Hurricanes, swamps and ‘gators

Early start this morning to fit in breakfast at La Cote for their acclaimed vanilla sourdough french toast.  Not on the menu and we had the banana chocolate french toast instead which, although yummy, was essentially a fried cake and not really what I was after for breakfast.

Chocolate banana "french toast" with caramel sauce

After tours of Oak Alley plantation (enjoyed a mint julep there – thankfully virgin as the real deal was way too potent for me) and some swamps (only two smallish alligators spotted but it was great to travel on the bayous and riding on the airboat was fun) SP and I were keen for a muffaletta.  Unfortunately the Central Grocer was out by the time we got there, so we went to Napoleon House instead.  The Napoleon House version was toasted and filled with ham, salami, pastrami, swiss cheese, provolone cheese, and olive salad.  Superb.

Muffuletta

Dinner was at Arnaud’s.  I had the alligator sausage, served with a mustard sauce and apple and onion relish.  In addition to being beautifully presented this dish tasted fantastic.  All of the parts worked together perfectly.

Alligator sausage with mustard sauce and apple and onion relish

I haven’t had quail before so thought I’d give this a try.  Mine were stuffed with a foie gras mousse, wrapped in bacon and served with a truffle-infused Bordelaise sauce.  It was good but not brilliant because of the excess of strong, competing flavours.

Quail with a foie gras mousse, bacon and truffle-infused Bordelaise sauce

Dessert was a cream cheese-filled crepe with a caramel praline sauce.  Delicious.

Crepe with cream cheese and caramel praline sauce

Finally (at that restaurant – the evening was still young!) I had the cafe brulot.  This citrus, spice and alcohol infused flambed coffee was spectacularly prepared at the table.  A highlight of the trip.

 

Cafe brulot in preparation

Cafe brulot in preparation

Cafe brulot

 

The final food for the evening was a carrot, ginger and marscapone gelato from La Divina Gelateria.  Delicious.

 

Carrot, ginger and marscapone gelato

 

The evening concluded with a trip to Pat O’Briens piano bar and a Hurricane.  The piano bar was kind of fun.  Would pass on the Hurricane in the future as it was sickly sweet (even for me) and boozy (ok, to be expected, but I kind of hoped the sweetness would make up for it).

 

Hurricane

 

 

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