Jersey Shore: Italian Food Porn

Like McGriddles, the Jersey Shore is another semi-embarrassing vice I thoroughly take pleasure in from time to time. So in honor of the new season, which comes out tomorrow night (you can watch the Season 4 trailer here!) I've put together some mouth watering photos of Italian American, or in this case Italian Creole, cuisine to celebrate the heritage of the rambunctious Jersey Shore characters. Though they are in Italy this season, eating authentic Italian food, they often have episodes which feature their own Italian cooking, which surprisingly usually looks pretty good. These pictures unfortunately are not of Snooki/Pauly D creations, but they are from Joey K's (which now that I think about it kind of has a Guido name, awesome). 

Above is the phenomenal Shrimp Magazine Special, featured on Guy Fieri's show: Diners, Drive-ins, and Dives, and on my food blog! The artichoke - shrimp - angel hair combo is mind blowing. Get it, trust me. 

This soft shell crab dish is not nearly as beautiful as the Shrimp Magazine, but it tastes soooo good! 

Veal parmesan + angel hair + marinara. Need I say more? 

... I didn't think so.

Who needs dessert when you have these crispy golden sweet potato fries? 

I'm literally drooling just looking at these photos. 

What better way celebrate the season premiere of the Jersey Shore than feasting on a huge Italian meal!!!  Bon Appetit! 

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!

Pascal's Manale

With NOWFE (the New Orleans Wine and Food Experience) kicking off this week I wanted to take some time to do some restaurant reviews myself. This food festival brings in foodies from all over the country, and globe, who all think they know exactly what they're talking about. Some are genuinely nice people looking for some good grub and friendly people, others have a stick stuck up the wrong end and can't seem to get the pretension out of their back handed comments. But from someone who lives and eats in New Orleans, and has for 4 years, here's my opinion of some of the top notch joints in this lovely city.

If you ask anyone around here where to get the best BBQ shrimp at least 7 out of 10 will say Pascal's Manale. Located on the ever so beautiful Napolean Avenue, I drive by almost everyday, but had never had the pleasure of peeling and biting into one of these famous shrimp until my godparents came in town for my graduation.
They are quite beautiful but I must say I was definitely disappointed. I've been hearing about these "phenomenal" shrimp for years, some even go as far to say that it is the ONLY place you should get them in the city, but to be honest there was nothing BBQ about them. It was simply shrimp drowning in butter, which of course is tasty, but not BBQ! Until recently, my favorite BBQ shrimp could be found at Bacco, a lovely Brennan's restaurant that unfortunately closed down a few months back. Those shrimp were blackened and smokey and smothered in butter, but these merely have the butter factor. I've been told K Paul's has some great BBQ shrimp so I'll have to check that out soon. But I was not completely disappointed by Pascal's Manale. First of all, their bar is adorable and they make some great extra dirty gin martinis. Plus, their soft shell crab was really tasty.
The oysters were a bit too meaty for me, but they have an awesome standing oyster bar that would be great for a casual date or even game night with the boys.
Get ready for some more reviews, I'm tired of tourists telling everyone wrong information!

Soft Shell Crab

Soft shell crab, one of the most delicious New Orleans delicacies is only in season during the late spring and early summer months. During that time you'll find it on the menus of every fancy shamncy restuarant in the city, along with some more low key po boy joints. 

The best soft shell crab po boy I have never had is from Ninja Sushi.  Ninja only makes this po boy a few times a year for festivals, but it is fantastic! The tempura batter and spicy mayo add a nice Japanese twist to this Louisiana classic. Definitely try one of these stunners next time you see them at Po Boy Fest!