Home FOOD & DINING Weekend Cheat Sheet: November 2014

Weekend Cheat Sheet: November 2014

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With the holiday season right around the corner, it’s good to find some time to relax. Spend a casual-yet-invigorating weekend exploring the delicious sights, bites and sips of our beloved Crescent City.

sammichEnBrouchetteNOLEDITFriday

Lunch at: There’s a sandwich and then there’s The Sammich. Located on Maple Street just a few blocks from Carrollton Avenue, The Sammich is the brainchild of Michael Brewer — a man who calls his creations sammiches because, “[it’s] a term reserved for the holiest and mightiest of all sandwiches … a true work of culinary art.” That being the case, we’re not going to argue with sammiches like the duck confit with brie and foie gras mayonnaise, the Korean barbeque chicken with kimchee coleslaw and the En Brouchette with fried oysters, bacon, brie and meunière sauce. 7708 Maple St., (504) 866-6222, thesammich.com

Sip at: Owners Pauline and Stephen Patterson have set out once again to make their mark in an emerging neighborhood with their latest project, Trèo. Located in a two-story building on the corner of Tulane Avenue and South Scott Street, this elegant gastropub offers craft cocktails, delicious bites and an upstairs art gallery that features local artists in monthly exhibitions. Stop in for The Mistress, featuring gin, blueberry syrup and sparkling rose or The Farmacist, made with tequila blanco, grapefruit liqueur and ginger liqueur. If you aren’t too full from lunch, it definitely wouldn’t hurt to try a bite from Chef James Cullen’s menu, like a crawfish empanada or herbed goat cheese-stuffed piquillo peppers. 3835 Tulane Ave., (504) 304-4878, treonola.com

Play at: Are you up for a little air hockey? Or how about ping pong or pool? You can spend the evening playing games and a whole lot more at the Shamrock on South Carrollton Avenue. Owners of the Shamrock took the building vacated by Mid-City Rock ’n ’ Bowl and made it their own with a ton of games (including mini-bowling), karaoke, big screen TVs, drink specials and live music from performers like the Marc Stone Band, 5 Finger Discount, Shamarr Allen and the Underdawgs, and Bag of Donuts. 4133 S. Carrollton Ave., (504) 301-0938, shamrockparty.com

Saturday

Revive at: Less than a block behind the Saint Louis Cathedral on St. Peter Street lies the itsy-bitsy Spitfire Coffee, touted by many as one of the finest spots for espresso in the entire city. This hip, French Quarter coffeehouse offers a pleasing array of different coffees from roasters near and far, like French Truck and Crema to Panther and Conundrum. Each cup is lovingly measured and brewed with the finest equipment, by highly trained baristas who truly care about making the perfect cuppa joe. 627 St. Peter St., (225) 384-0655, spitfirecoffee.com

Shop at: Easily the oldest public market in America, the New Orleans French Market has been around for over 200 years — from its beginnings as a Native American trading post to now being the city’s focal point for farmers markets, arts and crafts, live music, festivals, restaurants and shops. Enjoy Jazz Yoga every Saturday morning at 10 am, cooking demos and food conversations hosted by the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, the annual Satsuma Celebration, the Tree Lighting ceremony and so much more. Enjoy confections from Southern Candymakers or Evans Creole Candy Factory; explore local sports memorabilia at N’Awlins Sports; or feast on classic Cajun and Creole favorites at Gazebo Cafe or Montrel’s Bistro. It’s definitely an all-day affair! 1008 N. Peters St., (504) 522-2621, frenchmarket.org

Dine at: Located in the renovated and revered Roosevelt Hotel in the Central Business District, the Fountain Lounge is one of the latest re-openings in the city. Originally unveiled in 1938, the lounge was once a spot where the coolest hipsters of the time would meet for cocktails and bites in a relaxed-yet-elegant atmosphere. Today, the space had regained its original grandeur with rich wood flooring, soft lighting, and extremely comfortable club chairs and chaise lounges. Chef Mark Majorie has created a menu to make your mouth water that you can enjoy in the lounge from 4 pm to midnight, featuring dishes like tuna tartare with red pepper aioli and grilled avocado or his fabulous Head-to-Tail charcuterie plate with duck prosciutto, guanciale, foie gras torchon, cured salmon and porchetta. 130 Roosevelt Way, (504) 648-5486, therooseveltneworleans.com

Sunday

Breakfast at: Recently opened in the old La Peniche building by Kappa Horn (owner of the ever-popular Slim Goodies Diner), Horn’s offers breakfast, lunch and dinner — all featuring familiar Uptown favorites. Pop in for a hot cup of French Truck coffee and pancakes in a variety of flavors like chocolate chip, blueberry, banana, pecan and sweet potato. Or try one of the signature breakfast plates like The Bomb, made with scrambled eggs, spinach and feta; a Bon Ton omelet, made with Horn’s crawfish étouffée; or a Tex Mex Slammer, made with eggs, black beans, salsa, plantains and avocado. 1940 Dauphine St., (504) 459-4676

Experience history at: Located in the Esplanade Ridge Neighborhood, the Degas House was built circa 1850 by architect Benjamin Rodriquez who created this particular abode as his own home. On a family visit, revered French Impressionist painter Edgar Degas spent a year here in New Orleans from 1872 to 1873. Known then as the Musson residence (the maternal relatives of Degas), the Degas House has since been restored and now serves as both a museum and an elegant B&B. Take a walking tour of the Esplanade neighborhood; learn about how the house was split in two during the 1920s; visit both residences; discuss the history of the Degas family; and view some of Degas’ New Orleans paintings and drawings. 2306 Esplanade Ave., (504) 821-5009, degashouse.com

Dine at: Kick back, relax and feel like one of the family at the brand new Half Shell Oyster Bar & Grill on Esplanade Avenue. Opened just a few months ago in the building that once housed the Creole Cottage, Mid-City’s newest seafood restaurant offers a casual, welcoming atmosphere and outstanding New Orleans favorites. The menu features mainly seafood platters and po-boys, but you won’t want to miss the freshly shucked oysters (they’re are fabulous raw, char grilled or Voodoo Bleu’d), the Crystal Hot Sauce-dipped onion rings or the divine bread pudding. 3101 Esplanade Ave., (504) 298-0504, halfshellneworleans.com