The revised and updated 2012 New Orleans Dining: A Guide for the Hungry Visitor Craving an Authentic Experience is finally off the press and on Amazon.com, so it’s time to get back to blogging after too long of an absence. Since it’s that time of the year when everyone is putting out “10 Best” lists, and I needed a way to loosen up my typing fingers, so just for the fun of it, here’s mine.
Like anyone else’s list, it’s 100% subjective. Since it’s my list, I created the categories. Just for the hell of it, I also named a second place in each of them. I’d be curious to know how many of the twenty places you’ve visited, so if you’d be kind enough to reply with a number and the name of a restaurant I was crazing not to include, I’d like to see it.
That said, drum roll, please…..
Best Creole Classic: Galatoire’s, French Quarter
Second Place: Commander’s Palace, Garden District
Best Neighborhood Place: Charlie’s Seafood, Harahan
Second Place: Mandina’s, Mid-City
Best Bistro: Herbsaint, Central Business District
Second Place: La Provence, Lacombe
Best Cajun: Brocato’s Eat Dat, New Orleans East
Second Place: K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, French Quarter
Best Italian: Mosca’s, Avondale
Second Place: Irene’s Cuisine, French Quarter
Best Owner/Chef: Bayona (Susan Spicer), French Quarter
Second Place: Brigtsen’s (Frank Brigtsen), Riverbend
Best Poor Boys: Parkway Bakery & Tavern, Mid-City
Second Place: Seither’s, Harahan
Best Breakfast: Surrey’s Juice Bar & Café, Lower Garden District
Second Place: The Ruby Slipper, Mid-City
Best Raw Oysters: Casamento’s, Uptown
Second Place: The Red Maple Inn, Gretna
Best Down-Home: Willie Mae’s Scotch House, Tremé
Second Place: Café 615 (“Da Wabbit”), Gretna
Have I lost my mind? You tell me: hickwrites@gmail.com
Happy New Year and better times ahead.
