Well, talking about oysters, I was so lucky to be in NOLA during oyster season. (Please, see my last post “Off the Beaten Path I” for the best oysters from Pascal’s Manale for the completion.) I LOVE oysters, especially really fresh ones. In New Orleans oysters don’t have pearls in them like the rest of the country so, they are cheaper. (I hope you know that I’m BSing) No, it’s not THAT, but oysters there are so inexpensive.
I have to make sure that they charged me right because when I ordered oysters someplace else, it would be $2-3/ each. In New Orleans it is $5-7/ half dozen! If that is still too much for you, how about $9-14/dozen. I was in oyster heaven (maybe the oyster thought it was hell, but I haven’t heard that directly from them, though).
So, which oyster bar Chef Markvs told me to visit 🙂
The first one is the old school oyster bar on Magazine St. You probably know which one I’m about to tell you. Casamento’s is the first one. By the way they said “Our Fried Seafood is Gluten Free!” and also served “Gluten Free Beer”. I seriously don’t need anything gluten free but I think it is pretty in trend right now to let you know about THAT.
WHERE: Casamento’s Restaurant
4330 Magazine St., New Orleans, LA 70115
Phone: 504.895.9761
WHEN:
Tuesday – Saturday 11:00 am – 2:00 pm
Thursday – Saturday 5:30 pm – 9:00 pm
Closed June, July and August and all Major Holidays
(Sometimes they close in April-August. If they can’t get good oysters, they won’t open their doors)
HOW:
Walk in or you can try calling.
Also this place is CASH ONLY
WHAT: Oysters, baby!
And don’t miss the oyster stew.
I didn’t get a chance to eat their grilled oysters this trip because they don’t’ serve that for lunch.
Another one is near by the airport. Chef Markvs told me to “Go there as soon as you arrive and leave the airport.” I didn’t have a chance to do so immediately upon my arrival, but I got there on my way to visit the Plantations and—the best thing—I stopped there to get food for my flight home.
The place is called “Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar” a little restaurant next to a market called “Fisherman’s Cove” on Williams Blvd., minutes away from Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport.
This place is so inexpensive I though they calculated my check wrong. I ordered several items and the bill came, $20. I though ‘How is this possible?’.
So, I told the waitress.
“I had half a dozen of fresh oysters too.”
She looked at the check and pointed to the $5 item on the check and said,
“Here” Then she looked at me like, and you don’t know about this!
What do you think about fresh raw oysters at $5/half dozen?
WHERE: Harbor Seafood & Oyster Bar
3201 Williams Boulevard
Kenner, Louisiana 70065.
Phone: 504.443.6454
WHEN: Daily from 11am – 10:30pm.
HOW: Just walk in. I don’t even know if they take any reservations.
WHAT: All kind of seafood. I love their fresh oysters and turtle soup.
Talking all about seafood / soul food here, what about beignets, you may ask. Of course I ate beignets, but not at the Cafe du Monde this time. They reminded me of the Thai style “Pa-Tong-goh” ปาท่องโก๋, the Thai/Chinese fried dough and “O-Youa” โอยัวะ, hot coffee (of course with roasted tamarind seed mixed in with the coffee beans).
Chef Markvs told me about another coffee place out of town called “The Morning Call Coffee Stand”, another coffee house that has a long history and used to be in French Quarter competing with the famous Cafe du Monde for over hundred years, until 1974. They moved to this new location.
WHERE: The Morning Call Coffee Stand
Directly behind Lakeside Mall
3325 Severn Avenue
Phone: 504.885.4068
WHEN: Open 24 Hours – 7 days per week
Closed only on Christmas Day
HOW: OpenTable or call but not necessary
WHAT: Beignet
I’ve found that I liked the beignets there way more than Cafe du Monde. They make them lighter, meaning more open crumb (as shown) and the taste of it is better. I will have to try to make them one of these days when I’m not on the road as much.
What is more interesting than beignets is they served savory dishes as well.
The original Morning Call was a people-watchers paradise – mirrors on every wall around the perimeter, and folks from every walk of life in New Orleans at every hour of the day. In those days you might have thought you even saw Stanley and Blanche.
I’m envy that you get to see THAT. My first trip to NOLA was 1999. I never seen it 🙁
The original Morning Call was a people-watchers paradise – mirrors on every wall around the perimeter, and folks from every walk of life in New Orleans at every hour of the day. In those days you might have thought you even saw Stanley and Blanche.
Reblogged this on The ObamaCrat™.
I love oysters, too. I am obsessed with Rockefeller oysters!
NOLA has that and the charcoal grilled oysters with their own topping. I think it was cheese, butter, garlic and breadcrumb (don’t count me on it…this is just my guess from grilled oysters at Drago’s seafood restaurant at the Hilton hotel)
The French Quarter is my favorite in the world. It is exciting, fun, exotic and I love the nights. Hugs, Barbara
I love the French Quarter too but I spent too many trips there already so this time I did it differently.
Reblogged this on idealisticrebel and commented:
I love the French Quarter. I’ve been there many times. It is pure bliss.
When I go to NO, I have to split my time between dining and street photography.
This time I didn’t do any more street photography but I went to the Plantations out of town. There might be another post about them later.
That sounds interesting.
Great post. In Thailand I have eaten oyster omelette for breakfast. Possibly daily.
Oh noooo…now you remind me of THAT! Have you ever had the kind they called “Or-Suan” which is small baby size oyster and they would served on a hot cast iron plate with Sriracha sauce. The texture is not firm like omelette but rather gooey inside (They mix tapioca flour in the egg just slightly) and usually served at a Thai-Chinese restaurant. I love them both…yummy.
The One! Thai people do not seem to eat raw. That was so strange to me to eat cooked oysters but I quickly embraced the omelette idea.
They do eat them raw too. The best one is the large oyster from Nakhon Si Thammarat Province. The size of them are about 3-4″ in length and about 2″ width. The same type of oyster as NOLA because they caught them from the gulf (brackish water).
Now the dressing. They have Nam Pla Prig (fish sauce, lime juice, chilli), crispy fried shallot and what I like most is the “Kra Thin Leaves”. The
English name for the leaf is Lead tree or White Popinac (Leucaena). The leave usually doing a chemical reaction in your mouth when you eat them with oyster. They leave the sweet taste in your mouth, amazing.
I always miss the Thai set up when I have this many raw oysters. The shucker at Pascal’s Manale said I can bring my own sauce to the restaurant the next time which I would definitely do that.
I have hunger.
I have never had raw oysters but I’d like to someday. How fun.
It is an acquire taste to develop. I never like them when I was young too because of their texture and LOVE them when I grew up.
There is so much seafood I’d like to try. You think growing up in Maryland I’d have tasted more. I have had blue crabs! So good
I have never had raw oysters but I’d like to someday. How fun.
Those oysters look spectacular.
And they are…I already missed them!
The best oysters I’ve had by far were at Plum Restaurant. So creamy!
Where is it? In the French Quarter or outside? I never been there but want to try the next time. In this trip the best one for me is at Pascal’s Manale.
Hahaha… sorry! I was meant to write “Plum Restaurant in Hobart, Tasmania” in Australia! Hahaha… Next time you’re in the great land of Oz!
Ohhhh…I will be there for sure. Last trip I was debating if I should go there but end us can’t get a place to stay so, it will be in the same trip I visit NZ.
The best oysters I’ve had by far were at Plum Restaurant. So creamy!
I would love to go to New Orleans and just eat my way through the city!
Never wear black when eating beignets 😉 I haven’t been to NOLA since pre-Katrina and this is making me want to go back!
Holy cow those oysters are HUGE! 😀
Somebody REALLY likes oysters! Lol
Cheers for liking my BuildingMyBento post about New Jersey, Miranti! Have plans to visit Albania, or have you visited there before?
Yep, oysters are a priority when I’m in Japan. If I’m lucky, there’s a restaurant at Narita Airport that serves kaki furai (fried oysters)- but that’s only when they’re in season.
In fact, you can get beignets in Japan too. Might be explained by the affinity for jazz many Japanese have!
We’re going to NOLA next week. I guess we better check out the oysters!
want both! now! 😉
I’m not a huge oyster fan but BOY do those images look tasty! I love stews, soups and fried stuff so perhaps that has something to do with it. Still, I wouldn’t say no to those oysters!
I’m not a huge oyster fan but BOY do those images look tasty! I love stews, soups and fried stuff so perhaps that has something to do with it. Still, I wouldn’t say no to those oysters!