There was some mercy in the start of the pandemic back in 2020 when the big-dog-breathing-on-you combo of high heat and humidity arrived unseasonably late. The skies sparkled and a fine breeze blew right through the tail end of May when the weather transitioned gently until one day, I realized the furnace was back on. I relished that reprieve at a time when I did nothing but walk or ride my bike around town with my friend Margo, my dedicated pandemic exercise buddy.
The Universe has not smiled so kindly upon us this year. Oh well.
Chemin a la Mer West Indies Salad by Sam Hanna
On Tuesday of this week the NOSH crew headed to the stunning Chemin a la Mer in the Four Seasons Hotel where I gabbed on camera with Executive Chef Justin Koslowsky as he prepared the restaurant’s signature West Indies Salad and Restaurant Sommelier Emily Kitzmiller paired both sweet and dry wines with a salad that was at once unctuous (crabmeat), herbaceous (mint and cilantro), spicy (jalapeño), and acidic (fish sauce and lime juice). The pairings were brilliant and refreshing. The dry choice was a 2020 Bodegas del Palaqui Fefinanes Albarino, Rias Biaxes from Spain. The sweeter choice, also a 2020, was a Koehler-Ruprecht Reisling Kabinett ‘Kallstader Steinacker” Pflaz from Germany.
Yes, crabmeat currently costs an absolute fortune (look here for tips to make the dish with shrimp), but if a special occasion is upon you consider this stunning, simple salad with one of these wines. Look here for the video of us at the raw bar as Chef Justin prepares the dish and Sommelier Emily shares the fine details and reasoning behind her pairings.
Since the heat is definitely on and not going off any time soon, if you are among those who enjoy libation-laden luncheons, just today Criollo, the contemporary Creole restaurant within the Hotel Monteleone, launched an icy $1 Martini Lunch Special that will be offered every Thursday and Friday from 11:30 a.m. – 2 p.m. There is a three $1 martini limit when having lunch and parking is complimentary. That said, if you are partaking of three $1 martinis at lunch, as one of your fellow citizens, I implore that you cab-it (Uber, Lyft) or hoof it to your next destination.
The New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) returns June 7. Some restaurants have released their Vintner Dinner Menus for their June 8 wine dinners. Get on those Reservations! All wine dinners can be found HERE: Events + Tickets — New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (nowfe.com)
