Dinner at Delmonico

Dinner our first night was at Emeril's Delmonico. Yes...it's *that* Emeril and it's *that* Delmonico.

Emeril says hello with fresh flowers.

"Located on the famed St. Charles Avenue streetcar line, Delmonico, the legendary, century-old institution, is an icon in the restaurant industry and has been a cornerstone of traditional Creole dining since 1895. Reopened by Emeril Lagasse in 1998 after an extensive historic renovation, Delmonico continues today serving a modern style of Louisiana's Creole cuisine with Emeril's warm style of service in a grand setting." Here's the tiled mosaic entry floor welcoming us to the historic building.

Four Diamonds says it all.

 

Mary D, daughter of Cathy and GS to all of us, happened to be in town (all the way from San Diego) at a conference, so she was able to join us. Does that make her a chrysalis?

I ordered the grilled lamb loin with braised collard greens, glazed yams, preserved watermelon, pecans, and mango pickapeppa.

It was so delicious. I cleaned my plate. And check out the signature on the steak knife.

Can you be in New Orleans and not order Bananas Foster?

...a little flambé...

Bananas Foster for two,...

...or in our case, eight.

Our dining area was on the second floor. I didn't notice the chandelier going up the stairs, but you can't help but notice it on the way down.

Spring Break 2015

It couldn't have arrived soon enough. I am so looking forward to this spring break...partly because I really need the break, but mostly because I will be with the Butterfly Friends!

I left Farmington at 2:30am, arrived in Portland by 4:30 in time for Concord's bus station to open, caught the 5:00am bus from Portland to Logan Airport in Boston to catch an 8:40 am flight to Nashville, changed planes in Nashville, and arrived in New Orleans by 2pm Central Time (which is 3pm Eastern Time). I've been "traveling" for 12+ hours to get to NOLA. So worth it.

 Southwest loves to celebrate holidays. Could this be their April Fool's Day prank or are they really going to be in a different terminal when I arrive back on April 1? That'll be weird to go out from Terminal E and come back in Terminal A. I'm just glad they warned me.

 This is not the best photograph, but there is snow falling from the sky onto the tarmac at Logan as I look at out at my plane. Snow. There is no snow in New Orleans, though, and that plane is going to get me out of here. :-)

It's just a pretend Grand Ole Oprey but then it's only pretend that I'm in Nashville. The airport doesn't count. But I really was here!

An afternoon stroll through the Big Easy

We are staying in the Garden District. Right after we checked in to our hotel (Quality Inn and Suites Maison St. Charles), we took an afternoon stroll.

Oh the things in NOLA that you don't see anywhere else. Which parade? Any parade. And they have a LOT of parades here.

Tomorrow is Palm Sunday, so it's been less than 40 days since Mardi Gras. Beads are everywhere (well, they typically are year round, but especially this close to Mardi Gras). Trees look like Christmas trees adorned with the beads. This is "concertina wire" (barbed wire in a coil shape to create an obstacle) on top of a gate that is covered in beads.

We discovered a wonderful local supermarket called Rouses. It's a little like Central Market in Dallas in the variety and quality of offerings (bakery, deli, groceries, beer, wine,...) but it's very local. Here the woman giving out free samples is offering cocktails made with blueberry vodka and lemonaid.

Having chandeliers in Rouses says it all.

Gotta ride the St. Charles trolley! We tried to catch the trolley in front of our hotel, but the first one that came by was full so it didn't stop and after waiting 20 minutes, we just went walking. But we caught it outside of Rouses and rode it into town to Canal Street and then back down St. Charles to our hotel.

We are missing Karen D on the trolley ride but she'll be with us later today. Thinking of you Brenda​, Helen, and Julie (the 3 Butterfly Friends that couldn't make it on this trip)!