Shaya
Visiting Shaya was at the top of my to-do list for this trip and it was so fantastic that I almost (and should have) cancelled something on a different day and come back.  I almost ate to the point of making myself sick because everything was just too good not to finish.  I only wish I could have tried more and really want the recipe for the butternut squash hummus!

 moroccan carrots – chermoula and mint
lutenitsa – Bulgarian puree of roasted pepper, eggplant, garlic and tomato
tabouleh – parsley and bulgur wheat salad, red onion, toasted almonds, preserved lemon
 butternut squash hummus, black garlic putter, pecans
 lamb kebab – tomatoes, pine nuts, tahini, cilantro

Latitude 29
Latitude 29 may be the best, and one of the only tolerable things in the French Quarter.  I had planned to make a quick stop for just one drink and continue on, but the first was so good that one turned into three.  Unfortunately I don’t recall what the second and third drinks were but all really great.

Suffering Bastard – Dutch gin, French brandy, lime cordial, bittters, ginger beer

  

Toups Meatery
After Danny Meyer posted an amazing photo of a large format meat board at Toups I had to get here.  Terribly dark for photos but the meatery board lived up to expectations and could easily have been dinner itself.  Also it was great to get out of the touristy part of the city to more of what I would consider to be a neighborhood restaurant.

the Meatery Board
 Pickle Plate
 Roasted Gulf Shrimp – eggplant, tomato, olives, sherry vinaigrette