Eating My Way Through the Cheesecake Factory Menu: Chicken Bellagio, Tiramisu Cheesecake

Chicken Bellagio
Crispy Coated Chicken Breast over Basil Pasta and Parmesan Cream Sauce Topped with Prosciutto and Arugula Salad. 

This is the same chicken that is used in the Louisiana Chicken Pasta. The chicken is pounded so that it is very thin and coated with a light and crispy batter. Despite this process, the chicken is still very moist. The pasta was cooked well but I couldn't exactly distinguish the basil flavor. The Parmesan cream sauce wasn't heavy and gave the dish flavor without overpowering. The arugula salad that tops the dish is fresh and if you feel guilty about eating at Cheesecake Factory, it will help trick your sense into believing what you ate was somewhat healthy. Overall, it was pasta but didn't feel like too heavy of a dish, it's just that the portion is huge and if you actual succeed in eating it all, you will be stuffed.

Tiramisu Cheesecake
Wonderful Cheesecake and Tiramisu Combined into one Amazing Dessert! 

I like Tiramisu and I like cheesecake, but combined I found it to be a strange and I realized that I rather enjoy them separately than together.

Café Adelaide - Central Business District - New Orleans, LA

Cafe Adelaide is located inside the Loews Hotel which means complimentary valet. So if you have a limited lunch break, time won't be wasted looking for parking. As a part of the Brennan restaurant chain and a fan of Sobou and Mr. B's Bistro, I was excited to have lunch here. 

Cafe Adelaide fits the mold of a hotel restaurant. There wasn't anything standout about the space. 

Our waiter was also pretty forgetful too. At some points he was quick to refill our waters yet at other times we had to ask and remind him to refill our water or bring drinks we had ordered. He would do the standard how are you doing but was quick to rush off before even receiving an answer. 

The excitement about lunch at some of the Brennan restaurants are the 25 cent martinis. I think about 99 percent of the people, dining in the restaurant as the time, ordered the Commander's Martini (vodka with blue curacao) but that was my least favorite. Besides the Commander's, you also have the option of the Classic (vodka or gin), Appletini or Cosmopolitan martini. Try one or try them all but for 25 cents these drinks pack a powerful punch (hence the 3 drink limit). 

My boyfriend started off his lunch with the Shrimp & Okra Gumbo. The presentation was dazzling! They present you with the bowl of rice and a cup of the gumbo on the side and poor in front of you. The gumbo has a pleasant flavor and a little bit of a bite. 

I started with the Shrimp & Tasso Corndogs. Out of the entire meal, this was the dish that stuck in my mind. I was intrigued by the sweet yet spicy flavor of the 5 pepper jelly and the cheesy taste of the Crystal hot sauce butter. It was an unique, good-tasting dish but could have improved with less sauce since it overpowered.

For his main, my boyfriend order the Absinthe BBQ Cheeseburger and requested that it be cooked medium. At far as the meat goes, it was cooked per his request but as far as taste goes, he said he felt like it was missing something. For a BBQ burger, he said he really didn't taste the sauce. 

I had the Smashed Blue Crab and Brie Po'boy. The sandwich was satisfying, but had too strong of a lemony flavor. The bread was buttery and crisp, more like a Panini than a po'boy. The pickled corn, tomato and zucchini salad was over pickled and half way through, I felt like I was drinking a jar of vinegar.

For dessert, we had to try the award winning White Chocolate Biscuit Pudding. I fancied the ice cream, was fond of the pudding but eating dessert should be this sinful experience and it wasn't.

After my meal, I left feeling like everything was adequate but not memorable. I think the saving grace was the 25 cent martinis but Brennans' offers that at some of their other/better restaurants.


Café Adelaide
300 Poydras St New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 595-3305
www.cafeadelaide.com

Visit Savannah: Huey's On the River - Savannah, GA

We planned to have a nice dinner our last night. We did lots of research, found some nice places but fine dining and small kids don't work and the few the met the criteria were fully booked and gave the impression over the phone that they didn't take walk-ins. Currently living in New Orleans, Huey's on the River that specializes in Cajun cuisine spiked my curiosity and I figured the mostly positive reviews would hold true.

They didn't take reservations so we showed up and were given a 30 minute wait. They are located by the river so we walked around to killed time. When we were finally called, we were squeezed into a four top (our group was five with the kids) which wasn't too much of an issue. What was an issue is that it took forever for our server to even take our drink order. In fact, the entire dining service was slow. It's wasn't just us either, I saw other table constantly looking around to try and get some attention. Our server just looked like she didn't care or was overwhelmed; everyone that worked there did. The restaurant was so cramped we had to hand off our own plates (I can't imagine what happen when the plates are super hot).

The food didn't improve the experience. I ordered the Pasta Jambalaya. This was not that, this was spaghetti sauce with hot dog masked as andouille sausage. I didn't like it at all, I ate barely any and unfortunately didn't take home the rest.

My mom had the Crab Cakes with red beans and rice. She said the red beans and rice were okay but a little too salty. The crab cakes were crap. They tasted super sour, and were flat as a pancakes fillers. Crab, where are you?

The rest of my family had chicken wings and chicken tenders and had no complaints so I guess that is the way to go at a self proclaimed authentic New Orleans restaurant.


Huey's On the River
115 E River St Savannah, GA 31401
(912) 234-7385
www.hueysontheriver.net

Crescent Pie & Sausage Co. - Mid-City - New Orleans, LA

A place that makes their own sausage and I am in the area and hungry, lunch at Crescent Pie and Sausage is it.

The restaurant is located in the middle of a residential neighborhood. The decor is pretty simple but along with the look of the staff gave me the hipster vibe. However, it is not that kind of restaurant and all types of people from old to young were dining here.

Our server was a really nice guy, but it seemed to be his first day and he struggled a bit (forgetting to offer specials, etc) but he went out of his way to create a good experience. 

I ordered the special for the day, Red Beans and Rice with andouille and cornbread. The house-made andouille was exceptional! The red beans and rice, on the other hand were lukewarm; it needed more flavor. The cornbread was a little dry for me, but flavorwise was good.

Besides their sausages, the other thing they are known for are their pies. My dining companion ordered the Mid City Slammer Pizza (Andouille, Grilled Chicken, House-Smoked Coppa, Cheddar, Mozzarella and Red Sauce). Again the andouille stood out and was the star. The pizza overall was good. The crust was thin and crispy. I also liked that the toppings were the focus and it wasn't just another slice loaded with lots of cheese.

Yummy sausages and an awesome atmosphere is what I found in Crescent Pie & Sausage Co.


Crescent Pie & Sausage Co.
4400 Banks St New Orleans, LA 70119
(504) 482-2426
www.crescentpieandsausage.com

Criollo Restaurant & Lounge - French Quarter - New Orleans, LA

Criollo Restaurant & Lounge is located inside the Hotel Moteleone. If you didn't know any better, that may make the restaurant difficult to find, so to help you out if you intend to dine there, once you enter the hotel, go to the right and you will see it.

I was very captivated by the ambiance of the restaurant. A lot of dark browns and woods were used in decorating this restaurant but that is offset by white walls and huge windows lining the restaurant. Despite the dark colors, it was still bright and since I do not like a poorly lit restaurant that was a huge plus for me.

But, what I really liked about my experience at Criollo, is our waiter. He was funny yet professional and as attentive as they come. I was able to get that Southern hospitality which doesn't always seem to exist in New Orleans. 

At Criollo, like most other restaurants, they start you off with bread but what makes theirs different, is that they serve it with three kinds of butter. Butter can't sell the bread though, so thankful the bread was actually good and fresh. The Foccacia Bread was like the really good homemade kind with actual olives in it.

My boyfriend ordered the special for the day, Chicken and Waffles. He was at first disappointed that it was Chicken breast not chicken parts but the well-seasoned, tender pieces chicken made his not think twice about that one. The Waffles were fresh but on the crunchier side. What really sold the dish was the two accompanying sauces. Instead of regular maple syrup it was their own sweet sauce along with the option of a spicier one.

I, on the other hand, ordered off the COOLinary menu and for my first course, had the Soft Shell Crab Belle Meuniere. The soft shell crab was lightly breaded and fried. Along with the brown butter sauce, onions, tomatoes and wild mushroom, it created a delectable light lunch. It was subtle but flavorful and had just the right amount of sauce that the dish didn't become soupy and the Soft Shell Crab never got soggy.

For my second course, I indulged in the White Chocolate Creme Brûlée. I was amazed by this creme brulee. It wasn't too sweet and you could distinguish the white chocolate flavor without it overpowering the dessert as a whole. The fresh fruit and the pastry shell were a great touch to an already outstanding dessert that I honestly would go there solely for. 

If you cannot tell by now, I LOVED dining at Criollo. Obviously I will be back for many more times to come, but now that I have experienced New Orleans dining at Criollo Restaurant, cocktails at Carousel Bar (located just next door) are definitely in order on my next visit.


Criollo Restaurant & Lounge 
214 Royal St New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 681-4444
www.criollonola.com

Muriel's Jackson Square - French Quarter - New Orleans, LA

The second stop on my COOLinary dining experience is none other than Muriel's Jackson Square. Located smack-dab in the hustle and bustle of Jackson Square, it is hard not to take notice of this restaurant. Obviously my curiosity set in and after months of living in New Orleans, I finally set foot in the place.

Although the building had been around for a ridiculous amount of years (from the 1700s kind of years), Muriel's had only occupied the building since the 2000s and even though the building is old as hell, the restaurant decor was a modern representation of what a dining room would have looked like back then.

I always start my meal at a restaurant with one of their signature cocktails. They have a pretty interested list but Honey Child sounded about right for me. Vodka, blackberries and basil, OH MY! Most cocktail preparations focus on the sweet or fruitiness of the fruit but in this cocktail, the alcohol was the focus (as it should always be) and the addition of chambord didn't make me mad either.

The Shrimp and Goat Cheese Crepes appetizer was extremely appetizing. It was like eating homemade ravioli in a luscious buttery sauce that tantalizes your tongue.

The Gorgonzola Prosciutto Tart was good but not as fabulous as the crepes. Honestly it was a cheese tart with a few crumbs of prosciutto on top but when combined with the apple, blackberries and the sweet honeyed pecans, it was a lovely starting dish.

The Pecan Crusted Puppy Drum was exquisite. I was impressed by the lightness of the batter and the delicate flavor of the sauce. We added crabmeat to the dish which took it up a notch, but despite any strong flavor, it was still a distinctive entree.

I am all about seafood and combining shrimp, fish and crabmeat into one entree is like being able to choose three men and make them into one dream man. The sauce was a well-prepared, rich and heavenly flavored concoction of ingredients. The biscuit had a slight sweetness to it.

I tried to avoid the Bread Pudding (a dessert at every restaurant) but the server probably heard me wrong when I asked for the Butterscotch Pudding and brought out the Bread Pudding instead. It looked so good and I am not one for complaining so I didn't bother to correct it. I am glad I didn't because it turned out to be one of the better Bread Puddings in the city. The candied pecans and rum sauce killed it (in a good way).

The other dessert choice was the Flourless Chocolate Cake. It was divine but was richer than Oprah. It was moist, dense and smooth like fudge.

This may be a quintessential tourist restaurant in the French Quarter, however after my experience I highly recommend it. The food is a superb representation of Cajun/creole cuisine and let's not that forget that the service is impeccable and that they aim to please. My only issue (if you can really call it that), was that I did feel a little rushed but I'll chalk it up to attentive service and I can't get made at that.


Muriel's Jackson Square
801 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 568-1885
www.muriels.com

K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen - French Quarter - New Orleans, LA

K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen has been a staple in New Orleans cuisine for such a long time that I felt that it was worth checking out and what better time than COOLinary to experience a sampling of their food. One thing I say when dining out in New Orleans is never leave home without a reservation. No matter how long the line is or how empty the restaurant, it is imperative and they will try to deny you without one.

We arrived at the restaurant and were seated in the second floor dining room. I liked it a lot better than the first floor since it was a little more open and offered better lightening. The feeling of the restaurant was the typical New Orleans vibe. It was a lovely setting!

Service at the restaurant is very professional and well organized. Not much of a a personal rapport was established, but we were given attentive service. I never felt rushed and I welcome that fact the a little bit of time was lapsed between courses allowing me to digest a little bit. Be aware that if you are a COOLinary diner, you will have to request the menu.

Dinner doesn't start without a cocktail (at least that's what I say), so I ordered a Pomegranate Martini. This was a fabulous martini with the right balance of alcohol and sweet. It was very refreshing on a hot summer night!

My appetizer selection was the Fried Green Tomatoes battered in seasoned cornmeal and layered with sauteed fresh shrimp in a chipotle remoulade sauce. The tomatoes itself were a little lackluster and I definitely wasn't into the thick batter however the shrimp was titillating on my tongue.

My friend had the Gumbo. It was satisfying if you never had Gumbo before but to compare it to others at different restaurants, it was only fair.

After that little tease, I was ready to eat. I had no hesitation to order the Shrimp and Andouille Creole. It was a tasty dish comprised of fresh ingredients and great flavor. The tomato sort of overpowered the delicate flavors of the shrimp and rice but the Andouille shined through. The veggies were so unimpressive they distracted from the dish.

The entree of choice for my friend was the Pan-Fried Flounder with Herbal Brie Cream. The fish was fresh and well prepared. The batter again was a little thick but the sauce was wonderful and made the dish.

After dinner I was stuffed so although dessert was already ordered, I was not not really looking forward to it. Don't know how I did it but I found some room in my stomach for a slice of Sweet Potato Pecan Pie (some of it). It was heavenly! The Pecans definitely add a necessary element missing from from plain Sweet Potato Pies. I liked that it was sweet but not deathly sweet and the chantilly cream was ooh-wee!!

To take advantage of trying another option we also ordered the Bread Pudding. It had more of a pudding consistency that a lot of other bread puddings. It was good but again in a city where almost everyone serves this dessert it was all right in the scheme of things.

The atmosphere was relaxed, the service was on point and the food was splendid however had I not been dining during COOLinary I would have found the prices to be unreasonable. At their regular prices, I would rather dine someplace else.


K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen
416 Chartres St New Orleans, LA 70130
(504) 596-2530
www.chefpaul.com/kpaul