Frugle Gourmet Trip Report Part 2

One thing I forgot was the Rebirth Brass Band at Howling Wolf. I think that was Sunday. If you like live music, you might consider something like this. A happening scene, pretty unique to NO, and the music is very dancable.

Day 4: Breakfast at Stanley%26#39;s, one corner of Jackson Square. 1 thumb up. Boudin Eggs Benedict was excellent.

Picked up the rental car that morning. Hit the Big Fisherman to buy shrimp because Briteeye%26#39;s sister was flying home that day. It%26#39;s on Magazine St. The convenient thing was there was a grocery store right next to it and I could buy a cheap bottle of Italian Salad to take home to a friend.

Ice cream at Creole Creamery, off of Magazine St. 2 thumbs up. Best ice cream I%26#39;ve ever had.

Then tried to beat feet out of town. But what is it with lack of signage in NO and the inability of letting people on the freeway? Sheesh! Burned some time getting out of town and across the river. Heading toward Plantations, don%26#39;t do what the guidebook told us to do, go out River Rd and follow it. Just take 10 and slide down when you%26#39;re adjacent east/west.

Went to Oak Alley. Stunning grounds. Guide wasn%26#39;t that engaging, nor did there seem that there was much known about the history of the plantation or the people there. A better bet for this would probably be Laura or Evergreen.

Dinner at Luizzas by the Track. 3 thumbs up! You have to borrow a thumb from someone else here! Barbacued shrimp po-boy. Get on a plane right now, go there, and get that. End of story. It%26#39;s down below City Park by St. John%26#39;s Bayou. Also a bar.

Again we went to Frenchman St. Good to hang out there. Try the apple barrel. Walked over later to bourbon and had a late dinner at Angelli%26#39;s. 1 thumb up. Try the calzones

Day 5: Swamp Tour at Annie Millers%26#39; Sons. By Houma, southwest of NO. Pretty good. Not too big of a boat, inexpensive, very knowledgable guide who lived in the area all his life. Only 2 other people on tour. He knows gators by name and he calls them, but you see more gators in the summer and fall.

Lunch at the Jolly Inn in Houma. Nothing special, very fried and rather bready. But get the okra at a place like this, even if it is fried.

Went to Chauvin Sculpture Gardens in Chauvin. Guy spent his entire life making these sculptures, what seems to be good/evil allegories, without telling anyone what he was going on about. So it%26#39;s quite mysterious and fascinating. 2 thumbs up.

Dinner at Coop%26#39;s. 1 thumb up. Maybe a half thumb more for the engaging staff. Don%26#39;t play the jukebox. Fried chicken was probably a mistake

Day 6: Breakfast at the Cake Cafe, in Fabour Marigny. 1 thumb up. Good french toast, pleasant to eat outside.

Went to the Battle of New Orleans site. Mostly a driving tour, and the road was closed for repair to the cemetary. Poked around on foot, but I say even when road is open, 1 thumb down. Not a good presentation, and not much exists from then.

Lunch at Willy Mae%26#39;s. 2 thumbs up. Drive there and get the fried chicken. Just do it.

Dinner at Conchon. 2 thumbs up. Actually not expensive, if you don%26#39;t get drinks. 2 thumbs up on conchon (the dish), pork balls, the bread, and the crawfish casserole.

Went to Frenchman St. again, saw Wolfman Washington. Blues is not completely my cup of tea, but still good. In the middle of the sets walked over to Port of Call and had a drink, then walked back.

Frugle Gourmet Trip Report Part 2

Thanks for your report! You hit a lot of great places that are local gems like Creole Creamery and Luizza%26#39;s by the Track. Also, the Fried chicken at Coop%26#39;s is usually a good bet, so maybe you had an off night!

Frugle Gourmet Trip Report Part 2

Nice! You worked it like a local. Give Coop%26#39;s chicken another chance the next trip and try the Port of Call burgers too.

agree...my heart would break if I hit a bad night at Coop%26#39;s for the chicken (maybe the reg. cook was out).

Next time eat at Port of Call. The burgers and baked potatoes are to die for! Did you get a Monsoon? It is the best drink.We enjoyed eating at the bar.

I%26#39;m not saying the fried chicken was bad, exactly, just not...well, Willy Mae%26#39;s tore it down, that%26#39;s all. And don%26#39;t play the jukebox at Coop%26#39;s, it%26#39;s a ripoff.

yup, i definitely think the fried chicken at coop%26#39;s deserves another try. the chicken at Willie Mae%26#39;s is so lackluster of late, not like it used to be unfortunately.