Eating Miss Piggy: Cochon Butcher

To celebrate the new muppets film coming out I think everyone needs to go to Cochon Butcher and indulge in some of the best cured pig you will ever encounter. Just listen to the description on their website and drool over these mouthwatering photos: "Inspired by old world meat markets, Chef Donald Link + Chef Stephen Stryjewski’s Cochon Butcher in the Warehouse District specializes in house made artisan meats + sausages made on premise." Old world meat markets? Hell YES! They must do some Voodoo magic on their pigs because this meat is so heavenly it'll have you dreaming about it melting in your mouth for months to come.

The sandwich featured above is just about the most feminine pork prep I've ever tasted; succulent pork belly, fresh mint, and cuecumber give Miss Piggy some good competition for the daintiest pig around. It's litterally mind alteringly good.

If you're more of a Porky Pig kinda guy then you must try the Cuban with cochan de lait. It's just the kind of meal that warms your heart and soul. If comfort food and sandwiches had a baby it would be this cuban. It's like a hug from the inside. Try it. You'll thank me.

Commander's Palace

I moved!!!!!!! I am finally away from the University area and in the heart of the Garden District... not too far from none other than Commander's Palace.

And what better way to celebrate my move into adulthood than a gourmet meal from a fancy restaurant? Especially when they have 25 cent martinis!!!!

I'm not kidding, Monday through Friday, this classic New Orleans restaurant serves Martinis for just 25 cents during lunch hours. Along with their delicious mind-blowingly cheap refreshments, they also serve 2-course meals starting as low as $16.
With prices that affordable Eric and I couldn't resist! Above is a scrumptious appetizer recommended to us by our waiter because we mentioned we loved spicy food. These succulent shrimp were literally smothered in a sweet and tangy hot sauce and served with pickled onions and okra over a sauce reminiscent of Italian dressing. This was definitely our most photogenic dish of the day.
However, the Soup 1-1-1 was absolutely the most fun! I love trying just a little bit of everything so these tiny tea cups filled with Turtle Soup, Gumbo, and the Soup du Jour (a roasted Creole Tomato Soup) was just perfect for me.

For our entrees Eric went with a lightly battered and fried soft shell crab tossed with so many greens and local tomatoes it almost looks like a salad! This dish was super fresh and summery, definitely a well fried crab.

I went with a heavier (I think more delicious) dish made up of slow cooked pulled pork and a deep fried crawfish boudin ball. When I say heavy, I mean it! I could barely eat half of this, but it was sooooooo good!!!!! Even the corn salad underneath the boudin was incredible.

With all that delicious food left over and desert still on its' way, I had to ask to wrap up my lovely entree. Lucky for me my waiter made me a little friend to take home! Between the Martinis and the tin foil crab, I was pretty giddy at this point in the meal, and it only go better!

Bread pudding soufflé with warm whiskey cream, enough said. Food Coma! But the good kind, where your taste buds are still lingering on that last bite and your mind is drifting back and remembering how good the first one was.
Really a phenomenal, affordable lunch. I never thought of Commander's as a place that I could afford and enjoy with out the presence of my parents, but their more relaxed Lunch atmosphere is really welcoming and just right. I highly recommend it. Great for celebrating whatever happy occasion you have in store, and it won't brake the piggy bank!

Top 10 Po Boys in New Orleans

The results are in, here's our list of our favorite (and least favorite) po boys in New Orleans. Check it out below and let us know what you think. 

1. Parasol's - Roast Beef Po Boy 

This is by far the best roast beef po boy in the city. The meat is amazingly tender, the gravy is thick and savory, and they use garlic bread instead of plain french bread, which adds a nice flavor and crunch to a po boy that would otherwise be quite soggy.

2. Domilise's -Fried Oyster Po Boy

This is the only place you should get a fried oyster po boy. Once you try it, nothing else will compare. 

3. Dong Phuong - Banh Mi (Vietnamese Po Boy)

Everything on the menu is amazing, but I reccomend the No. 1 "French Cold Cut" Banh Mi. This is absolutely worth the drive to the East.

4. Parkway- Surf and Turf Po Boy

The Surf and Turf po boy is one of my absolute favorites in the city. It combines three of my favorite things, fried shrimp, roast beef, and a TON of gravy!

5. Guy's - Fried Shrimp Po Boy

There are tons of spots around the city that serve up a great fried shrimp po boy, but Guy's is consistently delicious, and affordably priced for the quality ingredients used.

 

6. Crabby Jack's - Fried Green Tomato & Shrimp Remoulade Po Boy

This po boy is an amazing combo of boiled shrimp and fried green tomatoes smothered in delicious remoulade sauce. 

7. Crabby Jack's -Cochon de Lait Po Boy

Crabby Jack's cochon de lait po boy is also amazing, but I've found that's delicious anywhere you get it.

8. Ninja - Soft Shell Crab Po Boy

Ninja only makes this po boy a few times a year for festivals but it is fantastic! I have never had a better soft shell crab po boy. The tempura batter and spicy mayo add a nice Japanese twist to this Louisiana classic.

9. Louisiana Discount Market - Hot Sausage Po Boy

If you've never had a Hot Sausage Po Boy you are missing out. Louisiana Discount Market serves up a giant version of this spicy, greasy delicacy for only $4. Beware: this will cause some serious heart burn.

 

10. Mahony's "Peace-Maker" Po Boy 

The "Peace-Maker" is one of the stranger po boys on the market, combining fried chicken liver and coleslaw, but it's delicious if you love chicken livers as much as I do. 

 

Biggest Loser: Mother's "Ferdi Special"

This thing is just plain nasty. It starts off with honey baked ham and roast beef, and then is piled high with debris, and a very watery gravy. The sandwich would have been okay if it hadn't been so incredibly soggy, but it still would not have been good. By far the worst po boy I've ever had.

Crabby Jacks

Among the many po boy shops in the city my all time favorite is Crabby Jack's. Jack Leonardi, the owner of Jacques-Imo's Cafe, opened this incredible po boy joint back in 2002 and it's been hoppin ever since. This colorful restaurant is always lively and bustling with locals during lunchtime (the only time its' doors are open).

Until today my favorite thing to get at Crabby Jack's was their cochon de lait po boy. For those who don't know what cochon de lait, it is actually French for suckling pig... sad but delicious. Crabby Jack's slow cooks their baby pigs to perfection, smothering the tender morsels of meat with an incredible sweet and smokey sauce. It's basically the best pulled pork sandwich I've ever had.
However, the duck po boy was always a close second in my list of fabulous dishes from this joint, until this afternoon when I tried their Fried Green Tomato with Shrimp Remoulade po boy. OH MY GOD, phenomenal. One of the best things I've had all month, and I eat a lot of good food. Between the tangy delicious remoulade sauce and the hot cold dynamic of the warm fried tomatoes and the cold shrimp, Mmmmm Mmmmm Mmmmm, I was in heaven.
These po boys do run up a pretty high bill for a sandwich but they are totally worth it! It's the type of food that leaves you silent with wonder at how your taste buds are in such a blissful state. Truly a lovely place to get lunch, but be prepared to get messy. Roll up your sleeves, stick a napkin down your shirt like a bib and dig in!

Not everyone is as big of a fan as I am, some people swear by Domilise's and Guy's, not to mention Parkway Bakery. I unfortunately haven't been to any of those in over 6 months so I need some recommendations from my loyal local readers before I enter them into the po boy off! Happy Po Boy Week!