Sorry I missed posting last week – personal life (or just life, I suppose) has been a bit challenging lately, but nothing I can’t handle. Here are some more memorable moments from New Orleans:
Dinner at Root with Summer and Kathy, the best meal I’ve had in years. The menu is meaty, and I’m more of a fish and chicken girl, so in the spirit of trying some of their specialty dishes I had to ask the waitress to rename them for me.
The fried pig ears that garnished my salad (!) became non-vegetarian Funyuns. And our appetizer of face bacon (not making that up) became Just Bacon. (It was tasty, but I could only get down one bite before I gave up. I couldn’t erase the image of the waitress making a circular cutting motion on her face to indicate where it came from on the pig.)
Also: A large young woman walking down Decatur with a larger, older woman, enjoying the sun and conversation. They were obviously mother and daughter. A man in a wheelchair going the other direction slowed down to say to the younger one, “You look just your mama, congratulations.” He said this with genuine admiration, and I could see it made their day.
Drinks with the locals at The Abbey. A cigarette machine, “Purple Rain” on the jukebox, cheap drinks, and a bartender who called me “my sweet.” Swoon.
The Congo Square Rhythms Festival. Free, fantastic music with a bonus young white guy, shirtless and shoeless, doing interpretive twirling with a hula hoop. His cigarette hung from his lip and when it fell to the ground he picked it up, plugged it back into his mouth, and kept twirling.
Cafe du Monde, of course. The savory mushroom/spinach pudding topped with fried eggs at Horn’s, the fish/shrimp platter at Felix’s, and more seafood at Cafe Soule. Hearing every bartender say, “Is that for here or to go?” (Which I actually never took advantage of, but was happy to have the option. Also, I was on foot. I don’t think even The Big Easy encourages drinking and driving.)
The shuttle picked me up at 4:15 a.m. to catch my flight home. Driving through the Quarter to pick up the other passengers, we passed a man lying motionless, face down in the street, and when a couple of us expressed concern, the driver casually swerved around him and said, “He’ll be all right.”
At Pat O’Brien’s with Catherine and Sarah. Feels a bit like a frat house, New Orleans style, but it’s got a great patio and this wonderful fountain.
Lavergne Street in Algiers Point, a short ferry ride across the river from the Quarter. Try the Crown & Anchor for a beer, or The Dry Dock for French onion soup. (Thanks for the tip, Manisha!)
The aptly named Cornstalk Fence Hotel in the Quarter.
St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square.
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wonderful again, Deonne – thanks.
Thank you for reading and commenting, Ron!
Oh, I loved reading this piece about one of my favorite places! Looks like you found more fascinating restaurants than I did. Or maybe there are just so many I will have to go back and try some more.
But beignet, oh, I drool when I think of Cafe du Monde.
Emilie Vardaman recently posted…And on to Key West
Emilie – It really is such a special place, with seemingly endless excellent food options. I didn’t even get to some of my favorites, like Acme Oyster Bar. (The line was too long, which is how I ended up at Felix’s nearby, and it turned out to be great, as well.) Hope you get to go back soon!
I love red meat, but I’m not big on pig. Although I do like bacon. But I probably would have been with you on substituting the Funyuns for the pig ears. I might have stuck it out for the face bacon, though. Kind of like when, on the first cruise I ever took, I did the escargot thing. You know how, on a cruise, the food is included in the price of the boat ride? I figured NOW was the time to try snails because if I didn’t like them, I could send them back and get something else. And frankly, since they were swimming in garlic butter, they weren’t half bad. They were sort of like big, chewy mussels. I just had to keep telling myself that’s what they were. But I also never have to eat them again.
Love love LOVE the picture of the statute and giant shadow in front of St. Louis Cathedral!!!
Deborah – I wish they would have had actual Funyuns! I simply had her rename them “nonvegetarian Funyuns,” but they were genuine fried pig ears. Way too… something for me. I’ve tried escargot and couldn’t stomach it. Too much visualization. I’m glad you like that photo! It’s my favorite of the bunch so far.
I enjoyed the photos – they aren’t the “regular” ones that show up in most
anything about New Orleans. I’ve never been there, and since I’m past my prime I doubt I’ll ever go, but it sure sounds like fun.
Martha – I’m so glad. I try to avoid cliched travel shots, and New Orleans is rich with photo opportunities so it wasn’t too hard. I hope you get to go some day!
That last photo! The shadow is fantastic! Oh my gosh, the cigarette machines. I didn’t know they still existed. I took a photo of one when I was in NOLA. I can’t even comment on the pig stuff and needless to say, you have more courage than me when it comes to that kind of food. (side note: I just asked by a colleague to go in on a pig. I said no, obviously and now I know I made the right decision). I didn’t get to any of those restaurants you mentioned, not even Cafe Du Monde. We found a bar/restaurant that had great oysters so we went there every late night on our way back to the carriage house which was limiting but I don’t regret that decision at all because there was a great bartender and having one of those is priceless. I’m glad you took the ferry ride to Algiers Point. I’m planning a Mamas getaway right now with a good friend. I think I might have to put NOLA on the list but it a July trip so I doubt I could handle the heat. I need to go back though just to visit all those places you mentioned! Great photos, Deonne!!
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Manisha – Thank you! I can’t say I’d “go in on a pig” either, ha. There’s nothing wrong with finding one great spot and sticking with that but yes, please do check out the ones I mentioned when you’re there next. (July could be brutal.)
Oh those are great memories and it just shows how detail oriented you are – many of those details others would skim over! I’m so glad you shared and for photos – the cornstalk fence is a fave!
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Sherry – So glad you enjoyed my “best of,” and thanks for voting!