Feel the Love With a New Orleans Flair at Louisiana Purchase
Every day at 4 p.m., just before golden hour, you can hear the swanky, soulful tunes from a New Orleans Jazz band playing from the ceiling speakers of Louisiana Purchase, one of San Diegoās newest Southern restaurants. Executive Chef Quinnton Austin, the culinary visionary and a New Orleans native, marinates the charm and character of his hometown into every item on the menuācreating diverse cajun flavors and creole tastes with a Chef Q twist. The restaurantās contemporary French Quarter atmosphere and open loft layout allows a gentle waft of ocean breeze to flow from the opulent patio seating into the indoor dining space, fusing the love from New Orleans with the San Diegan way of life.Ā Ā Ā Ā Ā
Chef Q describes the food at Louisiana Purchase as a freedom of expression, saying, āItās exactly how I would do it back in Louisianaā¦ Itās homestyle soul cooking. Itās about whatās good and whatās filling.ā
While there is no shortage of good and filling options at Louisiana Purchase, there are three particular dishesāthe Alligator Andouille Cheesecake, North Park Gumbo Yaya and Crab Cake + Chicken Skināthat will transport you to New Orleans with each flavorful bite.
The Alligator Andouille Cheesecake is Chef Qās version of a modernized alligator sausage cheesecake. It is inspired by a New Orleans-based restaurant Jacques Imo, is the main palate pleaser. The cheesecake is a masterful blend of tender alligator sirloin. Its been soaked in buttermilk, andouille sausage, peppers, onions and sauteed garlic mixed with rich cream cheese and smoked gouda. From there, the cheesecake is doused in a vibrant mustard yellow-colored crawfish cream topped with fresh watercress and cilantro. The beautifully plated dish is a work of culinary art by Chef Q, a sight to see with a savory creole taste unlike any other.
The North Park Gumbo Yaya is a chocolate-colored, dark roux gumbo. It has a lighter consistency that holds a smoky flavor immersed in a variety of creole spices.
āWhen you have your grandmotherās uptown gumbo, it always has little extra goodies in it,ā says Chef Q.
The Gumbo Yaya brings a bold Southern punch, loaded with crab, shrimp, andouille sausage, and blackened redfishāChefās special extras. Looking for something smaller but still full of soul? Order the Crab Cake + Chicken Skin and prepare to swoon. It comes with two golden crab cakes, crisp chicken skin, and a dollop of truffle goat cheese. Everything rests on a velvety bed of rooted vegetable marinara, delivering big Southern flavor in every single bite.
To top it off, their cocktail menu serves a collection of creative drinks with a New Orleans flair. Their hospitable staff greets you at the door and takes care of you from the moment you enter the restaurant. From the animal caricature plates to their weekly rotating Neighborhood menu, every aspect of Louisiana Purchase is designed to be an enlightening experience for the senses. Creole Food San Diego
Chef Q wants his guests to feel the comforts from both worlds: Louisiana and California. āI want them to feel like they just at homeā¦itās homey. I want them to feel like youāre in Louisiana when you step in hereāfrom the music, the hospitality and from everything we got goinā on…,ā explains Chef Q. āWe welcome you with arms open wide. Feel the love. Eat the love. Drink the love.āĀ Ā
Louisiana Purchase
2305 University Ave
San Diego, CA 92104
619.255.8278
@louisianapurchasesd
Written By: Annie KimĀ
Photographed By: Kambria Fischer Creole Food San Diego
āCurrently based in San Diego, āKambria Fischer is a lifestyle photoāgrapher known for her impactfulā, authenticā āimageryā of lifestyle brands, food, āpeople and travel.āā āāShe holds a āBA in Journalismā and Public Relationsāā from CSULB and has an accomplished professional background in the hospitality and tourism industries. You can find Kambria hiking or playing beach volleyball on the weekends and eating tacos almost any night of the week.
Visit her at www.kambriafischer.com.
