Restaurant Tips from a Local Yokel

NNTP-Posting-Date: Mon, 05 May 2003 05:27:14 PDT
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read more N.O. reviews at http://forums.delphiforums.com/OBNO/messages

OBNO 108
Don't Shoot the Piano Player, But You Can Bribe the Scribe=20

After reading one of my OBNO Essays, a friend called me and said "What = are you doing Wednesday, I'm taking you out?!"=20

She wouldn't tell me what was up, but I dutifully took my weekly shower, = scoured my closet to find something to wear (she said it would be = "casual, but no jeans"), threw on something, and waiting patiently at = the keyboard for her arrival.=20

I had a suspicion of what was up, but I decided to go with the flow.  = She arrived at the appointed hour (this in itself is a miracle of modern = science!), and off we went in her automobile, heading back down to the = CBD from my neighborhood. (CBD in local parlance is New Orleanian for = "Central Business District").=20

We parked the car (well, she did actually) and started walking thru the = Quarter.  She said "you're in for a real treat," and I replied, "It's = always a treat just to be with you!"=20

I thought we were headed for Dickie Brennan's, in fact we had talked = about it, but a right turn off Canal told me she had another destination = in mind.  Another right turn, up Common, and into the Pere Marquette = garage.  "Ah, I thought, Rene Bistro."  (A mind like a steel trap).=20

Rene opened about the same time as the hotel, in mid last  year, to = strong reviews, and SRO diners.  We had a reservation tonight, but it = wouldn't have been needed - midweek, end of the convention and fest = scene, it was mostly locals and a few hotel guests.=20

Chef Rene Bajeaux, late of the Windsor Court's Grill Room, has finally = figured out how to serve the Francophile population of the city good = traditional "everyday" French food, and economically, as well - there's = hardly an entr=E9e in sight that isn't priced at a couple bucks shy of = the $20 standard.=20

The ambiance is casual and intimate at the same time.  Tables are = adequately spaced, and the d=E9cor is reminiscent of most hotel coffee = shops, but noveau chic at the same time.=20

Your starter is the traditional hot French bread, except Bajeaux has = used a "grainier" flour, which gives the bread some texture.  It's = served with butter and a white bean/garlic spread.=20

Appetizers run a mere $5-$6, and we tried two, escargot, which I will = eat anywhere, in any form.  Rene's are served out of the shell, doused = in Pernod, herbs, and only a hint of garlic.   His version of broiled = oysters are interesting, with melted cheese covering the meat and a = surprising pocket of horseradish hiding on the half-shell.=20

There are shrimp, crawfish, and soup appetizers as well.=20

My companion ordered grilled tuna for an entr=E9e, which was served with = a wonderful truffle sauce and a side of greens.  My steak tartare was = exceptional - high quality beef, perfectly spiced (to my taste), and = artfully arranged amidst the traditional toast points on the plate.=20

We shared an order of traditional pommes frites, which were rough cut, = skin-on, served hot and salty, as you would expect to find at any = street-side bistro in the City of Lights. =20

There's one special nightly, so Steak Tartare is limited to Wednesday = nights.  Next time I might try the cous cous or the traditional Salad = Nicoise.=20

The desserts looked marvelous, but we passed (I always do) and finished = dinner with a Pernod and a great coffee.=20

Rene's Bistrot is open for all day dining, being a hotel restaurant.  = You can eat at the bar as well, which has windows on Common and Baronne. =
 If only the windows opened onto the street, you could idle the day away = over a caf=E9 au lait and just as easily think you were at Le Caf=E9 = Vendome, or perhaps the Brasserie Lipp, in the 6th.=20

The only difference?  No surly waiters, and you'll pay half the price of = dining in Paris.

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<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN"> <HTML XMLNS:O><HEAD> <META http-equiv=3DContent-Type content=3D"text/html; = charset=3Diso-8859-1"> <META content=3D"MSHTML 6.00.2800.1106" name=3DGENERATOR> <STYLE></STYLE> </HEAD> <BODY> <DIV> <H1><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2>read more N.O. reviews at </FONT><A=20 href=3D"http://forums.delphiforums.com/OBNO/messages"><FONT face=3DArial =

size=3D2>http://forums.delphiforums.com/OBNO/messages</FONT></A></H1> <H1><FONT face=3DArial size=3D2></FONT>&nbsp;</H1> <H1><FONT face=3DArial size=3D3>OBNO 108</FONT></H1> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>Don=92t Shoot the Piano Player, But You Can Bribe the = Scribe<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>After reading one of my OBNO Essays, a friend called me and = said=20
=93What are you doing Wednesday, I=92m taking you out?!=94<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>She wouldn=92t tell me what was up, but I dutifully took my = weekly=20 shower, scoured my closet to find something to wear (she said it would = be=20
=93casual, but no jeans=94), threw on something, and waiting patiently = at the=20 keyboard for her arrival.<O:P> </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>I had a suspicion of what was up, but I decided to go with = the=20 flow.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>She arrived at the = appointed=20 hour (this in itself is a miracle of modern science!), and off we went = in her=20 automobile, heading back down to the CBD from my neighborhood. (CBD in = local=20 parlance is New Orleanian for =93Central Business District=94).<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>We parked the car (well, she did actually) and started = walking thru=20 the Quarter.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>She said =
=93you=92re in=20
for a real treat,=94 and I replied, =93It=92s always a treat just to be = with=20 you!=94<O:P> </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>I thought we were headed for Dickie Brennan=92s, in fact we = had talked=20 about it, but a right turn off Canal told me she had another destination = in=20 mind.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Another right turn, = up=20 Common, and into the Pere Marquette garage.<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>=93Ah, I thought, Rene = Bistro.=94<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>(A mind like a steel = trap).<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>Rene opened about the same time as the hotel, in mid = last<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>year, to strong reviews, and = SRO=20 diners.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>We had a = reservation=20 tonight, but it wouldn=92t have been needed =96 midweek, end of the = convention and=20 fest scene, it was mostly locals and a few hotel guests.<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>Chef Rene Bajeaux, late of the Windsor Court=92s Grill = Room, has=20 finally figured out how to serve the Francophile population of the city = good=20 traditional =93everyday=94 French food, and economically, as well =96 = there=92s hardly=20 an entr=E9e in sight that isn=92t priced at a couple bucks shy of the = $20=20 standard.<O:P> </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>The ambiance is casual and intimate at the same time.<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Tables are adequately spaced, = and the=20 d=E9cor is reminiscent of most hotel coffee shops, but noveau chic at = the same=20 time.<O:P> </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>Your starter is the traditional hot French bread, except = Bajeaux has=20 used a =93grainier=94 flour, which gives the bread some texture.<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>It=92s served with butter and = a white=20 bean/garlic spread.<O:P> </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>Appetizers run a mere $5-$6, and we tried two, escargot, = which I will=20 eat anywhere, in any form.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; = </SPAN>Rene=92s=20 are served out of the shell, doused in Pernod, herbs, and only a hint of =

garlic.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp;&nbsp; </SPAN>His version = of=20 broiled oysters are interesting, with melted cheese covering the meat = and a=20 surprising pocket of horseradish hiding on the half-shell.<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>There are shrimp, crawfish, and soup appetizers as = well.<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>My companion ordered grilled tuna for an entr=E9e, which = was served=20 with a wonderful truffle sauce and a side of greens.<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>My steak tartare was = exceptional =96 high=20 quality beef, perfectly spiced (to my taste), and artfully arranged = amidst the=20 traditional toast points on the plate.<O:P> = </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>We shared an order of traditional pommes frites, which were = rough=20 cut, skin-on, served hot and salty, as you would expect to find at any=20 street-side bistro in the City of Lights.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: = yes">&nbsp;=20 </SPAN><O:P></O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>There=92s one special nightly, so Steak Tartare is limited = to Wednesday=20 nights.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>Next time I might = try the=20 cous cous or the traditional Salad Nicoise.<O:P> = </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>The desserts looked marvelous, but we passed (I always do) = and=20 finished dinner with a Pernod and a great coffee.<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT = size=3D3><FONT=20 face=3DArial>Rene=92s Bistrot is open for all day dining, being a hotel=20 restaurant.<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>You can eat = at the bar=20 as well, which has windows on Common and Baronne.<SPAN=20 style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>If only the windows opened = onto the=20 street, you could idle the day away over a caf=E9 au lait and just as = easily think=20 you were at Le Caf=E9 Vendome, or perhaps the Brasserie Lipp, in the = 6th.<O:P>=20 </O:P></FONT></FONT></SPAN></P> <P class=3DMsoNormal><SPAN=20 style=3D"FONT-SIZE: 14pt; mso-bidi-font-size: 12.0pt"><FONT face=3DArial = size=3D3>The=20 only difference?<SPAN style=3D"mso-spacerun: yes">&nbsp; </SPAN>No surly = waiters,=20 and you=92ll pay half the price of dining in=20 Paris.</FONT></SPAN></P></DIV></BODY></HTML>

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