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| I just love Bourbon Street |
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| This photo doesn't do it justice, but another photo of Bourbon Street with a bike passing by...what timing I have....:) |
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| Danny, Jackie, me and Sara Ann enjoying that delicious wine |
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| It's official, I am a nerd but this chickory coffee was so good and I had two refills.... |
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| Notice Jackie's Old Fashioned and my iced tea to go along side Galatoire's famous Banana Bread Pudding....delish! |
It's always so great going back to the Big Easy. I love the history, the food, the shops and the people. We did a repeat dinner at Nola Thursday night with the group that was very good. Jackie hit me Friday morning, while walking to Cafe Du Monde for their legendary beignets, that we were to be at Galatoire's at 11-11:30 for lunch with his Aunt's brother Danny and Sara Ann Felton. I abruptly snarled and probably hissed that I had plans that started at 10 am when the River Walk stores opened with hopes of getting Chloe some Christmas items. Jackie quickly made me realize that this was no plain-old lunch on Bourbon Street, this was Friday Lunch at Galatoire's. I huffed and puffed and pouted and made him buy five cans of Cafe Du Monde coffee as his punishment for not letting me get out of it or send a replacement for me.
So here's how it goes, I rushed back to the Westin to change out of my jeans into the only non-denim item I had which was a black dress, tights and black flats. A few years back, Martin, Kara, Jackie and I learned that you can't eat at Galatoire's without a coat. Jackie had to borrow one for that dinner and he reminded me today to get outta those jeans. So we quickly walked from our hotel off Iberville to Bourbon Street. When we got there, we could tell that this was no Felix's or Acme line out front, these were high rollers with coats, Rolex's, big heels and two door men in tuxedos before noon on a Friday.
We found Danny in the main dining room visiting with a regular Friday lunch oil tycoon. We were seated and tended to by Billy, the son of the waiter that Danny's daddy had dating back to the 1940's. Danny loved explaining that the waiting list was hard to come by as was landing a job at this landmark restaurant. Danny quickly ordered a bottle of Vuevet Clicquot Champagne. I do believe this was my first time to have Champagne that wasn't California Sparkling Wine. It was so stinking delicious, I loved the first and second bottle of it! Sara Ann joined us close to noon after shopping (see Jackie, I could've done the same thing....). When at 12:30 Danny wanted another bottle of that fantastic champagne, Sara Ann tried to veer him down the "order lunch already" road, but he already got fired up about another bottle of champagne. It was great with the crusty bread and butter out on the table.
We did order appetizers, yes I know, that's not me but it's not me to be at Galatoire's on a day off and not take advantage of the Shops of Canal Place or the River Walk. Jackie ordered Oysters Rockefeller, which was outstanding. The perfect amount of spinach and creamy sauce, with a spicy kick to it and large, fresh oysters made it one of the best Rockefeller's I've had. I had the super perfect Avocado and Crabmeat salad that's served over iceberg lettuce with spicy mustard that was receommended by Billy. I loved the creaminess of the avacodo with fresh crabmeat. I ate it all, I'm telling you.
On to finally ordering lunch at 1 pm, Danny orders up a bottle of French white burgundy wine that I cannot remember the name of. I have to be honest, I had never had a white burgundy wine before but I loved it's creaminess and heartiness. It went perfect with my Crabmeat Sardou which boasted fresh artichoke bottoms filled with fresh crabmeat over creamed spinach topped with hollandaise sauce. Oh my...that was so darn good, I had to refrain myself from wiping it out on my first glass of wine. I loved, loved it. Jackie ordered the Pompano Fish that Danny said wasn't on the menu and Billy knew exactly what it was...The atmosphere in the restaurant was festive and it was a totally packed restaurant and the tables weren't really moving much, like ours. At 11:30 when we arrived, the hostess was telling people if you weren't on the list, come back at 2:30 and you might get in, just might.
Oh dessert, yes, we had to have dessert. I'm not sure who ordered up the Bread Pudding with Banana Sauce but it was out of this world. I just know it wasn't all the champagne and wine I had because I found this on their website (I cannot wait to make this for Kara and I):
Bread Pudding with Banana Sauce
| There was a time when the dessert was often overlooked at Galatoire’s. Our patrons were prone to eat and drink heartily throughout the savory portions of their meals and seemed to regard our desserts as little more than adequate supports for celebratory candles. This simple, elegant dish changed all that. Unlike most bread puddings, this one is light and airy, its texture resembling that of pain perdu, or “French toast." If you do not have an oversized muffin pan, one-cup ramekins or baking dishes that have been well buttered may be used to cook the puddings. | ||
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| Preheat the oven to 350˚ F. In a large mixing bowl, combine the eggs, granulated sugar, milk, vanilla, and cinnamon and whisk until well blended. In a nonstick oversized muffin pan (for 2), place 2 slices of the bread into the bottom of each muffin cup. Pour the egg and milk mixture into each muffin cup. Allow the bread to absorb the mixture and repeat the process until the bread is saturated and the muffin cup is full (it might take 3 or 4 fillings to totally saturate the bread and fill the cup). Bake the pudding mixture for 35 minutes, or until the pudding has turned golden and set in the pan. While the pudding is in the oven, melt the butter in a 2-quart saucepan over medium heat. Add the light brown sugar and whisk over the heat until smooth. Slice the bananas, stir them into the sauce, and add the praline liqueur. Reduce the heat to low to keep the sauce warm. When the pudding is baked, remove from the oven and allow to sit for 15 minutes to cool. Invert the muffin pan to remove the puddings and expose the custard. Place each on the center of a plate and ladle the sauce onto the pudding. Serve immediately. Serves 12 |
Jackie had his Bread Pudding with an Old Fashioned like Danny. Sara Ann and I quickly headed out for some shopping before the reception. It was 3:30 when I left Galatoire's with my unsweet tea in hand. Have I mentioned how glad I am that I didn't get out of this lunch? Check out their fabulous website: http://www.galatoires.com
Galatoires, 209 Bourbon Street, New Orleans, LA 504-525-2021
PS. Okay, I've toyed with telling my followers, friends and family about what happened after Galatoire's...when Jackie ordered up the after lunch drink, I ordered up an unsweet tea and had my mind set on The Toy Shop at Jackson Square, about 8 blocks over. We have shopped for Chloe at that toy store since she was born except for the year of Hurricane Katrina. So I hustled on outta there and so did Sara Ann to do some shopping. I was sprint-walking since I skipped my morning workout, and by two blocks shy of Jackson Square, where the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral sits, I passed some men coming out of a bar with beer or hurricanes in their hands. I wasn't sure what the drink was but they had something in their hands since I passed them going 55 mph in my flats and next thing I hear is, "ummmm, yeah, ummm....that's a nice piece of a*^". You all know me, I made it up to 70 mph because I was home free on making the annual shopping trip to the BEST toy store in the French Quarter. Two blocks later, I hear, "Lady........Lady......Lady!....You're showing your A**!" I hear this, turn and it's a palm reader at a card table with big sunglasses on and big red hair. I stop the sprint and pull my black dress down that bunched up under my big, black purse. I did have my and Elise Barry's favorite tights on, but needless to say, I was showing my you know what. I made the corner to the toy store and chuckled in the back of the store while looking over the miniature horses and tried to imagine the view those men saw, as well as all of Jackson Square. I think it's time that I get the Braziliian Booty DVD's. I checked my dress back at the hotel, I think it's time for me to tighten up. :)
I had to add photos of our sweet Chloe over the last few weeks....
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| Chloe's 5th grade class's music teacher Sherry Phillians did a great job in directing a Christmas musical that was wonderful...you can't tell by this photograph but there are about 300 kids on the stage and one of the songs was six students rapping to the "Night before Christmas" that was excellent and reminded me of the Beastie Boys, it was well done and wonderful! |
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| Chloe didn't have a speaking part but was glad she got to be a chicken in the last scene |
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| We also had a snow on Wednesday, Nov. 30..about 2 inches |
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| Chloe made a snowman before school with the help of her foster dogs |
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