My Top 10 Meals Of 2013

10) Charcoal's Gourmet Burger Bar - New Orleans, LA

Burgers are dime a dozen, but a Turkey burger that tastes this good definitely leaves an impression.

9) Etta's Seafood Restaurant - Seattle, WA

Seattle is all about fresh seafood and while I was there, I took advantage. I had a lot of great food, but the Creamy Clam Chowder was one to remember.

8) Uvas Restaurant - Miami, FL

Sadly since I went this place had shut it doors, but I will always remember their Grilled Mahi-Mahi.

7) NOLA Restaurant - New Orleans, LA

I am in love with mussels and these Prince Edward Island Mussels had the best preparation I had all year.

6) Buddha Sushi Bar - Miami, FL

The Salmon Bola is a unique dish to describe, but regardless it is frickin delicious.

5) Central BBQ - Memphis, TN

I have never been to the actually restaurant and only got a little tease at a festival, but these BBQ Ribs have stayed on my mind.

4) Mojitos Rum Bar & Grill - New Orleans, LA

I'm Jamaican and even I was very impressed by these Jerk Chicken Skewers.

3) Restaurant Michael Schwartz - Miami Beach, FL

Miami Beach is for tourist and thus is full of a lot of bad food, and then to eat Steak Frites that is super good in an area that is saturated with this dish, it is a winner to me.

2) Maximo's Italian Grill - New Orleans, LA

I was unsure what to order and went out on a limb and ordered the New Zealand Lamb Rack and bottom line, I never knew lamb could taste this good.

1) Iris Restaurant - New Orleans, LA

The Duck Confit was one of the best things I have EVER eaten, but I got engaged that night so that is what makes this an automatic #1.

Destination Grand Lux Cafe: Cream of Chicken Soup, Asian Nachos, Crispy Calamari, Brie Wontons, Warm Rustic Apple Pie

Cream of Chicken Soup

Chicken, mushrooms, potatoes

Decent soups at restaurants such as this are hard to come by, so by those standards, it is really good and if you are a soup kind of person, it is surely worth the try.

Asian Nachos

Crispy Fried Wontons Covered with Chicken in a Sweet-Hot Peanut Sauce. Topped with Wasabi Cream and Melted Cheese

These nachos are an addiction for me. It is more sweet than spicy, but I could eat this all the time. 

Crispy Calamari 

Tender Calamari Served with Warm Marinara Sauce

It has a light batter that made it more airy than heavy and that is how I like it.

Brie Wontons 

Crispy Wrappers Filled with Creamy Brie Cheese, Fresh Pineapple and Caramelized Onion Marmalade

There wasn't anything really special about it, after all it is just cheese, but it was crispy and when it comes to fried, you cannot ask for anything more than that.

Warm Rustic Apple Pie 

Baked when you order it! Flaky Sugared Crust Filled with Fresh Apples and Topped with Vanilla Ice Cream and Caramel

It was awesome! If all else fails, you can always rely on delicious baked to order desserts at Grand Lux. Apple pies are typically not my thing but the crust was so flaky and tasty it could make you head spin.

Cochon Butcher - Central Business District - New Orleans, LA

My first Cochon's experience and it didn't disappoint. Of course, I got the Muffaletta and it was excellent. I have had Muffalettas at other places before and never really loved it but the one at Cochon Butcher works. The bread here is a lot softer and fluffier than the others places (which is why I never really loved this sandwich) and they toast it which makes it so much better. Since Cochon Butcher is not only a sandwich joint but also a butcher shop, the meat itself was on point, well-seasoned, and absolutely delicious!!

I also tried the Pastrami. Do not know what is was, but it was far better than the average pastrami sandwich. I have had the great New York pastrami sandwich piled high with meat and even that wasn't a contender when it came to the flavor of the pastrami meat at Cochon Butcher.

I was surprised to find tasty, sweet morsels at a butcher shop. I tried the bacon praline, which I was not a fan of, but the cookies are awesome!!

This location is pretty small so don't expect to find anyplace to sit down and eat your lunch in peace. Also, be ready to stand in line, especially during lunch. The staff here is pretty nice considering how busy they are. 

A superb find.


Cochon Butcher
930 Tchoupitoulas St, New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 588-7675
www.cochonbutcher.com

The Creole Creamery - Lakeview - New Orleans, LA (2 Locations)

It is never too cold for ice cream! Although it is in the 50s outside, I somehow ended up at Creole Creamery picking up a cone.

There wasn't a vast amount of flavors on display, but based on the website, they offer more than plenty. In honor of the Saints, I went for the Black & Gold Crunch. Creamy and flavorful, it was surely yummy! The homemade waffle cone was very light and not that thick, sugary, chewy stuff you may find in other places. Bottom line, it was guud!!!

The Creole Creamery

6260 Vicksburg Street New Orleans, LA 70124

(504) 482-2924

www.creolecreamery.com

Katie's Restaurant & Bar - Mid-City - New Orleans, LA

Katie's Restaurant & Bar is a cute neighborhood restaurant. The atmosphere was nice. Prices were reasonable. The staff needs to work on being friendlier and more efficient though. It is one of the restaurants that have been featured on Diners, Drive-Ins and Dive and the Food Network so it catches your attention but after eating here, I got the, its more hype than anything else feeling.

We started off with an appetizer of Onion Rings. Its odd I know, but that was because my dining companion decided to change his order and they said it was too late (even though it really wasn't) and our server brought it out before out food (further proving they could have changed the fries to onion rings). I didn't like them, my friend thought they were good. I didn't like them because they were baked and didn't a nice crunchy/crispy outer coating. He liked them because he said they were not greasy. 

From reading about their restaurant, I gathered that their handmade pizzas are what got them popularity. I must be in the minority though, because I didn't like it. We ordered The Terranova (Italian sausage, pepperoni, red onion, black olives, green bell peppers, and marinara). The marinara was too sweet for me and the pizza that was suppose to be made fresh to order and then fired over a Brooklyn-style stone didn't taste like that. It took long to come out but arrive room temperature and lacking that nice, crispy crust. I did like that it was thin but the compliments stop there.

What stood out to me on the menu were Scottie's Cnn Blackberry & Jalapeno Ribs. This was the saving grace of the meal. The sauce was a bit sweet but was offset by the spicy. The sides were pretty basic, but the flavor of the ribs makes me overlook that. The fries were your typical fried potato stick and the potato salad had more egg than anything else. The ribs were definitely good, I will give Katie's that.

Katie's Restaurant & Bar 

3701 Iberville St, New Orleans, LA 70119 (504) 488-6582 www.katiesinmidcity.com

Gelato-go - Miami Beach, FL

This is the second best gelato I have ever had in my life, even better than some that I tasted while in Italy. The say it is healthy and I will take their word for it, but it is so good even if it wasn't, it would not matter. Not only was the gelato amazing but the guys that own and operate the shop are too. The are some of the nicest people I have encountered in Miami. Their attitude made my the little shop even greater than it already was.

I cannot believe the Coconut Gelato was my favorite. Anytime I eat anything that is coconut flavored, I feel nauseous from that artificial taste, but their use of real coconut made me forget why I ever avoided anything coconut flavored.  Beyond the Coconut Gelato, everything is made with fresh ingredients and you can really taste it. I was also very impressed by the extremely creamy texture.

It is definitely worth checking out (or going there every day like I did while I was staying on South Beach). I highly recommend the coconut and pistachio (which is made with pistachios straight from Sicily).


Gelato-go
458 Ocean Dr Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 397-8648
www.gelatogo.net

Jimmy'z Kitchen SoBe - Miami Beach, FL

Miami and my need for Mofongo go hand in hand. With no Mofongo option in New Orleans (at least that I know of), while in South Florida, I knew I had to have it.

To satisfy my need, I headed to Jimmy'z Kitchen in SoBe. There are three locations, though I have not been to them all. The South Beach location is very small and mostly caters to take-out although there a a few tables of dining. This location also has a small parking lot which is a huge plus.

Anyways, back to the Mofongo. They prepare it in as many ways you could think of, I of course had to have the Mixed Seafood Mofongo. The saffron broth was very tasty and I was very satisfied with the amount of seafood in the dish. The plantains were yum to the tum but could have been a little softer. Overall, it was delicious though.

The food at Jimmy'z Kitchen doesn't just stop at Mofongo and they do serve other Spanish dishes, like grilled skirt steak with chimichurri sauce served with black beans, rice, and plantains. I just had an amazing Churrasco and Chimichurri the day before, so it is hard to be objective, but it was on par with other typical takeout meals. The chimichurri was a little too tart and if it had been fresher, it would have made the meal so much better.

The issue with Jimmy'z Kitchen was the service. They seem to cater to take-out, so service for dine-in was very lackluster. We asked for water, but were given very small cups of hot water and when we asked for ice, were told that they didn't have any (where they do that at?). So, the water debacle was a turnoff and took them down a notch. I would only go for the Mofongo and next time, I would order for take-out.


Jimmy'z Kitchen
1542 Alton Rd, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 534-8216
www.jimmyzkitchen.com

Restaurant Michael Schwartz - Miami Beach, FL

If you are looking for the complete Miami Beach dining experience, Restaurant Michael Schwartz is definitely worth checking out. Dining pool side at the Raleigh Hotel while eating locally inspired dishes is what it is all about.

No pool side meal is right without first getting your lips on the straw of a cocktail. I opted for a Belle Meade (Belvedere Vodka, blackberry, basil), but it left my tongue confused. Was there any alcohol in this? Obviously it did, but it was a weak drink and not worth the high price tag they attached it.

The guy who know nothing besides how to order a burger, ordered the Hamburger with cheddar. It was a tasty burger with delicious fries and a good size. It was an A burger.

I don't typical do steak but the Steak Frites was calling my name. It was a fabulous choice. A great cut of meat, fresh made chimichurri, again delicious fries and yummy salad. It was an amazing meal, I could eat again and again.

The atmosphere is chill, the food overall is delish and though the service need some improvement, it was pleasant. There are only a few places on South Beach that are worth it (though it has been improving) and I will most definitely add Restaurant Michael Schwartz to that list. 


Restaurant Michael Schwartz
1775 Collins Ave Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 612-1163
www.raleighhotel.com/dining/restaurant_michael_schwartz

Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse - Miami Beach, FL

I very rarely visit a steakhouse, but I wanted to do something special for my man, and since we were spending the weekend in South Beach, I figured a dinner at Smith & Wollensky, right by the water, would be a very nice gesture on my part.

Although I planned about a week before to have dinner here, mostly because of the ambiance; on the actualy night of out dinner it was really windy and regardless of all the planning, we ended up dining inside. Without the outside setting, Smith & Wollensky just wasn't very impressive and since we were seated in a small dining room, in a corner next to were they put the plates to serve and to clean, let's just say the ambiance wasn't for me.

This was Thanksgiving night and we already had a big lunch, so neither one of us was too hungry. Although it stopped us from ordering appitizers, it didn't stop us from ordering drinks. It's very cliche, but m drink of choice was a South Beach Mojito. It was a great cocktail, but I was disappointed in the size and the South Beach price.

Again, it was Thanksgiving, so service was a little slow and granted the restaurant was packed. They offered us the special menu, but I was not looking for a fluffed overpriced meal of turkey and stuffing and requested the regular menu. I ate theCoriander Seared Tuna, because it came with a jalapeno-lime sauce. Don't know why I said medum when I should have said rare so I was sad when it came and it was almost completely cooked (beyond medium). It was decent (could have been better had it been rare), but it I felt flavor wise it need a little something and I am not a fan of the thick cut.

My man, went for the Filet & Jumbo Stuffed Shrimp. He said the steak was good, but this is some high priced steak and at those prices, I was expecting a more excited reaction. The jumbo shrimp with lump crab meat was off the chain though (or so I thought).

Even though I dissed the Thanksgiving menu earlier on in the evening, I really wanted the Pecan Pie and our waiter made sure to accommodate our request. I loved it, but I am also obsessed with this dessert in general and try to get it any chance I can.

The food was enjoyable, but nothing worth seeking out and if it was only about the food, I would never go back there, but, in Miami Beach, Smith & Wollensky has an ideal location and it will always be a little enticing to stop in for a meal or even just for drinks.


Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse
1 Washington Ave, Miami Beach, FL 33139
(305) 673-2800
www.smithandwollensky.com