Happy Thursday, Boomers. Well, I’ve been back in the saddle for a few days now after a weekend in St. Louis. I’m always game for a road trip. New faces, places, scenery, and new restaurants to try. From New Orleans to St. Louis within two weeks time, I’ve gotta stop eating like this!

Over the years I have been to Saint Louis numerous times, but never made it to “The Hill”. Well, this time I wasn’t coming home without going! The Hill is a primarily Italian neighborhood within St. Louis. The neighborhood is home to locally renowned restaurants, bakeries, and specialty grocery stores. The fire hydrants are proudly painted red, white, and green, the colors of the Italian flag.

You see, I had this surprise party (hehehehe) to go to Saturday evening. So the plan was to go to The Hill for lunch. After checking out the Shop the Hill website, I decided to try Rigazzi’s, home of the Frozen Fishbowl, on The Hill since 1957.

The reviews I read before going were mixed. Everybody has his/her own idea of what “true Italian” food should taste like. I rather enjoyed my Mostoccioli with Marinara. The pasta was cooked perfectly and there was just the right amount of sauce, unlike some restaurants that serve your Penne drowning in sauce. The Marinara reminded me of a tomato gravy I grew up eating. No Carb counting for Me. I love my C’s too much, Carbs, Caffeine, and Chocolate! Dr. Atkins can Kiss My Grits!

Not only was the food good, so was the service, and the atmosphere. The front dining room adjacent to the bar is donned with red-checkered tablecloths, stained/painted-glass windows encompassing a Fishbowl Glass, and a life-size mannequin of Al Capone, seated at a corner table. Along the walls are shelves lined with celebrity dolls of The Beatles, The Blues Brothers, The Three Stooges, and The Marx Brothers; to name a Few.

Next trip I’m going to have one of their pizzas. Their St. Louis Style Pizza with Provel was voted one of the USA’s Best pizzas by Bon Appetit Magazine, Jan. ’95. Another one of their specialties is their Toasted Ravioli. If you’re ever in St. Louis check out Rigazzi’s on The Hill.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

Popularity: 17% [?]

Hey Boomers! I’mm baaaack. The suitcases are unpacked, the laundry is caught up, back to the rat race. I had a GREAT time in the Big Easy. Why can’t I win the Lottery? Then I could travel and blog from all over the World.

Well, New Orleans is alive and kicking. The French Quarter was filled with “Who Dat”, a chant of New Orleans Saints fans. The team played their first home regular season game against the Tennessee Titans Monday night. Besides the NFL Jerseys, the other popular attire was the souvenir shop tees, “I Drove My Chevy to the Levy and Levy was Gone”.

I’ve gotta hand it to New Orleanians, despite everything the city has been through, they haven’t given up. I overheard a few of the merchants in the souvenir shops and art galleries talking. They were reassuring each other business was going to pick up. They were discussing upcoming events and conventions coming to the city and were hopeful visitors would spend money.

The architecture of The Vieux Carre (French Quarter) has always fascinated me. The charm of both french and spanish design, but primarily spanish. *In the late 1700’s two separate fires destroyed much of the structures and buildings in the Quarter. Under Spanish rule, wood structures were replaced with courtyards, thick brick walls, arcades, and wrought iron balconies.

*New Orleans was founded by the French in 1718. The Rule then see-sawed from France to Spain, and back again until the Louisiana Purchase. Can you imagine Parisian women or anyone in France wanting to relocate to the swamps and marshes of southern Louisiana then?

*In the late 1720’s, “Casket Girls”, were brought from France to New Orleans to marry. Previously women were supplied to the colonist by raking the streets of Paris for undesirables, or emptying the houses of correction. To really appreciate the Vieux Carre, I suggest first time visitors take one of the Haunted History tours.

Hurricane Hope did only minor damage, eating my way through the Quarter. Pralines, Po-Boys, Shrimp Creole, Fried Alligator Nuggets, Beignets, Fried Crawfish Tails, Fried Oysters, Jambalaya, Chocolate Peanut Butter Oreos, etc. etc. I ate it ALL!

Before leaving Nawlins’, I stopped back by Southern Candy Makers. Making Pralines and candies daily; Creamy Original, Rum, Coconut, Peanut Butter, Chocolate, Cinnamon, and Rum Pralines. Judges at an Atlanta National Gourmet Show gave their Creamy Pralines the Best Candy Award. I can personally vouch for the chocolate and peanut butter ones. I not only brought some of them home, but also some Chocolate Dipped Peanut Butter Oreos too! Yummmm.

Southern Candy Makers opened its doors in the historic French Quarter Leap Year Day in 1992. They ship Pralines, Chocolate Dipped Oreos, Peppermint Bark, Tortues, Sugar-Free Candies and wide variety of candies and nuts nicely packaged for all occasions.

***UPDATE - Hey, I just wanted to add that Southern Candy Makers 2007-2008 catalog is coming out in a couple of weeks! Call 1-800-344-9773 to request a catalog.

If you’re planning on visiting the French Quarter, they have two locations; 334 Decatur and 1010 Decatur. When you purchase pralines in their store know they were made fresh that day, not last week, or last month. ***

Another favorite of note, Johnny’s Po-Boys, located on Saint Louis Street off Decatur. Johnny’s is a favorite of the locals, and an Award Winning restaurant. I will definitely darken their door step my next trip.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

*Resources: www.wikipedia.org (see “Casket Girls” and History of New Orleans)

Popularity: 30% [?]

Hey Boomers! I brought the Blarty down here to the Big Easy. My first trip back since Katrina, I’m excited. I Wanna put on My My My My Boogie Shoes and Dance To The Music. As they say, Laissez Les Bon Temps Rouler, French for Let the Good Times Roll, here in the Vieux Carre (French Quarter).

Ah Cher, (pronounced shah), talk about Good Seafood, Beignets, (fried pastries sprinkled liberally with powdered sugar), Etouffee,(a Cajun stew usually made with crawfish or shrimp and served over rice), and Gumbo, Ahheeee! I can’t wait to hit Café Du Monde in the morning for some hot, fresh beignets. Maybe I’ll stroll on down to Central Grocery for lunch, known for their mouth watering Muffulettas. Ummm, sounds like I’m gonna have to do a lot of dancin’ or buy some new clothes to make up for all those calories.

Hey, are you getting hungry yet? Well you can order Café Du Monde (www.cafedumonde.com) beignet mix online, as well as gumbo, and etouffee from the Gumbo Shop (www.gumboshop.com); they both Ship. When it gets a little close to Mardi Gras I’ll tell you where to get the Best King Cake you could never imagine.

The weather forecast for Nawlins is not the Best, but, C’est la Vie, (That’s Life)! BTW, “bon appetit”, French for “good appetite” or enjoy”.

Bon Appetite
The Backseat Gourmet

Popularity: 30% [?]