3:35 AM- Halfway in to my Plyo Legs workout before leaving for the airport. Am I crazy? Yes. Crazy about eating in New Orleans.
5:00 AM- I take pity on my poor starving kitties, who assume that since I'm awake, it's feeding time,and have been whining for two hours as if they're dying when really they're being fed on time.
5: 30 AM- GMiller looks pretty chipper for this time of morning. He's got NOLA fever!
6:40 AM- We get off the Metro at the airport. We are WAAAAY early for our flight, but as GMiller reminds me, it's better than feeling rushed, which is how our Scotland trip worked.
8:20 AM- On the plane to New Orleans. It took me about an hour to fall asleep, which is unusual, as I am generally asleep instantly if I'm in a car or on the couch. GMiller was asleep pretty fast, but woke up enough to take my picture as I snoozed. See his 12 of 12 for that glamour shot.
11:10 AM- Heading in to the city, we pass the larger sister location of this famous bar. Professor Longhair played consistently in the French Quarter location. Bless him.
2:15 PM- Lunch with friends at Mandina's on Canal. This place was under eight feet of water after Katrina. If you don't know how high that is, they have a high water mark on a column inside the dining room. That's a lot of water. Lunch started with an Old Fashioned for me and Jake, Brandy milk punch for Christina, and an Abita Mardi Gras Bock for GMiller. Then onion rings and shrimp remoulade were brought to the table. Our entrees were the stuffed pepper special, side of mac-n-cheese and lima beans; a cup of seafood gumbo and quarter catfish po'boy, dressed; catfish Meuniere with fries; and liver and onions. Buttered french bread came to the table with all this. Outside, I called Cochon to change our dinner reservation from 6 to 8 PM and added four people to the headcount.
2:30 PMKilling time in Mid-city waiting for a small Farmer's Market to open, GMiller and I discover an old commercial laundry building in a neighborhood that looks like it won't be coming back any time soon. Having the NOPD actually get you is no idle threat. They have a reputation for being corrupt and vicious.
2:40 PM- The tile work on the actual laundry building was pretty impressive, and definitely made me wonder what the area looked like when it was thriving. It must have been quite pretty.
2:55 PM- A trip to City Park reveals wild life both avian and mammalian; primarily in the form of small children playing on ancient live oaks and swings while swans, ducks, geese and pellicans search the river for companionship and snacks.
7:35 PM- After naps and a quick spruce up, GMiller calls for the car as we head out to dinner at Cochon.
10:15 PM- Walking back to the car after an excellent dinner of Cochon platter (charcuterie that was some of the best we've ever had); rabbit and dumplings; paneed pork loin with mashed potatoes, baby turnips and spinach; a spledor in the grass cocktail; an old fashioned and a nice white wine that Jake picked out. The buttermilk strawberry ice cream sounded tempting, but we all passed on dessert.
