Classic Po'Boy at Frenchmen Grocery and Deli (New Orleans)

If there is one thing one must eat in New Orleans, it's a po' boy. For my trip two years ago, I did some research and went to Johnny's Po' Boy. This time, I stayed with a friend's friend and decided to go with the local. She said the best traditional po' boy is at Frenchmen Deli, so to Frenchmen I go!

Frenchmen is a tiny grocery store with a deli just beyond the French Quarter. If you walk up Frenchmen St, you can't miss its colorfully decorated front.

Inside, it's a cramped grocery store with barely any aisle space (they sell Louisiana-made Zapp's potato chips, with many unexplained flavors like Voodoo or LSU Tiger Tators). Order your sandwiches at the register, or call ahead for pickup.

My favorite po' boys are probably shrimp or oyster, but since I can only fit one (alas), I went with the Fried shrimp Po'boy ($6.79). As far as po' boys go, you don't choose individual condiments but instead you either ask for it "dressed" (that means lettuce, tomato, and mayo) or not.

Crispy battered juicy shrimp, a light touch of mayo, fresh lettuce and tomato, on a fresh, moist baguette. It doesn't get better than this. Oh wait, it does get better with a bit of Louisiana's Crystal hot sauce!

*Sigh* I want a po' boy...

Frenchmen Grocery and Deli
602 Frenchmen St
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 944-6800

Tuesday Wing Nite at Delphine (Hollywood)

Dining at the W Hotel in Hollywood doesn't have to be stuffy. Now you can eat with your fingers after that Pantages show with Delphine's Tuesday Wing Nite.

Fried chicken wings with spiced honey

All night on Tuesdays, you can get an order of chicken wings for just $4.50 (4-5 wings per order) and choose from a variety of flavors, not just your usual spicy buffalo wings or fried chicken wings, although naturally they have those also.

Among my favorites was the grilled chicken wings with Honey Sriracha sauce, sweet and spicy! Don't forget to lick your fingers after.

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A Taste of Korea: Gala Dinner, Fashion, and Dance Show

I recently had the privilege of attending "A Taste of Korea" gala dinner in celebration of the Korean Chuseok holiday (Korean thanksgiving, kind of) and the launch of Cathlyn's Korean Kitchen show on PBS (earlier this year I was one of the judges for their Top Chef Korean Food Challenge). The dinner was part of the Korean government effort to promote Korean food and culture in the US.

Held at a hotel in Koreatown, we had a lavish spread of traditional Korean food, some of which I wasn't very familiar with - like this vibrant "roll" of vegetables wrapped in squid!

A whole tray of marinated pork belly served with spicy noodles and lettuce wrap ...

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