Tasty NOLA Treats found in Portland

Always up for exploring Cajun food, Dan and I finally had the opportunity to try Acadia in NE Portland's Irvington neighborhood.  Dining there on a Monday evening, we took advantage of their Monday night cheap eats menu, and if you know me personally, you can vouch for the fact that I love me a great deal!

Atmosphere:
Located in a little strip of restaurants and retail shops near NE 13th Avenue, Acadia is a true neighborhood gem, which seems to be populated by locals.  I love the quiet, comfortable vibe, as you see small parties dining there and I'd say it's also a great place for a romantic dinner date.

Although the space isn't large, it's well laid out and anchored by a nice bar in the center.  Right behind that is the restaurant's kitchen and if you happen to sit in the left hand dining room, you'll get a little peek inside.  Because the bar is so significant and very comfortable, it'd be a great option for a single diner to enjoy a nice meal.

Food:
As already mentioned, Acadia is home to some down-home Cajun/Creole eats.  The menu is pretty traditional in terms of seeing your usual culinary suspects, but this is exactly why we came.  We were delighted to see that the Monday night cheap eats featured Creole favorites such as jambalaya, crawfish, blackened catfish and the like.

Green Onion Hushpuppies - We've been needing some hushpuppies in our lives and haven't had them in I can't remember how long.  Acadia's version more than delivered with large pieces of crunchy corncakes that were soft and moist inside with beautiful green flecks of onions.  A sweet orange marmalade served as the base of this dish and offered something surprising and interesting.

Cajun Jambalaya - All I have to say is wow because this jambalaya more than delivered.  Firing on all cylinders, including three types of meat such as smoked duck, chicken and andouille sausage, it was a meat lovers dream.  The veggies that made up the rest of this stew were also fantastic, including the pickled tomatoes, onions and radishes that rested on top.  The portion here is plentiful and allowed me to take a little bit home to enjoy the next day.

Wild Blackened Catfish - This was Dan's dish and he totally devoured it.  Looking more gourmet and sophisticated than I anticipated it to, the fish was seared to perfection, sporting a slightly charred crust.  A side of fresh creamed corn and a spicy red chutney really made the flavors in this dish sing, infusing into it that Southern flava.

Service and Cost: 

Because it was an off night, we expected to be served quickly and efficiently, which we were.  However, I anticipate that this well run establishment wouldn't be a disappointment on any other given night either.  Our waitress was kind and easy going, making sure we had everything we needed at all times - so absolutely no complaints.

Costs are highly competitive on a Monday evening, with select entrees being only $12 each.  As I mentioned above, the portion size doesn't suffer, giving you great bank for your buck.  The entire meal set us back under $40 including drinks and tip.

3 Mmmms

Acadia - 1303 NE Fremont Street, Portland OR 97212
503.249.5001
creolapdx.com

Masq - A Tasty Trip to NOLA by way of NYC

Truth be told - even though I've never been to New Orleans yet, I do relish some delicious Cajun food and therefore jumped at the chance to have dinner at Masq restaurant. Enjoying this flavorful and plentiful food with a few of my foodie comrades, we sat down at a generous press dinner, as we enjoyed the flavors of the South.

Atmosphere:
Located in the Midtown East area of the city on 49th Street between 1st and 2nd Avenue, Masq is easy to get to by subway or the bus. It feels very much like a cozy neighborhood hangout, and occupies an entire brownstone building, which is quite unusual.

From the minute you step inside, you ingest the cozy, sultry vibe that can only feel like New Orleans itself, as I imagine it.  At the front of the house sits a custom made horseshoe shaped bar, where neighborhood folks gather for classic NOLA cocktails, especially during happy hour. Walk a few more steps and you'll find a cozy dining room with vintage tables, chairs and eclectic artwork, which is where we sat.  It all felt comfortable yet still a little different and special, which is why I imagine Masq to be a great place to come to with a group of friends celebrating an occasion.

I must note that the very back of the restaurant serves as a mini performance space where young artists, including singers, comedians, musicians and the like can have a go at their craft on Tuesday evenings.  We had the pleasure of seeing this during our visit and I really enjoyed eavesdropping on some of the acts.

Food:
Masq's menu is carefully constructed to honor the best of NOLA's cuisine, but it also pays homage to American classics, which we all enjoyed. I thought the diversity in the menu a smart choice, especially if you dine in larger groups and are trying to please various palates.  Here are a few of my highlights:

Mac 'n Cheese Croquettes - Think of this as a mac 'n cheese with a NOLA twist.  It's perfectly crispy on the outside, but soft and gooey on the inside, adorned with flecks of fiery jalapeno and chunks of smoky bacon.  The spicy remoulade that decks the plate is the icing on this deliciously fried "cake."

Asian Marinated Salmon - As you can imagine, this dish falls into the new American category, and it was a big win for everyone at our table.  Boasting a beautifully golden crust with the perfect amount of char, it's marinated in honey and garlic soy sauce, hinting at a bit of an Asian influence.  Since this is quite a rich dish, Chef Marc paired it with a simple salad of peppery, leafy greens.

Shrimp Po' Boy - I looove me a po' boy, and this one was a big hit, as it came in the form of a slider.  Let's face it, everyone loves miniature food, so the novelty of this alone made my dining companions and me very happy.  Once we bit into its fried deliciousness, the flavors rang true with a little sweetness from the shrimp and some spicy flavor from a similar (if not same) remoulade used on the mac 'n cheese.  A side of crunchy cole slaw helped cut the richness of this Southern treat.

Jambalaya - Being at a New Orleans style restaurant and not trying the jambalaya would be a crime, naturally.  Masq's version was bursting with flavor and included a few original touches such as a dollop of tangy goat cheese on top that created a delightfully creamy sauce, as well as some Cajun spiced chicken.  While I enjoyed this dish, I found it to be pretty spicy, which is saying a lot for me.

Sabayon - Sealing this delightful meal with some dessert was absolutely in the cards, and I was excited to see an elegant cocktail glass filled with sabayon (aka zabaglione in Italian) and fresh berries.  I appreciated the simplicity of choice here, as the fruit cut the richness in the creamy sabayon and I found my glass emptied in minutes.  Imagine that!

Service and Cost:
Similar to the vibe here, the service feels personal and casual.  True that you can celebrate special occasions, as I mentioned, but you're never made to feel too formal, which is nice. Having the pleasure of meeting Chef Marc Getzelman, his passion for NOLA cuisine rang true and inspired me to visit soon.

Costs are on the moderate side, and it's nice to see you won't break the bank when trying something a little different.

Appetizers - $8 - $16
Mains - $14 - $25
Sides - $4 - $7
Dessert - $7 - $8

3 Mmmms

Masq - 306 East 49th Street, New York NY 10017
212.644.8294
6 or E Train to 53rd Street
masqny.com 

Sugarfreak Brunch was a Freakin Success

My We Heart Astoria colleagues, Meg, Mackenzi and I recently met for brunch at Sugarfreak to discuss some We Heart Astoria business.  The meeting was not only incredibly productive, we really enjoyed munching on some hearty, comforting grub.  It's been a while since any of us have been there, and as it happens, brunch here was new to us all.  Here's what we tried:

Hush Puppies - I was so glad when Mackenzi suggested we get this, as I can't exactly turn down fried corn bread.  Surprised by how giant Sugarfreak's version was, I enjoyed them nonetheless.  The outside was crispy as can be, albeit a little oily, while the inside was tender, moist and bready.  Dipping these babies into the spicy remoulade sauce totally hit the spot and made this very New Orleans.

Charbroiled Oysters - Even though I just had oysters the day before at the North Fork Wineries, I was happy to try this version, which was totally different.  Boasting some really generous pieces, their Blue Point oysters on the halfshell had a nice golden color and a really meaty interior.  It felt great to scoop up the meat of the oyster and eat it alongside little pieces of crispy, buttery bread.

Jambalaya and Eggs - Since I loove me some jambalaya, this had my name all over it.  There were two fried eggs on top of the actual jambalaya, and I'm happy to report that they had perfectly runny yolks that you can spread over the spicy rice interior.  Although I had the jambalaya here before, I totally forgot how awesome it was, peppered with chunky pieces of andouille sausage and even some seafood action.  The whole thing was incredibly hearty and something that can tide you over for well half the day - hands down.

Dessert - Although we were so incredibly full, we couldn't refuse a generous offer of a dessert trio, including a butterscotch rice pudding topped with popcorn, a classic order of begneits, and also their bourbon bread pudding.  Out of those, the rice pudding was my absolute favorite.  Loving the juxtaposition in texture between the crunchy popcorn and the soft, silky pudding, the flavors were also totally in sync.  The homemade whipped cream was the cherry on this proverbial cake, and I just couldn't get enough of the whole combination.

Service and Cost:
We received great service here, as everyone was super attentive, even during the peak of brunch.  Our waters were refilled without even one look at our waiter, and dirty plates cleaned before we could lick our chops.

Costs are reasonable and include:

Brunch entrees - $13 - $14.50
Starters - $7-12
Sides - $4-$7.50

3 Mmmms

Sugarfreak - 36-18 30th Avenue, Astoria NY 11106
718.726.5850
N/Q Train to 30th Avenue
www.sugarfreak.com