One of my NY 'essentials' was to eat soul food in Harlem - and JB obligingly found Creole - a jazz venue and restaurant. Couple of subway hops and we were there...We were escorted to our table by the lovely softly spoken snappily dressed elderly dooman, and then our waiter introduced himself, promising "the best service possible". The restaurant is small (about 20 small tables maybe) and is set so each table or bench has a view of the front stage.
http://www.harlemonestop.com/organization.php?id=200
I was desperate to be as 'southern' as possible in our ordering - so we started with the Lousiana Crab Cakes with wilted lemon spinach and mustard sauce ($12.95) - these are made using fresh 'lump' crab meat and certainly didn't disappoint! The crab cakes were soft, sweet and deliciously crabby - the buttery lemony spinach was delish and the sauce a perfect complement to both.
For our 'entree' (mains) we (I) wanted the Gator Etouffe (I decided alligator was seafood...) but they were out. Sad times! We ordered the Shrimp Creole and the Blackened Salmon. Good choices! The shrimps were huge and sweet, nestled in sweet and spicy creole flavoured tomato based sauce with green peppers and onions over rice and with sauteed greens on the side - this was JB's choice of side. I thought 'BORING', but...it was very nice, and good to have at least one lighter food choice with a meal, I guess.
The blackened salmon was fantastic, and just tasted like good, well cooked salmon should. Sadly (as it proves was a buffoon I am), for me the main event was my choice of sides - black beans and FOUR CHEESE MACARONI. Shit...that macaroni was the cheesiest and the best thing I've ever had. It had so much cheese in it, it stood up by itself in a little cheesy balled scoop of comforting oozy goodness, with the macaroni just present as it they'd fallen into a molten fondue pot and been distributed around at random. The texture was like a firm brie, and the taste was superb! JB kindly let me have more that my share of the Mac, and I let him eat more creole shrimp.
Even though we were stuffed, I wanted to try the desserts (of course) and so we decided to order one and share it. We couldn't agree though and so we got the Sweet Potato Bread pudding with caramel and peacan sauce (JB) and the deep fried goodness of an Apple Cinnamon Beignet, served on top of creamy ice cream. The desserts were superb - I now think all pastry based desserts should be deep fried. Baking is for losers. Jb's choice (the bread pudding) was phenomenal - neither of us had ever had anything with a similar texture. It had a rich, brown sugar/butter caramel flavour, and the texture was somehow like a cross between a caramel mud cake and a mousse. It was so dense and rich and chewy and soft, yet also light anf fluffy, all at the same time. The rich sauce just added to the goodness of it all.
By the end of the meal, I was sad to be a white girl and wished I'd been grown up in Baton Rouge...dining on soul food and singin' the blues.
Oh, and the blues were certainly sung that night too! Two gorgeous soul sisters from the audience took turns accompanying the band, and both had personality plus. As well as massive voices, smiles and boobs. It was awesome. Next to me, on my right, a tiny little well - dressed gent was eating his fried chicken. Earl Speedo Carrol, from the Cadillacs! YES! Well, I'd never heard of him - but he looked so cool, and the ladies gave a shout out to him - and he amusingly bantered with them throughout. Even thought I didn't know who he was, I felt a bit starstruck 'cause he was just so damn cool - and now I've googled him: http://www.nealhollanderagency.com/Speedo/speedo.html
Yeah, I should have got him to autograph me somewhere special.
http://www.harlemonestop.com/organization.php?id=200
I was desperate to be as 'southern' as possible in our ordering - so we started with the Lousiana Crab Cakes with wilted lemon spinach and mustard sauce ($12.95) - these are made using fresh 'lump' crab meat and certainly didn't disappoint! The crab cakes were soft, sweet and deliciously crabby - the buttery lemony spinach was delish and the sauce a perfect complement to both.
For our 'entree' (mains) we (I) wanted the Gator Etouffe (I decided alligator was seafood...) but they were out. Sad times! We ordered the Shrimp Creole and the Blackened Salmon. Good choices! The shrimps were huge and sweet, nestled in sweet and spicy creole flavoured tomato based sauce with green peppers and onions over rice and with sauteed greens on the side - this was JB's choice of side. I thought 'BORING', but...it was very nice, and good to have at least one lighter food choice with a meal, I guess.
The blackened salmon was fantastic, and just tasted like good, well cooked salmon should. Sadly (as it proves was a buffoon I am), for me the main event was my choice of sides - black beans and FOUR CHEESE MACARONI. Shit...that macaroni was the cheesiest and the best thing I've ever had. It had so much cheese in it, it stood up by itself in a little cheesy balled scoop of comforting oozy goodness, with the macaroni just present as it they'd fallen into a molten fondue pot and been distributed around at random. The texture was like a firm brie, and the taste was superb! JB kindly let me have more that my share of the Mac, and I let him eat more creole shrimp.
Even though we were stuffed, I wanted to try the desserts (of course) and so we decided to order one and share it. We couldn't agree though and so we got the Sweet Potato Bread pudding with caramel and peacan sauce (JB) and the deep fried goodness of an Apple Cinnamon Beignet, served on top of creamy ice cream. The desserts were superb - I now think all pastry based desserts should be deep fried. Baking is for losers. Jb's choice (the bread pudding) was phenomenal - neither of us had ever had anything with a similar texture. It had a rich, brown sugar/butter caramel flavour, and the texture was somehow like a cross between a caramel mud cake and a mousse. It was so dense and rich and chewy and soft, yet also light anf fluffy, all at the same time. The rich sauce just added to the goodness of it all.
By the end of the meal, I was sad to be a white girl and wished I'd been grown up in Baton Rouge...dining on soul food and singin' the blues.
Oh, and the blues were certainly sung that night too! Two gorgeous soul sisters from the audience took turns accompanying the band, and both had personality plus. As well as massive voices, smiles and boobs. It was awesome. Next to me, on my right, a tiny little well - dressed gent was eating his fried chicken. Earl Speedo Carrol, from the Cadillacs! YES! Well, I'd never heard of him - but he looked so cool, and the ladies gave a shout out to him - and he amusingly bantered with them throughout. Even thought I didn't know who he was, I felt a bit starstruck 'cause he was just so damn cool - and now I've googled him: http://www.nealhollanderagency.com/Speedo/speedo.html
Yeah, I should have got him to autograph me somewhere special.
