Some New Firsts

After a stressful day of interviewing, we decided to grab a bite.  We were referred to a place called Grand Isle for some good gumbo.  Unfortunately, we were too hungry to remember to take a picture of that gumbo until it was gone...  It was a chicken and sausage gumbo, and it was outstanding.

Now, the Grand Isle was also referred to us because of another item they did well...oysters.  Caryn agreed to try an oyster, so in an effort to ease her into it, we ordered some smoked fried oysters.  They were really good, and they were served with a garlic aioli.  She held up like a champ, and dare I say it...she kinda liked them.

Caryn's first oyster

I guess the bartender overheard us talking about her first oyster, and came up with a little surprise...a couple freshly shucked and on the house

Caryn's second oyster...the real deal!

She said that she liked the flavor, but the texture was going to take some getting use to.  I think next time, we'll try it with some crackers.

A Great Sports Bar

We wandered outside Caryn's hotel just a couple blocks and stumbled across a great bar owned by a local hero, or should I say heroes; Manning's.  This great sports bar is attached to Harra's Hotel and Casino.  We had a great time and it was definitely a cool spot to watch the game.

Killer patio!

Not a great picture, but it gives a great perspective.  Did I mention that this was not a projection TV...that's a mobile LCD!

Finding Our Cowboys

So you would think that a football town like New Orleans would have tons of places showing all the games every Sunday...unless your team happens to be playing when the Saints are playing.  We looked online for a Cowboys backer bar, with not much luck, but we did find a place that was going to have the game on at least one TV; Cooter Browns Tavern & Oyster Bar.

This place was great, and there were fans from all over there, so we didn't stick out too bad.  They have an amazing beer selection (all good beers), the food was really good, and of course...Oysters!  They do things a little different there, they have no servers, so you have to go to the bar, kitchen, or oyster shucker when you need something, but they had it all.

Fried Mac N Cheese Bites

Gator Sausage Quesadilla 

Matt's Favorite...Oysters on the half shell...shucked to order, and the strongest horseradish in the world...seriously!

A Place Around the Corner

So, as we mentioned before, we have been all over the city looking at places to live.  We think we may have found one, but we'll save that for another post.  On our way to a showing, we stopped for lunch a block or so away from the house we were looking at.  This place is very cool, and may have done more of the selling than the Realtor.

The place is called New Orleans Hamburger & Seafood Co., and it was incredible.  First of all, they had  TV's everywhere for game watching, they had a great happy hour, the food was delicious, and they have a coffee shop attached to it too.  If things work out with this house, you can bet they will know us very well.

Craw fish Queso

Matt got the Southern Thing Poor Boy; grilled shrimp, fried green tomatoes, shredded cabbage, and remoulade.

Caryn got the Baja Burger; avocado, bacon, red onion, and chipotle sauce.

All their sandwiches come with those really good garlic and herb potato wedges.  We'll keep you up to date on this place.

A Breakfast First

We decided to go downstairs to the hotel restaurant for breakfast this morning.  It was you usual Marriott Breakfast buffet, but there was nice spin to the omelette bar...

Jalapeno, mushrooms, and... craw fish.  I love this place!

Old friends and New Cities

After a long day of looking at places, interviews, and meet-and-greets, we needed to unwind a little.  Caryn's friend Evan from Euless was in town for work and wanted to meet up for a bit.  Starving, we stopped at a French Quarter restaurant named Pierro Maspero's for a quick bite.  Matt got a French Dip sandwich while Caryn got a Chicken BLT (her usual comfort food: bacon).  The food was mediocre, a decent eat but nothing to seek out if you head into town.  Both came with a type of fries we weren't expecting that were more like a thinner type of potato sticks versus actual french fries. 

After getting some food in our stomachs, we headed to Bourbon for a couple of beers and some heavy people watching.  

French Dip

Chicken BLT

Evan!

Checking Out the Quarter

We have been up and down (literally) the streets of the French Quarter calling all the rental properties that we could.  We found a couple places, but are keeping our options open.

While walking the three or four miles of the Quarter, we worked up an appetite and made our way to a place that we stopped by last time we were in town, but didn't get to eat at.  Matt's mother really wanted a Muffuletta from Central Grocery, which is where it originated, but the line was ridiculous, so, we made sure to stop by and have a bite.  If you don't know what a Muffuletta is, find your closest McAlister's and order one...it's the closest you'll find to the real deal, but still miles away.

Soooo Good!!

Caryn's version...no olives.

Our signature "MC in NOLA"

Before we Left...

...we made sure to see all the babies, and took the opportunity to let both sides of the family meet.  Caryn's parents, and sister's family, and Matt's parents and sister's family all met at Dave & Busters in Frisco to have some fun.  Every Wednesday is half price games, and we have been going from time to time to have some fun.  That fun amounted to about 21,000 tickets, and since we have no use for a remote control rats, or a toilet putting set, we decided to let the kids go crazy in the prize shop.

Carter was not shy about what he wanted to take home and ended up with a few superhero items, and Ella fixated on a stuffed Minion from the movie Despicable Me.  Lexi Lou got a big stuffed monkey, and Wilbur just focused on keeping his head in the upright position.  Other than that, it was lots of games, lights, and button pushing.  We had a blast!

Lexi Lou with Aunt KK

Ella with Uncle Matt

The babies on their shopping spree

Carter and Ella playing a game with Daddy.

We Made It!

Well, here we are.  After about eight hours in the car, and a ridiculous rain storm on the way in, we arrived.  Caryn had a quick meet and greet with her new boss and the GM, and since we pushed through lunch, we decided to go grab a bite. 

Right down the road from her new hotel is a place called Mulate's.  It's a restaurant, bar, and live music dance hall.

Now, in order to appreciate this story, you have to know that Caryn has never really liked seafood.  So much so that she gets her own private meal around the holidays because her family likes to do seafood.  I told Caryn that I love her, but she just might starve in NOLA if she doesn't step out of her comfort zone a little...and too my surprise, she said she would.

We ordered an appetizer called the Cajun Sampler.  This HUGE plate consisted of crab stuffed mushrooms, meat pies, fried bite size tilapia, fried craw fish, fried calamari, grilled alligator, and grilled frog legs.  To my surprise, Caryn dove in face first, and tried everything, and for the most part liked it.  I think she had a hard time wrapping her mind around the frog legs and calamari, but she tried it, and liked the taste.  There's hope for this girl yet.

Diving into a frog leg