I love NOLA

I can't explain why I enjoy the occasional visit to New Orleans, but I do.  The place is dirty, there are some strange folks running around, and I have seen just about all there is to see except for the Aquarium and the WWII Museum.  Usually when I do get there, I try to eat at one well known place to test the cuisine that is considered to be some of the best in town. For my birthday one time, the Lalis took me to Commander's Palace for the Saturday Brunch.  Yummy.  I have eaten breakfast at Brennen's and watched Lance eat oysters at Acme.  I still have a long way to go to make it around to all the eating establishments, and at this point I haven't tired of my visits to NOLA.

Over the Labor Day week-end, we attend the wedding of Brad Dickerson and Bridget Ory.  We had a great time with great friends, and we ate our way though NOLA.   Friday night we attended the rehearsal dinner and the went to a cocktail party at The Columns, a beautiful antebellum home that has been turned into a bed and breakfast and a downstairs bar that caters to the locals and rents out for private parties.

 Beautifully appointed tables at the rehearsal dinner

Saturday morning, Lance and I awoke and ate a nice breakfast at tour hotel.  The French toast was quite tasty.  We then met our friends Shirley and Jay and started our morning stroll around the French Quarter.  At 10:30 we stopped for the obligatory beignets at Cafe du Monde.

Love those beignets

 After filing our tummies, we walked through the art district and did some window shopping.

Gate at the Corn House

 We stopped at the Jackson Brewery for an afternoon beer and snack of red beans and rice and gumbo; then, we headed to meet our group for a late afternoon lunch.  We ate at Mulate's.  I had seen the place on Alton Brown's Eating on Asphalt tour on the Food Network. Jay could vouch that the place was a good choice so we all headed for what turned out to be a great meal.

Jay, Shirley, Sandra, Jerry, Lance, Lannis, John

Our choices included boudin, gumbo, po-boys, onion rings, crab claws, shrimp, and zydeco bread.  But the coup de gras was the bread pudding.  I am a taster of bread pudding.  It is one of my favorite desserts, and the bread pudding at Mulate's was the best I have ever had.  I mean the best!!!  There was not a bad morsel in the entire order, and we just missed the live zydeco music by a few hours. 

We left to get ready for the wedding.  It was a beautiful wedding in a beautiful church on the Loyola campus.  Next, we headed to the reception at the Board of Trade Building.  Lot's of food there.  The crab dip was to die for and the bride's cake was delicious.  After eating, dancing, and the second line, we turned in for much needed rest.

Sunday morning, we met the gang again to eat breakfast, which believe it or not, I passed on.  Lance and I said our good byes and headed for the Mississippi Delta.  All the time I have been to NOLA, I have never eaten at Middendorf's in Manchac.  Why not?!  We stopped to eat a lunch of the most wonderful fried catfish I have ever eaten.  I won't pass that place again.

We are home; we are satiated; and I am already looking forward to my next trip to NOLA and where I am going to eat.  Wonder if I can talk anyone into going to the Aquarium with me?

Another One

Something that bothers me a lot are people who do not have their payment ready when they are in the checkout line.  It is as if it is news to the person that she owes money for her purchases when the cashier tells her the amount.  After the BIG surprise, she then proceeds to dig in her purse, pocket or bosom for the money that she owes.  Anyway, it looks as if this fact also bothers the management at the new McDonald's in Indianola.  More power to ya Mickey D's.  Now come on down to Wal Mart and put up a sign for them.