2009 Trip Day 7 - May 19

Since we were going to leave the FQ for lunch and we wanted something light for breakfast, we just went to Cafe Envie and had 2 white chocolate lattes. I've already forgotten how much they cost..over $7 for the two. I had to add a couple of packs of sweetener to mine, but Peggy thought it was fine like it was.

Our destination for lunch was Joey K's on Magazine Street. We had eaten there in the past and while the food was as good as any local neighborhood restaurant in New Orleans, it wasn't anything special. However, I understand that someone new took it over a couple of years ago. It seems like something I heard on The Food Network. The main reason for our visit today was that when we last went to Liuzza's BTT a fellow diner told us that Joey K's had a great reuben. Since Joey's reuben is only served on Tuesday...today was our day.
















Well, did it live up to expectations? Oh My, Oh Yes! Peggy declared it the best reuben she had ever had and I think I would have to agree. Not only was the sandwich properly prepared, but the corned beef was so tender, it about melted in your mouth.















The sandwich was so good, we wanted to try one of their desserts. We decided on bread pudding. It had walnuts, apple bits and raisins and what we think was a lightly flavored rum sauce. We forgot to take a photo before we chopped it all up, but did get a photo before we ate very much of it. It was a great end to a great meal. Cost with two sodas - 20.00.

After we left Joey K's, we took a scenic route through neighborhoods ...since I hate getting on the highways here....to Dorignac's to pick up a few goodies from their bakery. We got four squares of doberge cake (2 lemons and 2 chocolates) and a pack of 2 Shoe Soles (pie dough rolled thin, sprinkled with sugar and cinnamon & baked until crispy).

For dinner we tried to go to a new place called The Sugar Shack, since they were suppose to have boudin balls and meat pies....but they were out of boudin balls, so we left and went to Remoulade.

At Remoulade we split an order of meat pies, a piece of boudin, and crab boiled potatoes. Everything was good and tasty and spicy, except for the potatoes, which could have used a little more crab boil taste. With 2 cokes - 21.00.

2009 Trip Day 6 - May 18

This morning we went back to Croissant D'or for a couple of croissants - blueberry and raspberry and a coke - 4.65 for breakfast.
















Then we were off to do the laundry at The Clothes Spin. While we were there David called to let us know that he and Carl were coming into town for the day. They finally arrived at the apartment around 1:30 and spent about 15 minutes on a visit. They had already seen Danny and Sandy and were going to get David his frozen coffee from Cafe Du Monde and stop by Petunia's to see an old friend

After they left, we went to Yo Mama's and split a cheddar burger, which was tasty and grilled perfectly. The baked potatoes could have stood a little more time in the oven. With a root beer and a beer - 20.00. I meant to have a photo of the burger, but got so excited by the time it came to the table, that I just started eating!

John and Karl called and invited us to dinner in their courtyard. They also had invited their friend Julie. She was such a nice person and told some stories from her childhood, that I still think about.

John was the cook, server and bartender. I'm not sure exactly of the correct name for the entree. It was small strips of beef (like grillades) with pearl onions baked in a poppy seed dumpling (with some spices that made it taste similar to dressing), topped with a tasty gravy, plus a caesar salad. Dessert was a blueberry and peach cobbler with ice cream and crème fraîche. This was so good! We had such a great meal and a great time.

John is also a very good bartender.....thus the reason that this post for yesterday wasn't done until this morning!

2009 Trip Day 5 - May 17

We started the day with breakfast at La Peniche. Peggy had 2 scrambled eggs (looked more like four) with bacon, toast and grits. I had the pancake. That's correct - The Pancake - it is finally back on the menu - One pancake, bigger than the plate it comes on, plus I added some smoked sausage which was very tasty. With 2 beverages - 24.00.

We stopped by Washington Square where they were having art and entertainment to go along with the tour of Marigny Homes. We stopped and watched a band for a little bit. I have no idea who they were. They started out good and even did a great Mozambique, but then did a terrible version of Angel From Montgomery. It looked like a storm was coming just as they started an original and were back on track to be pretty good.

We got caught in the rain and gradually made our way back to the apartment without getting too soaked. We got some free entertainment on the way back. A drunk who wanted a job at the coffee shop Cafe Envie was mad because they wouldn't give him one. Lots of cursing and arm waving, plus pulling his shirt up and showing his bare chest....this might be some kind of middle eastern thing, since he appeared to be Arabic looking. Anyway, they called the cops, who arrived with a paddy wagon, but alas, he was gone by then, so we didn't get to see an arrest. We did get to hang out with a guy who looked like a young Robert Blake and acted like him too.

Between the rain showers, we were able to go to Boutique du Vampyre where Andrew Fox (author of Fat White Vampire Blues and Bride of the Fat White Vampire) was signing his new book The Good Humor Man...no vampires this time around. He was a super nice guy and we got to chat a little bit with him. As soon as we left, rain was coming again and we got just slightly wet on the way back to the apartment.

It continued to rain most of the day. Around five o'clock, we set out for dinner with many choices on our minds. Acme Oyster House was our choice. We split a oyster poboy with Tabasco infused mayonnaise and an order of Boo Fries (cheese fries with roast beef gravy). The oyster poboy was great as usual and the Boo Fries were Oh My God Good!

After leaving Acme we stopped by Southern Candymakers and got a praline to eat then, one for Peggy for later and a white chocolate peanut butter Ritz for me for later. While there, we got a sample of a sweet potato praline...tasted like candied sweet potatoes or a sweet potato souffle.

As I was having a smoke outside on the porch, the black woman that visits Jamie next door offered to give me her cell number in case I got "lonely". When I told her that I had a wife inside, she said that was even better!

2009 Trip Day 4 - May 16

Since we had promised Bill to go to lunch with him to try a reuben sandwich, we had a light breakfast at Croissant D'Or again - 2 raspberry croissants and split a coke - 4.65

At noon we went to Sean Kelly's on Royal Street to try their reuben. First of all, the place was an unorganized mess. You order at the counter, but they only have 2 menus to pass around, no matter how many people are there. Then they are a little bit on the surly side about taking your order. And finally, the kitchen is slow getting food out. We commented to ourselves that this had better be a darn good sandwich. Well, it was ok, maybe a C+. The corned beef was shredded and not all that tender, plus the bread was not grilled properly. It did have a pretty good taste, better than LBTT. With 2 sandwiches, 2 soft drinks, and 1 beer - 21.00.

Around 4 we went to the Louisiana Music Factory for their in store performer - Les Kerr. He was ok, but as Peggy stated, sort of a formula songwriter.



Then we went a few doors down to Beckham's Bookshop to browse a bit. After we left there, we got our first praline and for later, a couple of white chocolate covered peanut butter Ritz crackers.

We had dinner at Mona Lisa. 2 salads, a white pizza (yes, that is the 3rd pizza we've had in 4 days) and a couple of soft drinks - 21.00. We also had a ditzy waitress. We've had worse, she just had trouble organizing things.

My Saturday night walk down Bourbon found that it wasn't all that crowded or wild yet (it was around 9:30). But as we walked back up Royal on the way back, we saw evidence of what happens when it's too hot for pants (see below).

2009 Trip Day 3 - May 15

We decided to go to a yard sale on Orleans before breakfast, but once we got there, we found that it didn't open until noon.

So then we decided to go to Cafe Fleur De Lis for breakfast. On the way we saw the kickoff for the Louisiana Seafood 2009 "Bonne Crevette" or Good Shrimp season. They had a small brass band, but I unfortunately did not work the camera correctly and didn't get a movie. Oh Well. Plus we got to witness a horse and buggy running into a car as it was trying to turn the corner. The young girl driving the car was not upset...it was her bosses car, not hers.

At Fleur De Lis, Peggy had blueberry pancakes and I had buttermilk pancakes, with two sodas - $18.00. After breakfast we walked down to Decatur to check out Peaches Record Store. Although they did actually have some new vinyl albums, the store just did not impress us. Although, they have a good location, The Louisiana Music Factory is a much better store.

On the way back to the apartment, we saw Mr.Okra, the produce man who drives in his colorful truck all over the Quarter and Marigny, singing his wares over a loud speaker.

"I got strawberries...I got blueberries..I got cantaloupe..I got peaches..I got grapes..I got eggplant..I got orange potatoes." He was stopped so we didn't get a video. However, at the bottom of this post, I will embed a Morning 40 Federation video that features Mr. Okra.

We made it back to the yard sale around 3pm and found out that it wasn't any good. So, we strolled through the flea market part of the French Market and got a case for our camera.

Peggy then reminded me that we hadn't had lunch, so we went to the Napoleon House and split a half of a muffuletta. Their draft Amber Bock was out (this seems to happen here a lot), so we just had a couple of soft drinks. - $11.00, cheapest meal we have had. We consider the Napoleon House muffs to be the best. And this one today was super tasty.

After resting a while, we decided to go to Rotolo's for just a couple of slices of pizza, since we had a late lunch. And what a surprise when about 2 blocks from the apartment, we ran into our old friend Danny. After talking for a bit, he decided to go to Rotolo's with us. We split a pepperoni pizza and had 3 drinks - 21.00.

Morning 40 Federation featuring Mr. Okra:

2009 Trip Day 2 - May 14

We had a light breakfast at Croissant D'or - 2 raspberry croissants and split a coke(4.65). Just enough to keep us going until lunch.

Then we headed out for the Symphony Book Sale at Delgado College. It's a pretty good sale and we got 3 bags of books, videos,cds, and one dvd.














It was almost 1 when we left there, so we were ready for lunch. We decided to check Liuzza's by The Track to see if they were busy and were easily able to get a table. We split a reuben, I got a cup of gumbo and Peggy got a side of potato salad(21.00). Peggy thought the meat was tough, I thought it was pretty good, but The Sandwich Shack in Chesnee has a better reuben. The biggest disappointment was the gumbo. They use to have one of the best. This tasted more like beef stew with a couple of pieces of shrimp on top. LBTT has just never been as good since the storm and they lost their original cook.

A quick Wal Mart trip to stock up on supplies. Between the people who actually work there and the other shoppers all cutting in front of me, it made me wish that I was at the Berea WalMart.....and I hate the Berea Walmart.

We did get to see the Tide's Loads of Hope Free Laundry Service. It was set up in the top part of the WalMart parking lot.















After we got back and parked, I managed to close the back lid of the car on my head giving me another knot on my head.

On the way out for dinner we saw the acrobatic street performers that were on America's Got Talent. Hopefully, I will get a video upload of them on in the next few days.

We had dinner at Acme, a dozen charbroiled oysters and 2 Barq's(23.00).















Strolled by Chris DeBarr's new restaurant, The Green Goddess, and he was just going back into the restaurant. He said he hopes to open by Wednesday.

Finished out the night with apple cobbler for Peggy and coconut cake for me from the Quartermaster(5.00)

2009 Trip Day 1 - May 13

This should have actually been day 2, but since we were sick on 11th, had to wait an extra day before we left.

In bed with lights out before midnight. Gonna sleep until 5am. Yeah right...woke up and looked at clock at 3:45 and never did get back to sleep good.

We pulled out the drive way around 6:30am est and made it to New Orleans around 4:30pm cst. I think this works out to 11 hours traveling time. A little slower, but still a surprise, since it took forever to get through Atlanta and we really didn't start to pick up any time until we got on the other side of Montgomery.

Apartment looked good at first, but actually had LOTS of hidden dirt. Peggy has probably already put several hours into trying to get it up to snuff.

We picked up a white pizza(10.00) from Mona Lisa in order to watch Lost. Great pizza, but very unusual to get a pizza cut into 7 slices! We also munched on a couple of Hubigs.