Happy New Year! The Kindness of Strangers Part Deux

You might remember a couple of years ago I wrote about an exhausting holiday season wherein my catering cart containing equipment and supplies for 150 fell over in the middle of a downtown street.  I was amazed when elves descended upon me and cleaned everything up, neatly packing my vehicle before I could even say Joyeux Noel.  Our recent visit to New Orleans brought in the new year with exactly the same joy multiplied by 100.  I have never experienced a happier place in my life.  This newsletter is so full of overflowing fantastic karma I’m sure it will last the year through, and I’m not even going to talk about the food that much!!We begin with a broken lock on our condo (which was fabulous), so while the gents fooled with it and talked with our host over the phone we princesses simply walked to the corner bar/restaurant, The Governor (a whole 50 feet).   I had to potty more than anything but I ordered a drink “to be nice”.  Upon hearing our plight, the manager who was closing up shop, stayed open for us and when I offered my credit card for payment said simply “don’t worry about it – we’ve all got to stick together”.Then there was Kendrick – our driver who happily took us on a $260.00 tour of the Ninth Ward and Hurricane Katrina damage and remembrances for the price of a Lyft ride.  His explanations and stories were mesmerizing.  From the owner of Old Arabi Marketplace (thank you Sharon!) who packed our antiques and then took them AND us to the package store in her own car, to the glass blower at Studio Inferno who took us in back to view her casting and then giving us a private tour of Mitchell Gaudet’s socially and politically charged works, the sheer happiness that exudes from this town is infectious.  The people who went out of their way when justseeing us looking lost, like Dover at the WWII Museum who took it upon himself to explain our best route (it’s an overwhelming place!), were so plentiful I cannot mention them all.A thank you to Miss Yvonne of Yvonne LaFleur who HELD MY HAND throughout the entire store while trying to find what was just right (I’m so sorry the fox fur didn’t work out!).  Oh!  And thank you for the scarf lessons!A special shout out to Nolan from Baggage Check at the Hotel Monteleone for warm generous hugs to both Gordon and me for no reason other than we were all loving life, and to Beniel from Haiti, who upon hearing that I liked his music, whipped out the CD and gave it to me when we got to the airport!!NOW…a couple of musts if you haven’t found them yet:  The Camellia Grille for the BBQ’d Shrimp Omelet and grits – Best omelet in my life (Joe yours is a close second), and plain grits that need NO SEASONING.  Now you know I can make them as well as I can eat them, and I’m JUST SAYIN’...  Also, Bacchanal Fine Wine & Spirits for a FANTASTIC courtyard jazz serenade with tapas, “pick your own daily cheeses and meats” antipasti, and of course, the WINE….and I can never overlook Commander’s Palace, always one of the best meals of my life.  For downhome bayou gumbo that even I can eat (okra, yuck!) don’t miss Jacques-Imo’s and HEY! look this trio up and pay attention to the perfectly understated drummer:  The Mark Weliky Trio.  So much great food, great music, and great joy.  I think it might all come back to “we’ve all got to stick together”!A Note From Chef LoriBaby it's cold outside...don't forget our fabulous soups and stews this season - great for lunch or dinner, and most can be "converted" to shot appetizers for your cocktail party!Click here to visit our website!