Not only did they look delicious, but they seemed very "1940's", if that makes any sense. I have vivid memories of my grandmother making coffee and sandwiches like that; piled high with meat and slathered in real butter. And piping hot coffee from a similar iron kettle. In this world of vegan food trends and gluten-free everything, it seems like hearty, delicious food like that is practically extinct.
"Oh yeah, one more thing....where can I get a pizza?."
It's not extinct in my town! I live in the town with some of the most universally recognized best food in the country...New Orleans!
TNSTAAFL
Any recommendations?
"Oh yeah, one more thing....where can I get a pizza?."
Plenty. What do you want to know?
TNSTAAFL
Any good spots near the WW2 museum that aren't tourist traps? I also hear that the museum has its own restaurant and old fashioned Soda shop...
"Oh yeah, one more thing....where can I get a pizza?."
Yes the museum does have a restaurant. I haven't eaten there. But there are dozens of good restaurants within walking distance of the museum. A good place for Po Boys, and lots of other NOLA fare is "Mothers" on Poydras. I recommend the turtle soup. Also nearby, on the higher end scale id Delmonico's on St. Charles Ave. Emeril Lagasse owns that, and his flagship restaurant, "Emeril's" is also nearby. In the nearby French Quarter are too many good restaurants to name. If you want to make reservations way in advance, and like classic French cuisine with a New World twist, I'd suggest Antoine's. There is also Galatois in the French Quarter, but be aware it's cash only, no plastic. Brennen's, also in the Quarter is a must for breakfast. These are the folks who invented Bananas Foster.
One of the best ways to sample New Orleans food is in the neighborhood mom 'n pop places. A few that come to mind are Domilise's, uptown, Mandina's on Canal (a short streetcar ride from downtown), Radastoa's, in old Metairie, and many, many more.
Then there are the places that specialize in seafood. Again there are too many great ones to list. Superior Seafood on Napoleon and St. Charles ave.s is good. Lots of places out near West End on the lakefront are good. But for my money the best seafood in the area is a ways out of town. It's Middendorf's at Pass Manchac. That is where Lakes Pontchartrain and Maurepas (the smaller lake just west of L. P.) meet. It is about an hour drive from N.O., I-10 west to I-55 North toward Hammond.
Good luck , and bon appetit! If you get here and have more specific questions, feel free to reach me here. I check this board at least once daily.
TNSTAAFL
I've always been partial to The Commander's Palace and Langlois.
Blue
I was going to mention Commander's, but it slipped my mind.
There are also a number of ethnic places, like Vietnamese, Mediterranian, etc. But , I didn't mention them because they can be found in a lot of towns, and aren't really unique to NOLA.
TNSTAAFL
MRE's now have a pizza. It's okay.
shareEverytime I see that plate of sandwiches I get so hungry.
shareAgreed. The sandwiches had that artisan look so prized now and the thick coffee appeared to warm on the coldest day.
shareI know. Every time I see that scene it makes me hungry. I wonder what kind of sliced meat that was on the sandwiches.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=24MZcKtps1w
Corned beef. Better known as "Bully Beef" in the British Army. A staple of rations in WW2.
Trust me. I know what I'm doing.
I read a disturbing interpretation of that scene... the way Miller looks at the pile of sandwiches with red meat, reminds him of the exploded, fleshy bodies on Omaha beach. And the black coffee is like blood. Never saw the scene the same way again!
shareI never thought of it in that way until now.
shareMy interpretation of that scene was to show how well the officers had it and that they were eating very well compared with the crap the real troops had to eat day after day on the front lines.
shareI remember when I saw it in a theater in 1998, the coffee looked literally black to me, not just very very dark brown. And the meat on the sandwiches looked more bright red. I could swear the colors were more saturated than they are on the DVD/blu ray.
I also remember when I was little, watching Saturday Night Fever and thinking it was bizarre and hilarious when Travolta orders "a hamburger and a cup of coffee." It sounded like the most disgusting combination ever to me, but my mom said "No, it's good. Lots of people would order that." For me, the only acceptable beverage with a burger is a Coke or some other soda. And if you're going to eat anything with coffee, it would be donuts or danish or something. (I wonder if I'm diabetic?)
Does look tasty, but I think it's a slice of swiss cheese, not butter you might be thinkiing, nevertheless. it looks delicious.. :)
shareCoffee better not ever go extinct!
share