a luxury in this town. In my mental list of New Orleans restaurants, I put a little gold star next to the places that offer me choices. 13’s menu has a pretty good variety of salads, pizzas, and sandwiches. They also have breakfast items, though I haven’t tried them since I’ve never been there during daylight hours. Be sure to check the specials board for even more vegetarian options. One of my favorite dishes at 13 is the BBQ tofu po’boy, pictured below.
Reason #2
Tachos. Tater-tot… nachos. Yup. Nachos made with tater tots instead of tortilla chips – it’s basically the ultimate drunk food. I’ve noticed two reactions when I inform people that such a thing exists: they squeal with glee, or their jaws drop in disbelief that no one thought to put this creation on a bar’s menu sooner. They are just as good as you think they are. Possibly better if you forgot to imagine them with black beans, jalapenos, and cups of sour cream and salsa on the side.
One thing to keep in mind is that most of 13’s food is baked instead of fried, so it takes a little longer to make it to your table. But waiting isn’t a problem when there is a fully-stocked bar (and a frozen Irish coffee machine) just steps away.
I can’t believe I forgot to post this sooner! If you’re curious about the raw lifestyle, the Metairie Whole Foods Market is featuring a terrific presentation by Christina DeLeon, local raw food advocate.
Pepper Soup - TotallyRawsome.com
Saturday, August 28th
No Heat in the Kitchen: A Raw Cooking Demo
Whole Foods Market Veterans
3420 Veterans Blvd., (504) 888-8225
12 to 2 p.m., Free
Local Christina DeLeon of Totally Rawsome will share organic, vegan, gluten-free dinner options designed to keep folks cool in the kitchen. Attendees will learn how to incorporate new meals solely using organic, raw foods. More information is available at www.totallyrawsome.com.
And if raw isn’t your thing…
Saturday, August 28th
Tailgate Throwdown
Whole Foods Market Arabella Station
5600 Magazine St., (504) 899-9119
12 to 2 p.m., Free
It’s time to throw down the tailgate and get ready for serious football season food. Arabella Station’s tailgating experts will sample amazing fare for all the football fans and share favorite recipes.
It’s past the time most people tend to engage in lunch-like activities, so I’m sitting at my desk, wondering what I will do for nourishment. I decided to look to my Vault O’ Food Pics for inspiration, and came across some shots I took several months ago during a lunch meeting at Capdeville. Now I’ve got the Manchego La Mancha Burger on my mind. Capdeville Burger Tip: I *highly* recommend ordering a hunk of the crispy duck cracklings to go right on top of your patty.
Today is a very exciting day, my friends. This evening, the brand spanking new Downtown New Orleans Pinkberry opens. I know what you’re saying; “Leslie, I too think that delicious frozen yogurt is one of the most important issues facing society today.” I know this, and that is why I have brought you this news.
Head down to the Doubletree Hotel on Canal Street tonight from 6 ’til 10 and join me in celebrating the frozen goodness with a free Pinkberry tasting. Tips from the complimentary tasting and a portion of Friday’s sales will benefit the Louisiana Children’s Museum. As if light and tangy frozen yogurt wasn’t incentive enough!
You can find directions to the Canal Street Pinkberry here: 300 Canal Street, on the corner of Tchoupitoulas Street and S. Peters Street in front of the Doubletree Hotel Downtown. Parking is easy and cheap at The Shops At Canal Place parking garage.
If you follow me on Twitter, you may have seen that I wanted to get some feedback on what the next NOLA Eats social dining event would be. Well, here’s your chance to be heard. Please only vote if you are interested in attending NOLA Eats events, just to keep it fair. Thanks!
As I mentioned previously, Chef Cat Cora, the first and only female Iron Chef, hosted a demo and signing of her latest book, Cat Cora’s Classics with a Twist: Fresh Takes on Favorite Dishes, at Macy’s Lakeside. I and a few other local food bloggers were invited to meet Chef Cat before her demo for Q&A and a photo op. The picture that was taken of Chef Cat and I came out a bit blurry, but I thought it was still worth sharing.
Chef Cat is a Southern-raised Greek mother and business woman, just like someone else I know; Me! Naturally, I had to give her a “Greek Girls” high-five. For my question, I asked Chef Cat how she manages to build her brand while also playing mom to four young boys. Her secret, she shared, is to constantly reinvent herself and not allow herself to be pigeonholed or stereotyped. At any given time, she doesn’t concentrate on only “Greek” or only “Southern” cuisine. She’s a mother, but not a “mommy chef”. She goes on to note that you cannot be all those things and then not celebrate them, but to avoid stereotypes, you must not exclusively concentrate on one aspect of yourself. Her answers really hit home, as I am a mother (shout yo mouth!), but do not think of myself as only a “mommy blogger”, even if I write about my kids on occasion. Thanks for the great advice, Chef!
After our time with Chef Cat, we took our reserved seats right in front of the cooking platform. She had a full house to cook for, and cook she did. She prepared grilled chili-lime flank steak soft tacos, charred pineapple salsa and broccoli slaw as the entree. For dessert, Chef Cat showed us how to make an easy grapefruit and cherry ambrosia with honey cream. Toward the end of the show, we were treated to generous portions of each item, and I left full and entertained.
I took many, many pictures, so I do hope you enjoy my favorites below. I’ve discovered that Chef Cat Cora has a VERY loyal fan base, so if you would like the original files of any of the pictures, I would be happy to share them. Additionally, if you would like the recipe for any of the dishes she prepared, I have that to share, as well.
Combine new media & social networking with food & libations and you get NOLA Eats, a New Orleans-based social dining group and blog. Founder, Event Coordinator and habitual socializer Leslie J. Almeida writes about her favorites in New Orleans restaurants and nightlife while promoting a "live local" lifestyle.
You can follow more of Leslie's NOLA adventures by connecting with her on Twitter, Facebook and Flickr.
, at Macy’s Lakeside. I and a few other local food bloggers were invited to meet Chef Cat before her demo for Q&A and a photo op. The picture that was taken of Chef Cat and I came out a bit blurry, but I thought it was still worth sharing.
