Cochon and Blues

One of my last meals in Minneapolis was cooked by none other than Tim McKee. I follow him on Twitter, and when I read that he was cooking behind the tapas bar, I made it my mission in life to eat there. I mean, how many people have the opportunity to have a James Beard award winning chef make them dinner!? Anyway, I mentioned that I was moving to New Orleans, he suggested I try out a couple of restaurants by a fellow Beard winner.

The restaurants are Herbsaint and Cochon. A friend of a friend of a friend works at Herbsaint, so it's definitely on my list of places to eat. Everyone at work has absolutely been raving about Cochon, so when I was invited out to dinner with a new friend, I jumped at the opportunity. And good lord....was it delightful. Fried boudin with pickled peppers, tomato soup with fresh basil, some sort of fish skewers, and one of the greatest entrees I've ever had in my life - soft-shell crab served on a corn and tomato salad with a jalapeño vinaigrette and fresh cilantro. Delightful. The dessert menu underwhelmed me (soooooooo sad), the service was fabulous and there was great company. Really, that's all I need in life - good food and good people.

Well, good music helps. After dinner we trekked to the Funky Pirate Blues Club to see Big Al Carson. A friend was raving about him when we were there after the Tomato Festival, so we popped back in. Other than the feedback from the mic, it was wonderful. Big Al's voice was like velvet. It wasn't super packed, which meant it wasn't super smoky. After a while we stopped at another bar to watch the end of the LA/Boston "game".

All in all, it was a fabulous night filled with great company, music and food. Not much in life makes me happier. Now, if I could just win the Pirates vs. Ninja argument..... :)