Lucy "Goosebucket" G.'s Profile

So I was hoping to take my Dad out to a nice breakfast while he was visiting, but I guess we were up way to early in the morning for any of the other places to be open. Although the St. Charles Tavern is pretty divey, it served us a helluva decent breakfast if diner style breakfast is what you're looking for.

My dad was pleased as punch with his biscuits and gravy, pronouncing the gravy just spicy enough, covering two biscuits, halved, and each topped with a sausage patty.

I had two scrambled eggs, toast, and the hash browns. Very substantial, pretty darn good. Our waitress was sweet as could be, considering she'd probably been there all night. This place is open 24 hours and you can get breakfast lunch or dinner at any time during those hours.

Not too shabby for such a divey place. The price was good too.

I used to say Kyoto was my favorite. But when I moved int to the Lower Garden District, this fast became my new favorite sushi restaurant. I am not going to lie... over Mardi Gras this year, I definitely went to Sushi Brothers 5 times in 4 days. I crave it daily and only my empty wallet stops me from ordering it.

The service is always good. They serve you complimentary soup. They give you the most sushi for your dollar.

My personal favorite rolls include the Asparagus Tempura (SO YUMMY), the Avocado Sushi pieces (topped with a creamy, slightly spicy sesame sauce), the Tamago Sushi, and my favorite starter, besides edamame, is the cold broccoli salad, which comes with  what I think may be a wasabi ranch dipping sauce.

I could eat there everyday if I could afford my sushi addiction. Now, whenever I got out to say, Sake, Hoshun, or Kyoto, I always find myself sad that I'm not at Sushi Brothers instead.

Would I go there again? Hell, yes. I'll go right now, actually.

I know you're wondering.... what is a vegetarian doing in a steakhouse?

Well, I took my boyfriend there for an extra special treat because he's not a vegetarian and loves a good steak.

And good steak he got.

We made reservations and were seated with no wait. The service was impeccable. I still can't get over it.

We both stuck with water, but were served warm bread and butter shortly after sitting. My boyfriend started with bbqed shrimp, and I with a wedge salad.

My eyes bugged out at the size of my "simple" wedge salad. I think they served me like half of a head of a mutant giant lettuce because it was HUGE. Could barely eat half of it. It was really good too.

Aaron enjoyed his steak and confirmed that it was awesome. I snuck bites of his au gratin potatoes that were served on the side. Those 'taters were too good to be true. Neither of us could finish them.

For my "main course", I had gotten a baked potato which was also huge and delicious. (Although I think I liked the au gratin potatoes better.)

We were too full for dessert, but greatly enjoyed the dinner we did have. So I don't eat steak... I still had a great steak-less dinner at a steakhouse.

It was quite pricey, but worth it going to a nice restaurant downtown, see how happy a good steak made my boy, and really good service.

Would I go there again? Only for Aaron if he desired steak.

Stop 9. I've been meaning to write a glowing review of my new favorite weekend place since I discovered it months ago. I, for some reason, never quite made it to the review, although I have been back to Stop 9 at least 5 more times since.

What was once an upscale Mexican restaurant called Coyacon, it is now a more affordable answer to good food, healthy foods of all kinds. I have not been during the week to enjoy the lunch menu or tapas bar. I've only been on the weekends when breakfast only is served.

The breakfast of glory. I am usually waited on by Dana Abbott, whose voice can also be heard crooning beautiful music over the speakers (She's a quite talented musician as well as a friendly waiter. I suggest buying her cd as well as breakfast.) and she always greets us with a smile and takes our drink order. My date always has a cafe au lait and I an iced or hot mocha. Good to the last drop. The orange juice is fresh squeezed and you can tell... it's delicious- like the nectar of the gods.

I still tend to order similarly since I first came since it is so inexpensive and filling. I always get two side items: a bagel and an egg. (a bagel= $1.25, the egg= $1.50. How's that for cheap?) They put it together as a sandwich for me, and my date and I split another side together of the black beans ($2.25). It's so cheap and delicious, and I feel guilt free eating it because it's pretty damn healthy, really.

My last visit this past Sunday morning, I went with my boyfriend and my good friend Angie. My boyfriend got the black beans, which were served hot with crumbled white cheese on top and mildly spiced and smokey tasting. He and I split that, while he stuck with the breakfast sandwich of a wheat bagel, egg, and bacon ($4.95) I had a wheat bagel with a scrambled egg with fontina cheese. Bagel= good, egg= fluffy and lightly cheesy... that cheese really complements the egg. YUMMY. Angie ordered the pancakes, which I also sampled. Two huge fluffy whole wheat pancakes with blueberries in it, served with chicken sausage stuffed with asiago cheese and spinach ($6.95+ $0.75 for blueberries or strawberries). The pancakes were divine, plump fresh blueberries baked right in the batter. I didn't taste the sausage myself, but my boyfriend and her went nuts over it, and I will say it smelled awesome.

In the past I have also had the house potatoes, which were delish- although just a tad spicy for my tastes. My mother has ordered the blue cheese and pear crostini plate, which is really good if you just want a little snack. When she requested almonds as well as pecans, they went over and above to give her walnuts, pecans, and almonds.

I know I'm stuck on the bagel sandwich, but I really want to go back and try many of the other dishes. They all look so amazing. AND AFFORDABLE. I still can't get over how very little I have to spend for a delicious breakfast/brunch.

I should also mention that there is a tiny grocery section with yummy prepared foods and specialty items that are hard to find. I bought a delicious Puerto Rican coffee blend and chipotle spices that I use frequently to cook with at home-- mildly spicy and smoky flavored.

The decor is beautiful... bright and open, with your choice of regular tables or small cafe nooks.

Would I go there again? Definitely--- I've already been countless times!

Edit 3/24/09: I am sad to report that they are no longer open for breakfast! I think they are only open for private events now. Sad!

This past Sunday, I got to experience for the first time Eat Restaurant in downtown New Orleans for brunch. It is pretty tiny, which made it a little tricky for our large group of 17, but they accommodated us and our waitress was patient and sweet. This place encourages BYOB and we had brought our own champagne for ourselves. Eat supplied pitchers of orange juice for mimosas. Their orange juice was terrific! Fresh squeezed, and I do mean fresh! Pitchers of orange juice were $3 I started with the fig and blue cheese torte. It was served with crostinis and drizzled with a balsamic vinaigrette reduction. It was sooooo tasty. I would have never thought to combine the sweetness of figs with the tanginess of the blue cheese and crunch of walnuts, but not only did it work, but my friends found it addicting as well. I couldn't even finish it, as it was so rich and a huge portion! This rich starter was $9, and totally worked for a main course for me. I had a side of fried green tomatoes, something I'd always heard about, but never eaten. Two large slices of green tomatoes, batter dipped and fried, served with a flavorful remoulade sauce... it was really good. I think that was around $2-- not bad at all! I reached over the table to grab several bites of my friend's grits, which I also found pretty good.... considering I don't really like grits usually, I found myself reaching for several more bites because it was so good. The portions are large, and I mean REALLY large. They serve all manner of things, especially southern New Orleans style food. One of my friends got the Grits and Grillades, another got the Eggs Dumaine which was poached eggs, hollandaise sauce, friend green tomatoes, ham, and a biscuit, which looked amazing. I definitely want to go back and try their roasted red bell pepper soup, their tomato and feta torte, and their vegetable pasta bowl. They don't take reservations, but they do take cash and credit. Remember to bring your own alcohol.... it's pretty great!

Le Monde Coffee House. What a surpising little find! I recently moved to the Lower Garden District, and this cafe caught my eye as it is only a few blocks from where I now live.

It's been open only 6 months. This cute little place on St. Charles Avenue, right next to the Trolley Stop Cafe and Copeland's Cheesecake Bistro, is really quite perfect.

Though small and quaint, it offers an open space so you don't feel overcrowded like you do at Rue de la Course. Le Monde offers free Wi-Fi (yay!) and it's inside this coffee house that I am currently writing this review!

Le Monde offers muffins, pastries, New York bagels, bagel sandwiches, and panini sandwiches. It offers 29 coffee/tea options, 9 of which are iced, 5 frozen, and some truly decadent.

This morning, I treated myself to an egg and cheese sandwich on an everything bagel and an iced Caramel Mocha. The egg and cheese bagel sandwich was made fresh, on the toasted bagel, light and fluffy two eggs, and a thick slice of American cheese. It was actually a very large sandwich, a decent sized breakfast. That was just $3.25. I got the medium iced caramel mocha, lightly sweet and flavorful, $3.60.

The space is very efficient and great for laptops, with a strip of sockets to plug your computer into running along the bottom of the bench that lines the back wall. There is a little nook by the window in the front of this cafe with two plush red leather chairs. The decor is a mix between modern, artsy, and old fashioned. Its red walls and cherry finished wood panels give it a clean and fresh look, and the giant burlap sacks of old fashioned coffee beans  are cute. The menu is presented on giant sheets of metal with a swirly design. All in all, it's pretty aesthetically pleasing to me.

I personally can't wait to frequent this place, not only because it's so close to where I live, but because it offers so many options. I'm looking forward to trying their Potato Treat: a bagel sandwich topped with potato salad, mayo, tomato, lettuce, and choice of provolone or swiss cheese. Don't get me started on the 29 coffee drinks.... there are so many I want to try that I'll probably have to get all of them. I'm looking forward to what looks like dessert in a mug to me: the Cafe Le Monde: coffee brew of the day with steamed milk, white chocolate powder and toffee nuts with whipped cream and caramel on top. Um, I don't know about you but that sounds almost TOO decadent...hahah. Well that might be my next drink here, sounds too good to pass up.

They're open Monday through Saturday, 6:30 a.m. until 9:00 p.m., Sunday 7:00 a.m. till 8:00 p.m.

There is a $5 minimum if you use your credit card, but there is also an in-house ATM if you'd rather use cash.

If you're looking for a nice coffee house to hang out at, or a quick bagel-y bite, I'd suggest Le Monde Coffee House.

Would I go there again? Yes, most definitely!

I've been dining at Fresco's since I moved here 6 years ago. It's always been tasty, but somewhat forgettable, except that their location was so great and close to campus.

However, last night, hungry and near the area, I stopped by to grab some dinner. Did they change their menu or something? I got their portobello and spinach ravioli. It was incredibly good! The tomato sauce was a little creamy, long strips of portobello mushrooms, fresh cooked spinach, and ravolio pillows filled with ricotta and portobello bits, all topped with two slices of garlic cheese bread. I think it was just over $11, but it was enough for two meals.

I was pleasantly surprised and completely satisfied. The waitress was very sweet and friendly, the food served fast and hot, and sitting outside to view the passerbys on Maple street was nice. (The only thing though, there was an awful fly problem. Like, to the point of packing up our stuff and leaving. I suggest sitting outside if you have the patience for pesky flies. I think Fresco's should invest in some citronella candles for the outdoor tables at least.) Still, how have I not noticed this delectable dinner entree on the menu before?

I usually get the veggie wrap which is pretty good and also quite filling. The hummus and red pepper mayo on it kicks it up a notch. If you're looking for some really good ravioli though, I'd suggest Fresco's portobello ravs.

Would I go there again? Yes.

I suppose it's only fair to start off with the truth and state that the owner and head stylist at Urban Angels salon, Billy Miller, is a friend of mine.
This review, however, is un-biased. I have no problem being completely honest.

I've lived in New Orleans now for several years, and in all those years, I didn't have a really great haircut. And I always colored my hair myself, which was usually disastrous. Billy and his team fixed me right up with a great cut, color, and style.

When I say cutting edge, I mean, this guy knows how to cut hair. I usually go in there and say, "Billy, do your thing. Do whatever you want to my hair, I trust you to make it look good." and he always does.  When I first got my haircut there, he had me stand a bit a ways from him, took into perspective my body type, my face shape, and the texture of my hair, turned me around and around, and you could see the artist's mind working to come up with the best looking haircut to fit me. He was not afraid to try something edgy and different, like asymmetrical bangs or shorter layers, and even though I was nervous, I was ecstatic with the result. I never would have been so bold myself, but he made it look good.

I was nervous at first because SO MUCH HAIR was being cut off my head. But the end result? Still a lot of length, but a lightness that gave my hair a lot more body. He is extremely good at lifting the weight out of hair without having it lose length. He also knows how to cut it so that the style can grow out without looking awkward. I went 9 months without getting a haircut from him again, and my hair still looked good.  (I never want to wait that long again, though. It was my own fault for having waited so long in between cuts.)

Usually dark haired, I recently decided to be a redhead. Rami Gaubert, the colorist, did some amazing work. I think she used four different colors she mixed up and I ended up with some awesome BRIGHT red shocks with blonde-ish chunks scattered near the front and the underside.  Just what I wanted. She did a great job.

Not to peg them as only cutting trendy, rock-star cuts with wild and out-there looks, while waiting there for my color to set, I also saw Billy cut and style an older woman's hair, probably mid-80's in age. Made her look fabulous. He's cut most of my friends' hair and can give them a lovely cut, even if it is a simple trim.

Urban Angels has not only a very talented crew of cutters and dyers, but the shop itself is really quite unique. Wide open spaces with some really awesome light structures give it a funky warehouse feel. They also have many hair products available, which I bought and use everyday. Everyone is super friendly in this Magazine Street salon, and I watched many people stop in just to say hello and chat for a bit. They have great service, offering a beverage to their clients as they walk in, and they even ran to grab me a coffee and muffin from a nearby cafe when I mentioned I was hungry and hadn't had time for breakfast. Now that's service!

Though I don't usually like to spend a lot of money on myself, a haircut/color from Urban Angels is completely worth it. They totally transformed my hair into something great and unique, and you can't really put a price on that.

Would I go there again? YES. I think I found my stylist for life.

I'm sitting at my desk at work currently eating August Moon's tofu spring rolls.

I was so excited at the thought that I forgot to bring my lunch today and would have to walk a few blocks from work to find food. The spring rolls seemed so promising, especially since I adore Vietnamese food so much.

So it was cheap, like $6 for four decent sized tofu spring rolls, and served quick... but... but... they're sort of.... dry and lacking in something. There is nothing worse than a dry spring roll that tastes like it's been sitting out for a few hours because the rice paper that it's rolled in is already quite chewy, and if not served fresh, can make it REALLY tough and not appetizing.

Don't get me started about the peanut sauce. You know how much I love a good peanut sauce. Their peanut sauce is DARK BROWN, not enough tang, and maybe too much saltiness.

All in all.... I sort of wish I had just gotten a cup of coffee and a muffin from elsewhere.

Would I go there again? Maybe if I forget my lunch again. Maybe.

Since coming to New Orleans in 2002, I have not found really good Italian food. I mean like REALLY REALLY good Italian food. Perhaps that's because my mother is Italian and damn, does she know how to cook! (I might be a bit biased here, but she's the best cook ever.)

Vincent's. OH MY WORD. Now THAT is some good eatin'.

It was pricey, sure, but totally worth it.

The place is very small, very intimate. (Almost TOO small: a little hard to navigate around and worried I'd bump into some table.) Also, quite romantic. Dim lighting, candles on the table, and incredible service from the gracious waitstaff.

I had called ahead for reservations, and only had to wait 10 minutes or so at the bar for our table. My date and I grabbed a drink at the bar while waiting. He got a beer ($4.50) and I got an Appletini ($8-ish). It was my fault for ordering something too sweet... should have stuck to wine. (I'd never had an Appletini, and thought I'd give it a whirl) It was quite potent though! Good-- if you like really sweet/fruity drinks.

Once seated, we were given warm bread with garlic and green onion butter. So good.

Appetizer: Eggplant sticks with marinara sauce. Pretty good! The eggplant was a *little* bland, but the sauce was good on it. I liked the idea of it being in long sticks, much like french fries. We ate the whole thing... good to split between two people.

Entree: Fettuccine Alfredo.

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Sorry, I had to stop for a minute to allow myself proper drool-age...

It was SO RICH. I mean, it was thick, saucy, perfectly spiced while still being creamy and mild, and so much of it that it could easily have fed three people. I had to stop after several bites because I was so full. I don't think I've ever had such rich alfredo sauce.

I definitely got a to-go box. That's the best Italian I've ever had in New Orleans. (I mean, it's not my mom's spaghetti, but I'll take it!) Total cost for two people? Around $60 including drinks and tip.

Would I go there again? Definitely.