| If you like to travel and love good food you | | | | Day two found us walking the streets early. It's |
| should consider a dining weekend trip to New | | | | fun to watch people, see the sights and get some |
| Orleans. My wife Jan and I took off on an | | | | exercise too. A favorite restaurant to have really |
| expedition there recently and we enjoyed | | | | traditional Cajun food is Mulates. It is located near |
| everything about our visit to Louisiana's most | | | | the convention center and is a popular restaurant |
| famous city. | | | | for tourists. Here you can have fried seafood that |
| Food is king in New Orleans and gumbo is on the | | | | is well prepared and shrimp or crawfish eetoufee. |
| top of most diners menu selections when in the | | | | A Louisiana style sub known as a PO BOY would |
| Big Easy. Since my web site is dedicated to | | | | be a good choice and of course you must get the |
| gumbo recipes and all things associated with this | | | | gumbo. |
| dish, it is only fitting that I tell my visitors where | | | | Our excursion found us in proximity to Mulates |
| they can get the best example when visiting | | | | around noon so naturally we had to try a sample |
| Louisiana. While there, Jan and I planned on eating | | | | of my obsession. Jan and I saddled up to the bar |
| the famous Cajun dish from as many different | | | | and took a seat that gave me a clear view of a |
| restaurants that our time allowed. We had only | | | | TV. Had to keep in touch with the football scores |
| the weekend and that limited the number of | | | | you know. I ordered a cup of their Zydeco |
| meals we could enjoy. But I have to admit we | | | | gumbo and an Abita beer to wash it down. When |
| were successful in sampling quite a few bowls | | | | the waiter delivered my order I knew this would |
| during our visit and I devoured them all with much | | | | be good. The Creole soup served in my cup had |
| enthusiasm. | | | | the correct dark color, was rich and had the right |
| The real reason for taking this trip was to attend | | | | amount of seafood. I detected a slight amount of |
| the annual Gumbo Festival held in Bridge City, | | | | file' and my taste buds told me the effect was |
| Louisiana. This small town is located just across | | | | just right. File' is a Cajun spice made from ground |
| the mighty Mississippi river from New Orleans. | | | | sassafras leaves and is commonly used to thicken |
| The festival is held each year at Our Lady of | | | | gumbo when served. |
| Prompt Succor Church. During this event a | | | | The rice was cooked just right and the proportion |
| cooking contest is held and daring cooks enter in | | | | of rice to liquid was correct. Many cooks and |
| hopes that their gumbo is judged a winner. The | | | | some restaurants make the mistake of putting |
| big attraction though is the different varieties of | | | | too much rice in the bowl. Gumbo is a soup and |
| this Cajun soup that can be bought at the festival. | | | | the right proportion is about one third rice to two |
| Large pots are cooked outdoors and festival | | | | thirds liquid. I like it without rice sometimes and |
| goers can sample as much or as little as they like. | | | | serve it in a natural state with nothing added. |
| Due to heavy rains on Friday night, festival | | | | Mulates gumbo is very good and I would |
| events for Saturday were canceled because the | | | | recommend it to anyone. I would give it 4 stars |
| festival grounds were wet and muddy. It was | | | | out of 5. If you dine there in the evening you can |
| disappointing to hear this unfortunate news but | | | | enjoy some live Cajun music and dancing. For |
| we were not deterred from our mission, and the | | | | more information or to view their menu check |
| main reason for making the trip. We reasoned | | | | out their web site. |
| since this event was canceled we would have | | | | That evening we had reservations at Cochon |
| more time to walk the French Quarter and | | | | which is one of my favorite places to dine in New |
| Central Business District in a quest for our number | | | | Orleans. The food here can be considered upscale |
| one objective. Finding hot steaming bowls of dark, | | | | authentic Cajun. I could write an entire E-zine on |
| rich and delicious gumbo was our quest so we left | | | | the food here but this is about gumbo. And |
| Bridge City to seek our treasure. | | | | gumbo we did have. We ordered wine and of |
| Earlier in the week Jan made dinner reservations | | | | course inquired into the object of my desire. The |
| at La Petite Grocery, a restaurant in the Garden | | | | selection that evening was chicken and andouille |
| District. When making the reservation she asked | | | | which is my favorite. I was anxious to sample |
| about their gumbo and was told that it is not | | | | what I thought would be best of the trip so I |
| always on the menu but since she asked for it | | | | ordered a bowl during our waiter's first visit to the |
| the chef would have a pot made and ready for | | | | table. |
| us. By the way, don't let the name of the | | | | We were not disappointed. The gumbo was |
| restaurant cause you to hesitate. It was formerly | | | | excellent and everything about it was perfect. It |
| a grocery store but has been converted into a | | | | reminded me of the great examples my |
| very nice restaurant. | | | | grandmother would make in south Louisiana. It |
| The selection that night was seafood, and of | | | | was dark, and deep and rich. It was not too |
| course I had a bowl. It was beautifully done and | | | | heavy. It contained the right amount of chicken |
| so delicious. Being a gumbo fanatic with decades | | | | and andouille, with just the correct amount of rice. |
| of experience sampling my most favorite dish, I | | | | No file'. While enjoying my bowl of Louisiana delight |
| am a chef's worse critic. Before my first taste I | | | | I was reminded how incredibly delicious a simple |
| evaluated the color and texture and examined | | | | and rustic dish like gumbo can be. And believe me |
| closely the ingredients used in this most famous | | | | I know what it takes to make it so delicious. It |
| Louisiana soup. I knew before I spooned the first | | | | was obvious the chef starts with a flavorful broth |
| bite that this would be a great dish. The color was | | | | and not just plain water. The rich color |
| perfect. The thickness level was just right and | | | | demonstrates his patience and skill at making the |
| clearly demonstrated that this chef knows his | | | | perfect roux. A roux takes time to make and |
| bayou brew. The proportion of liquid to seafood | | | | cannot be rushed. And it requires a great deal of |
| ingredients was just exactly to the level one | | | | experience to get the color perfect night after |
| expects from a traditional south Louisiana gumbo. | | | | night. The chicken was lean and tender and the |
| It had shrimp, oysters and crab along with some | | | | andouille was obviously made on premises to a |
| andouille and the amount of okra was absolutely | | | | precise and traditional recipe. |
| perfect. | | | | You may have heard the old proverb that it is |
| The spice level was true and authentic. And to | | | | the small things that matter the most. It may be |
| set the record straight now, traditional Cajun | | | | a worn out phrase but it definitely applies here |
| cooking is not hot and spicy. I grew up on the | | | | because a lagniappe (a little bit extra) to my dining |
| bayous of Louisiana and we never had hot except | | | | experience was the home made yeast rolls |
| for a couple of drops of Tabasco. Hot and spicy is | | | | served with my gumbo. They tasted exactly like |
| a recent trend made popular by celebrity chefs. | | | | the ones my grandmother would make down on |
| But I digress. My sample was not oily and the | | | | the bayous of south Louisiana and is the ultimate |
| proportion of rice to liquid was precisely as I had | | | | addition to an authentic Cajun meal. As I dug into |
| hoped for. This demonstrates the chef takes the | | | | the gumbo and devoured the bread, memories of |
| extra step of siphoning off the oil that floats to | | | | my childhood came flooding back. I felt as though |
| the top, and takes care to serve it the correct | | | | I was sitting at Maw Maw Elma's table with my |
| way which means more gumbo and less rice. | | | | family enjoying a big pot of gumbo and her |
| This example of New Orleans most popular food | | | | yummy yeast bread. Everything tasted exactly |
| was delicious and I enthusiastically recommend it | | | | the same as Grandma's food and that is the real |
| to anyone wanting to try a real Cajun dish at it's | | | | thing. |
| best. It really sets a benchmark for seafood | | | | The gumbo at Cochon was the best of the trip |
| gumbo and I am sure only a scant few can make | | | | and I will recommend you have a bowl every |
| a better example of what devotees like myself | | | | chance you get. Don't pass on the bread either. I |
| judge as nearly perfect. I would rate this serving | | | | award Cochon's example of my favorite food 5 |
| of bayou soup at 4.5 stars out of 5. | | | | stars. The best hands down! Reservations are |
| There are other fantastic selections on the menu | | | | recommended. |
| and you will love them all. Jan had grilled fish that | | | | We had other gumbo while there and enjoyed |
| was wonderful and I had a pork entree that was | | | | them all but the 3 notables are mentioned here. |
| delicious. I can wholeheartedly recommend this | | | | You will not be disappointed in any of them. In |
| quaint restaurant to anyone dining in New Orleans. | | | | fact I suggest you try all of them while there |
| The wait staff did an excellent job and the wine | | | | since they are each different in their own way |
| selection is very good. But most of all the gumbo | | | | and that is in keeping with the very nature of the |
| was perfect and was my most favorite dish of | | | | cuisine. Variety is the spice of life and GUMBO. It's |
| the evening. Call for reservations in advance and | | | | the variety of ingredients, cooking styles and |
| ask if gumbo is on the menu for the evening. You | | | | interesting spices that keep gumbo the most |
| can get directions or make reservations by going | | | | popular food in Louisiana. |
| to their web site. | | | | |