A Walk Through the Oak (Street)

Oak Street has changed amazingly since I last saw it, not long after Katrina.  Previously the only reason I ventured down this street was to eat at Jacques-Imo’s, but now this area is alive with bustling shops and is great for an afternoon stroll. 

There is a diverse group of shops along the street, just blocks from S. Carrollton Avenue.  “More Fun Comics” is a classic comic shop, which has been open since 1990.  They have a nice space, with a large selection of older comics easily accessible in the center aisle.  More reading choices can be found at “Blue Cypress Books”, a used book store where you can trade-in your old books on Tuesdays and Thursdays.  Keep an eye out for the super cute Bookstore Kitty (a.k.a. Kitty Meow)!  Right across the street is the fabulous “Skip N’ Whistle”, a t-shirt store full of great New Orleans logos that really take me back, such as “K&B” and “Morgus the Magnificent”.  They take custom orders and can screen the pictures on t-shirts, messenger bags, and a number of other items. 

Nonna Mia, Born Out of Love

The Good Nola crew, Chris, Brooke and I finally got a chance to try out Nonna Mia after a visit to the New Orleans Museum of Art. The atmosphere and food was phenomenal. It started perfectly with no wait time and great service.  We ate in a room called, “The Diva Room”, with beautiful Italian women all around, which our male guest enjoyed. Note: I'm told they are working on some male divos for The Diva Room!

We all tried yummy dishes. I tried the Eggplant Parmesan, which included breaded eggplant slices topped with basil marinara, mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Being only the second time in my life eating eggplant, I definitely became a permanent fan! Brooke went with the Manicotti Quattro Formaggi, which looked great I must add. It is a blend of ricotta, parmesan, mozzarella and fontina cheeses, oven baked with tomato basil sauce. Doesn’t the sound of that make you hungry?  Chris went the classic route with the three cheese pizza that looked amazing.

So many dishes to try at Nonna Mia, one I'm eyeing next is the Sicilian Style Cannelloni Alla Carne with a bolognese sauce. Definitely you and friends need to try out Nonna Mia, even sit outside and enjoy the beautiful Esplanade as you dine.  Also, if you are around for Sunday Brunch try the Lobster Fettuccine, but its definitely offered every day; just ask for this greatness!

Thoughts from Brooke:

The other night I had a chance to enjoy a lovely Italian dinner at Nonna Mia.  There was a nice casual atmosphere, with a number of people savoring their meals over a glass of wine and good conversation.  I was seated in the Italian Diva Room, which has a number of photographs of famous women on the wall. Ladies, be aware that if you sit here your date may spend more time staring at the wall than at you, as these Italian divas are rather scantily clad.  Unfortunately, there is no room of Handsome Italian Men, so instead I had to focus on the food, which was not a problem.  I had the Manicotti Quattro Formaggi (a four cheese pasta dish).  As a lover of cheese, I was definitely not disappointed; when they advertise four cheeses, they mean it.  The ambiance was good, the food was great, and the company was even better.  Next time you are craving Italian food, head on over to Nonna Mia. 

http://www.nonnamia.net/

Nosh On This

Recently I took a trip to “Slice” on St. Charles Avenue, conveniently located next to the street car line.  It has a cozy interior, with chalk board specials and local awards displayed on the walls.  This is a pizza parlor where you can get a classic New York crust, and a single slice counts as a whole meal.  My Veggie Pie slice was so full of toppings that I could not pick it up to eat it, which I see as a good thing.  The food was good, the atmosphere was relaxed, and my experience was favorable.  Basically, I am a fan of any place that has an item called a “Nosh Plate”.

If you’re looking for a filling meal for under $10, look no further than “Slice”.  Obviously, they have a number of pizza options on the menu, but they also have a good selection of salads and pastas.  There are two locations in the New Orleans area, one on Magazine Street and one at St. Charles Avenue.  For more information (including maps and menus), check out their website at http://slicepizzeria.com/

Coming Home

For the past two years I have lived in the beautiful state of Hawaii, but found myself missing my home of New Orleans. I missed the people. I missed the historic buildings and eccentric houses. I missed the food. I missed the oak trees. I missed the rain. Fortunately, I was never so far gone that I missed the humidity.

Recently I moved back to New Orleans; the first thing I did was eat a Po-Boy. Then I actually took a look around the city and was amazed at all the changes that happened in the few years that I had been gone. There are so many new buildings, the red streetcar is running, and my favorite snowball stand is open again. One day I took my little cousins to the aquarium and found the French Quarter so full of people that the parking lots were full! I saw all the crowds and it brought a smile to my face, despite the fact that I was sitting in traffic, because I was so happy to see the city look so alive. The changes to the city have been great (though I could do without the new traffic cameras) and make me glad that I decided to move back home.