We went to New Orleans in August 2005, to participate in Southern Comfort’s Third Annual Tales of the Cocktail festivities, which combined special Southern Comfort pairing events at some of the best restaurants in the French Quarter. We enthusiastically enjoyed eating our way through the French Quarter restaurants, and will now begin a new post-New Orleans regimen – exercising!
Café Giovanni, 117 Decatur Street, held the Kick-off Welcome Dinner, where Chef /Owner Duke LoCicero created a special tasting menu. Ann Rogers of Tales of the Cocktail and Lou Giglio of Brown-Forman welcomed guests, followed by dinner, which began with Chef Duke’s Antipasto plate of Italian Meats, Cheeses and Marinated Vegetables. The second course was Southern Comfort Corn and Crawfish Bisque, followed by a third course of K.C. Pork Shank with a Southern Comfort BBQ Sauce, served with Roasted Okra and Corn infused with Southern Comfort, and the fourth course was Crabmeat Stuffed Airline Chicken Breast with a Southern Comfort Cajun Bayou Sauce over Southern Comfort Sweet Mashed Potatoes. For dessert, guests were treated to opera singers and a dessert of Zablione and Southern Comfort Marinated Berries. During non-Tales of the Cocktail, the restaurant offers New World Italian and Cajun cuisine. Opera singers perform on Wednesday, Friday and Saturday nights.
Antoine’s Restaurant, 713-717 St. Louis Street, is the oldest continuously operating restaurant in the United States. Antoine Alciatore opened his restaurant in 1840, and after 165 years is still a family-owned and operated business. Oysters Rockefeller was created here, and the recipe is still a secret! Edward attended their special Spirited Dinner, while I attended a Spirited Dinner at Galatoire’s Restaurant, but I did manage to join him afterwards for their amazing Café brûlot diabolique. Their Spirited Dinner was held in the famous Rex room, where the Menu consisted of: Pommes de terre soufflés, (Antoine’s dish of fried potato puffs) paired with a Strawberry Colada featuring Appleton Rum, Chair de crabes ravigote, (Lump crabmeat served cold with a delightfully seasoned dressing), which was paired with a Southern Tea featuring Southern Comfort, Vichyssoise, and Crabes Mous Grilles (grilled soft shell crab served with hot melted butter), paired with a Sonoma-Cutter Chardonnay, followed by Asperges au beurre. For dessert, there was Omelette Alaska Antoine Sauce Chocolat. Their famous Café brûlot diabolique (Antoine’s creation of hot spiced coffee flamed at the table with brandy) rounded out the evening. Afterwards, Yvonne Blount-Davis, Antoine Alciatore’s great-grandaughter gave us a special tour of the restaurant. Proper attire is required, and jackets are required for gentlemen in the evening. Jackets are not required for lunch.
Galatoire’s Restaurant, 209 Bourbon Street, has been owned and operated by the Galatoire family since 1905. I was there for their Spirited Dinner Menu which began with the “World’s Best Bloody Mary” (made with Finlandia vodka) which was paired with Bronzed Shrimp with Roasted Squash, Peppers and Tasso Toasted Garlic Hollandaise, followed by Southern Comfort 4th of July Lemonade (Triple Sec, sweet & sour, and lemon & lime soda) paired with Marinated Crabmeat and Avocado Salad. Jekel Merlot 2002 was paired with the third course of Southern Comfort Glazed Veal Chop and Lyonnaise Potatoes, followed by A Breath Fresher (Mint leaf, one part Finlandia and 2 parts white crème de menthe) paired with Chocolate Covered Cheesecake Blueberry Compote. In March 2005, The James Beard Foundation presented Galatoire’s with a San Pellegrino Outstanding Restaurant award, which we wrote about in The Awards section. Proper attire is required and jackets are required for gentlemen at Dinner and all day on Sundays. After dinner, co-manager and family member, David Barr Gooch, gave me a tour of this historic restaurant.
Brennan’s Restaurant, 417 Royal Street, provided the setting for a Dine and Design luncheon with Beverly Reese Church, the South’s vivacious hostess and author of many entertaining books, who shared new design ideas and tips for party planning. The luncheon began with a SoCo Big Easy Bubbly, a refreshing combination of Southern Comfort, champagne and Peychaud’s bitters, followed by a Caesar salad, Trout Nancy topped with almonds and their famous Bananas Foster. Brennan’s, a family-owned restaurant, opened in 1946 and serves Breakfast, Brunch, Lunch and Dinner. Brennan’s created the famous Bananas Foster, and although I do not like bananas, I do love their Bananas Foster, especially their flamboyant tableside execution of this delectable dessert.
Court of the Two Sisters, 613 Royal Street, offers a Jazz Brunch from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, and it would take that long to work your way through the two “boats” filled with a large assortment of cold items and desserts, as well as the hot New Orleans specialties, a carving table, Eggs Benedict and omelets cooked to order. Their buttermilk biscuits melt in your mouth, and their traditional jazz band (playing songs like Satin Doll and My Blue Heaven) is what is known in New Orleans as lagniappe, (pronounced lan-yap), and is a little something extra. We had brunch here twice during this New Orleans visit, and still didn’t sample all of the goodies. Edward especially enjoyed their barbequed ribs! They are open Monday-Sunday from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, and for Dinner from 5:30 pm – 10:00 pm, although we have yet to experience Dinner.
Be sure to read our delicious Chef’s Recipes where the restaurants share some of their wonderful recipes.
Read more about Southern Comfort’s Third Annual Tales of the Cocktail and New Orleans in the Destinations, Hotels & Resorts, Arts & Antiques, Music Scene, Chefs' Recipes, and Events sections.
For additional information, please visit the Southern Comfort’s Third Annual Tales of the Cocktail website for more information and their 2006 dates, as well as the New Orleans Convention and Visitors Bureau website.
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