Muriel's Jackson Square - French Quarter - New Orleans, LA

The second stop on my COOLinary dining experience is none other than Muriel's Jackson Square. Located smack-dab in the hustle and bustle of Jackson Square, it is hard not to take notice of this restaurant. Obviously my curiosity set in and after months of living in New Orleans, I finally set foot in the place.

Although the building had been around for a ridiculous amount of years (from the 1700s kind of years), Muriel's had only occupied the building since the 2000s and even though the building is old as hell, the restaurant decor was a modern representation of what a dining room would have looked like back then.

I always start my meal at a restaurant with one of their signature cocktails. They have a pretty interested list but Honey Child sounded about right for me. Vodka, blackberries and basil, OH MY! Most cocktail preparations focus on the sweet or fruitiness of the fruit but in this cocktail, the alcohol was the focus (as it should always be) and the addition of chambord didn't make me mad either.

The Shrimp and Goat Cheese Crepes appetizer was extremely appetizing. It was like eating homemade ravioli in a luscious buttery sauce that tantalizes your tongue.

The Gorgonzola Prosciutto Tart was good but not as fabulous as the crepes. Honestly it was a cheese tart with a few crumbs of prosciutto on top but when combined with the apple, blackberries and the sweet honeyed pecans, it was a lovely starting dish.

The Pecan Crusted Puppy Drum was exquisite. I was impressed by the lightness of the batter and the delicate flavor of the sauce. We added crabmeat to the dish which took it up a notch, but despite any strong flavor, it was still a distinctive entree.

I am all about seafood and combining shrimp, fish and crabmeat into one entree is like being able to choose three men and make them into one dream man. The sauce was a well-prepared, rich and heavenly flavored concoction of ingredients. The biscuit had a slight sweetness to it.

I tried to avoid the Bread Pudding (a dessert at every restaurant) but the server probably heard me wrong when I asked for the Butterscotch Pudding and brought out the Bread Pudding instead. It looked so good and I am not one for complaining so I didn't bother to correct it. I am glad I didn't because it turned out to be one of the better Bread Puddings in the city. The candied pecans and rum sauce killed it (in a good way).

The other dessert choice was the Flourless Chocolate Cake. It was divine but was richer than Oprah. It was moist, dense and smooth like fudge.

This may be a quintessential tourist restaurant in the French Quarter, however after my experience I highly recommend it. The food is a superb representation of Cajun/creole cuisine and let's not that forget that the service is impeccable and that they aim to please. My only issue (if you can really call it that), was that I did feel a little rushed but I'll chalk it up to attentive service and I can't get made at that.


Muriel's Jackson Square
801 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 568-1885
www.muriels.com

K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen - French Quarter - New Orleans, LA

K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen has been a staple in New Orleans cuisine for such a long time that I felt that it was worth checking out and what better time than COOLinary to experience a sampling of their food. One thing I say when dining out in New Orleans is never leave home without a reservation. No matter how long the line is or how empty the restaurant, it is imperative and they will try to deny you without one.

We arrived at the restaurant and were seated in the second floor dining room. I liked it a lot better than the first floor since it was a little more open and offered better lightening. The feeling of the restaurant was the typical New Orleans vibe. It was a lovely setting!

Service at the restaurant is very professional and well organized. Not much of a a personal rapport was established, but we were given attentive service. I never felt rushed and I welcome that fact the a little bit of time was lapsed between courses allowing me to digest a little bit. Be aware that if you are a COOLinary diner, you will have to request the menu.

Dinner doesn't start without a cocktail (at least that's what I say), so I ordered a Pomegranate Martini. This was a fabulous martini with the right balance of alcohol and sweet. It was very refreshing on a hot summer night!

My appetizer selection was the Fried Green Tomatoes battered in seasoned cornmeal and layered with sauteed fresh shrimp in a chipotle remoulade sauce. The tomatoes itself were a little lackluster and I definitely wasn't into the thick batter however the shrimp was titillating on my tongue.

My friend had the Gumbo. It was satisfying if you never had Gumbo before but to compare it to others at different restaurants, it was only fair.

After that little tease, I was ready to eat. I had no hesitation to order the Shrimp and Andouille Creole. It was a tasty dish comprised of fresh ingredients and great flavor. The tomato sort of overpowered the delicate flavors of the shrimp and rice but the Andouille shined through. The veggies were so unimpressive they distracted from the dish.

The entree of choice for my friend was the Pan-Fried Flounder with Herbal Brie Cream. The fish was fresh and well prepared. The batter again was a little thick but the sauce was wonderful and made the dish.

After dinner I was stuffed so although dessert was already ordered, I was not not really looking forward to it. Don't know how I did it but I found some room in my stomach for a slice of Sweet Potato Pecan Pie (some of it). It was heavenly! The Pecans definitely add a necessary element missing from from plain Sweet Potato Pies. I liked that it was sweet but not deathly sweet and the chantilly cream was ooh-wee!!

To take advantage of trying another option we also ordered the Bread Pudding. It had more of a pudding consistency that a lot of other bread puddings. It was good but again in a city where almost everyone serves this dessert it was all right in the scheme of things.

The atmosphere was relaxed, the service was on point and the food was splendid however had I not been dining during COOLinary I would have found the prices to be unreasonable. At their regular prices, I would rather dine someplace else.


K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
416 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 596-2530
www.chefpaul.com/kpaul

The Flaming Torch - Uptown - New Orleans, LA

The Flaming Torch is a casually elegant restaurant located just steps from historic Magazine Street that serves a nice selection of French inspired dishes.

My boyfriend and I made reservations at the restaurant for a early date night dinner. When we arrived at the restaurant, we were greeted by a nice gentleman who was also our server. Upon seating us, we were presented with the drink menu. While looking over the wine list, I noted that there were a few bottles that were reasonably priced. I will admit I have drank an entire bottle of wine by myself but since my boyfriend isn't one for wine (and I didn't want to get drunk at a restaurant), I opted with just a glass of Merlot. With French cuisine, you may not be looking to pair with beer, but that is an option.

Our very attentive server went over all the specials with us and hyped the French Onion Soup they are famous for so I decided to give it a try. It was divine but way too cheesy. The cheese was clumping and could have become a choking hazard if I was not careful but by eating around some of the cheese, I was able to enjoy it.

For my main course, I had the Scallops with Chimichurri Sauce and Corn Hash. The scallops were perfectly pan seared and when paired with the sauce and hash it was a heavenly dish I could eat over and over again.

My boyfriend had Filet Mignon with Mashed Potatoes and Asparagus. He ordered it medium but it was actually cooked medium well. Despite that the meat was still tender and juicy. He loved it and talked about wanting to come back.

Although not on the menu, they have dessert options. My boyfriend is obsessed with Bread Pudding so we shared one. He thoroughly enjoyed it but since it is not a dessert I love I found the sauce to be the main draw of the dessert. It was a decent bread pudding.

I may have gone at a great or bad time (depending on how you see it), because the place was empty but as a result the I found the service and atmosphere were excellent. It was a bit pricey but the food was fantastic so money ain't a thang.


The Flaming Torch

737 Octavia St New Orleans, LA 70115 (504) 895-0900 www.flamingtorchnola.com