Jasmyne Tea

Bubba Gump Shrimp Co, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

"Anyway, like I was sayin', shrimp is the fruit of the sea. You can barbecue it, boil it, broil it, bake it, saute it. Dey's uh, shrimp-kabobs, shrimp creole, shrimp gumbo. Pan fried, deep fried, stir-fried. There's pineapple shrimp, lemon shrimp, coconut shrimp, pepper shrimp, shrimp soup, shrimp stew, shrimp salad, shrimp and potatoes, shrimp burger, shrimp sandwich. That- that's about it."

- Bubba, Forrest Gump (1994)

So there Stephen and I were: sore from a long flight from California to Louisiana, deaf from the pressure of landing, freezing our extremities off because it was SO much colder here than where we'd come from. Oh, not to mention STARVING - there was no food on the plane, and there are only so many peanuts you can eat before you start to feel sick.

Enter Bubba Gump Shrimp. We saw it in the cab on the way over to the hotel, and, being big fans of the movie, were interested enough to try it out. We quickly called and made a reservation, then scurried on over, practically running due to the cold.

The decor is a shrine to the legend of Forrest Gump, with memorabilia lining the walls, tables, and there's even an attached store selling shirts and souvenirs. There are signs on the table that indicate a customer's need for service - "Run Forrest, Run" means that service isn't required. Soon enough, our waitress came over, gave us the specials then took our orders.

Speckled Blueberry Lemonade - US$3.99

Stephen ordered the lemonade, which came in a huge glass, but was pretty weak in flavour. The blueberries were an interesting addition, but ultimately did nothing for the taste.


Fleur D'Lis - US$10.99 (with Hurricane Glass)

This drink was recommended to us by our waitress - it was sweet and fruity, consisting of Malibu, peach schnapps and melon liqueur. We also got to take the glass home as a souvenir!

Popcorn Shrimp - US$8.99

I loved the way that the popcorn shrimp was presented - they print their own paper with headlines from the time period of the movie. The shrimp were bouncy and tender, crunchy on the outside but juicy when bitten into. There were also crumbed and fried bell peppers, and two dipping sauces.

Dumb Luck Coconut Shrimp - US$17.29

The coconut shrimp was really well executed, the shrimp battered and dipped in coconut before being deep fried, and served with fries, coleslaw and Cajun marmelade.

Mama's Southern Fried Chicken - US$15.99

I ordered the Fried Chicken, which turned out to be a BIIIIIIG mistake. Don't get me wrong, the chicken was perfectly cooked, the batter was crisp and the gravy was tasty; but the potato was gluggy and had the mouthfeel of packet potato, and the coleslaw and corn wasn't enough to cut through the amazing amount of grease that the chicken contained. Combined with the residue oil from the other dishes, I was actually feeling quite sick on the way back to the hotel.

Side House Salad - US$5.49

Apparently in the US it's odd to have a salad as a side - it's normally served as an appetiser. Luckily Bubba Gump Shrimp doesn't prescribe to that practise, because we sure as hell needed one. It was a simple house salad, nothing fancy, with our choice of dressing, which was a raspberry vinaigrette.

Key Lime Pie - US$6.25

This is also something I wish we didn't order. We've made a key lime pie before, so we naively assumed we knew what one would be like if we ordered it in a restuarant - not so. The crust was gritty and almost had the texture of sand, the lime filling was so sweet it hurt my teeth, and there was no huge layer of meringue, which was what I was looking forward to.

Clearly there are better places to eat than Bubba Gump Shrimp, but they are good for a quick fix, and most of what we tried was pretty good. Steer clear of the Key Lime Pie and you're set.

Red Rooster, Harlem, New York, NY USA

New York City speaks of many things for me. It's a metropolis of fashion, food, art, history, music, and theatre, all very interesting and important things to me, and walking through this massive city you'll see five very different boroughs or areas, and hear over 800 languages being spoken. Approximately 50 million tourists visit every year, and I was very lucky to be one of them.

When we were planning our trip, I knew straight away I wanted to try soul food. I used to read a lot of American literature as a teen, and it was the sort of food I'd dream of eating as I forced down another of my mother's failed attempts at curried sausages (thanks Mark Twain). Luckily, we knew just the place to go.

Red Rooster is run by chef Macus Samuelsson and was opened in 2010, almost directly across the road from Sylvia's in Harlem. We arrived there a tad early, and so waited in the bar area, and already the place was swarming with people. By the time our friendly waitress had led us to our table, we'd already planned what to order, and so got stuck in straight away.

The Earl of Harlem - US$15.00

The Earl of Harlem was a distinguished cocktail to start with, comprised of Bulleit bourbon, Earl Grey tea and spiced coriander syrup. It had a hell of a kick, but I loved it.

Prosecco (Pisani, Italy) - US$11.00

My glass of prosecco was insanely crisp and dry, with the aroma reminding me of apples, or maybe apricot. I was a fan of the simplicity of this wine, and found it to be an excellent aperitif.

Corn Bread - US$6.00

Corn bread was something I'd been wanting to sample since arriving in America, and I think this was a great first sample. Two neat squares of slightly crumbly corn bread were accompanied by a sweet honey butter and a tomato chutney with a bit of bite.

Jerk Bacon and Egg - US$18.00

The Jerk Bacon and Egg was like the best big breakfast you'll ever have. The egg was cooked to gooey perfection, and served with brown beans, charred pork ribs and a type of Haitian pickled cabbage called pikliz. THIS was the soulfood I'd been looking for, and I was hard pressed to share it with Stephen!

Pot Roast for Two - US$79.00

The pot roast for two was a high point in an entire evening of high points. It came highly recommended by our waitress,  and was cooked perfectly rare, with a flavoursome charred outer. Not only was there more meat than you could shake a stick at, but the dish came with some roasted veggies and a rich, cheesey potato bake:

Potato Bake

Rich, creamy, and extremely decadent, this potato bake has ruined me for all other potato bakes. It was given a little added dimension with some herbs, and it was comforting and wholesome.

Black Eyed Peas - US$8.00

We ordered a serving of black-eyed peas as well,  which were cooked until soft and the gravy reduced. They were flavoured with chives, their oniony aroma going well with the peas.

Whiskey Fudge - US$5.00

By the time we were done with the mains, we were SO stuffed, even though we really wanted to try the sweet potato doughnuts. We opted for the whiskey fudge instead, and were presented with three squares of glossy, delicious whiskey goodness, covered with a sprinkling of macadamia nuts.

Smokey Jasmine Earl Grey - US$3.00

We finally finished our epic soul food banquet with some Smokey Jasmine Earl Grey tea, and paid our bill. We were SO satisfied with out experience here, and SO happy with the prices, which would have easily been doubled had we been in Sydney. I'm definitely coming back here when we next visit; anyone who finds themselves in the area needs to visit pronto!

Red Rooster

310 Lennox Ave
New York, NY
10027

http://redroosterharlem.com/

Cajun Cabin, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

You learn a lot about your partner when you go on holiday together. Our trip to America was our first holiday together in the 4 years we'd been an item, and arguably it was the longest amount of time we'd continuously spent together.

The Mississippi River

I learned that Stephen likes to go to bed early and wake up at the crack of dawn when on holiday. On the other hand, I prefer to stay out late and check out the local night-life, then wake up just in time for brunch.

St Louis Cathedral

I learned not to EVER follow Stephen's directions, and to bring a map.

Jackson Square

Stephen learned that I get really frustrated and verbally abusive towards pedestrians who stop in the middle of the footpath unexpectedly to take a photo or look at a map, making me walk into them. I learned that Stephen is one of those pedestrians.

The Cabildo

I discovered that Stephen has a gentlemanly habit of slowing down his walking pace for me (he has loooooong legs and it's hard for him to walk at a normal human pace).

The Natchez, last paddleboat on the Mississippi

I also learned that Stephen is able to keep a cool head in tense situations, like the time we were almost robbed by the river (that was crazy).

Bourbon Street

And finally, we both learned that we have a similar passion for trying food that is traditional and authentic to an area. In the interest of trying some traditional Cajun dishes, we decided to have dinner at Cajun Cabin.

Cajun Cabin is located on Bourbon Street, a prime location. It has a huge bar to the side with an amazing array of alcohol, and two false trees right in the middle of the restaurant, seemingly growing from the wooden floor. We were seated promptly as it was early and not so busy, then went to work ordering.

Chicken & Sausage Gumbo (Cup) - $5.95

I REALLY REALLY wanted to try a good Gumbo while I was in the South, and this cup fit the bill. A strong, flavoursome stock was thickened with roux and simmered down with small chunks of tender chicken and andouille sausage. It was served with a spoon-full of white rice, and crackers on the side.

Fried Green Tomato Remoulade - $7.95

Another New Orleans classic; succulent, chilled prawns were smothered in a red remoulade sauce redolent with paprika and pickles, and were served on top of battered and fried green tomatoes.

The Gator - $12.95

Stephen's Gator burger contained a mildly spicy, gamey aligator meat patty topped with pickles and served on a slightly chewy bun. The fries were a little overdone, but we liked them that way - the crispier the better!

Beef Brisket Sandwich - $12.95

My burger was piled high with tender, juicy beef brisket smothered in smokey barbeque sauce. It was served with tomato, lettuce and pickles on a squashy sesame seed bun, and with a generous serve of crispy fries.

By this time we were too full for dessert, so we waddled off to explore the wonder that is Bourbon Street at night. If we ever come back to New Orleans (and I really hope we do!), I'll be coming back for the gumbo.

Cajun Cabin

503 Bourbon Street
New Orleans, Louisina
70130

Phone: 504-529-4256

Shake Shack, Theatre District, New York, NY, USA

The weather in New York in December was the coldest I'd ever experienced without it snowing. I was completely unprepared for it, even though I'd been warned - I guess I'm just too used to Australia's temperate climes.

We stumbled upon Shake Shack as we were trying to make it from our hotel to Restaurant Row in Hell's Kitchen; we made it halfway, but it was just too damned cold to walk that far at night, so we joined the line going out the door to Shake Shack.

The Theatre District branch of Shake Shack was created in 2010 from sustainably sourced and reclaimed materials, and features a huge wall of windows through which we watched and experienced our first night in New York. The service was fast and efficient, which was necessary considering how many people pass through every day, and despite the high turnover, the tables were spick and span. I ordered while Stephen stalked people for their tables, then we tucked in.

Fries - US$2.65

Shake Shack take particular care to make sure their fries are super-crunchy by using only Yukon Gold potatoes and using the classic crinkle-cut. They're also free of any trans-fat, so I felt a little more comfortable munching away on these golden beauties. Mustard and ketchup (lol, ketchup) were free, and made an excellent dipping sauce mixed together.

Shack-cago Dog - US$4.00

This dog is a tribute to the Chicago dog, featuring a juicy Vienna beef dog that has been split open and grilled, then topped with hot mustard, tangy relish, raw onion, pickle, cucumber, plum tomato and celery salt. The bun was grilled as well, leaving it crispy on the inside and soft and squishy on the outside.

Double ShackBurger - US$7.10

I was particularly looking forward to trying their burgers, as the meat is 100% Angus beef, ground fresh and prepared every day in New York, and cooked medium. We ordered the ShackBurger for a little greenery. Now, imagine two of the juiciest, most flavoursome patties you've ever had, topped with American cheese, thick slices fresh tomato and lettuce, and finished with a slick of mayo-based Shack Sauce. Good god I want another!

Malted Chocolate Shake - US$5.50

Peanut Butter Shake -US$5.00

The shakes are made with "frozen custard", a blend of soft serve and premium ice cream, and are so thick I thick a spoon would have been of more use than a straw. Stephen's chocolate was strong in flavour and subtly malted, whereas my shake was a peanut butter punch in the mouth (not a bad thing!), and so filling I couldn't finish half of it.

I've come to love Shake Shack, and will definitely visit again when next we go to New York (and trust me, there WILL be a next time, even if I freeze my arse off again). It's easily one of the best burger spots that I tried in my time there, and I highly recommend going if there happens to be one nearby in your travels.

Shake Shack

http://shakeshack.com/

691 8th Avenue
Southwest Cnr 8th Ave & 44th St
New York, NY
10036
USA

WD-50, New York, NY, USA

Hi all, Stephen here.

It's been a while since I've posted something. Things have been hectic after being away for three months and then coming to the need to find, choose, visit and book a place for our wedding. Done, done, done and done!

While we were in America we usually followed a similar pattern every day. Sleep in a bit to avoid the peak traffic (people traffic I mean), do some touristy stuff and then have an unforgettable dinner. After a long day jumping from Chinatown, including a trip to the Chinatown Ice Cream Factory (still to be posted) and then a huge bounce up to the Central Park markets to buy some gifts, we headed back down to the Lower East Side for dinner.

There were a few MUST GO places in NYC and WD-50 was one of them. I had heard about this molecular gastronomy restaurant in the past and then came across it in Heston Blumenthal's Search for Perfection. WD-50 has managed to hold onto a Michelin star since 2006 and was rated in S. Pellegrino's World's 50 Best Restaurants.  I booked our reservation a month in advance to ensure a table. Unfortunately, we didn't have the money to try the tasting menu costing $140US (plus service tax and tip). Meaning we had also missed out on the 'everything bagel', which was on the last season of Masterchef. So we each choose three courses and an alcoholic beverage.

Keith Tulloch ‘The Kester’ 2004 - Hunter Valley, Australia ~ shiraz ($15.50US/glass)

I choose a wine which came from Australia, mostly because I had learnt that produce and products in America seem to be half price compared to their country of origin, so being $62US a bottle, I know I couldn't afford this glass again (at the moment at least). It was a beautiful wine though, excellently balanced and not too dry and the tastes of  blood plum, dark chocolate and licorice coming through well.

Jumpin’ Jack Flash ($14.00US)

Jasmyne on the other hand ordered this concoction of Applejack, smoked maple, and manzanilla sherry. The Applejack, a concentrated hard apple cider, was incredibly strong in this drink. The smoked maple added a complex, sweet and smoky flavour, and the manzanilla was sweet and delicate, which complemented and soothed the strong alcoholic taste of the Applejack.

Almost immediately after our drinks the waiter brought out some seaseme bread. It was light and parchment thin, with an almost nutty flavour thanks to the sesame.

Eggs Benedict ($17US)

I had entered the restaurant already knowing exactly what dishes I wanted and this definitely lived up to my standards and expectations.  The Eggs Benedict was absolutely amazing. Benedict sauce was battered and deep fried (squared cubes) and burst as my knife cut through.  The egg yolks were poached (I believe) with extremely thin and crispy pieces of Canadian bacon.  Individually each aspect was superb, and when combined caused an explosion of breakfast flavours in the mouth.

Sweet potato soup, scallop ravioli, kalamansi, hazlenut ($18US)

This whole dish was a study in delicacy. The sweet potato soup was flawless - it was smoother than smooth, lighter than any soup I'd ever had, and lightly flavoured with sour kalamansi and earthy hazelnut. The ravioli skins were so thin they were see through, and the scallops were beautifully fresh.

Wagyu chuck steak, black-eyed peas, fig, rutabaga ($37US)

This was one of the best Wagyu steaks I've had so far, cooked perfectly medium-rare melted in our mouths. It was served with a mixture of fig and rutabaga (swede) mixture which provided a soft texture to the dish, similar to the meat.  As a contrast, the black-eye peas must have been cooked in a caramel, since they were sweet and crunchy, adding a different texture to the plate.

Duck breast, black sesame dumplings, red cabbage, parsnip consommé ($33US)

The duck came out on a plate vaguely resembling a chamber pot, but the contents were incredible. The black sesame dumplings had an interesting flavour - it's something I'm used to in a dessert, but the mildly sweet flavour went well with the duck. The red cabbage added some texture, and the parsnip consomme was crystal clear. The duck breast was perfectly pink, however the skin was a bit disappointing: because half of it was submerged in the consomme, it turned out all rubbery and inedible.

Soft meringue, passionfruit, banana, star anise ($16US)

The first dessert was uninspiring. While the meringue itself was springy and airy, the slices of banana and passionfruit and star anise sauce, while well-executed, just didn't compare to the next plate that came out:

Chocolate, beet, long pepper, ricotta ($16US)

I think I can safely say it was the BEST DESSERT EVER! And I'm serious. Three months later and I still think about it and salivate. It was amazing.  A beetroot sauce was streaked along the plate with a perfectly silky smooth chocolate ganache ribbon waved on the plate.  A scoop of ricotta cheese ice cream was nested upon a freeze-dried beetroot mousse shattered over the plate. Lastly, small grains of chocolate, which I believe were a combination of milk chocolate (lighter ones) and semi-sweet dark chocolate infused with long pepper (darker ones).  Individually, all of the aspects of this dessert were excellent, but together they were extraordinary, hence the amazing memory of this dish.

Rice crispy puffs (complimentary)

These little morsels come out with our pot of tea, and it easy to imagine how they were.  Just imagine, small balls of vanilla ice-cream encased within rice bubbles.  The smooth ice-cream with a nice crunch.

Our experience here was a good one. The staff were clued in and were easily able to explain how each dish was put-together, and the flavour combinations were well thought out and fun; the vibe was unpretentious and casual. It was a definite highlight of our time in New York.

WD-50

50 Clinton St
New York, NY
10002
USA

Phone: 212-477-2900

http://www.wd-50.com

Crossroads at House of Blues, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

There were two main reasons for why I wanted to go to New Orleans: the food and the music, and man, there was plenty of both. Every third store in the French Quarter was a restaurant, and music could be found on every street corner, from a jazz trio busking on Bourbon Street, to a string quintet on Royal Street, and even the New Orleans Navy Band at the French Markets:

 

House of Blues is also a famous music destination. A chain of live music halls and restaurants, the first House of Blues was opened in Massachusetts by James Belushi, Dan Aykroyd, Paul Shaffer, River Phoenix and Aerosmith, amongst other backers. The branch in New Orleans is well known for their Gospel brunches every Sunday, as well as hosting well known bands like Machine Head and Flogging Molly. House of Blues also supports local comedy of a Thursday, and a Thursday was when we had come to visit.

We walked down the little alley-way to the Crossroads restaurant, where we were expediently seated. Menus were given, specials were recited and then we were left to decide. We were particularly excited to find that the menu had been designed by Aaron Sanchez, Executive Chef of Centrico, whom I knew of from Iron Chef America.

Our waitress came back to ask for our drink orders. I found it funny that even though I'm barely of legal drinking age over there, I didn't get asked for ID (although this was the case everywhere we went in New Orleans). I went with her recommendation, while Stephen ordered a white Zinfandel, a type of blush wine particular to California.

Rum Runner - US$11.99

This drink was a sweet and fruity concoction which I ordered on the waitress' recommendation. Light and dark rums were combined with various fruit juices and liquers and served in a hurricane glass over ice.

Beringer White Zinfandel - $6.00

Stephen's white Zinfandel was sweet and had subtle notes of pepper and anise. It went wonderfully with what we ordered.

Pulled Pork Sliders - US$9.99

These sliders were simple, but executed brilliantly. The pork was slow cooked in a sweet, tomato based sauce until fall-apart soft, and the potato-based buns were lovely and cushiony, perfect for wiping up any stray sauce.

Buttermilk Fried Chicken - US$17.99

A massive portion of fried chicken made its way over to Stephen, and he was a very happy camper. At least half a bird was on his plate, fried in a buttermilk batter until the coating was deliciously crunchy and the flesh was succulent and tender. Four ice-cream scoops of mashed potato divided the plate, with bits of crispy bacon, chives and cheese sprinkled over them, and a small dish of coleslaw provided a little refreshment from all of the cholesterol-raising goodness - except it was covered in mayo.

Juicy Lucy Burger - US$13.99

Although there was an option to build our own burger, I went for the Juicy Lucy. The bun was lightly toasted and still a bit squishy in the middle, and the beef patty was accurately named - it was so tasty and juicy. Jack cheese was melted on top, and battered and fried jalapenos spiced things up a bit. The chips ("fries") were crunchy and crispy and sent me to my happy place, and three different types of sauce were provided for a bit of flavour.

Seasonal Vegetables - US$2.99

I tried to remain at least partially virtuous by ordering the seasonal vegetables, which came out in a small dish - smothered in butter. Still, the beans and the asparagus were perfectly cooked, and I happily crunched away on them.

Bourbon Bread Pudding - US$5.99

This here was the bread pudding to rule all bread puddings. It was sweet, it was a perfect consistency, not too heavy, and the bourbon lifted the flavour to greater heights. The squirt of whipped cream was a bit sad, but all in all we were very happy to share this dessert.

We finished our night with the free local stand-up comedy show they had on, then retired to our hotel. All in all our trip to Crossroads at House of Blues was a success, and I would definitely recommend a visit to anyone checking out the French Quarter.

Crossroads at House of Blues

225 Decatur Street
New Orleans, LA
United States, 70130

Phone: (504) 310-4999

http://www.houseofblues.com/venues/clubvenues/neworleans/

Murray's Bagels, Greenwich Village, New York, NY, USA

The customer service in the States is extraordinary. A lot of people really go out of their way to make you feel at home and get you anything you need, all with a big smile and a "have a nice day". Honestly, there wasn't one place where I could complain about rude or rushed service.

Except for Murray's Bagels.

Located in Greenwich Village, the little bagel shop is inundated with customers by the time we get there (at about 11am). I had heard many great things about Murray's, and was quite excited to try an authentic New York bagel. With no seats available, we decide to just line up and grab a coffee at the Starbucks around the corner (another thing, Starbucks in the US is SO much better than the one in Oz). 

Unfortunately, ordering turned out to be a little more difficult than anticipated - I was asked to repeat the word "garlic" four times before I was told that they had run out of the cream cheese I was after. By the time I finished ordering (and it was just a sentence long), I'd had "what?" snapped at me obnoxiously a few times and I was really getting fed up. I mean, the Australian accent's not THAT bad. Come on!

When we got a table at Starbucks, we realised they forgot Stephen's bagel and had to go back. I'll admit by this point we really weren't expecting much, so it was a surprise when we FINALLY got to open our packages and these little morsels of beauty were revealed:

Onion Bagel with Scallion Cream Cheese - US$3.50

I've been back in Australia for a month and I still have dreams about this bagel! Even though I didn't get my roasted garlic cream cheese, the scallion (or spring onion) more than made up for it. It was fresh, it was light, it was creamy and everything cream cheese should be. The actual bagel was untoasted, which is how it's done in New York, but it definitely didn't need toasting - it was fresh and chewy, with lovely little crunchy onion bits dotting the surface.

Everything Bagel with Egg, Cheese and Sausage - US$5.25

The everything bagel, a lovely, fresh bagel topped with sesame, poppyseed, salt, garlic and onion, was super tasty - it had a savoury hit to it that made it Stephen's favourite. His came with melted jack cheese, two eggs and some tender sausage meat.

If you can ignore the horridly brusque service, I do recommend a visit to Murray's Bagels. The food speaks louder than words, and I could easily take a little attitude in exchange for another beautifully put-together onion bagel.

Murray's Bagels

500 Avenue of the Americas
New York, NY
USA
10011

Phone: (212) 462 2830

http://www.murraysbagels.com

Raw Food at Au Lac, Fountain Valley, California, USA

When Stephen and I were in the States, the phrase "Oh god, we're going to die!!!" passed my lips more than once. Now, there was no bomb threat or massive fire, and we weren't victims of a mugging - it was just that Stephen was driving on the opposite side of the road.

Don't get me wrong, Stephen's an excellent and skillful driver in Australia, but I was incredibly nervous when he drove us to Au Lac in Fountain Valley, about half an hour from where we were staying in Irvine. He had to navigate his way down the 405 highway, a highway that was at times about 10 lanes wide, with practically invisible lines marked and no "lane ends" signs. It was a nightmare. Add the fact that Stephen's brain kept trying to compensate for the reversed driver's seat position by making him veer dangerously to the right, and I was a mess by the time we pulled in to the parking lot at Au Lac.

Opening hours: The number 33 is a master number in the practise of Numerology, representing universal and unconditional love.

The ride from hell was swept from my mind, however, by the soothing and calming atmosphere of the restaurant. The staff were welcoming and seemed genuinely happy to see us (and even happier to have overseas guests), and the soothing, meditative music was interspersed by laughing tracks that just made us smile.

We looked at drinks to order, but we had some questions (there were a lot of elixers, and we wanted to know how they were supposed to benefit us). The waitress told us what she could, but then when we went more in depth (Stephen knows a fair bit about the human body due to his studies), she brought out Chef Ito to explain. Now, this was quite the experience, because Chef Ito is in the midst of a 6 year vow of silence; he was incredibly expressive though, and using his facial expressions and hand gestures, was able to communicate with us effectively.


Noni Kombucha - US$5.00
 
We ordered the Kombucha tea, which we were told is good for digestion. It's a bubbly tea drink that's fermented with yeast and bacteria, and flavoured with Noni (also known as "cheese fruit" or "vomit fruit", lol), a hawaiian fruit known for its bitter flavour and strong odour.

Brazil NutMilk - US$7.00

The Brazil NutMilk was thick and filling, and the subtle nutty flavour was a treat.

There are two seperate kitchens here, one for their cooked, vegetarian menu, and one for their raw or "living" food. The food in the second kitchen is vegan, and nothing in the kitchen had been heated above 40 degrees Celsius, in the belief that food cooked above this temperature can be harmful to the body.

Chimichurri - US$5.00

This bread is made with sprouted flax, and is dehydrated, resulting in a loaf of dense, moist, chewy, and completely raw bread. It's served with a garlic and herb oil, and is filling and delicious.

Fried Chicks - US$14.00

Of course, if you've ever had chicken before, you know straight away that this isn't chicken, but I think it's an excellent substitute. The cauliflower was dehydrated until it was super crunchy, and drizzled with oil, ginger and spring onion. The "rice" wasn't actually rice; I'm pretty sure our server said it was jicama or Mexican turnip.


Jino's Pizza - US$12.00

The pizza base was made much like the chimichurri bread, spread with sundried tomato, and covered in raw tomato, basil and "melted mozzarella"- not quite sure what the substitution was, but it was creamy and tasted much like cream cheese.

Donut Holes - US$7.00

I couldn't believe this was raw. The donut holes were made with spirulina, a type of salt water algae known for its health benefits. They came out warm, and were firm on the outside and deliciously gooey on the inside. The taste wasn't familiar, but it was earthy and slightly sweet, a great way to finish our meal.

Au Lac was one of my favourite experiences of my time in California. The food was something special (and good for me!), the people were amazingly friendly and lovely, and the atmosphere left me feeling energised and awesome, and definitely helped me unwind after our frazzled journey there. The chef even came out to say goodbye to us! If you're ever in the area, I really suggest a visit - unless you're a hardcore carnivore, you won't regret it.

Au Lac Restaurant

16563 Brookhurst St

Fountain Valley, CA

92708

USA

http://www.aulac.com

Cafe Du Monde & The French Markets, New Orleans, Louisiana, USA

In the short time I was there, the French Quarter of New Orleans became one of my favourite places in the world. Located in the South-East of Louisiana along the Mississippi River, the French Quarter has a wonderfully rich cultural diversity that is steeped in history.

New Orleans was founded by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne de Bienville of the French Mississippi Company in 1718 and named for Phillipe d'Orleans, Duke of Orleans. This French colony was then given to Spain as part of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, then was taken back by France in 1801. Napoleon sold New Orleans to the Louisiana Purchase in 1803, which led to an influx of American, French, Creole, Irish, German, Haitian and African immigration, both voluntary and involuntary. This melting pot of cultures has made the architecture, cuisine and even the language and diction of New Orleans unique.

New Orleans is a city defined by the hardships they endure. In 2005 Hurricane Katrina tore a devestating path through the city when the federal flood protection system failed. 80% of the city was left flooded, and many citizens took shelter in the Louisiana Superdome and the New Orleans Morial Convention Centre, but these shelters had little food and less water, and over 1500 people died - some are still unaccounted for. Despite this and other natural disasters, both long past and recent, New Orleans is still a city bustling with life and energy - a city that prides itself on it's ability to bounce back and recover again and again.

When Stephen and I visited, we were lucky enough to be staying right on Royal Street, in the heart of the French Quarter. I knew for certain I wanted to check out the famous French Markets, but Stephen wanted breakfast first, so we stopped by Cafe Du Monde nearby.

Cafe Du Monde is an institution by its own right. It opened in 1862 on Decatur Street, and for over a century has been supplying New Orleans with beignets and cafe au lait.

The dining room is scattered with photos of the cafe in all its previous incarnations, and the staff all wear little paper hats and bowties straight out of the 50's. The menu is very limited; in the way of food, only beignets are sold, and there are only a few different kinds of coffee. We ordered, and our server joined a line of other servers in a canteen-like fashion to pick up our coffee.

Cafe Au Lait - US$2.42

Cafe Du Monde is famous for cafe au lait, which is served in a way unique to New Orleans: the coffee is spiked with chicory and the milk is scalded. Its bitter flavour is iconic to this cafe, and is a great foil for the sweetness of the beignets.

Iced Cafe Au Lait US$3.87

The iced version is like a cafe au lait slushy, and comes in a more generous size. I, personally, prefer the original - everytime I took a sip of the iced coffee I kept expecting something sweet.

Beignets - US$2.42

The beignets were deep-fried square pillows of choux pastry, with a deliciously crispy outer, yet fluffy on the inside. Mountains of icing sugar topped them - apparently it's customary for first timers to blow the icing sugar off the top and make a wish, but we refrained.

So much icing sugar!

We moved on further down Decatur Street to the French Markets. Established in 1791, it's 6 blocks full of enclosed and outdoor shopping (which of course I took full advantage of), but there's about a block of food stalls that we were really interested in, and we found it to be a great introduction to the cuisine of New Orleans.

Muffuletta is the signature sandwich of New Orleans. It's made with a large, round loaf of bread similar to a foccacia in texture, and almost always consists of olive spread, provolone, ham, pepperoni, coppa and salami.

Hot Chocolate - $3.00

We tried a spiced hot chocolate, which was warm with notes of cinnamon and chilli and perfect for the icy weather we were having.

Egg Nog - $3.00

I had never tried egg nog before, and was quite keen. Beneath the cinnamon, nutmeg and custard flavours I was surprised to taste a trace of rum - I had forgotten that it was legal (and even normal practise - my ID wasn't even asked for) to drink in public.

6" Pulled Pork Po' Boy - US$8.00

A Po' Boy is a type of sandwich made with New Orleans French bread. We were sampling lot of dishes, so we ordered a 6" or a "shorty" between us. The pulled pork was soft and tender, cooked in a sweet and mildly spicy sauce until it fell apart. It was served with sharp green tomatoes and salty pickles.

Dirty Banana - US$8.00

In another display of public drinking, we went to The Organic Banana stand and ordered a cocktail. This icy concoction of fresh banana, amaretto, coffee liqueur and chocolate syrup was sweet and fresh, a great way to end a marathon of eating.

New Orleans was extraordinary. The atmosphere was fun and carefree, the shopping excellent and the food even better. There were many more places we visited, but I found the French Markets and Cafe Du Monde to be quintessential experiences of the French Quarter.

French Market District

On Decatur Street
Between St Peters Street & Barracks Street

http://www.frenchmarket.org

Berkeley Dog, Irvine, California, USA

The plane trip to America was hell. I was sick as a dog, I hadn't been able to sleep the night before, and I was all by myself on the plane for the first time. I was seated next to a bunch of rowdy guys on their first holiday away from their parents, which is never pleasant, and all the movies were crap (but the food was surprisingly good!). When I reached the shores of California, I was tired and worn out. THEN I had to catch a shuttle bus to Irvine, which took 2 hours because of all the traffic.

By the time I met Stephen at the University Campus, I was hungry, partially deaf because of the pressure from the landing, and ropable. I was ready to conquer something, to devour something. Enter Berkeley Dog.

Berkeley Dog is not your average hot dog store. This branch rests at the University Center at Irvine, and is a popular hangout for young adults. The food you get here is actually similar to a regular sausage sizzle at home, except for the gourmet range of sausages they have. You choose your sausage (which is cooked in front of you), add onion, cheese, or bell peppers, then choose sauce, mustard and sauerkraut from the self-service bar.

German Frankfurter with Grilled Onion - US$4.44

Stephen was boring and ordered the German Frankfurter. Don't get me wrong, it was a good sausage: the skin of it burst open when bitten, releasing juicy pork and beef that was fragrant with garlic; grilled onions gave it some sweetness, and tomato sauce and dijon mustard completed the package. However, I was here for one thing:

Rattlesnake Dog with Grilled Onion - US$5.99

This dog was actually more pleasant than I thought it would be. Like Stephen's, it was juicy and gorgeous, but the texture was firmer, and the flavour? Very gamey. It sort of tasted like a cross between chicken and rabbit, and was delicately spiced, just enough to enhance the flavour. An elegant specimen, I must say.

Onion Rings - US$2.95

The onion rings were an afterthought, but they were definitely worth it. Covered in a solid beer batter, they gave a satisfying crunch when bitten in to.

My need to conquer sated for one day, I returned home to sleep off the jetlag. Stay tuned for more whacky American adventures! [Sorry - too much American TV]

Berkeley Dog

4249 Campus Drive
Irvine, CA
92612
USA

Phone: (949) 387-2111