Showing posts with label City Pork. Show all posts
Showing posts with label City Pork. Show all posts

Friday, November 3, 2017

Burgers With Chuck: DIG Magazine’s Burger & Beer Week

by Chuck P

For most people, Christmas is the one day of the year they look forward to the most. For others it might be Halloween, Thanksgiving or their birthday, but for me it’s not just one day, it’s an entire week that eclipses any other holiday or event on the calendar. This glorious celebration is Burger & Beer Week taken directly from my dreams and brought to reality by the awesome people at DIG Magazine.

For the second year, the magazine has partnered with participating restaurants in Baton Rouge to create new and exciting burgers along with suggested beer pairings compliments of Crescent Crown Distribution. With a price point of $6 for the burgers and a variety of beer specials including The Boot from Abita Brewing and Samuel Adams Octoberfest it’s a win/win for burger and beer lovers.

DIG also donated $2 of every burger & beer photo posted to Instagram with the hashtag #eatBR to the Companion Animal Alliance.

As usual, our schedule here at Bite & Booze headquarters was just as hectic as any other week, but I wasn’t going to let that stop me from getting my hands on some delicious burgers. After all, this is basically an event created for me right? Luckily, my choices this year were extremely better than last year so here’s a rundown of what made it into my belly:

City Pork Deli & Charcuterie: The Warehouse Burger



A really simple, no-frills burger that was absolutely delicious. A perfectly seasoned ground chuck patty, sweet caramelized onions, cheddar and their house-made bacon with mayo and ketchup with this burger, every bite was better than the last.

Mason’s Grill: The Fatty Melt




I texted Jay immediately when I saw the picture for this burger. A half pound patty with grilled onions between two buttery grilled cheese sandwiches. What’s not to love? If I were to add anything to this it would probably be a fried egg to add a bit of wetness to the burger. A cup of tomato soup would also be a sufficient sidekick.


Thai Kitchen: The Thai Herbal Burger



A burger from a Thai restaurant? That doesn’t serve burgers? Madness!

This was the burger I heard the most about during last year’s Burger & Beer Week. A lot of folks thought this was their favorite last year so I couldn’t live with myself if I missed it again. The herb/lemongrass seasoning used for the patty gave it a different flavor from a normal burger that I really liked. The Thai sauce was a nice touch but it could’ve used more on the burger. Overall a solid burger from one of my favorite Thai spots in town.


Your Mom’s Restaurant & Bar: Mac & Cheese Burger



How could I not try a burger with one of my favorite things in the world covering it? A juicy 8oz. patty topped with bacon and overflowing with the cheesiest of mac n’ cheeses and house-made ranch dressing is the burger I’d dream of in my youth. I can only hope they add this to their already impressive burger menu.


Burgersmith: The Hamburg



A mouth watering burger with a German twist, the already awesome Smith beef patty topped with sweet pickled cabbage, creole mustard, swiss and a fried egg between to soft pretzel buns put a twinkle in my eye. The cabbage and creole mustard combined for a unique, zingy taste with the already well seasoned patty and those pretzel buns were complete buttery goodness.


Once again, these restaurants crushed the burger game with some truly tasty and creative offerings. 

A big thanks to DIG Magazine for bringing back Burger & Beer Week to the masses. I’m already marking the days off on the calendar until the next one.

Wednesday, April 12, 2017

Read Between the Buns: It's National Sandwich Day!

by Sarah Grimball, intern


It’s hard to make sandwiches sexy; but when the right flavors come together, there is nothing better than a good sandwich. We’d like to celebrate this classic dish’s national holiday by celebrating some of the tastiest sandwiches we’ve ever had:

Curry Chicken Salad Sandwich

Beausoleil Restaurant & Bar in Baton Rouge, LA







Grilled Cheese with Jay D's BBQ Date Jam




Pastrami Croque Madame

City Pork Brasserie & Bar in Baton Rouge, LA






Classic Muffuletta

Olde Tyme Grocery in Lafayette, LA




Torta Ahogada

Araña Taqueria y Cantina in New Orleans, LA




Monday, February 20, 2017

Making it Reign: King Cake Takes around Baton Rouge

by Hannah Wilson, intern

When I moved to Louisiana, there was a certain degree of culture shock. There were all of these new celebrations and everything was something to toast to. Something I learned early on was one of the delicacies that Mardi Gras season is best known for is King Cake. King Cake can be eaten for any meal, at any time without judgment and for that, King Cake will always hold a special place in my heart.

If there’s one thing Louisianan’s know, it’s how to celebrate. Over the years, different restaurants and companies throughout Louisiana have found different ways to incorporate King Cake into their menu to celebrate Carnival in new and creative ways. Here are some of the most tasty ways I’ve seen to enjoy King Cake.


Fat Cow King Cake Milkshake


This is something people crave all year. Fat Cow’s milkshakes are already amazing, but the festive flavor pairs well with their Parmesan and Duck Fat Fries or any burger.




Cupcake Allie King Cake Bites


This bite size way to enjoy King Cake is easy to pop in, grab, and savor on the go!

A post shared by Cupcake Allie (@cupcake_allie) on




Rösch Bakehaus King Cake


These artisanal cakes are few and tasty. With flavors like Dark Chocolate & Lavender, Ginger & Walnut and Raspberry Frangipane, they’re a uniquely delicious, hand-crafted way to celebrate Carnival.





City Pork King Cake Brulee


A unique take on a classic, crowd favorite. This festive treat pairs well with any of their special cocktails, especially the Hummingbird.





Bistro Byronz King Cake Bread Pudding


These two very tasty things merged into one is what dreams are made of. Trust me.

A post shared by Good. Real Good. (@bistrobyronz) on



Tiger Deaux-nuts Maple Bacon King Cake 


Salty and sweet, what more could you want? This King Cake gets decadent with crumbled bacon, making all of your tastebuds happy!






Everyone has their own traditions and different ways they celebrate Carnival and Mardi Gras. Over the years, I’ve realized that no matter how you celebrate it’s always a memorable experience. These are tasty, local ways to mix it up this season.

Friday, November 4, 2016

Burgers with Chuck: DIG Magazine's Burgers & Beer Week

by Chuck P

Everyone knows of my undying love of hamburgers. To me, it’s the perfect marriage of meat and bread followed by an accompaniment of any toppings and condiments your heart desires. With so many restaurants in town serving up different types of hamburgers it can definitely put a strain on the ol’ pocketbook to try them all. Thankfully, the great folks at DIG Magazine rolled out their Burgers & Beers Week!

I swear it’s almost like DIG is monitoring my dreams and decided to make them all come true. Over 40 different restaurants participated in the event serving up specialty burgers for only $5 each! And they were featuring specials from Tin Roof, Sweetwater and St. Arnold breweries so you could pair a cold brew with your burger. I seriously had to pinch myself.

Due to a busy week here at Bite & Booze HQ, I wasn’t able to hit every spot on my list so here are the 4 burgers I was able to try and my thoughts on them:


Fat Cow: Praline Bacon Burger


Fat Cow's Praline Bacon Burger
Fat Cow's Praline Bacon Burger

I kicked off the week with the Praline Bacon Burger. I was hoping for a bit more flavor from this one. The house ground patty was a bit overcooked and I barely tasted the garlic aioli. The brie was nice and melted perfectly but I could have used way less arugula. Overall, it was okay, but it had me hoping my next stop would be better.



Stadium Sports Bar & Grill: The Stuffed Burger


The Pimento Cheese Stuffed Slider at L'Auberge's Stadium Sports Bar & Grill
The Pimento Cheese Stuffed Slider at L'Auberge's Stadium Sports Bar & Grill

Unknown to me and apparently a few others who came here, this one was actually a slider and not a full burger. While the patty itself was tasty, the pimento cheese stuffed inside of mine was a bit cold, as if they’d stuffed it after cooking the patty. The bacon bourbon jam was spot on and fries were included at no extra charge. Once again it was okay, but I still found myself hoping the next one was going to be “the one”.


The Overpass Merchant: The El Guapo Burger


The El Guapo Burger at The Overpass Merchant
The El Guapo Burger at The Overpass Merchant

Chorizo spiced pork patty, green chili queso, Fritos, Tapatio mayo, pickled red onions and cilantro. That’s pretty much all that needs to be said right? I mean...wow. This was hands down my favorite and most creative burger of the week. Every component of this burger just popped. Hell, you had me at queso and Fritos! I’m hoping this ends up on the menu there because it certainly needs to. With my burger hopes renewed, it was on to my final stop of the week.

Bin 77: The Bin Burger

The Bin Burger at Bin 77
The Bin Burger at Bin 77

So this burger is pretty much their regular burger that’s featured on their menu, which is fine because my thinking was that maybe they didn’t need to impress with all the bells and whistles. They were confident enough in their house burger to win everyone over.

Not so much.

My burger was well done after ordering it medium, no caramelized onions, 2 very small pieces of fire roasted garlic and barely enough ketchup and roasted bell pepper aioli to make the bread wet. To say I was disappointed is an understatement. I had heard good things on this burger and maybe they were just super busy in the kitchen, but it was not the way I was hoping to end burger week.


The Ones That Got Away...


There were places I had on my list that I didn’t have time to try. If anyone had a chance to try any of these comment below or on the Bite and Booze Facebook Page with your thoughts:

Burgersmith, Churchill’s, City Pork, Gouter, Mason’s, Olive or Twist, Thai Kitchen, The Grind, The Londoner and Willie’s

I asked my good friends Brenton Day (thealerunner.com), Franz Borghardt (Baton Rouge Burgers) and the man himself, Jay Ducote to pick their favorite burgers from last week in hopes of living vicariously through them. This is what they had to say:


Brenton Day:


Burgersmith's Breakfast DIG Burger. Photo courtesy of Brenton Day.
Burgersmith's Breakfast DIG Burger. Photo courtesy of Brenton Day.

Burgersmith’s Breakfast Dig Burger was coffee crusted, topped with hash browns and a fried egg served on toasted Vienna bread. This one really did it for me. I added sauteed onions and Smith sauce, because I could (and mostly because my server recommended it). I'm a sucker for an egg on a burger, and this one didn't disappoint. The toast was thick enough to stand up to the burger and all the toppings and the patty was cooked to a perfect medium.

Your Mom's BBQ Burger. Photo courtesy of Brenton Day.
Your Mom's BBQ Burger. Photo courtesy of Brenton Day.

Your Mom's BBQ Burger was by far the biggest burger I had all week. The patty was advertised to be 8 oz. and it was huge! Cooked to the requested medium, it was topped with cheddar, a heaping mound of fried onion strings and drizzled with BBQ sauce. The sourdough bun was soft and sweet. This burger was definitely the best bang for my buck.


Franz Borghardt:

Canefield Tavern's Cajun Burger. Photo courtesy of Franz Borghardt

The Canefield Tavern Cajun Burger was spicy but not overwhelming. The portion size was impressive and the jalapeños and Sriracha mayo gave it a giddyup! 




Canefield also offered five different $5 specialty burgers to choose from!



Goûter's Venison Burger. Photo courtesy of Goûter.
Goûter's Venison Burger. Photo courtesy of Goûter.


Goûter’s Venison Burger patty was a mixture of venison and beef topped with smoked cheddar is a combo that can’t be beat. Nestled between an awesome onion Kaiser roll and at only $5 this burger was a steal. Call me the Hamburglar!

Jay Ducote: 

The Two Run Farms Burger at Table Kitchen & Bar.

Table’s Two Run Farm Burger was a solid, classic burger. The salty, beefy patty certainly lived up to the hype and the addition of a fried egg is always a solid choice.

City Pork Deli & Charcuterie's Bayou Bengal Burger.
City Pork Deli & Charcuterie's Bayou Bengal Burger.

City Pork Deli & Charcuterie’s Bayou Bengal Burger was another solid burger. The bun was top notch, the patty was juicy and they added this fiery mustard that really added an unexpected zing-- definitely a great burger for $5.


All in all it looks like the people of Baton Rouge were blessed by the burger gods that week. I look forward to the next time this event comes back to Baton Rouge, but I think it has a little room for improvement.
Some restaurants were only doing the special for lunch, some for only dinner and some doing both. It was kind of hard to follow who was doing what and when. I know a few people who missed out on trying these burgers based on their availability to only go for lunch or make plans for dinner by getting sitters and such. Maybe some clarification for next time will give everyone a chance to enjoy these delicious deals!

Wednesday, May 25, 2016

8 Summer Sips You Can't Miss

by Sydney Blanchard & Hannah Alkadi

Summertime always brings out the drinker in me. The way I see it, if I'm expected to tolerate the heat and humidity of Louisiana summers, at least have the decency to fix me up a fancy, freezing cold cocktail.

Luckily, all my favorite bars and restaurants have taken the hint. Here are some of my favorite cocktails around town to beat the summer heat.

Rum Punch at Barcadia

barcadia

Masonrita at Mason's Grill


A photo posted by MasonsGrill (@masonsgrill) on

Cane Shaker at Donner Peltier Distillers




Adult Snoball at Olive or Twist




Jardin District at Radio Bar



Moscow Mule at Beausoleil




Rose Freeze at Bistro Byronz




Southern Hemisphere at City Pork Brasserie


A photo posted by Christina Stephens (@christinastephens) on


Wednesday, May 18, 2016

Chef Eusebio Gongora of City Pork on Guy's Grocery Games

by Sydney Blanchard

Eusebio doing what he does best


The rumor mill of Baton Rouge is constantly churning, and sometimes it seems like no one in town is capable of keeping a culinary secret for too long.

We've been bursting at the seams to talk about Chef Eusebio Gongora's appearance on Food Network's Guy's Grocery Games.

Eusebio, Director of Culinary Operations at City Pork in Baton Rouge and a close friend of Jay's, is looking forward to having his friends and family cheer him on.

city pork
Chef Eusebio Gongora, Director of Culinary Operations at City Pork
"The biggest thing for me is that I'm excited to be on national TV," Eusebio told Jay on a phone call. "My friends have been asking when I'm going to give it a shot for a few years now, so to finally be on a show like Triple G is an honor, and I'm excited for everyone to see it."

City Pork Brasserie & Bar will host a viewing party May 29 at 6:30 p.m. with complimentary food and cocktail tastings.

The Bite and Booze team will be in attendance, ready to cheer Eusebio on. See you all there!

Friday, April 22, 2016

Louisiana Saturday Morning: We've Got Your Brunch Plans Right Here

by Sydney Blanchard

If breakfast is the most important meal of the day, then brunch is the most important meal of the weekend.

I don't know if it's a generational thing or a gay thing, but my friends and I are constantly brunching, and I think I've pinpointed why.

Brunch foods can be savory or sweet, healthy or gluttonous, drinking is optional (but encouraged), and food always tastes better when you eat it after waking up late after a night out partying. 

In fact, I can't think of any reason not to love brunch.

Below you'll find some perfect Louisiana brunch options for the weekend. Where is your favorite brunch spot?


Mason's Grill Baton Rouge



Mason's is probably Baton Rouge's most beloved brunch spot, and with endless menu items (including the famous breakfast burger, pictured) and $5 bottomless mimosas, it's easy to see why. On Saturday and Sunday mornings and afternoons, the place is packed, so get there early to beat the crowd.

Barcadia Baton Rouge


barcadia
Barcadia Baton Rouge's fried chicken and pancakes

Relatively new to the brunch scene, Barcadia near LSU has been knocking brunch out of the park with breakfast tacos and $3 Bloody Marys and Mimosas. While you wait for your food, hit up the retro arcade games that line the restaurant.

City Pork Deli & Charcuterie Baton Rouge



This particular photo is from City Pork Kitchen & Pie, but don't get it twisted: only City Pork Deli & Charcuterie offers a weekend brunch menu. The grits bowl is the way to go, paired with a Vietnamese iced coffee or a mimosa if you're feeling frisky.

Coffee Call Baton Rouge




If beignets and coffee don't constitute as brunch to you, you're wrong and I feel very sorry for you. I often forget Coffee Call is open in daylight hours, but it is, and I'm thinking I need to become a regular.


Table Kitchen & Bar Baton Rouge



You may not even be aware Table Kitchen & Bar has a brunch, but they do, and recently Jay and Rue Rusike got to try brunch there. They've got options like tomato pie and pecan pancakes and the classic shrimp and grits, oh my!

District Donuts New Orleans


district
A smorgasbord of donuts at District Donuts in New Orleans

Yes, they serve up some of the most delicious donuts in the city with creative, Insta-worthy toppings. But did you know that beyond donuts District has killer brunch items? Try their griddle donut sandwiches or one of their pork belly or fried chicken sliders. Your tummy will thank you.

Lüke New Orleans


luke
Fruit sorbet at Lüke in New Orleans


John Besh's Lüke in New Orleans, an ode to the Franco-German brasseries of old, has always treated us well. Brunch on the pain perdu or the fried chicken and tabasco honey biscuit sandwich, and you'll be a happy camper.

Johnson's Boucanière Lafayette

One of Lafayette's most beloved spots, Johnson's Boucanière is probably better known as BBQ spot, but they serve up Cajun breakfast in the mornings, including build-your-own biscuits and nénaine's special, a boudin stuffed grilled cheese on a biscuit served with in-house BBQ sauce.

Marilynn's Place Shreveport



North Louisianians can't get enough of Marilynn's Place, a New Orleans style eatery with an irreverent atmosphere that's rare in this part of the state. Patrons prefer the MP Sunday brunch to church, and with knock-out drink specials and lavish options like bananas foster French toast, it's easy to see why.

Jack Daniels Bar & Grill Lake Charles




The Sunday Whiskey Brunch at L'Auberge Lake Charles' Jack Daniels Bar includes live music and a whiskey milk punch that'll knock your socks off. Chef Lyle Broussard consistently kills it with South Louisiana takes on traditional brunch items, and it's something to taste to believe. 

Thursday, March 31, 2016

Boil ‘Em, Mash ‘Em, Stick ‘Em in a Stew: A National Tater Day Celebration

by Intern Daniel Harris

If there's anything we love at Bite and Booze, it's celebrating seemingly arbitrary national food and beverage holidays. And today, we will celebrate the humble potato, everyone's favorite starch.

“What’s Taters, Precious?” you may ask.





This little root vegetable can be sweet, red, sliced, diced, and cooked any way imaginable. While almost always serving as a side or addition to a meal, we believe potatoes should have their day in the sun.

Here are some of the Bite and Booze Crew’s favorite tater moments.

Portland Tots



A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@jayducote) on


Horseshoe Bay Resort Mashed Taters





Street Breads Tater Salad






City Pork Brasserie and Bar Tater Soup



Today's lunch at City Pork Brasserie & Bar included a grilled cheese and potato soup from Chef Ryan Andre'. I'll gladly take another!
Posted by Bite and Booze on Friday, January 30, 2015


Doe's Eat Place French Fried Taters



A photo posted by Jay Ducote (@biteandbooze) on



Tater Gnocci



Potato gnocchi, lamb bolognese, mint, pecorino. Delightful.
Posted by Bite and Booze on Friday, April 11, 2014



Wednesday, March 23, 2016

Our Favorite Pork Posts, Just in Time for Hogs for the Cause

by Sydney Blanchard

At Bite and Booze, it's safe to say we love pork in all its iterations, whether it's a juicy smoked Boston Butt or a crispy cut of bacon.
 Our pork passion is one of the main reasons you'll find us out at Hogs for the Cause each year. Hogs for the Cause, a New Orleans Barbecue Competition, started in 2009 as a way to raise money for a child with incurable pediatric brain cancer. Today, the event has grown into a huge barbecue competition and music and food festival. All the money raised goes directly to families with kids fighting brain cancer.

If you feel so inclined, consider donating to our Hogs for the Cause team. Teams are ranked not only by their barbecue chops but also by their ability to raise money for the cause, so please help us out!

In the meantime, take a scroll down memory lane and check out some of our favorite pork pics to date.

Blackberry Bourbon Bone-In Boston Butt


pork butt
We like pork butts and we cannot lie.


Pork Belly at Houmas House


pork belly
Pork belly and local honey? Sold.


Cured Bacon from Iverstine Family Farms



Jay D's Barbecue Pulled Pork


pulled pork
For more recipes like this one, head to hugjayd.com.

Pork Chop at SALT in McAllen, Tx



Grilled Pork Chop with Spicy Peach Chutney


pork peach
Click the link for the recipe!


Pulled Pork Grits Bowl at City Pork Kitchen & Pie



Pork Sliders at City Grocery



Jay's Barbecue Pork Belly, Charred Fennel, and Candied Dates



Mixed Assortment of Pork and Beef in Austin, Tx



Pork Ribs at City Pork Deli's Cochon De Lait



Sampler Platter at Nola Smokehouse




Soon to be Pork at Mahaffey Farms in Shreveport