Maux Choux at Nola’s K-Paul’s Restaurant

Last night I went with Keri to have dinner at K-Paul’s restaurant in the french quarter. I was on a mission to try Maux Choux which is one of the 1000 Foods to Eat Before You Die.  Maux Choux is thought to be a Native American/Cajun corn dish and K-Paul’s had a version  with shrimp and was served with chicken.  Keri was on a mission to eat the fried green tomatoes and the bread pudding.  First of all, the restaurant is really interestingly decorated-the paintings are all of recopies from K-Paul and the paper table coverings on top of the linen table cloth are also printed with several of their recipes.

The first thing to come out was a bread tray that had four different types of breads:  corn jalapeno, a carrot muffin, yeast roll and corn muffin.  All baked upstairs at their own bakery.  Bread and Butter is one item on Mimi’s 1000 Foods list and this place illustrates why that would be the case. We both tried to eat one piece of each. I managed to eat three before the fried green tomatoes arrived.  These came served with shrimp in a chipotle remolaude sauce.  I have eaten plenty of fried green tomatoes as has Keri and we both agreed these might be the very best we have ever eaten.  The star for me, however, was the maux choux. This is a pretty simple dish-fresh corn and peppers cooked in butter and is much like a simple succotash.  I think that the reason it hits the 1000 things list is it’s Cajun/Native origins but also that there is nothing quite as good as really fresh corn eaten with lots of butter.  Through in some Cajun seasoning and yummy shrimp and you have a winner. There are several recipes available online.  I like the Epicurious version.

Keri had a fish called a drum that I had not heard of before which was also amazing and then the most delirious bread pudding. The recipe says it used po-boy bread but also muffins.  I am not sure if that is the key but they did print how to make it on the table so you can give it a shot if you want.

Take home message:  eat lots of bread, make Maux Choux and use muffins in your bread budding.  Oh, and eat at K-Pauls if you go to Nola.