Restaurant Review: The Green Goddess
The New Orleans Examiner
September 3, 2009
Although I tend to stay away from the French Quarter when dining out, especially during tourist season, I couldn't help but venture into the heart of the Quarter to try the Green Goddess restaurant. The chefs here make an effort to support local farmers and showcase local foods on the menu. The restaurant also makes a commitment to giving back to the local community by supporting local non-profits, and have recently partnered with Save Our Lake.
Renowned New Orleans Chefs Chris DeBarr and Paul Artigues opened this tiny restaurant in May and have made quite a splash since then, with their southern fusion lunch menu, exotic tasting menu and truly inspired cocktails.
I had high expectations for lunch at Green Goddess and was not disappointed by the inspired menu and wide variety of drinks found at this tiny nook in Exchange Alley. The entrees included a "Louisiana Bangers and Mash" with duck sausage and sweet potatoes, and a Bison and Bacon Meatloaf sandwich. However, I couldn't resist an interpretation of one of my favorite Mexican dishes, the "Big Cactus" Chilequiles which replaced the classic tortilla with a corn pancake and added perfectly pulled pork. My dining companion raved over the BBQ Pork & Corn Flapjack and we both found the sweet potato biscuits heavenly, although the much anticipated duck fat fries were overly greasy.
Being a cocktail enthusiast, the drink menu with cocktails found nowhere else in New Orleans was a major draw. The bloody mary features local Creole tomatoes and I've never had a drink using fresh blood orange sorbet. Green Goddess features Tru Vodka, which claims a negative carbon footprint by planting a tree for every bottle produced and uses sustainable packaging. Customers who order a drink featuring Tru Vodka also contribute to Save Our Lake; one dollar from every Tru Vodka drink is donated to Save Our Lake.
This tiny restaurant, which only has about six tables, certainly made a big impression on us. We can't wait to try the tasting menu for dinner, which changes with the seasons and showcases exotic ingredients.
Food enthusiasts and environmental supporters shouldn't miss the "Party with a Purpose" on October 7th benefiting Save our Lake and raising awareness about the much needed coastal restoration efforts. Read more about Chef DeBarrs commitment to the New Orleans environment on his blog.