The best garlic bread I have ever eaten is served at Commanders Palace in New Orleans. Back during my food formative years, when we would go to Commanders (when I sported the all-you-can-eat kid metabolism), they would just bring it to the table when you sat down, and I would inhale it with reckless abandon. To test whether my love of this bread was purely nostalgic, I tried it out on some friends over the weekend, and they all agreed that it is the best they had ever eaten. Better yet, it is quick and easy to make, so you don’t have to transport yourself to the Garden District to enjoy it. This garlic bread packs a lot of punch in the flavor department, so it pairs nicely with a soup, especially offering a good balance for the more bland ones like tomato soup. The ingredients are simple and the execution is quick:
Commanders Palace Garlic Bread
1 loaf of French Bread, about 14″ long
1 stick of butter
2 cloves of garlic, mashed to a puree
1/4 cup finely chopped fresh dill
1/4 c freshly grated parmesan cheese
Preheat oven to 375.
Slice bread lengthwise. Melt butter in a small skillet, add garlic, and heat gently for 2 minutes.
Spoon the melted butter GENEROUSLY on all cut sides of the bread. Sprinkle (generously) with dill and cheese. Learn from my mistake… more of everything is better.
Bake until golden and very hot, 5 to 8 minutes,
Cut each half crosswise into 1″ slices and serve immediately with appetizers or soups.
(if you look at my slices above, you will see that I should’ve been much more generous with the garlic/butter mixture. At Commanders Palace, you would see the butter down through the bread. Lots of everything- can’t overdo it!)
Bon Appétit!
It is always best to experience the flavors of New Orleans in person, so if you are ever headed there, try to plan for a meal at Commanders Palace. If you are already a fan of Commanders, this is their original cookbook , loaded with great recipes that are guaranteed to let the good times roll at your table.
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