Jacques-Imo's Cafe
8324 Oak St
New Orleans, LA 70118
www.jacques-imos.com
I absolutely love New Orleans, Louisiana. So, when my birthday came around last year, I decided it was time for a trip to The Big Easy! We had an incredible time, due largely in part to the food! I knew before arriving we were going to be having dinner at Jacques-Imo’s Café at least once while we were there. It is located just a few minutes outside of The French Quarter in a suburb called Carrollton. This one-of-a-kind restaurant is located inside of a renovated two story shotgun house, which are staples in southern Louisiana. A shotgun house can be described by this one statement: You can shoot through the front and out the back door without hitting any walls. This not only adds immense character, it also provides a very welcoming environment. Jacques-Imo's has become so popular, art galleries have sprung up in the area looking to take advantage of the crowds and the business they bring. Most stay open later in the evening so hungry restaurant goers can peruse the art work while waiting for their table. It took about an hour for us to be seated which gave us more than enough time to stroll through the galleries. I first saw Adam Gertler on the Food Network's Best Thing I Ever Ate describing the Shrimp and Alligator Sausage Cheesecake offered at Jacques-Imo’s Café and I knew I had to try it! I was a little skeptical at first, not knowing what to expect. However, before even finishing the first bite, I was in love! It was unbelievable, having a quiche-like consistency. The creamy texture balanced perfectly with the buttery crust. The pieces of shrimp and alligator sausage were distributed evenly throughout the entire slice giving it a great rich taste. The sauce was spicy and velvety, a fantastic match for this remarkable creation. It is unlike anything else I've ever had! I was well prepared for the appetizer portion of our meal; however, I was still a little undecided about my entree. Everything on this menu sounded amazing, which made my final decision very difficult. It ultimately came down to our server's recommendation: the fried chicken. She said it was one of their most popular dishes, and I can see why! It was juicy, flavorful and seasoned to perfection. This is some of the best fried chicken New Orleans has to offer! They give you a breast, thigh, and wing with two sides and a house salad! So much fabulous food! It smelled so heavenly that guests walking or sitting near us continued asking if it tasted as good as it smelled. I answered “Yes!” without hesitation every time. For my sides, I ordered red beans and rice and seasoned corn. Both very good! The dessert menu was rather small, having only two options. We chose the crème brulee. It was warm, creamy and torched to perfection, certainly large enough for two people. This has definitely become one of my favorite restaurants in all of New Orleans. The atmosphere and the food are going to be very hard to beat! Jacques-Imo's Cafe 8324 Oak St New Orleans, LA 70118 www.jacques-imos.com
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I recently traveled to Nashville for the Country Music Association Festival, so naturally we were on the search for amazing food! Our first stop was Prince's Hot Chicken Shack. I had been wanting to try their chicken for quite a while. I am originally from Louisiana and love spicy food, so needless to say, I was excited! The menu at Prince's is small and straight to the point. The fried chicken comes mild, medium, hot and extra hot. You can get white meat, dark meat or both. I love restaurants with small menus because you always know the food will be fresh and flavorful! I wanted a little taste of everything, so I ordered both with medium heat. My friend David ordered the white meat with mild heat. Later, I would realize his was a much smarter decision! We waited about 30 minutes for our chicken, which we were more than happy to do. Finally, the food came and before digging in we could tell it was, in fact, very fresh. We also got a huge whiff of cayenne pepper. I dove in, thinking it couldn't be that spicy. I very quickly discovered how wrong I was! I usually like it the hotter the better, but this medium chicken was too hot for me. It felt like I could actually breathe fire, like a dragon from a Disney movie. Nevertheless through all the heat, I could still taste the amazingly seasoned fried chicken. This is when I really wished I had ordered the mild. But David, being awesome as always, offered me some of his. It was fantastic! The chicken was spiced just right! Not too hot, just the perfect amount of kick. We also ordered a side of fries which came sprinkled with cayenne pepper. They were lovely, also the perfect amount of spice. As we were leaving, we gave our table to two gentlemen who had planned much better than us. They brought their own beverages...a gallon of chocolate milk! They knew what they were in for. I definitely plan on returning to Prince's the next time I find myself in Nashville. However, I will make sure of two things: One, that I order the mild chicken and two, that I bring myself a gallon of chocolate milk to wash it all down. Prince's Hot Chicken Shack 123 Ewing Dr Nashville, TN 37207 I have by no means eaten at every restaurant in Miami, however I believe Michael's Genuine, located in the Design District, to be the best! The very best!! We had no trouble getting a table for two for lunch on a Wednesday. The staff was very friendly and knowledgeable. They answered all of our questions about the menu without hesitation. After much discussion, we decided to start with the pan fried onion dip and homemade potato chips. I'm a sucker for French onion dip; however this was beyond any other I've ever had. The dip was very creamy and the chips were perfectly crisp!! For entrees, we both ordered the Black Angus Burger and added bacon and cheese. I ordered my burger medium with vermont white cheddar and my friend ordered her's medium rare with blue cheese. This burger was brought down straight from heaven. It was simply marvelous. The flavors of the cheddar and bacon and the amazing brioche bun cannot be described as anything other than absolutely perfect. This is probably one of the freshest burgers I've ever had. This brioche bun tasted like a croissant directly from France. I know...I've been! It was buttery and toasted to perfection. I cannot say enough about this burger; however dessert is also a thing of beauty at this fantastic establishment. My friend ordered what they call Pie in a Jar. It was a small mason jar layered with peanut butter moose, Oreo crumbles, marshmallow fluff, and chocolate covered crispies. All topped off with the freshest whipped cream I have ever tasted! It was heaven in a jar!! I ordered the Tangerine Creamsicle Pot de Crème. It consisted of doughnuts coated in brown sugar and a little pot of tangerine cream that was so velvety you could eat it with a spoon! The doughnuts were divine! Warm and fantastically soft! There was also a side of blackberry jam that gave the dish a great tang! And last but definitely not least, we ordered the Candies, Cookies, and Confections to go. These cookies were unbelievable! So fresh and amazingly sweet! All in all, this was absolutely one of the best meals I have ever had in my life! Simply fantastic!! I cannot wait to go back!!
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