568386 Wed Oct 29 20:09:30 -0700 2008 2 9 New Orleans 0 4137762 We were in town from October 18th to the 23rd for a little good work (Mrs F at ARNO and me with Save Our Brass) and to celebrate our anniversary. First a word about the city itself: If the problems of the economy in general were not enough to slow recovery, the evacuations caused by Gustav & Ike knocked the bottom out of what was supposed to be a HUGE tourist weekend, and businesses are hurting. So If your personal finances allow for it and you need a vacation, go to New Orleans sooner rather than later. As I was when we were there a year & a half ago, I was amazed that even the people with the worst jobs in the city (the people who walk around Bourbon St with the signs that say HUGE ASS BEER and the ones who sell daqueries from windows/stalls, and the Lucky Dog vendors) would take the time to say "Thank you for coming to New Orleans". Just go. I will dispense with the standard restaurant by restaurant review of our trip, but here are some people and places and observations that I wanted to share. The charbroiled oysters at Felix's are bigger than at Acme, but the ones at Acme are tastier. The $7.00 I paid for a bowl of gumbo at Molly's on the Market just might be the best $7.00 I have ever spent. The food at Louisiana Bistro was pretty darn good, but New Orleans is a city in which pretty darn good might not cut it. I really wanted to try the "Feed Me" option, but it is only available when the whole table orders it, and there are too many things that my wife cant eat. It may be worth another try someday. Pearl the Pie Lady! If you hear her calling out the flavours of pie she has that day, run, dont walk to find her. We had a peach pie that was heaven. I was sorry that she was out of pecan that day. I also had one of Anna's sweet poatao pies that I got at Matassa's and it was delicious. Leah's Pralines are the best I can remember ever tasting, especially the creamy ones. Marigny Brasserie was an ideal place for an anniversary dinner. They have a different chef than on our first visit, but there is no lapse in quality. We had breakfast at EAT and it was superb. (Incidentally EAT and Coop's were the only places that were busy enough that we had any wait for a table; things are that slow!) The oyster po boy that I had at L'il Dizzy's on Poydras (at the Whitney) was so stuffed with oysters that they were overflowing and it was fabulous. My wife loved her roast beef po boy also. This LD location (as opposed to the one on Esplanade) is co-owned by Big Kevin Belton who also gives classes at the New Orleans School of Cooking. They are mostly doing lunches but Kevin said they are starting to get dinners going, and I'd bet they are going to be great. Sound Cafe in Bywater is a super place to stop for an iced coffee and a snack, if you need a place to cool off on your way to see Dr Bob. That's about it. Thanks, New Orleans! We'll be back as soon as we can. Wed Oct 29 20:09:30 -0700 2008 10258 Fydeaux 1 4138095 hey now...are you sure you're not local...with a report like that, I'd say you have the feeling for the flavor. if you haven't been to that cooking class w/ Kevin, do it on your next trip. I played tourist one day at that class and then went on a walking tour of the Qtr...I Love NOLA. thanks for coming and doing some GREAT work. special thnx to Mrs. F and ARNO. I lost my 3 cats during Katrina and helped ARNO in their early days. I still help Stealthers. hurry back! Thu Oct 30 05:30:50 -0700 2008 4137762 195694 edible complex 2 4154297 Thank you EC. I like to think that I've graduated from 'tourist' status to perhaps that of 'visitor'. I took Big Kevin's class on my last pre-K visit. It was a whole lot of fun, and the meal you get at the end of the class is as good as anyone is likely to find for the price of the class. One person I forgot to mention: There was a small black lady who sold home-made pralines and brownies from a table on French Market Place but across the street from the market. Her pralines were excellent and HUGE, and her brownies were a super chocolate fix. I only saw her once, and when I went back to try and find her again, no one I asked seemed to know anything about her--a resident of some funky Brigadoon, perhaps. But if you see her, dont miss the chance to try her goods. You may not get another chance. Thu Nov 06 14:09:40 -0800 2008 4138095 10258 Fydeaux