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Maison Premiere: If you have the misconception that New Orleans is only about beads, sugary hurricanes and poor decisions, take a trip to Maison Premiere for a stripped-down taste of classic décontracté cocktail culture. The building itself dates back to the 1840s and has been outfitted with a working wood-burning oven, salvaged wood from an old ship, and a green marble double of the absinthe fountain seen in NoLa’s Olde Absinthe House. An oyster bar hides in back, but sidle up to the horseshoe-shaped front bar where you can taste the fruit of the fountain’s labor—one of fifteen different types of absinthe (so far) hailing from France, Switzerland and even Upstate New York (that’s right, locavores!). If your only experience with “the green fairy” was an unfortunate night during study abroad, fear not—the friendly staff will happily give you an impromptu lesson, or direct to you one of their signature cocktails (try the A La Louisianne: rye, Carpano Antica, Benedictine, Vieux Pontarlier, Peychards Bitters, $10). An impressive/affordable beer selection ($5 Cottrell Old Yankee Ale!) and wine list (they are building their own cellar) round out the beverage selection, while jazz and blues tunes complete the old-timey vibe.
Reviewed: 2/12/2011
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