Lunch at J'Anita's

[Jeeves]

The Furys and I had lunch at J'Anita's today. They each had the BBB burger and sides of maque choux, 'tater salad and BBQ beans. I had a cup of gumbo and 'tater salad. Kimmie surprised us with a slice of her terrific Key Lime Pie. The food was tasty and filling and the company was good. Chef Duke and Kimmie are the best!

[Mrs. Fury]

Lunch was great. I have a half a burger and half my sides for leftovers. Whenever hubby has to work in the city he goes to J'Anita's for a BBB. He's addicted and so am I.

[Jeeves]

I did have some leftover 'tater salad, but it's gone pecan now! :p

[justagirl]

Oohh...that reminds me...I have some cantalope granita in my freezer!

[Isabella Maja]

Ok JAG, please connect the dots for us here.

Cantaloupe Granita? From J'anita's?

[TulaneRebel]

The Fish Sandwich there continues to be the best sandwich in NOLA.

[GuySajerForgottenSoldier]

I went there last time I visited NOLA. Neat place. Owner is really friendly. Loved having a HB at 8AM.

[justagirl]

LOL Isa...what, was that too hard to follow? LOL

Yes, Kim's been making granitas. I got a Beach Sammich and pot salad Saturday to bring home for lunch and Kim gave me a couple spoonfulls of the Cantelope Granita to try. I still have it..I kinda forgot...

[Duke]

Kim's been playing with granitas and cold soups. We've moved a fair amount of her vichyssoise (however you spell it).

[Shannon]

Are the granitas every day? Or do I need to check? It's been WAY too long since I made it out that way. I think that would get me to make the drive that way.

Chris is working tonight. I had other plans for dinner, but the kids would be ECSTATIC if I picked them up and said 'we're going to J'Anitas instead'. I can't tell you how many times they've asked in the last few weeks.

[Duke]

Are the granitas every day? Or do I need to check? It's been WAY too long since I made it out that way. I think that would get me to make the drive that way.

Chris is working tonight. I had other plans for dinner, but the kids would be ECSTATIC if I picked them up and said 'we're going to J'Anitas instead'. I can't tell you how many times they've asked in the last few weeks.

We have mango and lemon and still some canteloupe. This will be pretty much a daily thing in the summer, unless we get slammed and sell out.

[Shannon]

I'm there tonight - for the mango. And maybe the lemon to go. Hell, I might get cantelope too. Maybe I should bring a cooler with me for the drive back to Kenner.

We will see you tonight.

[Isabella Maja]

LOL Isa...what, was that too hard to follow? LOL

Yes, Kim's been making granitas. I got a Beach Sammich and pot salad Saturday to bring home for lunch and Kim gave me a couple spoonfulls of the Cantelope Granita to try. I still have it..I kinda forgot...

:p

Just shock! I haven't heard a word about soup or granitas!
Wow! That's great! I love granita!

Thanks for the heads up yall!

[Shannon]

The Granita was good! I had the mango - and had to fight with my youngest (who won't touch mango the fruit) for it. It was really good.

Kimmie told me how she did it but I forgot. I'll have to get her to tell me again. The kids would love making it - I do remember that it was easy.

(the soup was gone - but I was happy with my fish sandwich, my youngest with his burger, and the oldest with nachos).

Great meal, great price ... and I walked away (well, paid for) a really cool peice of art from J'Anita's wall.

[Jeeves]

J'Anita's always = :D

[kimmiethebeadwench]

The Fish Sandwich there continues to be the best sandwich in NOLA.


Thanks!!!! It's one of the reasons I married that man.... just one of them mind you.


Doin a canteloupe granita in the am... should be ready by supper time

[JonSmith]

get ready for the smith family for breakfast tomorrow, screaming kids in tow and all.....

[Duke]

get ready for the smith family for breakfast tomorrow, screaming kids in tow and all.....

Advisedly, the earlier the better. We tend to jam up after 10am or so on the weekends. Our small kitchen prohibits offering breakfast and lunch at the same time, so sometimes we simply have to close for 30 minutes or so to make the changeover.

Also, due to the bike race at City Park on Sunday (both my breakfast guys are riding in it), we will not be doing breakfast on Sunday this week only.

[kimmiethebeadwench]

Silly Bike geeks...depriving the starving masses.

[justagirl]

Glad I saw this...I'm a fixture there early a lot of Sunday mornings.

Jon, I hope you and the family enjoy it! I love the fact that everytime I order my eggs over medium, I get my eggs over medium...that does NOT happen anywhere else in this city.

Oh, and the grits are awesome! Just taste before you season them because they propably wont need any more seasoning.

[JonSmith]

with two kids under 3 1/2 I've learned to roll with the punches, this was one of those mornings....breakfast will have to wait

[Duke]

I had three in three years, dude. I feel your pain/joy big-time.

[Pelican Six]

I had lunch there for the first time today - very enjoyable. I wrote my thoughts down on the TOB. Fish Sammich, I love you!

[café au lait]

I wrote my thoughts down on the TOB.

Why not write your thoughts down here for us? :confused:

[Pelican Six]

Why not write your thoughts down here for us? :confused:

Correction - I wrote a more expanded version of my thoughts over there. It was a lot of typing, and I don't want to cut-and-paste that much of anyone's work, even my own.

What's the difference?

[café au lait]

What's the difference?

Well, because some of us aren't reading TOB now, and I think you give great reports. I like reading your posts, and I'm sure others do too. :)

[Duke]

Thanks for the nice words. I would have responded over on TOB but they won't let me log in anymore for whatever reason.

Anyway, the bearded guy who complimented your hat was me. The taciturn server was Jennifer, who is not a lesbian (she is married) but has roomed with one. Her manner is not aloof but painfully shy until you get to know her. I call her Strawbaby, since she is a proud graduate of Pontchatoula High. She is an interior design student at UNO.

The beans were the end of the pot and too dry (to me). They were replaced once I got a good look at them -- though the Southwestern flavor remains the same.

Thanks for coming by. We'll be returning the favor. Identify yourself next time and we'll talk a bit.

[Pelican Six]

Well, because some of us aren't reading TOB now, and I think you give great reports. I like reading your posts, and I'm sure others do too. :)

THAT was deftly handled and gracious. Even though I know I'm being handled, it was so skillful that I actually enjoyed it. I salute you! :)

Ok, for the lady...

I've been meaning to visit J'anita's for quite a while now, and today several factors fell into place which made it possible.
Namely:

1. Household Six and our Master Race are up on Mackinaw Island until Monday night, so going downtown isn't so daunting anymore.

2. I had just finished helping Chef Chris move (from one 3rd floor to another 3rd floor - damn Yankee) and was still dressed in what I like to call Upscale Homeless Casual, so I wouldn't look too out of place on lower Magazine.*

3. I had been looking for ways to increase my carbon footprint and rolling in the Death Star from Kenner to the river was just the ticket.


I arrived at J'Anita's and immediately felt out of place as the protocol was unclear as to whether I should seat myself or not. After looking lost for a few minutes, I was seated at the deuce by the front door. My server was a taciturn young lass with tattoos wrapping her arm down to one elbow. While not UNpleasant, she was a bit aloof. My first thought, "Hmmph. Must be a lesbian," I immediately discarded as being ungracious, judgmental and unworthy of my upbringing. More likely, she was simply intimidated by my male stripper-grade good looks and overcompensated by pretending to ignore me.;)

A bearded fellow from the kitchen complimented me on my Bulleit Bourbon hat, allowing as to how it was a fantastic bourbon and thereby branded himself a true Southern gentleman of discriminating taste and impeccable manners.

I normally don't care for "funky" eateries, but J'Anita's comes by theirs honestly - this is obviously who they are and the staff WEARS the dining space like an old but favorite pair of jeans. I really liked the Latin American "Day of the Dead" art featured on the right wall. It was a small but comfortable dining space that had a lot of the personality of the owner(s) in it, and I enjoyed just looking around at all the furnishings, with the exception of two Tulane coffee mugs.:p

The sides I selected were the BBQ beans and maque choux. The BBQ beans were more of a Southwestern take - refried beans with BBQ flavor, garnished with shredded cheddar and green onions. The maque choux was crisp, a little sweet, a little spicy, and all good. Both sides would be worth going back for on their own merits.

The real star was the fish sammich. I had to run through the rain to get some Lactaid, but it was well worth it. Bacon, feta cheese, caesar dressing - take that, fish! Screw you and your healthy Omega-threes! Sloppy and delicious, I chased every last bit with my fork. This is definitely a five-napkin sandwich.

The space is very comfortable and I will definitely put it on the lunch rotation when the kids go back to school and the wife and I have more alone time.

The only negatives were the scarcity of parking and the neighborhood, which while more attractive than the old St. Thomas projects, are still home to some of the same predators. I was tempted to jump out of my car and pistol whip some manners into this ****head kid on the sidewalk glaring at me through the windshield for driving down his street.

Thanks Duke and Kimmie, whoever you were - that was one fine meal. Can't wait to try some barbeque next!



*sure enough, 3 fellas at the table next to me were dressed the same, complete with beard in need of trim and slightly-too-long crewcuts.

[café au lait]

Pelican Six, you did not disappoint! J'anita's is somewhere I've yet to go, so you did them a good turn posting such a fine and detailed report.

[kimmiethebeadwench]

Since Stu... ( our Breakfast Guru) won't be there today ( nor will be breakfast.... Bike race at City Park... priorities dammit) I will relay this to him and he will be most pleased...So be sad at no breakfast, but be willing to cheer him and his cohorts on!!!!!


P6... I was the one with the guac stained apron... thanks for the nice words...much appreciated

[JudiB]

Thanks Pelican Six, that was a great report. I love their pulled pork too... and the brisket is wonderful. The last time I had really good bbq like that was in North Carolina.

I also LOVE the art on the walls. :)

[Shannon]

I also LOVE the art on the walls. :)

Me too ... so much so that I bought a peice of it this week. :p

[justagirl]

Shannon, I bought a NOLA Rising piece earlier this month. There is another piece I keep eyeing as well. A $7 breakfast can get expensive if it's me..LOL

[JudiB]

Oh Shannon, how cool!! I'm jealous. JAG, I know what you mean, I sit there eating, and looking at all the art thinking where I'd put it ..... :)