NOLA Eats: Meals, Part One

I think I'm going to devote this entire post to Mother's. Mothers is just a couple blocks outside the French Quarter (on Canal St, hang a right at the doubletree and go a couple blocks) proper and thus is frequented by people in the know or locals. No drunken bachelorette parties from Florida here.

Their sign boasts "world's best baked ham" . . .

I usually dismiss such claims, because who doesn't make them, really?

Because, even after a night of fast and hard drinking, the Phenom was like a worm in hot ash and couldn't sleep, we got up early and headed over. We arrived just before 11am, which is when they start lunch service (although they serve breakfast all day) so, I had to put off my foray into the world of ferdi. Instead, I went for the 2 egg, grits, meat, biscuit breakfast, or "the usual".

I was done in by the usual. That has never happened before. Look:

My meal is in the front (yes, I'm gross and mix my eggs and grits) and the Phenom's "single egg and toast" is in the back. (the Phenom's one egg was more like one dinosaur egg). But, the really important thing here is the ham. SEE THAT HAM? It truly is the world's best ham. You know how good pot roast will flake with your fork? That is how tender this ham is . . . and it's juicy and flavorful . . . and I kept thinking that the cooking juices from that ham would make the best pot of beans ever. I'm still trying to figure out who I have to sweet talk to get them to ship one of their hams to the old people for xmas this year. I am now totally obsessed with this ham. The Phenom would like me to point out that he also ordered a bowl of grits, which was delivered just after this picture was taken . . . and it was big, and buttery, and the reason he couldn't finish his dino-egg.

Friday night, we returned for the ferdi experience. First, I should explain, a Ferdi is Mother's version of the New Orleans classic sandwich, the Po' boy. A po'boy is sturdy french bread with the meat of your choice (often several, and/or deep fried sea food) and is dressed with mustard, pickles, and lettuce. The ferdi takes this to a whole new level. Sure, Mother's has the fried catfish or fried shrimp po' boys . . . but the classic is the Ferdi or the Turkey Ferdi. I opted for the Turkey Ferdi with ham.

That stuff on top is the money. They call it "debris" . . . it's pot roast that has been shredded and then dumped into the pan juices . . . and they top their ferdis with it. GENIUS!!!! And, because the sandwich is so substantial, they dress theirs with cabbage. I was done in by this meal too. Oh yeah, the turkey is roasted at Mother's and is just like eating that post thanksgiving turkey sandwich. YUM.

The Phenom ordered a bowl of their jambalaya. He liked it but said it didn't burn the way he was hoping it would.

Oh, there was a decent line, on Friday night, at 8:30 to just get into the place . . . and they had one of NOLA's finest handling the door. And, this is a place that's been open since the 30s. Below is the Phenom's jambalaya.