Me at Galatoires

   

GALATOIRE'S RESTAURANT on Bourbon Street in NEW ORLEANS  ... Since 1905

One of Galatoire's long-time Waiters

John Fontenot  ... Since 1967

Yes I have a love affair with that storied old restaurant down in The Big Easy                          of New Orleans Louisiana ... The restaurant is Galatoire's, one of the Grande Old Dames of the great city of New Oreleans. Galtoire's is not the oldest of these grand old restaurants of The Cresent City, no Tujague's is the oldest and Antoine's after that. Then there's Arnaud's which I well love also, and the newest grande dame of them all, Commander's Palace out in the Garden District ...

I've been all around the World, several times at that, and I've eaten at many famous and wonderful restaurants, and ones quite low-bro, yet great all the same ... Galatoire's is not low-brow by any stretch of the imaginations and along with the more so-called well-heeled tourist who make it there Galatoire's is a bastion of the those in-the-know and those of whom might be considered well-heeled and educated .. The restaurant was a bastion of the likes of; Tennessee Williams, Huey Long, and other luminaries .. Tennessee Williams even included Galatoire's in a funny passage in his great play A Streetcar Named Desire ...

“Galatoire’s is a restaurant with traditions that have been preserved with little change through the decades. There has, however, been a slight modification of the restaurant’s once impenetrable policy of no reservations. Known for years by its characteristic line snaking down Bourbon Street, patrons would wait for hours just to get a table — especially on Fridays.”

The folks at Galatoire’s love to tell the story of the Friday when President Reagan placed a call to Sen. J. Bennett Johnston, who was waiting in the line outside. The senator went in, took the call and then returned to his place in line.    

Me in one of my Happiest kind of moments. Eating Lunch at Galatoire's

February 2007

Shane Mitchell wrote a piece for Saveur Magazine that goes like this; “No one hands me a menu. It’s just not done on Fridays. Friday lunch at Galatoire’s … starts in the morning, with bourbon milk punch at the upstairs bar. One floor below, a congenial crush of locals clutch cocktails in the foyer. They wait until manager Melvin Rodrigue, in pressed powder-blue seersucker, opens the doors to the dining room of the 105-year-old institution. It’s 11:30 a.m. “He guides the crowd to their regular tables. The gentlemen hang their Panama hats on brass hooks beneath forest-green wallpaper flocked with fleurs-de-lis, the revived symbol of the city’s fortitude since Hurricane Katrina. A table of ladies in dime-store tiaras and serious diamonds toss confetti into the air. Jacketed waiters bear large platters as they weave between bentwood chairs. “One of them, Peter or Homer or John or Shannon, recites the specials and brings, without anyone seeming to have asked, orders of the twice-fried souffle potatoes, puffed like starchy zeppelins, with a dose of tarragon-scented bearnaise. Next, a side of fried eggplant sticks.” Mitchell goes on to describe Friday lunch at Galatoire’s as a “genteel riot.” That’s as good a description as any.

Cafe du Monde New Orleans

Waiter at CAFE du MONDE

NEW ORLEANS

Gonna give a little "Shout Out" to The Big Easy, New Orleans and one of the World's Great cafes, Cafe Du Monde. Thee one place that everyone goes to more than any other when in New Orleans, whether you're a visitor or you live there, you go to The Cafe Du Monde for their great Beignets and Cafe Creme, and, and the show and the ambiance that is thee "One and Only" Cafe Du Monde.

The Place is open 24/7 364 days a year, closed on just Christmas day, i do believe. Situated right upon the Mighty Mississippi River at The French Market in the French Quarter across the street from Jackson Square. This is one of thee hearts of New Orleans if not thee number one one.

   I always make at least one or two visits whenever I'm in New Orleans. You get a nice cup of Coffee "Cafe Creme" and the cafes justly famous Beignets, all for just about four bucks. And you get to sit in a lively cafe where just about everyone goes to. 

       You might want to head down the Decatur Street for a tasty Muffuletta Sandwich (Best in New Orleans) at The Central Grocery. A Muffuletta Sandwich at Central Grocery is a must have when in Nola, then you can go to the Cafe Du Monde for dessert and coffee. After these two stops, if your in the mood for a nice libation, it's just a few steps down Decatur to Tujague's, one of new Orleans oldest restaurants, like Cafe  Du Monde they opened around 1862.. Go to the stand-up bar Tujague's for a cocktail, and if you like, order a grasshopper, this is where it was invented.

   Or if you gotta sit down when you drink, head just a couple blocks away to

Napoleon House, one of the World's Great Bars. Napoleon House was built by The Mayor of New Orlean's, Mayor Girod for Napoleon Bonaparte to leave his exile in Elba and come to live in New Orleans in this home Girod had built for him. Napoleon died and never made it, but you can make it there and have a Bourbon old Fashion, a Sazerac, Ramos Fizz, or their House Specialty Cocktail a "Pimms Cup."

   And I must say as someone who has traveled all around the World, from paris to Rome, Capri to Amsterdam, Buenos Aires to Rio de Janiero, LA to Hong Kong to Saigon to Havana, Cuba, New Orleans is one of The Coolest Cities in The World. I Love it.

     And as a lover of New Orleans and as a New Yorker and concerned American, I'm surprised and astonished to why more New Yorkers don't go down and spend a few wonderful days in New Orleans They love it, but I don't see many New Yorkers going there and they should. For one, new Orleans is one of the Coolest Places in the World, with great restaurants, Awesome Food, wonderful architecture, and some of the World's Best Music, it's everywhere. And the people? They're wonderful. Also, since Hurricane Katrina, the town and the people of New Orleans could use new Yorkers and all Americans supports, and I don't see it. So do yourself a favor, go down and spend a few fun filled days in The Big Easy, New Orleans, I assure you, "You'll be glad you did."

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

.

The BIG LEBOWSKI COOKBOOK

GOT ANY KAHLUA ?

RECIPES

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Napoleon House Bar New Orleans Louisiana

NAPOLEON HOUSE

One of New Orleans Best Examples of FRENCH COLONIAL Architecture 

The first time I set foot in the  Napoleon House in New Orleans, was way back in the Summer of 1995. I flew down to Houston Texas, to visit my brother Michael. After a couple days in Texas, it was off to New Orleans. We arrived in New Orleans and Michael had booked us into the Marriot on Canal Street in the French Quarter. We didn't know all that much about the town back then, and so we were winging it. We heard about a few places like Mother's, Commander's Palace, Antoine's and Galatoire's. I can't remember if I had read about Cage du Monde, Tujague;s, or the Napoleon House before we went to or saw these places on that first trip. Yeah, I don't think I had heard of Napoleon House before, but when we walked by, it looked like a cool place to me, and so we went in. We sat down, ordered some Gumbo and had a couple of drinks. As we sat there in Napoleon's I took it all in, looking around the room and getting a feel for this wonderful New Orleans Institution that had been built for the Emperor Napoleon by the Mayor of New Orleans, to come and live in, in exile. The building was built in 1894 and was enlarged in 1814. Mayor Girod wanted Napoleon Bonaparte to come and live there in exile, but Napoleon died in 1821 and never made it to the Crescent City.

The building was Girod's home until his death in 1840. The building housed an Italian Grocery store for years until it was turned into a restaurant in 1914, and remains o this very day. The now famous "Pimm's Cup" cocktail (The House Drink) was first served in the early 1940's.

Now back to me and The Napoleon House. Well first off, I fell in Love with the place at first sight. You don't come by to many places like this, especially in America. The place is filled with its own special charm and tons of history. I've loved every little thing about the place, since that very first trip. I went to the bathroom, and to do so, you have to go into a little courtyard and then to the bathroom. And when I did so, I just loved the little courtyard. Their was a couple sitting there at a table, drinking cocktails and eating Jambalaya. The courtyard had all the usual plants that you see in New Orleans courtyards and such, like Ferns and Banana Trees, Magnolias, and what-not.

We had a wonderful time that first time. We had Gumbo and Muffaltetta Sandwiches which we enjoyed. I didn't know that Napoleon's was famous for their Pimm's Cup cocktail, but I'd find that out at a later date. Of course, I have had a number of them their. And now I always drink Pimm's Cups in Napoleon House, and though the Sazerac is the official cocktail of New Orleans, I'm not that crazy about them, and prefer to drink Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktails when in New Orleans, and I'm not at Napoleon House, but having one or two at Antoine's, Galatoire's, or Arnaud's.

A few years after that first trip to Napoleon's, I'd see the place in Oliver Stone's film JFK, when Kevin Costner, playing New Orleans District Attorney Jim Garrison. I don't know how accurate this portrayal is, but in the movie, Kevin Costner (DA Garrison) and his associates go into Napoleon House to watch the TV New reports after they heard that President Kennedy was shot in Dallas, Texas. The scene is well done, and I believe it to be true.

Anyway, as you know by now, I Love the Napoleon House, and I go there every time I'm in New Orleans. And I've been around the World 3 times over, and I count the Napoleon House of New Orleans as one of my favorite bars in the World, and it gets my vote as one of the World's Best (Bars).

Basta !

Daniel Bellino Zwicke

The Bar

NAPOLEON HOUSE

NEW ORLEANS

New Orleans Old Fashioned Cocktail Bourbon Whiskey

An OLD FASHIONED Cocktail

NEW ORLEANS

An Old Fashion and New Orleans. Two things this guy loves dearly. And drinking Old Fashioned Cocktail in New Orleans and Bourbon Old Fashion's to be more specific is a favorite pastime of mine, especially at such fine Bars as Napoleon House, The Long Bar at Tujague's, at Arnaud's or Galatoire's.

    The first thing I order from my waiter at my beloved Galatoire's is a Bourbon Old Fashioned. They make them perfectly here, muddling an Orange Slice with sugar, Maraschino Cherry, Soda, and Angostora Bitters before filling the glass with Ice and adding my Bourbon. The waiter brings my Old Fashioned Cocktail and I'm in my element, quite satisfied. I'm at Galatoire's in New Orleans. It's one of my favorite restaurants in the World. I have my drink, sitting in the main dining room looking the menu over, filled with Blissful feelings as I should be at Galtoire's New Orleans.

What to have for lunch. Shall I get a Gumbo, Raw Oysters, or Oysters Rockefeller to start? Decisions, Decisions! And my main Course? Trout Almondine (a House Specialty), Shrimp Clemenceau, or Filet Mignon topped with Fried Oysters and Hollandaise. Think I'll go for a Cup of Gumbo, followed by the Oysters Rockefeller  and Trout Almondine for my main. They should go with my Bourbon Old Fashion quite nicely.

  What, "No Wine with Your Meal," you ask, knowing what a Wine freak I am.

"No, not in New Orleans my friends." I do not drink wine in the Cresent City. It's all pretty much Cocktails when I'm down there, maybe a Beer or two, but no Wine what-so-ever in New Orleans for me. Hey it's the way to go in New Orleans. That's what you do down there, Cocktails are preferred to wine, with your meal when you're down in the Big Easy, New Orelans, Louisiana. And this is all by me. It just seems to go better. My Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktail and all the fine Creole Cuisine. I Love it.

   So, if you're ever down there, in that wonderful city on the Mighty Mississippi, New Orleans, go to Galatoire's, Antoine's, Arnauds's. Order yourself a nice Lunch or Dinner, and don't forget to get a couple Bourbon Old Fashioned Cocktails to go with your meal. It's a match made in Heaven, Creole Food  an Old Fashion and New Orleans, "Do it."

by Daniel Bellino Zwicke

My Waiter Reinhart ...

 Galatoire's, New Orleans, Louisiana

Lunch at Galatoire's

We did

"I Love It!"

The first time I set foot in the  Napoleon House in New Orleans, was way back in the Summer of 1995. I flew down to Houston Texas, to visit my brother Michael. After a couple days in Texas, it was off to New Orleans. We arrived in New Orleans and Michael had booked us into the Marriot on Canal Street in the French Quarter. We didn't know all that much about the town back then, and so we were winging it. We heard about a few places like Mother's, Commander's Palace, Antoine's and Galtoire's. I can't remember if I had read about Cage du Monde, Tujague;s, or the Napoleon House before we went to or saw these places on that first trip. Yeah, I don't think I had heard of Napoleon House before, but when we walked by, it looked like a cool place to me, and so we went in. We sat down, ordered some Gumbo and had a couple of drinks.

Trattoria Pizzeria Cumpa Cosimo Ravello Italy

 

Inside CUMPA COSIMO

RAVELLO

 

Insalata Caprese

Fresh TOMATOES & MOZZARELLA

Cumpa Cosimo

 

Zuppa di Pesce

RECIPES

"The FEAST of The 7 FISH"

Cumpa Cosimo

Ravello

Polpette

Recipes

Cumpa Cosimo

Ravello

Italy

Canneloni

Trattoria Pizzeria

Cumpa Cosimo

Ravello

 

POSITANO

COMING SOON

TRAVEL GUIDE

COOKBOOK

POSITANO / AMALFI COAST

ITALY

Positano on a Budget

POSITANO on a BUDGET?

DOES It EXIST?

YES & NO !

So, can you go to Positano on a Budget? Does this scenario exist? Yes and no, and what is a low budget to one person, may not be to another. Overall, Positano is not the most ideal place for someone on a budget. This being said, if you are one on a limited budget, and are determined to go, even stay in Positano, which is quite expensive, there are some things you can do.

If you get a hotel room that is suitable to your budget, your next big concern is food and drink.  You are in luck with a truly wonderful little spot to get tasty reasonably priced food at Latteria which is lovely family run Salumeria (Italian Deli) / Wine & Grocery Store. They make tasty panini (Sandwiches) and very good prepared food, such as Eggplant Parmigiano, Pasta, Frittata, and Arancini (Rice Balls). You can take food out to-go, and there's a little patio on the side to eat your food at. If you want to eat the food there, there's one little problem, there are only about 6 seats, so they might be full when you're there. But if you can get a seat outside, this is a wonderful little spot to get some really tasty food, at the cheapest prices you'll find in all of Positano. This is also a great place to stock up on bottle water, fruit, snacks, and wine to have back at your hotel. I just love this place, so if you're looking for the best quality food at the lowest prices, Latteria is your place. You will have to take a 15-20 minute walk up from the beach to get here, but its well worth it. The walk itself is a nice little adventure, the food is absolutely excellent, and the place is charming.

Also very good, and a similar type of place is La Delicatessen, which is down by the Mulini and very central part of Positano. Like Latteria, Delicatessen make very good sandwiche, Rice Balls, and other prepared foods at fare prices. La Delicatessen is more centrally located than Latteria, and I do like the place, but if forced to pick to between the two places, I'd give a bit of an edge to Latteria, with Delicatessen not far behind.

The third big aspect of being in Positano, after settling your hotel and food requirements, is your beach activity.  One choice is the tiny free area down by Spiaggi Grande (Big Beach). There is also a free beach area at Il Fornillo Beach, which is a much better free-beach option than the tiny free-beach are in the center of Positano. My favorite beach area of all in Positano is La Scogliera Beach Club next to "Music on the Rocks," which is a bit expensive, with chaise lounges costing from 17 to 25 Euros depending on when you go. 

One attraction of Positano is The Path of The Gods, which is totally free, and is one of the most popular things to do, but it's not for everyone. If you do go, the only cost is taking the small local bus, up to the very top of Positano, where you will catch the hiking trail up there.

Hotel Villa Maria Antonietta

If you are looking for a budget hotel in Positano, Villa Maria Antonietta is one possible option. If you can get a room here (they Sell Out Fast), rooms are usually about $140 US a night, but as we've said, they sell out fast, so if you'd like to stay here anytime in the Spring or Summer, I'd suggest booking your room at least 5 to 6 months in advance. Seriously.

Villa Maria Antonietta is a nice little modest hotel, where I stayed at on my first trip ever to Positano, way back in the Summer of 1985, in a room that I paid $45 for at the time. Like I said the place is modest, and physically nothing special. The special things about it, are the location is about as good as it gets, the place is clean, and very affordable for Positano where the rooms are hundreds and thousands of dollars a night. Two people can stay at Villa Maria for about $140 a night.

When staying at VMA, you are in the area of Mulini, with a great selection of bars, caffes, salumerias, shops, and restaurants all around. It less than 10 minutes to walk to the main beach, and ferry boat stop.

Hotel Puppeto

About $170 a Night for Two

Book far in Advance

     

POSITANO

COMING SOON

by Best Selling Author

DANIEL BELLINO ZWICKE

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