Eating New Orleans {Picnic Whiskey and Provisions}

J and I had read reviews that were all over the place about newish Uptown establishment Picnic Whiskey & Provisions by three seasoned restaurant gurus. After dining there last Sunday brunch, I too am all over the place. It wasn't bad, but it wasn't great either.

Let me start off by saying the space at State and Magazine Streets is precious. The decor is spot on and interesting.

Upon seating, we asked our waiter for two bloody Marys. In his exact words, "I'll see if we have the stuff to make those." What??? It's New Orleans, and it's a Sunday brunch. The waiter did come back to the table to tell us that the bartender would attempt to make them. Attempt??? OMGosh!!! He did say that bloody Marys are not normally on the menu (really???), but they would be serving some during the Mardi Gras season. 15 minutes later, J and I had our bloody Marys, and they were watered down and just gross. The waiter took them back, and they were remade. They were acceptable but nothing wonderful. I hope the bartenders will practice. Get a bottle of zing zang and some vodka....voila!!!

We started with the 

BLACK SKILLET MELTED PIMENTO CHEESE

sidewalk roasted chilis, sea salt and Crystal hot sauce pulp 

The pimento cheese was really good. It may be a tad spicy for those that cannot enjoy a spicy meal.

J dined on the 

CRAWFISH BOIL HOT FRIED CHICKEN BASKET

heritage boneless light & dark meat with a warm cornbread cake biscuit and Crystal hot sauce pulp

It was just okay. I did enjoy some of the warm cornbread cake biscuit though.

I dined on the 

CRAWFISH BOIL HOT FRIED CHICKEN SANDWICH

double stacked light & dark meat, mirliton dill pickles, butter steamed sesame bun, lemony white miso mayo

Again, it was okay. There was waaaaaay too much of the mayo.

Overall, it was just okay. Will we be rushing back? Probably not!

Picnic Whiskey and Provisions, y'all!

Uptown Acorn Eats {Cavan}

Last week, J & I tried a new restaurant on Magazine Street, and we were both impressed with the ambiance as well as the food.

Cavan is a new neighborhood with a foundation rooted in lively camaraderie. Inspired by the flavors of the American coast, the menu features rustic and hearty seasonal dishes that highlight quality salt and freshwater fish and fowl, both indigenous and imported. 

Read: The Advocate: Chef Kristen Essig will helm new Uptown restaurant Cavan

The home is a lovely turn of the century manse filled with crystal chandeliers and aged-painted walls. There is a bar downstairs which was filled with the Thursday afternoon Happy Hour folks, and there is a bar upstairs which seemed more like a fun hang-out type of experience.

The vibe of the downstairs restaurant lends itself to convivial conversation with several round tables. I love to sit with a group of friends at a round table as it makes it easier to speak with all in the group.

May I recommend: crab deviled eggs, old bay fries & malt aoili, fried oyster Caesar salad

There is outdoor seating which is perfect in the spring and fall here in NOLA.

I cannot wait to be back with a group of friends.

Cavan, y'all!

Fairhope State of Mind {Eats & Drinks, Summer ‘14}

I am NOT ready to go home- stomping feet! I am NOT ready to go home!
J & I left the beach yesterday in pouring down rain after a week of perfect beach weather and made a pit stop in one of our favorite locales, Fairhope, AL. For those of you who follow the Uptown Acorn, you know how much I love the Eastern Shore.
We arrived around lunch time and checked into the Fairhope Inn. It is such a cozy bed & breakfast style inn. With only 3 rooms in the main house, the Inn is the perfect place to stay in downtown Fairhope. We stayed in the “Red Room”.



Located in the heart of downtown Fairhope lies the beautiful Fairhope Inn and Restaurant. Warm and Elegant are what many describe the 107 year-old home. True Southern hospitality awaits your arrival as you enter the quaint town.
Upon a recommendation of Leslie Ann of Fairhope Supply Company blog, J & I had lunch at Locals, a local eatery which features foods with the finest locally sourced ingredients.

• Bread is baked fresh daily by Sweet Olive, Fairhope,AL
• Cheese is from Sweet Home Farm Cheese in Elberta, AL
• Veggies are from Local famers here in Baldwin County

J & I both devoured the bison burger on freshly baked wheat buns, topped with local blue cheese, sautéed mushrooms, and garlic aioli. We shared a side of green beans and squash and a side of freshly cut fries. Let me just say this meal was fresh and delicious, and the service was impeccable.



For happy hour, we met Leslie Ann and her husband at Pinzone's, a local Italian restaurant and bar, for a couple cocktails. It was great meeting her husband and talking blog “stuff”.





For dinner, we dined at the more upscale Fairhope Inn Restaurant. We love to dine on the glass enclosed porch.
“Chef/Owner and Culinary Institute of America graduate Tyler J. Kean invites you to come and experience fine dining in a relaxed and enjoyable atmosphere, expertly prepared meals planned from a menu that changes with the seasons. Chef Tyler takes his past experiences in restaurants that stretch from New York to New Orleans and pours them into his restaurant that he acquired in Nov. of 2000. Rich colors, large tropical plants and candle light help provide an elegant backdrop for some of the best dining on the coast.”
After a couple cocktails at the bar, we were seated promptly.



For appetizers, we shared the crab cake with sweet potato hay and a tomato caper aioli and half dozen oysters on the half shell.


For dinner, I had the catch of the day, grouper, the daily selection of sustainable seafood pan seared served with an seasonal succotash and lemon sage beurre blanc, and Jeff loved his grilled pork tenderloin with whipped sweet potatoes, braised “Local Appetite” Farms Russian red kale, with Point Clear honey and Cippolini onion jus.


For dessert, we shared the apple crisp. All was delicious. We love to dine at the Fairhope Inn when we are in this charming city.

Eating and drinking Fairhope-style, y’all!

Uptown Acorn Eats {Dick & Jenny’s}

Located just off of Napoleon Avenue at the corner of Tchoupitoulas (Can you pronounce it?) and Jena Streets, Dick & Jenny’s is a New Orleans staple. I still cannot believe that J & I have lived here for over 4 years and never dined here before.

“Originally a grocery store, and later a po-boy shop, this funky New Orleans original is a gathering place for those who seek fine dining cuisine in a casual, comfortable and affordable setting.
A husband and wife team, Dick and Jenny Benz modeled this intimate Uptown restaurant after some of their favorites here and abroad. The restaurant is casual, but equipped with a bar and an outdoor patio if one has to wait to be seated. The food is best described as American Regional with eclectic European overtones. Dick changes the a la carte menu every two months allowing the menu to feature seasonal specialties like soft shell crabs in spring and game in the fall.”
With reservations at 7:00 PM, we were warmly greeted and quickly whisked to our table for two in the main dining room. The dining room was very warm and inviting. Designed plates of its original customers decorated the walls. What a story! Read it HERE.

J & I started with a couple martinis (I am allowed to have one or two drinks now--- doctors orders.).

Water was brought to the table in Mason jars. Love it! And a basket of cornbread and rosemary breads satiated our hunger.

We each ordered a different appetizer to share.
J ordered the corn fried Louisiana oysters – southern coleslaw & New Orleans remoulade which tasted fantastic.

I ordered the fried green tomatoes & jumbo lump crab remoulade. They too were yummy.

After another round of martinis, we both totally enjoyed our entrees. J dined on the filet with wild & dirty rice, grilled asparagus & a mushroom-sage demi-glace.


I dined on the drumfish with shrimp & mirliton stuffing over chorizo risotto, topped with lemon-thyme beurre blanc. Both were excellent. The portions are large.

Finally for dessert, we chose the pumpkin praline cheese cake topped with whipped cream & salted caramel sauce. Yum!

If you choose to dine at Dick & Jenny’s, go hungry. The portions are rather large, so we left stuffed. It has been a while since I filled my stomach with so much rich foods.
All in all, I cannot wait to dine there again. The atmosphere, staff, and foods were all top notch.

Check out the menu: click HERE

Dick & Jenny’s, y’all!