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When Todd and I decided to go to New Orleans last February, one of the “must do” things on our list was to eat at a few of Emeril Legasse’s famous restaurants.
Why Emeril’s New Orleans Restaurants?
Why Emeril’s, because his cooking shows inspired Todd to learn how to cook. I’m pretty sure there are a lot of other guys out there that were inspired by him as well.
So paying homage to his “mentor”, just seemed like the right thing to do. And, we were not disappointed!
So Many Restaurants to Choose From!
Emeril has four restaurants in New Orleans; Emeril’s New Orleans, NOLA Restaurant, Emeril’s Delmonico, and Meril. We decided to go to Emeril’s New Orleans Restaurant for lunch. Especially since it wouldn’t be so be crowded during lunch. Also, we wanted to sit at the bar and visit with the bartender.
The Bartender Knows a Lot!
Believe me, if you want to know what is going on around town and in the restaurant world, the bartender is the one to chat with. We had a wonderful conversation about the restaurant, Emeril, and his other restaurants in New Orleans.
We discovered that Emeril is a great guy to work for and with. He is personable, caring, and friendly. He is loyal to his staff and they are loyal to him. That says a lot about a person’s character and shows he is a genuine person.
Additionally, the food recommendations made by the bartender were perfect. I wish I would have gotten her name because she made our visit so much more enjoyable. Even the server said that he would pick exactly the same dishes.
Sausage Gumbo for Starters
So, without further ado, let me walk you through our meal at Emerils. We started with an order of the Gumbo of the Day. Luckily, it was the Gumbo with the Andouille Sausage, which is what Todd was wanting to try. Of course, it was perfectly balanced with flavors of New Orleans.
Mussels? Yes, Please.
Next, we had an order of the Coconut Curry Mussels. We tend to order mussels or clams if they are on the menu, as they are favorites of ours. These were served in a broth with crispy rice, small tuna meatballs, radishes and cilantro, Just the aroma itself was amazing. The mussels were cooked perfectly; and were tender and juicy.
Every Ingredient Has a Purpose.
Chefs tend to put different flavors together for a reason, and this was no exception. Dipping bread into the broth and taking a bite full of all the flavors melded together made this one of our most memorable dishes.
Crawfish and Clams – A Delicious Combination
We took a bit of a breather and enjoyed a cocktail, before continuing on with our next order, which was the Crawfish Stuffed Top Neck Clams. These were beyond incredible. Three large clams stuffed with Crawfish and Chorizo. Luckily, I got to have two, because Todd ate most of the gumbo. A win, win!
These had a crispy but tender and moist stuffing. The broth added an additional layer of flavor and moisture as well. The chorizo added just the right amount of heat without overpowering the crawfish. Additionally, the presentation was absolutely stunning.
What to do with Duck Wings?
An order of the Duck Wings finished our gastric celebration. What an ingenious idea. Taking something that would normally be discarded and turning it into our absolute favorite dish. The duck wings were crispy and were lightly coated with a sticky semi-sweet glaze. They were dressed with shaved celery and a light blue cheese vinaigrette dressing.
If I wasn’t so full, I would have ordered more of the Duck Wings. My mouth is watering as I am writing this post. Yes, they were that good!
I hope you enjoyed reading about our visit to Emeril’s New Orleans. More importantly, I hope this post encourages you to try them on your next trip to New Orleans. I am certain we will be back again to try even more restaurants and delightful New Orleans Creole cuisine.
Enjoy,
Sherri
