Finally.

The Mandina version

Pales in comparison to Brigtsen's, which just tastes as refined as never you mind,  but it will do, more than do, in a pinch.

Guess what they've got on the menu at Mandina's?

Hahahaha

The Krispy Kreme bread pudding

Was silly and unnecessary and delicious in its rum butter sauce.

It was also comped, because the waiter felt I had waited too long.

Again unnecessary,  but appreciated.

Killer po-boys

We wound up trying the last two non grilled cheese sandwiches last night,  and while the pork belly was very good, the shrimp is still the winner.

Unless you *need* to eat healthy, skip the sweet potato.

Also, the bartender just happens to have a tattoo of the symbol for chartreuse on his forearm,  which just happened to be the answer to a clue in a scavenger hunt someone just happened to come in for.

My battery died, so no pics, but I'm sure he'd show you.

Boucherie

Had relocated to Carrollton, and I thought that the food might have gone downhill, because the space has a very different vibe, but the hogshead cheese sandwich with grilled green onion mustard,  arugula, and pickled peaches was divine.

I have only good things to say about their Sophia Loren and Dark and Stormy cocktails too.

Will fill you in about the not-sure-it-was-a-good-idea Krispy Kreme bread pudding

The fried chicken at Dooky Chase's

Is in my top two. Just sayin'.

Finally.

I have had my first Hansen's sno-ball. I got the decidedly excessive Jr. Atomic (wild cherry). It is made of the finest shaved ice you ever saw,  drizzled with layers of the flavour syrup and topped with crushed pineapple and marshmallow fluff and ice cream and possibly other decadent summertime delights.

If you need to go shopping for plants afterwards, that's OK too.

Staying uptown

One of the reasons I chose this location was because it lies halfway between the St. Charles streetcar and the Magazine bus. All the more options for getting around town.

Little did I know that most of the streetcar route has been impacted by a construction project, meaning that busses are running in its stead (and since busses aren't any kind of tourist draw, they seem to be running substantially less often). Oh well. At least there is more than one Magazine 11 these days.

Another reason I chose this location was its proximity to the lovely and delicious Boulangerie - which is taking a French-style vacation, closed for most of the summer.

(If all this seems reminiscent of the time the lovely Veever and I failed to visit New Orelans and instead were sent to the purgatory that is Baton Rouge, well, yes.  It is.)

But.... I just called Brigtsen's to see if I could make a reservation for tonight.  And while on the phone I had a question about the soft-shell crab meunière  (which is the reason why I am here at a time when the high is a "feels like 47"). It isn't on the online menu, though that menu is only a sample. So I admit I was a little nervous,  but my mind has been set at ease.

"That's right, honey.  We'll see the three of you at 8 o'clock for some soft-shell crab."

Do you know what it means to miss New Orleans?

Yes.

And I haven't even left yet.

Good haul

Yes, you should definitely celebrate your birthday in New Orleans. 

Legacy Brass

At Vaso.

I'm usually too busy dancing to get any nice pics. Thanks, C.

Friday lunch at Galatoire's

It's hard to dine alone at Galatoire's on the day before your birthday.

Big Charity

Go see it. (Once it gets distribution.)

In the ladies' room:

"You white? You not white.

"You was rollin' on the dance floor."

Apparently I don't dance that bad.

No comment

A different type of selling feature

Southern charm

Me: Wow, sir, you look like a million bucks. 

Sir: Just a half million.

Butcher

Is always fun, and the service is always amazing.

They more than doubled their size when they expanded in April, and it's a good thing they did. (Where else would all those public health conference attendees go?)