emeril's

I have, in the past, maligned Emeril Lagasse for his cooking show. I find his act tiresome, at times bordering on insane, and pandering as well. That said, the meal I just had a Emeril's NOLA ranks among the best I've ever had. Four courses, including a grouper with caviar creme fraiche, spinach, yukon gold potato and a champaign beurre blanc was epic. He may act like a hack, but the man clearly knows how to run a restaurant.

Related to this, every time I come back to New Orleans, I like it more and more. I understand more fully why people describe this as a unique city, as it is one for which I can think of no apt comparison. A shame that I never had the joy of coming here before the devastation.