Roast the pork - pull the pork - re-construct as a thick paddy - pan fry - serve atop turnips, cabbage & cracklins - smile - exactly what my wife did at Cochon - the second - less formal restaurant of Chef Donald Link aka Herbsaint -
Until recently - a previously unreachable dining destination -
Three years ago - pre Katrina - it had just opened - only a rumored greatness - second attempt - a year ago - tried for a "same night" reservation - not a good idea - third attempt - overruled by obligation to group dinner at a "voted best..." - heart of the french quarter - large format - restaurant - i.e. - had to cancel again - this time - made the reservation from New York - two weeks in advance - "told" my dining partners - "we are going to Cochon" - i.e - success - well worth the effort -
Space is industrial - on the darkish side - very much alive with diners - wait-staff always moving - quickly -
Rumored collection of Bourbons and Moonshine - proved true - impressive - my choice - Benjamin Prichard's Double Barreled Bourbon - - one I had never tasted - knew Prichard made high end rum - this was different - smooth - strong - not overly hot - nice level of sweetness - definitely a sense of unique quality - not much about it on the web - except -
The bourbon is barreled at 125-proof, and then taken out and cut with water to 95 proof before being aged again in a new, charred-oak barrel.
As the bartender prepped the Prichard - Moonshine beckoned - he indulged my urge to sip - CatDaddy from North Carolina - sweet - smooth almost milky - i.e. - if this was Moonshine - lets make it legal - as it is - only available for sale in a few states and only available on-line form one retailer in Illinois - go figure - then - go for it -
Additional dinner treats -
Wood-fired oyster roast - well executed - very even spices - high contrast to the BBQ oysters at Acme - favorite remains Beacon's for the smoke -
Shaved zucchini & squash with pecan vinaigrette & goat cheese - the girls shared - not a morsel left -
Macaroni & Cheese - had to - would have ordered seconds if we had been at home
Creamy Grits - I'm told - perfecto - but I cannot seem to embrace the food item - no matter where or how its served
Catfish Court-bouillon - enjoyment -
At the table - Spy Valley - Sauvigon Blanc - Marlborough, NZ - 2006 - nice - in fact - so nice that the barback had to be mobilized - the evening's favorite with everyone else in Cochon - clean - signature NZ grass - earthy - touch of citrus - recently saw this wine at Crush on 57th in New York - $15 +/-
Next time - Oyster & Bacon Sandwich - have to go for it -
Desserts - two for the table - forgot the first one - but the second one - Cochon Mud Pie with Chocolate Cinnamon Ice Cream - let's just say that when I come back for the Cochon's Oyster & Bacon Sandwich - which I passed on 'cause it didn't seem appropriate as a "supper" item - I may order the Mud Pie as both an App and a Dessert - i.e. - that good !!
Enjoy -
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