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On The Go

EATS: New Orleans

July 27, 2010 , ι David Landsel

Lorin GaudinTaceaux Loceaux

You can’t write about New Orleans without talking about food. Well, you can, but it would probably be a lot less interesting. Who knows. We’ve never actually tried it. In the five years since Hurricane Katrina, there are few who would argue that the city’s dining scene hasn’t become more exciting than ever. In a city always in love with eating, there’s now even more to eat. Here are five great places to try on your next visit.
	 
CRESCENT PIE & SAUSAGE
	 Mid-City
	 
On a quiet block not far from the top of the Canal streetcar line, this smart, more-than-a-pizza-joint is popular both day and night with a crowd that doesn’t mind traveling for quality. The pies look great, but honestly, we’re more into their meat; try the house-made
	 boudinor the duck confit pie.
	 
	 Info4400 Banks Street, (504) 482-2426
	 
TACEAUX LOCEAUX
	 Citywide
	 
Maribeth and Alex del Castillo are the powerhouse team behind this gourmet taco truck that often parks outside Dos Jefes, a well-known Tchoupitoulas Street bar, deep into Uptown. These are tacos with a twist — the “AIEEE!!!” incorporates locally-popular andouille sausage with jalapenos, serranos, chipotle and onions, spicy beans and rice, green onions and salsa. They’re two for $6 — and they’re enormous.
	 
	 InfoFollow on Twitter
	 @TLNola
	 
MELTDOWN POPSICLES
	 French Quarter
	 
It’s rare you’ll find someone innovating behind the doors of a French Quarter shop — rents here are generally too high for anyone of modest means to take a gamble on opening a business. And yet, just off of touristy Decatur Street, this miniature popsicle shop is home to one of the best new summer treats to hit the city in ages. The Vietnamese iced coffee pop is just superb, and you won’t even mind paying $3 once tasted.
	 
	 Info 508 Dumaine Street, (504) 301-0905
	 
FAT HEN GRILL
	 Harahan
	 
Okay, so this place is way out there, almost by the airport. In fact, we’re thinking it’s probably one of the best places to eat on the way to or from the airport. Chef Shane Pritchett’s delicate red velvet pancakes (if they’re not on the menu that day, go ahead and ask nicely) must be tasted to be believed. Ditto the very un-delicate and very good Whomlets (waffles with omelets on top, just so you know). There are beautiful biscuits with homemade jam; lunch and dinner too. Start with breakfast.
	 
	 Info1821 Hickory Avenue, (504) 287-4581
	 
NEYOW’S
	 Mid-City
	 
New Orleans visitors tend to elevate the humble po-boy to celebrity status in the same way that tourists in New York City babble on about slice joints that most of us haven’t patronized in years. There are a lot of po-boy joints — every corner grocery, it seems, sells them. It’s no big deal. What is a big deal, though, is the $6 po-boy special on Tuesdays at this relatively new neighborhood joint that calls itself a “Creole café.” Think red beans and rice, gumbo, chicken, shrimp Creole and — but of course — po-boys. It’s just steps off the Canal streetcar line. Convenient!
	 
	 Info3340 Bienville Avenue, (504) 827-5474

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DEALS: Buenos Aires

July 23, 2010 , ι David Landsel

There are a lot of things to like about Buenos Aires. If you read this week’s story here in Travel, you know there are a lot of things that’ll drive you crazy, too. Come to think of it, Buenos Aires... Read on

There are a lot of things to like about Buenos Aires. If you read
	 this week’s storyhere in Travel, you know there are a lot of things that’ll drive you crazy, too. Come to think of it, Buenos Aires is a lot like New York, but with more attractive pricing.
	 
While cheap stuff may not be a reason to fly halfway around the world, if you find yourself in Argentina, you’re going to have a blast — particularly if you’re accustomed to paying too much in a city like ours.
	 
Here, five ways to splash out without the guilt.
	 
$85 for an 80-minute massage at the Four Seasons Spa 
	 
One of the top rated spas in South America is currently running great winter specials -- this price, charged in pesos (345 of them), is roughly 50 percent off their normal rates, and includes day use of the compact but spectacular facility. There might be some far-flung Four Seasons somewhere that charges this little for spa treatments, but we very much doubt the therapists will be quite as thorough and dedicated to the task as the crew here. Tip generously (through Sept. 21,
	 fourseasons.com).
	 
$150 a night for a luxury loft in Recoleta
	 
Many a newbie tourist pays more per night at their hotels than a local pays in average monthly rent. Don't be a sucker. We're fans of
	 Flipkey.com, which led us to a great apartment in one of the neighborhood's nicest historic buildings, managed by an American expat and his bilingual team, which includes a 24-hour porter who lives right off the lobby. For 700 square feet, a rooftop pool (in season), speedy wireless, a loaner cellphone, chic furnishings, a full kitchen and a comfortable bed, $150 and up (3 night minimum) is a tiny price to pay (email 
	 info@zazagroup.com and ask about short-term rentals at the building on Calle Junin).  
	 
$195 for a week of intensive language lessons 
	 
If being in Buenos Aires puts you in the mood to, for instance, stick around Buenos Aires for a while — hey, it happens — you'll want to learn the language. The curriculum at the Comisión de Intercambio Educativo is developed by the University of Buenos Aires; the school is located in a historic converted department store not far from the impressive Plaza de Mayo. For your money, you get twenty lessons at 55 minutes each, plus invitations to social events and outings run by the school. Tip: Even if you think you might want to stay longer, pay for a couple of weeks at a time. That way, you're not locked in if the school isn't right for you. There are many others to choose from (
	 coined.com.ar).
	 
$31 for a cheese tasting at the Duhau Restaurant & Vinoteca 
	 
The restaurant inside the majestic
	 Palacio Duhau— now the frontispiece of a pricey Park Hyatt hotel — has scrapped its French menu and gone high-end Argentinian. Chef Federico Heinzmann oversees a kitchen that churns out gorgeous steaks done over a wood grill (some great ones in the $20 range), along with solid treatments of local seafood and simple-but-elegant winter treats such as a delicate pumpkin soup. Then there's the wine list; skip over Mendoza and ask them to introduce you to some new regions, perhaps the Valle de Cafayate, up in Argentina's high desert. And, of course, there’s the cheese. An entire cave of it, all produced locally. It's all spectacular. Try a sampling — $31 for 7, with breads, jams, nuts and chutneys. Try everything. We really cannot recommend this restaurant highly enough (Av. Alvear 1661). 
	 
$25 for a radio taxi to the airport  
	 
Sometimes, it's the little things. Radio taxis are generally more reliable than the ones you hail on the street. Cleaner, too. The rate is a flat 100 pesos; no room for haggling or excuses. Cars are usually clean and drivers courteous. Talk about value.

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DEALS: Singapore + Bali

July 19, 2010 , ι Chris Bunting

Some wacko over there at Singapore Airlines Vacations forgot to carry the one, offering up this ridiculous deal as a result: Roundtrip fare ($404 fuel surcharge included) on Singapore Airlines from... Read on

ShutterstockGet jolly in Bali for way cheap.

Some wacko over there at
	 Singapore Airlines Vacationsforgot to carry the one, offering up this ridiculous deal as a result: Roundtrip fare ($404 fuel surcharge included) on Singapore Airlines from JFK; 2 nights in Singapore at
	 The Stamford, 3 nights in Bali at the
	 Nusa Dua Beach Hotel, 2 city tours, daily breakfast, taxes and all the airport and hotel transfers between from just $1,409 per person. Those ain't hostels, either -- they're five-star.
	 
Why/how? Something about the airline celebrating its 30-year presence at LAX. Point is, if you wanted to see Asia for any cheaper, you'd have to work out an organ exchange program with the Triad. Better pull the trigger on this quick-like, though; hotel and seating is limited.
	 
It goes live on the Web site on Monday, available Sept. 1-Nov. 30 of this year, and Jan. 1-Mar. 31 of next. Leave midweek.

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FOOD: Taste Beverly Hills

July 14, 2010 , ι Chris Bunting

When they're not busy in the bathroom purging before that next movie audition, the privileged residents of Beverly Hills are more than happy to fully digest all the awesomeness that comprises Los... Read on

Shutterstock

When they're not busy in the bathroom purging before that next movie audition, the privileged residents of Beverly Hills are more than happy to 
	 fullydigest all the awesomeness that comprises Los Angeles' grubscape. The open border says: "You're welcome."
	 
To wit,
	 Taste of Beverly Hillsis a food and wine festival (fatalistically presented by
	 Food & Winemagazine) running Sept. 2-5, allowing said locals to recognize just how good they have it. Adjacent to the
	 Beverly Hilton Hotel, look out for area kitchen pwners like “Top Chef” winner Michael Voltaggio, Walter Manzke (Church & State alum), Ludo Lefebvre (of “Ludo Bites”), and Jon Shook and Vinny Dotolo of Animal doing their thing. Wolfgang Puck and tons of Food Network cooking heads will also be heading down. The smart will pick these guys' genius, culinary minds; the smarter will have them sign aprons and spatulas to make that eBay million, son.
	 

	 
Between the DJ and Drink Mixologist party on Friday night, a Top Amateur Chef contest on Saturday and KCRW's annual pie contest on Sunday, you'll definitely need a nearby crash pad: ticket and stay packages at the Beverly Hilton range from $500-$2,000, depending on length of stay. Tickets a la carte start at $125 per person.
	 

	 
For more info on TBH, call 877-434-8624 or visit 
	 www.thetasteofbeverlyhills.com

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NEWS + NOTES: July 14

July 13, 2010 , ι Chris Bunting

COUGAR ATTACK One teenager's favorite Penthouse Forum bedtime story is another's sexual harassment suit. Allegedly, a woman on an Orlando-bound Southwest flight from Chicago made a sexual pass at a... Read on

COUGAR ATTACK
	 
One teenager's favorite Penthouse Forum bedtime story is another's sexual harassment suit. Allegedly, a woman on an Orlando-bound 
	 Southwestflight from Chicago made a sexual pass at a 14-year-old boy, offering him up illegal drugs to sweeten the pot. At least that's what the kid's father 
	 told the AP-- he's seeking 50Gs from the airline for its failure to protect his son from the predatorette. 
	 
KRISHNA CASH GOODBYE
	 
Yo, just to be clear: panhandling is now
	 illegalat LAX -- punishable by up to six months in the clink -- but the $770 mill in blood mooney the 10 largest airlines
	 made in baggage feesfor just the
	 first 3 months of the year is hunky dory? 
	 Sir, yes sir. 
	 
SNUG AS A BUG
	 
Columbus, Ohio beat out even good ol' NYC to win the title of Top Bedbug Infested City in the Nation. The crowning, released via press release by insecticide-maker
	 Insight Pharmaceuticals(so we're sure it's legit), comes on the same day that Hilton Hotels announces its intention to break ground on a new $140 million convention center in Columbus, set for a 2012 opening. Just how many Michigan alum are on Insight's board of directors?

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