New Orleans New Year

Mom and Michael and I flew into New Orleans on Thursday after Christmas. We got settled and then went to have late lunch at Superior. *WARNING* This blog entry will contain many descriptions of food.
We had bloody marys and raw oysters and fried oyster po-boys and bowls of gumbo. Then mom went back to the condo as she wasn't feeling well and Michael and I went on to see Miss Sophie Lee at the Spotted Cat. Because we were early, we stopped in at Maison to see Tuba Skinny. They were great! Then we went over to see Sophie, but it was packed! The crowds were thick on Frenchman! We stayed to say hello and give hugs and then we went next door to outdoor market to shop a bit before heading back up town to the Delachaise for the "Baz" with goose fat fries and rose wine before heading home.

Friday day we took the street car to the quarter. We were hungry and looking for brunch, but everything was packed. We finally had the excellent idea to go to Acme Oyster. We figured since it was 10:30AM maybe there wouldn't be a line yet. We were right! Acme Oyster doesn't serve "breakfast", but I can happily eat oysters for breakfast. We had chargrilled oysters and raw ones. Then we had a big platter of fried seafood including soft shelled crab with bowls of gumbo and a side of hush puppies. YUM! Then we wandered down Royale Street, shopping and listening to street musicians. We visited the Historic New Orleans collection, which was really cool and New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, which we had never been to before. It was great! We made our way down to Frenchman Street to the Maison to see the New Orleans Swinging Gypsies. They were amazing. Then we walked back to our favorite wine bar, Patrick's Bar Vin, for wine and a cheese board. It was fabulous. Then to my surprise, my friend Rebecca walked in! I was so happy to see her. Unfortunately she couldn't come in as her kids were with her and it was a bar, but we still got to visit for a few minutes. Win!

Saturday we took the street car towards the quarter but got off early and walked over to Magazine Street. We shopped and admired. We found a great restaurant called Maya and stopped in for lunch. We shared a beautiful tuna ceviche and coconut mango shrimp tostones. Then I had an incredible black bean soup. I highly recommend that restaurant. Then we walked all the way down to the quarter. After that we made our way to Meyers hat store to buy Michael a new hat. The old Mr. Meyers himself helped Michael pick a new hat and we left with a fabulous new telescope fedora.We stopped at the French Market for a bloody Mary and some fried crawfish with remoulade and then bought some earrings for me and legos for the boys before heading to Frenchmen Street. We stopped at the DBA to hear the Roamin' Jasmine and then took a cab over to Maypop for dinner. This was our only food disappointment. The food wasn't great, though the little waitress was adorable and reminded us of Novalee Nation from where the Heart Is. After dinner, we took a car to the Roosevelt Hotel which was all lit up beautifully. We had hoped to have a drink there, but it was packed so we headed home.

On New Year's Eve, we went back to Superior for brunch. This time we had crab cake benedict and the French 75 salad. (look ma! Greens!). Mom wasn't feeling great, and it was SO cold. We decided to stay in. We read and layed around the condo and it was glorious. We cancelled all of our late night plans and decided to take it easy. That afternoon we got hungry again and went down to the Delachaise. We sat for hours drinking wine and eating and watching people watch the Saints game over my head. It was so fun!

The next morning we walked over to Magazine street for New Year's day brunch at Cavan. This place is amazing. It's in an old mansion and this meal may have been my favorite. We started with a hot toddy that was perfect for the freezing cold day. Then we shared crab fat biscuits and boudin tater tots. Then I got a warm mushroom and goat cheese salad, mom got fried chicken with collard greens and Michael got satsuma bbq shrimp with grits. We also got black eyed peas and cabbage to share because it was New Year's and we needed the luck. The food was absolutely amazing. After brunch, Michael had to leave us to go catch his flight. It was a bit touch and go for him as the power was out at the airport, but it came back on and all was well. Mom and I made our way down to Frenchman and planted our butts in a tiny table for two in the warm Bamboulas bar and restaurant. We stayed for hours (it was FREEZING, literally, outside). We saw St. Louis Slim and then Ben Fox before walking down the street to Spotted Cat to see the Royal Street Winding Boys. They might have been our favorite band. We loved them. Then we walked over to the Three Muses for dinner where we shared the Bimbap Rice Bowl, Feta Fries and Lamb Sliders while listening to Monty Banks.

Our last day in New Orleans was again dad gum freezing cold. Mom and I put on every later we had and took a car over to The Mardi Gras World. We took the tour through the Mardi Gras floats. It was amazing! We learned so much that we didn't know before and it really enriched my mardi gras experience. We also got to preview some of the floats which was pretty neat. Wish we could go to Mardi Gras this year! After our tour, we took a free shuttle downtown. We hopped off at Johnny's Po'Boy where we ordered fried catfish poboys with hash browns and coffee. Breakfast for the win! Then we continued our dad-gum freezing cold run walk through the quarter down to the Christmas store and then on to the Jazz museum in the Old mint. We had never been before and it was great! We saw Fat's Domino's piano and Louis Armstrong's cornet as well as his collages. I loved the Pete Fountain exhibit. My favorite exhibit though, was on the Mardi Gras Indians. It was fascinating!
After all that, it was too cold to go any where else. We took a car back home and packed up. We ordered in delicious Chinese food from August Moon and curled up with a bottle of wine and laughed and chatted. My mom and Michael are my best friends and we all travel SO WELL together. It was a marvelous trip and I cherished each moment we all had together.