The Loop

They play golf in New Orleans, too?

April 21, 2010

AVONDALE, La. -- It is less about the golf than the food at the Zurich Classic of New Orleans, or so it sometimes seems. If it weren't for the 6.4 million clams they're playing for...

"I got here Sunday night," defending champion Jerry Kelly said. "Went straight to August. So started out with a little John Besh restaurant and started it out right, and Drago's last night. And I held myself to 30 oysters, that was pretty good. That was well below my quota.

"I'm hoping (chef) Susan Spicer will let me into Bayona, and Emeril will get me into NOLA's. Yeah, I'm going to do it pretty well."

Charles Howell III opened at Commander's Palace. "My favorite restaurant of the year without question," he said. "I'll probably be there three or four times this week. And Cafe du Monde, obviously, is another one."

John Rollins and his wife Heather dined at Cochon. He filed this report on Twitter: "Crawfish pie, boudin, fried alligator, grilled shrimp, spicy pork ribs, twice baked potatoe and creamy grits!! Is that too much food for 2?"

And Brad Faxon touted Mr. John's Steakhouse. "If u want a GREAT steak in New Orleans u gotta hit Mr John's on St Charles," he wrote on Twitter. "Best strip I've ever had. Ask for Desi!"

-- John Strege