Let Them Eat Cake
August 26, 2008 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Local restaurants
I found myself between appointments today - not enough time to head back to the office but enough that heading to the next property meant sitting in the car waiting…and waiting. Instead, I stopped in at Parrot Pete’s for an afternoon snack. After all, they do have a very nice selection of sandwiches and salads and it was past the lunch hour rush so I knew I could get in and out pretty quickly. My intention was to get a salad.
What’s that old saying? Oh, yeah. The road to hell is paved with good intentions.
I decided today that my favorite part of being a grown up is being able to sit outside, watch the fountains and have triple berry cake with strawberry-kiwi iced tea for lunch.
Parrot Pete’s Gourmet Bakery is located at 1901 Manhattan Blvd in the Fountain Park Centre and is open from 7 am - 7 pm.
Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel and West Bank Living. All rights reserved.
Jazzin’ Up Algiers
August 11, 2008 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Local restaurants
Are you a jazz fan looking for a new dining spot on the West Bank of New Orleans? Look no further than right here in Algiers and check out The Suite Jazz Cafe, a jazz and supper club offering dinner and Sunday brunches.
I had the chance to drop in and visit with the owner last week and check it out at the end of the brunch. With a glass of the best sweet tea I’ve ever had right in front of me, Dr. Camacia Ross (an Algiers resident, she’s also running for a position on the school board) allowed me to take a few photos to share with you.
The brunch menu changes each Sunday, but it is built around “home cooking”. The fried catfish I saw on a few plates looked delicious! There is a full bar, with happy hour on weekday evenings and live music on Friday and Saturday and during the Sunday brunch. Dr. Ross shared that they are hoping to open with lunch specials soon, which would be a welcome addition to the local dining scene.
Just another way to stay local….
The Suite Jazz Cafe is located at 3580 Holiday Drive in Algiers, right off of General de Gaulle in the new strip center next to Rouse’s. Gift certificates are available…I hope my clients like theirs!
Copyright 2008. West Bank Living All rights reserved.
Eastern: A Harvey LA Restaurant Review
July 24, 2008 by Lisa Heindel
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Local restaurants
With our youngest child out of town and our second youngest waaaay too cool to eat with Mom and Dad, we headed over to Eastern Restaurant this week for dinner. Eastern is one of my favorite Asian restaurants on the West Bank because I can have Japanese cuisine while my husband sticks to his tried-and-true Chinese menu. No more arguing about where to go when in the mood for either one!
Don’t let the location in a strip mall fool you. Walk through the doors and you’ll forget that you are right on the busiest thoroughfare in Harvey. Nicely decorated with subtle lighting, Eastern holds their own against any stand alone restaurant around and as you are seated and greeted with piping hot towels to wipe your hands with you’ll see why.
The staff is always friendly and ready to accommodate any reasonable request. Don’t want a booth? They’ll seat you at a table or you can just belly up to the sushi bar and watch the chef on duty make his tasty creations right in front of your eyes.
Eastern features a full Chinese menu (with the best shrimp fried rice I’ve ever had - the shrimp are HUGE) along with a full Japanese menu with all types of sushi and sashimi made fresh to order. I can personally recommend the #1 Bento Box 
Eastern Restaurant
1801 Manhattan Blvd, Harvey, LA 70056
504.368.0788
An Anniversary Celebration, New Orleans Style
June 29, 2008 by lisa
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Local restaurants
Many, many years ago (28 to be exact), my wonderful husband and I were married right here on the West Bank, at Algiers United Methodist Church. I remember the sun streaming through the stained glass windows on that hot June afternoon in 1980, long before we ever dreamed we would have 4 children, 2 dogs, a cat, a mortgage, car notes and all of the other grown up responsibilities that come with being…well, grown up (which is completely overrated, by the way)
In typical New Orleans fashion, we still live in Algiers, just a stone’s throw from the houses we were both raised in only 4 blocks from each other. While lots of couples choose to travel to celebrate their wedding anniversaries, we chose to stay local. With dinner reservations at that New Orleans original, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, we headed out to spend an evening downtown enjoying our fabulous city.
View of Fulton Street from outside Ruth’s Chris
The interior of Ruth’s Chris Steakhouse
I highly recommend the steak and shrimp
Yummy creme brulee…
(and the sinful creamed spinach)
A little wine….
A little music…..
What better way to celebrate not just our wedding anniversary, but the rebirth of our city as well.
Happy Anniversary, honey…
Here’s the disclaimer part: The opinions expressed here are strictly those of the author, but you are free to share yours in the comments. All information is deemed reliable but not guaranteed.
Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.
Parrot Pete’s - A New West Bank Dining Spot
April 27, 2008 by lisa
Filed under Around Town, Blog, Local restaurants
I recently had a chance to meet a friend for a leisurely cup of coffee on a weekday morning. This is something that doesn’t happen all that often with busy work schedules, but it gave me the opportunity to check out Parrot Pete’s, a new West Bank coffee shop and cafe that I had been hearing so many good things about. Well, the folks who were talking it up were right!
There is a huge selection of pastries, coffees, specialty drinks and breakfast and lunch plates. Once I walked in, I felt like I was on vacation! With a tropical theme and indoor and outdoor dining spaces, Parrot Pete’s is a wonderful addition to the West Bank menu.
Sitting outside and enjoying the sunny weather, I watched not just the people coming and going, but the fabulous fountains and landscaping that make for a relaxing visit.
After enjoying my breakfast of a chilled fruit plate and a steaming latte, I couldn’t help but take these photos to share just how peaceful and relaxing a place it really is. It’s definitely on my list of go-to places when trying to decide where to meet up.
Parrot Pete’s is located at 1901 Manhattan Blvd. in Harvey, LA in the new office park located next to the Target shopping center and is a just hop, skip and a jump from all of these great West Bank neighborhoods:
Copyright 2008. Lisa Heindel, All rights reserved.
