New Orleans Top 10 (and then some)

A friend of mine and fellow-foodie recently posed a question to me (admittedly on Facebook), so I'm taking the liberty (and opportunity) to make our drool-fest public. I haven't posted about New Orleans yet (because I haven't been home since I started blogging!) I've been chomping at the bit and this pretty much covers it.

"Say you were touring with guests in the city. What ten restaurants would you take them to (3 fancy, 3 casual but nice, 3 poboy or cheap restaurants, and 1 any category restaurants)?" - Scott Crawford

My responses were as follows:

3 Fancy: Broussard's, Antoine's, Dick & Jenny's

Runners' up (because I just can't help myself): Emeril's NOLA, Breakfast at Brennan's, Rib Room, Le Parvenu in Rivertown

3 Mid-Fancy: Pascal's Manale for BBQ Shrimp, Drago's for the BBQ Oysters (only for the oysters and a cocktail ) then head to Clancy's for a soft-shell crab and a bottle of wine

Runners' up: Mandina's, Cafe Rani, Irene's, Upperline

3 Low-on-the-Fancy: Parasol's for a roast beef poboy, Uglesich's (open again?!), a sliced-in half hotdog on a hamburger bun with grated cheddar cheese at Bud's Broiler

Runners' up: Bobby's po-boys in River Ridge, Port-of-Call, Camellia Grill, The River Shack, Cooter Brown's, and of course, Brie Oysters at the Shimmy Shack in The Ridge, my Nanny's Turtle Soup...

Because NOLA restaurant favs are a very personal thing, here are mutual friend Ginger's picks:

3 fancy: I can't pick just three but here's some off the top of my head. I'd try Bistro Daisy again. Lilette. Haven't been in a few years but I also always really liked Peristyle. Commander's. Depending on who I was eating with, maybe Galatoire's.

3 casual but nice: Jacques-Imo's, Crepe Nanou, maybe Cafe Degas. And not because it's necessarily awesome food but more for sentimentality I might take them to Venezia's. That might be more for me than my guests though.

3 cheap eats: Mona's Middle Eastern (preferably the Banks St. location). Felix's for turtle soup and poboy. And maybe Liuzza's, or if they were interested in muffulatta then maybe Cafe Maspero. Maspero's good for visitors since visitors always want to go to the quarter anyway.

Finally, Scott's responses to his own posing:

Upper class:
1. Stella! Best restaurant in the city, aka the world, as long as you stay away from the fish and chips and shark fin soup.
2. Brigsten's. Often forgotten, but never overrated.
3. Gotta go Galatoire's.

Upper-middle:
1. Clancy's. Katie knows the truth about the softshell.
2. MiLa. Hidden treasure downtown.
3. Commander's Palace for lunch. They used to have a 3 course set lunch for $14. It has gone up in price, but it's still one of the better deals in town.

Middle Lower:
1. Impastato's. Best pasta I've had. Better than anything I had in NY or Italy. $25 for 5 course fixed meal.
2. Maple Street Cafe. Uptown could use a few more places like this.
3. Crazy Johnnie's. Cheaper than a grocery store. Better than Ruth's Chris.

Working Class:
1. Parkway Bakery. Favorite poboy spot for taste and atmosphere.
2. Central City Grocery. Best muffaletta anywhere.
3. Hobnobber's. Best roast beef poboy I've had.

Crazy, but I feel like we still haven't even scratched the surface (post your NOLA favs in my comments!). Amazing that there's not much overlap, though I guess favorites are largely influenced by where you grew up and where ya-mamma-an-dem ate. Although I still felt the urge to yell 'Amen' with almost everyone of their picks...

Canlis Bliss

I'm no high-roller, but being from New Orleans my fine-dining restaurant standards are admittedly high. My father has made sure of this. I know how good service can be, and I know that it should be a given, a non-negotiable. I know how good food can be too. In fact, just 'good' is not good enough. The food, like the service, must be excellent, perfect, memorable. If either falls short, a restaurant cannot be considered elite. Exceptional atmosphere comes in a close third, but food and service tie for most critical in my book.

Seattle has a viable competitor in Canlis. I've been twice now (minimum required for fair judgement) and their consistency champions their excellence. This is a family-owned, family-run restaurant that has been around since 1950, and in the restaurant business that's a testament. It is evident in the architecture. I liken it to 'Brady Bunch' style: you know, split levels, lots of browns, blacks and white, stacked stone and wood and blackened iron, very planer elements, expansive glass. It's timeless. Add to that contemporary fixtures, modern furnishings, oh and then there's the menu...

"Cooking is like love – it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." -Canlis website

I will be brief about the food, because duh, it's amazing. There are the 'anchor' menu items so enduring that they've taken the name: the Peter Canlis prawns with vermouth, garlic, red chilies, and lime. The Canlis Salad of romaine, bacon, mint and egg is touted as one of the most famous salads in America. Pacific NW staples of halibut and salmon, perfectly prepared with hearts of palm and truffle sweet corn cream, respectively. Lamb chops, beef tenderloin, lobster, a repertoire expected by most any fine diner, are complemented by choices like truffle fries, red beet and goat cheese salad, and yellow tail shashimi, keeping this menu fresh and relevant. The food is exceptional, but really it's the grander experience that makes this place sing.

Canlis is like your hip grandmother. Classically styled, but attuned to the contemporary as well. Imagine my surprise when I hear the guy at the Steinway in the corner rocking Apologize by my current fav One Republic (Tuesday night at the Paramount in Seattle, can't wait). This is a band who did a collaboration with a guy named Timbaland and whose music is in the Hip-Hop genre in iTunes, people. And they were playing it at Canlis! They obviously get it (as opposed to the Republicans who need to get with it, but that's another story). Their one big unwavering gun is requiring that men wear a sport coat, a tradition that is all but extinct these days in a world that is diminishing of chivalry and respect.

"Consistently excellent. Food that makes you smile. Time deliciously spent." -Canlis website

Attention to every detail, from the architecture and artwork, to the attentive waiter, to the after dinner drink menu, dining at Canlis is as personal as dining in someone's home. And finally, let's talk about the view.

'Nuff said. Now, if only you can afford it...