Louisiana’s Coastal Cuisine

a conversation with Executive Chef Brian Landry of Restaurant Borgne

by Marla Norman, Publisher

Borgne Restaurant features seafood dishes that preserve the heritage of Louisiana’s old-style lake restaurants. Photo by Marla Norman

“Sometimes, you have to find out where you’ve been to get someplace new,” Brian Landry, Executive Chef of Borgne muses thoughtfully. “John (Besh) and I were fishing buddies for many years – and many of our trips were to Lake Borgne. We always knew we’d open a seafood restaurant together. We wanted a restaurant that would preserve the heritage of the old lake restaurants around Borgne, many of which were lost with Katrina. They made fresh, rustic, hunter’s food.

After much deliberation, Besh and Landry decided to not only reproduce the Lake Borgne dishes, but to also explore the Spanish side of New Orleans’ Creole heritage. “I had been at Galatoire’s focusing on French cuisine, as do most of the restaurants here,” Landry continues. “I was ready for a change and we felt the Spanish cuisine would set us apart. The fact that most of the Spanish settlers in New Orleans were actually from the Canary Islands, made it all even more interesting.”

So interesting, in fact, that Landry spent over a month in the Canary Islands, studying the cuisine and cooking with locals. “I even went back up into the mountains to learn how to make a particular kind of bread,” he laughs.

Yellow Beet Ceviche and Crab Fingers with grapefruit, pink pepper, and tarragon. Photo courtesy of John Besh Restaurants.

Mouth-watering Oyster Spaghetti with freshly baked Borgne Bread. Photo by Marla Norman.

Island-inspired dishes on the Borgne menu include: Oyster Spaghetti, Seared Tuna with Chorizo Marmalade, Yellow Beet Ceviche & Crab Fingers; Grilled Octopus, Berber Hummus and Garlic Caper Confit; Slow Smoked Pork Empanadas; Adobo Marinated Hanger Steak and Potato Croquetas.

The plates in general are much lighter than traditional French food. Butter is replaced with oil and, of course, the Canary Island diet revolves around seafood.

Chef Brian Landry shares a bottle of his favorite Spanish Rosé. Photo by Marla Norman.

In his research of Canary Island cuisine, Landry also discovered a disturbing history: “In 1678, the Spanish Crown passed a law referred to as El Tributo de Sangre or a Blood Tax. This measure mandated that 50 Canarian families were to migrate to Spain’s least populated colonies in America for each 1000 tons of Canarian exports. In essence it was a tax credit, which accrued to the benefit of the wealthy Spanish landowners, exempting them from Spanish import taxes, as long as they provided bodies to populate the colonies.” (from Roots Web Ancestry) Horrible as it sounds, this was not a conscription, evidently. The Isleños volunteered to go as a way to escape poverty and to become landowners.

Another fascinating bit of history is that one of the primary items exported was wine. So prized were Canary Island wines that Shakespeare was paid in-part with them. Christopher Columbus’ first stop on his way to the new world was the Canary Islands to pick up supplies of wine and even the American signers of the Declaration of Independence celebrated their new liberty with a glass of Canary Island wine.

Landry proudly displays a favorite Spanish wine, a Rosé – Ameztoi Rubentis Txakolina – so ruby pink it’s almost a shade of magenta. The nose is candy sweet, but the wine is relatively dry with a smooth velvety finish – unusual for a rosé. “This wine was such a great find and pairs beautifully with our fish dishes and shellfish,” Landry explains.

What’s next for Chef Brian Landry? “I’m leaving in a few weeks for mainland Spain,” he says, barely drawing a breath. “But I’ll stick to the coastline: Valencia, Barcelona, San Sebastian and Bilbao.”

Stay tuned for more inspired seafood at Borgne!

BORGNE
Hyatt Regency Hotel
601 Loyola Avenue
Central Business District

Read an interview with Chef John Besh and tour his restaurants August and La Provence in this issue.

MORE GREAT NEW ORLEANS RESTAURANTS

COMPÈRE LAPIN
535 Tchoupitoulas
Warehouse District

Chef Nina Compton, of TV show Top-Chef fame, drew inspiration from her Caribbean childhood to name her first restaurant – Compère Lapin, which translates “Brother Rabbit.” Diners won’t find rabbit on the menu, however. A broad range of courses is offered – ranging from Spiced Pig Ears, to Curried Goat and red hot (as in scorching) Fried Chicken. But seafood is the main ingredient here – top-quality with a thoughtful preparation that showcases original flavors. For example, Hamachi (Pacific Yellowtail) – delicately sliced and served over icy cold honeydew melon – simple, but beautifully combined flavors. Pici Pasta (a thick, hand-rolled spaghetti) soaks up fennel cream, smoked mushrooms and juicy bits of lobster.

A Roast Beet Salad with whipped Ricotta and Pistachios is a perfect accompaniment for the seafood – so delicious it could even be dessert. But whatever you do, don’t miss out on the Bolivian Chocolate Cake with Spiced Chocolate Sauce – cayenne and cinnamon make for an unusual, but instantly-addictive combination in the sauce.

Located in an old brick warehouse, Compère Lapin makes the most of the original site. Photo by Marla Norman

Bolivian Chocolate Cake with Spiced Chocolate Sauce. Photo by Marla Norman

PÊCHE SEAFOOD GRILL
800 Magazine Street
Warehouse District

Just down the street from his much loved pork emporium, Cochon, Chef Donald Link opened Pëche, his homage to fish. Whole fish, mussels, chicken and lamb skewers are cooked on a wood-fired grill, that also serves as the restaurant’s centerpiece. An Oyster Bar offers raw seafood, seafood salads and platters. Peanut Butter Pie tops the favorite items on the dessert menu. Link was named Best Chef in the South by the James Beard Foundation in 2007. Pêche was recently named “Best New Restaurant 2014” by the James Beard Foundation. His other restaurants Herbsaint and Cochon Butcher are local institutions as well.

BAYONA
430 Dauphine St.
French Quarter

An early 19th Century Creole cottage with a beautifully landscaped terrace creates a romantic setting for Chef Susan Spicer’s “New World” dishes – a style that blends Creole classics with European, North African and Latin American influences – or anything else that’s caught the fancy of this talented chef.

A beautifully landscaped terrace creates a romantic setting at Bayona. Photo by Marla Norman.

Bayona menu highlights include Crispy Smoked Quail Salad with Pears & Bourbon Molasses Dressing, Braised Rabbit Ragu with Cavatelli, Duck Breast with Tamales & Oaxacan Mole, Duroc Pork Chop with Polenta & Prosciutto Wrapped Broccoli. The wine cellar is as eclectic as the menu with over 600 wines selections, dozens of which are offered by the glass.

Oysters and shellfish are star attractions at Lüke. Photo by Marla Norman.

LÜKE RESTAURANT
333 St. Charles Ave.
Central Business District

If your seafood cravings include oysters, some of the best in New Orleans can be found at Lüke. There, the Fruits de Mer plates include an assortment of shellfish, but the deliciously flavorful, pure-tasting oysters are standouts. The P&J Oysters – stuffed with gulf shrimp and blue crab – are also incredibly rich and succulent.

Other menu highlights include Crispy Brussels Sprouts with Marcona almonds, Espelette Honey and cheese; Jumbo Shrimp en Cocotte – a spicy concoction of roasted Jalapeño cheese grits, andouille & green onion sausages. Desserts are not for the calorie-conscious, but worth every rich bite. Steamed Chocolate is flavored with chicory and cocoa nibs, then topped house-made salted caramel ice cream.

Lively and welcoming, Lüke is Chef John Besh’s homage to the Franco-German brasseries that once reigned in New Orleans. The restaurant is part of the newly-remodeled Hilton New Orleans St. Charles Avenue. Louisiana native Chef Drake Leonards presides over the kitchen and is backed up by an attentive, polished wait staff that ensure an enjoyable visit.

STELLA!
1032 Chartres Street
French Quarter

Elegant and extravagant, Louisiana-born Chef Scott Boswell provides Stella! diners with either a four-course ($85) or seven-course menu ($125). Choices could include Beef & Oyster Tartare, Black Truffle-Foie Gras, Poached Flounder Black Truffle-Scallop Mousse, Braised Veal Cheek Terrine, and Duck Five Ways. Wine pairings, caviar, and truffles can also be added.

MARIZA
2900 Chartres Street
Bywater

Chef Ian Schnoebelen was named Best New Chef by Food & Wine Magazine for his restaurant Iris now located on the ground floor of the Bienville House Hotel. His latest venture, Mariza, in a industrial-chic spot in the Bywater, was inspired by his trips to Italy. Menu favorites include Red Snapper Crudo, Burrata Crostini & Tomatoes, Anchovy & Crusty Pig Ear Salad, Duck Ragout Papardelle, Quail & Pancetta.

CENTRAL GROCERY
923 Decatur St.
French Quarter

Versions of the muffuletta sandwich abound in New Orleans, but the genuine, original is only at the Central Grocery – made with piles of ham, salami, mozzarella, and the Grocery’s special blend of olive salad mix. The entire creation is 10-inches in diameter and could easily feed 2-4 people. But, it’s so incredibly good, you might not want to share.

Central Grocery, established in 1906 by Salvatore Lupo, who created the original muffuletta. Photo by Marla Norman.

The Central Grocery dates back to 1906 when Salvatore Lupo, a Sicilian immigrant, first opened his deli and invented his famous sandwich. Today the store is operated by Salvatore T. Tusa, Salvatore’s grandson, and two cousins. The shelves are loaded with imported Italian condiments and numerous local products from chicory coffee to Cajun spices and hot sauce. And, of course, the Grocery’s olive salad mix is also available so you can make your own muffulettas at home.

A word of caution: GO EARLY. There’s only one line into the store, whether you’re ordering a sandwich or simply wanting to buy hot sauce. The line moves fairly quickly, but it stretches the length of the block, or more, during lunch hours. The Central Grocery is open 9:00-5:00, Tuesday through Saturday.

If you get home and realize that you left your jar of olive salad mix at the hotel, don’t worry. Goldbelly online market carries Central Grocery products, along with favorite dishes from many other legendary restaurants and they ship anywhere in the U.S.