Andy's Bistro

 I'm starting my 'Mama's Favs' series with something near and dear to my heart!  HAPPY HOUR!  For this, my vote is for Andy's Bistro.  This is the perfect place to unwind after a long day.  Monday thru Thursday, they offer daily deals that don't require you to skip out of work early in order to take advantage of them. Andy's Bistro is just off of Vets on Turnbull.  They were very clever and purchased a sign in a bus-station that tells you when to turn!  I rely on it!  BRILLIANT!

The restaurant was opened in early 2013 by Chef Andrea Apuzzo (Yes, the Chef we are all charmed by at Andrea's Restaurant) along with partners Kevin Bennett and his two sons.  Andy's Bistro has become a fast favorite in our household.  It offers a little something for everyone.  There are steaks, pizza, a burger and creole favorites.  Everything I've had here has been great.  Last time, we were even charmed by the Great Chef himself while we dined!  I'm a sucker for stuff like that! 

The ambiance is very family friendly.  It's a casual upscale environment that is inviting to all.  I hosted a group dinner here recently that has become a somewhat regular event for our group.  We have had an extremely difficult time finding an appropriate venue that would host 15-20 women during the dinner rush and happily provide separate checks!  The staff was very accommodating and met all of our needs!  There weren't any hiccups!  

As you all know, my husband is on crutches and requires a little extra TLC.  By now, the host staff (and probably bartenders) have come to recognize us.  They always offer him a close table or even a chair to put his leg up on.  Last week, they went even further out of their way, providing us a seat outside even though there wasn't a designated server there.  It was one of the most comfortable and romantic dinners we've had in a long while.  We will be back again and again! 

Velvet Cactus

When the Velvet Cactus first opened up a few years ago, I was SO excited. Mexican food is my favorite cuisine and the outdoor ambiance was incredibly enticing! Outwardly, I was sucked right in!  The drinks seemed like they’d be fresh and tasty, but turned out tasting like cheap tequila and fruit-flavored syrup.  The perfect gem that I thought we'd found, simply, was not.  I thought my first visit was going to be my last, and I don’t think I was alone: if you Google the restaurant, the third entry reads, “Bad Mexican, Terrible Drinks.” 

Recently, however, we rediscovered the Velvet Cactus.  Word on the street is that they have a new chef.  I don’t know if that’s true, but man was it good!  We started with the Queso Blanco, which was fabulous (how can it not be? It’s a bowl of gooey melted cheese!).  I also spotted a bowl of guacamole on the table!  I’m a bit of a guacamole snob; I like it fresh, not too much cilantro, a bite of acid and NO RED ONION!  This one was perfect, a bit of acid, salt and of course, that amazing fresh avocado flavor.  In fact, now that I’m thinking about it, I don’t think that that was for the table.  I think that I snagged someone else’s appetizer! Oops! Sorry Kim! ;) I blame the tequila!

We went for a birthday party with a large crowd.  The staff was overly accommodating and even split up the check, even though they “weren't supposed to.”  Whatever that means.  My husband and I were charged for an extra $10 margarita on our tab and instead of correcting the mistake; the server explained that she couldn't remove it without undoing ALL the tabs (perhaps this falls under ‘not supposed to’).  She asked that we find a way for our friends to buy us a drink later that evening.  Whatever.  Annoying, but if that were true, I can understand.  After all that they did for us, it wasn't a huge deal.  I don’t know how she kept us all straight in the first place.  That was a feat.  One mis-placed drink is actually quite impressive considering the size of our group. The waters stayed full, the drinks were flowing and the chips stayed HOT!  When selecting a drink, stay away from the Watermelon or Strawberry foo-foo drinks.  Keep it simple. The Patron Perfect Margarita was great, the other too were far too sweet!

As for the entrees, I ordered the shrimp enchiladas with a grilled veggie skewer and rice pilaf.  The veggies were AWESOME!  I loved the seasoning and they were cooked just right.  NOT mushy and still had some bite.  The shrimp enchiladas were also amazing.  I ordered only one because I normally don’t like them, but wanted to something new.  It was worth it! 

 Honestly, my least favorite part about Mexican food in New Orleans is the Spanish rice.  NOBODY can get it right. But Velvet Cactus got it!  It’s not Spanish rice, but it was nice to have a paella style pilaf.  It wasn’t a mushy scoop of sloppy rice.  Each grain was firm and seasoned well.  Not the standard heating pan of rice with spicy tomato puree.  

The restaurant was incredibly busy!  Like… crazy!  

There were children with their parents, college kids and retirees.  We were the loud, noisy, 30-something bunch (well, everyone except me, I’m still 20-something! hehehe).  Sorry friends.  When it comes to a ‘family friendly’ environment, I honestly would bring my kids here and they would love it.  Fountains, eclectic art, bright colors; it would sing to them.  I just wouldn’t bring them late (9pm) on a weekend.  It has more of a bar feel and less of restaurant vibe.  Yes, their food is still being served, but not as quickly as the tequila.  I caught myself in a few conversations that were loud (so that we could hear each other over the atmospheric noise) only to turn and see a young child within ear shot (oops).  It was completely unintentional, but equally horrifying for us and, I’m sure, the parents.  It felt like a bar, so it was shocking when you’d turn and see a child.

Seemingly, we were the last people in New Orleans to give this place another try.  They are nowhere near a secret nor are they hurting for business even amongst the construction on Harrison!  On this one, I was pleasantly surprised.  Happy Birthday to my dear friend!  It was truly a night to remember!

Sarita's Grill

Today I had a big day of fun planned for the kids.  We had planned to go to the zoo for the day, followed by a stop at our favorite ice cream shoppe.  Unfortunately, mother nature had another idea.  As we were sitting watching the sea lions, loud, ominous thunder claps started rolling closer and closer (a few of which made me jump out of my skin).  The kids were bummed that I was pushing them to leave because we had only been at the zoo for a short time, but as the rain grew stronger, they were thankful for the shelter of the car!  I don't think that I've ever loaded up that quickly before!  

Well, crap.  Now what!?  There's no way I'm headed home before nap time.  Sitting at home always ends in them plugged into the TV or the iPad.  Wait! I have this wonderful new blog!  So, I called a friend and asked about that Mexican restaurant she had told me she loved so much!  Sarita's Grill on Freret. Thanks Kelly!

Initially, I was a bit apprehensive about bringing my kids here - I didn't know what to expect with all the construction in the area, and I didn't really want to walk a mile to get there for lack of parking. Luckily I found parking after a few loops around the block, right by the restaurant's front door.  I struggled a bit to get through the door with the stroller, but within seconds, there was an employee helping me in.  I looked around and didn't see any kids. Uh-oh! I wondered momentarily if this was kid friendly. The restaurant was painted very vibrantly (good sign), with cute New Orleans-esque murals.  The kids were instantly commenting on the paintings and were very comfortable in the casual environment. As I turned behind me, there was a giant stack of high chairs!  Phew, they do like kids!

The staff was friendly and accommodating.  They asked where would be easiest for us to sit and provided a high chair promptly, before my one-year-old even had a chance to protest the presence of the seat (majorly helpful in our world). Then, something rare: a server listened to my four-year-old and tried to engage in conversation with him!  He asked my son what he would like to drink, then asked me for approval! I think my heart almost melted because my son gets so upset when people don't listen to him.

I was pleasantly surprised when they brought out FREE chips and QUESO with the drinks.  I'm a huge queso fan and so are the kids.  It wasn't bad!  Perhaps a bit too spicy for the kids, but nobody cried. ;) The meals were very fresh and tasty, seasoned well and not greasy at all.  I ordered a Mexi bowl in haste trying to get the order in before the kids had a chance to melt down, however, they also have things like fish tacos and fried plantains with guacamole!  There is only one kids meal, but it was perfect.  A simple plate of grilled chicken with rice, black beans and a fresh tortilla. It was a nice change of pace from the standard cheese pizza or mac n cheese with fries.  They actually ate it too!  My older son remarked, "ooh mama, this is soo good.  Like really yummy!" (Yes, he talks like a teenage valley girl.  I have, like, no clue where he gets that from....)

Our waiter was also happy to settle my bill while we were still eating, at my request.  This was a precautionary move in the event of a kid-tastrophy that required prompt action. All together, we had a successful meal, friendly service and I made it through my first solo meal in public with both kids!  This blog is pushing me to do things I would never normally do! I hope it does you too!    

Fat City Franks

After a fun day with the kids, I was looking for a family-friendly place where I could both bring the kids and avoid cooking.  I remembered driving through Fat City weeks ago and seeing a brightly painted and fun looking new restaurant.  With a little research I found Fat City Franks.  Perfect!  I told the kids we were going to have hot dogs for dinner and my three year old almost lost his marbles!  Without delay, he dressed for dinner and even helped me get his brother in the car. A-MAZING!

After a short drive we arrived at the brightly colored restaurant.  Before we even pulled up, my son was giddy in the back.  "Ooh Mama, can we go to that place!?"  For once, I was able to say, "YES!!"  It felt good. Usually, I'm conditioned to compose creative and ironclad lies stories  in a split second as to why we can't do what they're asking to do.  This time, I got to say yes!

Being that my husband is currently handicapped, I was more than pleased to see the impressive ramp leading to the front door! YAY! When we entered, I was a bit apprehensive.  It looked like a bar, and initially I was reminded of the scene in the movie 'Sweet Home Alabama' where Reese Witherspoon says to her long lost friend, "you have a baby....in a bar...." My fears were quickly assuaged.  Worry not, it's a wonderful place to bring your child (at least at 5 on a Monday).

The menu was simple but offered several options.  The "kid dog" gave both of my boys the perfect portion of hot dog and fries on the cheap! Score one for family friendly! My husband found his Banh Mi dog (whatever that is) and I had the Philly Dog.  Of course the meal was not complete without an order of fries topped with copious amounts of bleu cheese, bacon and sriracha mayo.  Healthy! Sometimes you just have to break all the rules!  ;) 

And, since Daddy got his fries, Mama went for the tasty marg!! Lucky for me, my mom came too and they had a 2-1 deal on margaritas.  They weren't bad.  They were your standard triple sec margarita.  Not bad for the price and served its purpose alongside a hot dog!  The charm... it was served in a mason jar.  I'm a sucker for mason jar drinks. They just feel right.  Something about an ice-cold sweet drink in summertime --it just belongs in a mason jar.  

There was a family sitting by us that my oldest son, of course, made friends with.  He and another little boy were dancing to the music that was playing and having a great time.  Their somewhat boisterous presence didn't seem to bother anyone.  My son was leaping off the steps (3 high) and even though I was freaking out, others found it rather hilarious.  All in all, this was a successful trip. Not too expensive, my kids actually ate their dinner, no meltdowns, an environment that could handle their eccentricities, and it was close to home (and the mall)!

They do have highchairs and boosters and there is a dining area away from the main bar.  The outdoor patio is beautiful and had it not been raining tonight, that probably where we would have ended up, even though there aren't any tables.  They take credit cards, even though their Facebook page says cash only.  The drinks are self-serve and the food is ordered at a counter before you sit down, then brought to your table.  You can make your own hot dog, shrimp, alligator, turducken, or many other dog-concoctions for those who are extra picky, and options are limitless. It was a fun ambiance and the kids were happy when we left!  When you're in the mood for something more casual and different, give it a try!  We can also help support a local business helping to revive Fat City!     

  

Booty's Street Food

I was so excited to finally get the opportunity to go to Booty's Street Food tonight.  I've heard so many people talking about it and it's been on my mind, but somehow, I could never remember the name of that place in the Bywater that everyone kept talking about!  Let me tell you, REMEMBER!! BOOTY'S STREET FOOD!!  I am so glad that I made this my first official blog post!  It was such a pleasure!

Now, I didn't bring my children, nor do I necessarily think that this would have been the right place for a 1 year old and a 3 year old.  However, next to us sat a wonderful young family with an infant child.  The mother was able to nurse without hesitation or resistance from fellow patrons and the child seemed to be happy in the environment.  If your older children, who require a meal, can handle pork belly, beer battered white fish, or kimchi then you should absolutely bring them! Otherwise, save this little gem for date night or ladies night!   

The drive in was classic New Orleans.  A bit of grit followed by a vibrant splash of brilliant New Orleans charm.  The trees created a lush hiding place for lines of cars parked closely to the antiquated homes.  And there across the street from the bus stop stood a newly renovated hipster gem.  On an early Sunday evening, parking was not a problem, but the dining room was nearly full.  Patrons dining, conversing and yes, drinking on the stoop were fast to lend a hand to my crippled husband. Without hesitation and with tender care, they cleared a path that he could easily maneuver into the trendy restaurant.

As we entered the dining room, we quickly found a seat that would accommodate my husband's needs 

(crutches and space for his foot with a cast) and were promptly greeted.  They offered us first the drink menu, which was a glorious collection of mixology genius.    

The drinks were fantastic.  I opted for a Snoglobe, which was a cheery red ball of shaved ice that made me feel like a child about to dip into their first juicy bite of snoball!  Once I finished taking in the bright cheery color and fun snoball shape, I hastily took my first sip!  It tasted like Christmas!  Here I am in the dead dog days of summer in New Orleans and suddenly my mind is being overcome with Christmas memories!  WOW!

So far, this night was going wonderfully.  I had had a stressful day and so had my husband.  As we looked around, we were surrounded by a wonderfully diverse group of people.  I honestly felt transported to a different world!  There were young and old, gay and straight, Rosie the Riveter types, families with babies, steroid frat guys, and yes, me and my crippled husband.  Despite all of our differences, this is the only restaurant I have ever been to where we made fast friends with our table mates.  We spoke to the family, the steroid frat guy, an older man and of course the many staff members who greeted our table. 

Now here's where I messed up!  We ordered a huge variety of food from the menu.  Literally, near one of everything!  The problem, I didn't pay attention to what I was eating nor did I take a moment to photograph it!  It smelled divine, tasted great, and it was served beautifully! Before I knew it, it was gone, we were full and the steroid frat guy next to us was taking notes, asking what everything was!  What I do remember is the curry katsup (holy yum! -- yes, even the condiments were memorable.) OH! ...and the crab stuffed pepper, the fish and chips...!  This was the kind of food that you taste, but can't stop going back for. It's like nothing you ever tasted before and gives you that feeling you long for when you watch the food channel and see people tasting seemingly regular food that transports them to another realm.  If that's what you're looking for, go to Booty's Street Food.