The majority has incorrectly guessed the last two Craig LaBan ratings, expecting three bells for Little Fish and two for Butcher & Singer. This week should be equally up in the air as LaBan heads to Chestnut Hill to check out Soul, it’s a Creole spot and we know LaBan is extra tough on those bringing Louisiana up north.

According to PhillyBYOB.com, Chestnut Hill’s Soul will be opening this evening. Owners Samantha Johnson and Angie Brown are seemingly ahead of schedule as Table Talk had them aiming for Saturday, October 25th.

Soul BYOB Opens Tonight [PhillyBYOB.com]
Soul [Official Site]

First Rick Nichols does a review of Zahav and now he’s on the Creole beat. We guess this leaves more time for Craig LaBan to be the subject of odd fiction pieces but times are tough in print. Craig don’t let your bud get in on your space, we worry.

And oh yeah, Cajun Kate’s, can you say road trip?

Tears of joy, not stinging [Philadelphia Inquirer]

It was all good, but the Pollo a la Brasa ruled the roost at El Balconcito in the Northeast. [The Philadining Blog]

Foodzings hadn’t been to Dmitri’s but made up for it with a feast. Great, now we’re jonesing. [Foodzings]

Uncle Jimmy enjoys a “grrreat mint tea” at Shouk and offers some sage dating advice as well. [Uncle Jimmy Eats]

Philadining discovers Cajun Kate’s in Boothwyn and is hooked. [The Philadining Blog]

Foodzings goes off the menu at Sang Kee in Chinatown and the lemongrass wings were well worth it. [Foodzings]

It’s Moore Brothers Wine and fine Italian food at Mezza Luna in South Philly. [Moore Bros. Blog]

Being the former New Olreans Times-Picayune food critic, Craig LaBan isn’t exactly forgiving when it comes to Cajun food, so Les Bons Temps has to be grateful to pry a two bell rating from LaBan.

It is a shame that the inconsistencies seem to strike the high-priced entrees, a fact that put this two-bell rating in jeopardy. But I still found plenty to remind me why I’m a Mims fan to begin with – in particular with the opening plates.

In addition to his spot-on classics of gumbo and eggplant beignets, there were worthy standards from the Carmine’s canon. There was creamy crab cheesecake with an undertone of smoked gouda. Sea scallops crusted with crispy couscous came over a tangy balsamic-currant reduction. The rich wild mushroom bisque, tinged with spice and fistfuls of crab, was as addictive as the gumbo.

As in any good New Orleans kitchen, “deep fried” is a major food group. The croquettes of smoky jambalaya studded with duck confit were among the best bets. The gingery crawfish spring rolls were a surprisingly tasty example of the Cajun-Asian fusion that Mims explored further with his “Casian” tuna tartare. Even the fresh flavors here, like the sweet crab salad mounded over slow-roasted tomatoes, weren’t complete without a fried tidbit, like the crab-and-rice boulet that added crunch to the creamy salad.

Two Bells – Very Good

Les Bons Temps [Philadelphia Inquirer]

Tonight have a taste of New Orleans as Les Bons Temps offers 1/2 price appetizers, $5 martinis and $5 glasses of wine tonight and every Monday night.

Despite a few missteps Trey Popp says Les Bons Temps is off to “an admirable start.”

The food is right out of Louisiana Creole country — think jambalaya and étouffée — but 23-year-old chef Brett Naylor has deftly carved out some room to inject a few ideas of his own. A fried catfish special made for a perfect example. A crisp, lightly battered fillet rode atop a superbly fluffy pillow of vegetable-studded couscous, and a quenching watermelon and pineapple salsa surrounded cool clumps of crabmeat in an inspired stab at cutting through the record-setting heat of early June.

I’ll Stand Bayou [City Paper]
Les Bons Temps [Official Site]

The Daily News checks out Les Bons Temps and gives the newish Creole spot 2 1/2 forks, that means they like it.

A taste of New Orleans: Les Bons Temps puts a twist on tradition [Philadelphia Daily News]

Adam Erace visits the recently opened Les Bons Temps and finds fine Cajun and Creole fare that manages to be light, not leaden.

With 23-year-old chef de cuisine Brett Naylor, [owner John] Mims is lightening the Cajun and Creole recipes of his youth in the shrimping town of Jean Lafitte, La. The result: food that possesses all the big, bold, in-your-face flavor you expect from New Orleans, with much less of the cuisine’s does-puking-after-eating-once-make-you-bulimic conflict.

Les Bons Temps [Philadelphia Weekly]
Les Bons Temps [Official Site]

Foobooz crush object Rick Nichols recounts the many faces and names that occupied what is now the attractive Les Bons Temps on South 12th Street.

Les Bons Temps will begin serving brunch this Sunday.

Good times at stellar spot [Philadelphia Inquirer]
Les Bons Temps [Official Site]