New Orleans Eats: Lunch Day One

After much deliberation Jon and I decided to eat at the Gumbo Shop in the french quarter. Locals have called their gumbo the best in town, and in a town that specializes in cajun and creole food, that is saying something.

For an appetizer I got the special, which was an alligator sausage. It was cut with pork, because I doubt gator would have enough fat to make a good sausage without it. They did a great job of combining the two. It tasted of red pepper, and you could tell it was alligator. It was served with a tangy and sweet sauce, of which I could pick out dijon mustard, honey, and horseradish, as well as cherry pepper bits. The dish was delicious, but slighly over cooked and if eaten with the crusty french bread dried up the mouth quickly.

The star of the show was the chicken and andouille sausage gumbo. Traditional and excellent. Dark roux, cooked okra, flavored with the trinity. The long grain rice was well executed. No reason not to love this if you are a gumbo fan. Although I did add a *touch* of hot sauce for a little heat.

Jon had the chicken Espagnole which was a roasted smothered half chicken with a thick rich mushroom sauce. He said it was tender and good but the bones had been cooked apart and it was difficult to eat in that way. He didn't care for the turnip greens, but overall loved the flavor of the chicken dish.