Festival Weekend Eats

[Gourmondo]

Incredibly, because I felt guilty about not working today, I insisted I get something accomplished with the day I'd been blessed with. For today, this meant crawling from the cool recesses of my summer lair and going down to the Quarter to try out food, for you, my esteemed colleagues.

Sauntering down Dauphine, my nose was assaulted with the smell of Eau de Quawta - not yet fully ripened to its full bouquet, but on the way, for sure. Threading my way down Conti through the sweating masses who know no shame, I pass some EMT's from Acadian scraping some poor soul off the pavement going to God knows where; the only hint of joy was the half-consumed Big-Assed Beer near the aformentioned cadaver-in-waiting.

On to the French Market where I found people massing in Dutch Alley. The first dish was the best: ceviche from Galvez, about the only thing I ate appropriate to today's heat. I had an empanada from them, too, which was just OK. The sauce accompanying it was too spicy. After nearly spilling my Sangria (good!) down the front of Peggy Scott Laborde's sun dress, I made my way across to Vaucresson's stand, where I tried the boudin snd crawfish sausage. Both of these were respectable offerings, although I like a bit more noticeable liver flavor in my boudin. Next was the smothered okra, hot sausage, shrimp and creole tomatoes (natch) from Praline Connection, which I mainly got because, despite living here for close to 30 years, I have never eaten there. This was basically okra gumbo rendered as a stew over rice, but I thought it was pretty good.

I moved on to see the French Market area, which I hadn't looked at in a few years. It is nice and clean and the ceiling fans do their job as well as could be expected for summertime, but there is little more than tourist junk there. Another grouping of restaurants were assembled in this area, with the zydeco stage on the uptown side of the Mint. There were a ton of people out there. I couldn't eat anything else with the heat. Did I tell you it was effing hot?

As the first stage of heat exhaustioon set in, I decided to retreat to my vehicle and return to the Quarter in October. But not before strolling into the vaunted Jaeger Haus on Conti. As I entered, there was some German guy correcting his boy's table manners auf Deutsch. This was looking promising, although no one else was there. The only thing missing was some dog too tired to lift its head off the floor. Then I spied - Thank God!! - Erdinger Weissbier on tap! Served appropriately in the requisite 0.5 liter weizen glass. This was the only really good item. The only other beer on tap was Stella Artois (WZT!! - that's German for WTF?). No Pils or Dunkel or Helles on tap at a German restaurant? Unglaublich!! Despite the heat, I couldn't resist ordering a jaegerschnitzel - the sacrifices I make for y'all! The basic schnitzel cut was fine enough, but the mushroom gravy was pathetic, watery, flavorless and lifeless. Service was indifferent - but I would be too in this heat. Did I say it was hot? The spaetzle needed some nutmeg and something else to add a little zing. The short story? This is not the new Kolb's. But I give them an A for at least trying. Anyone opening a German restaurant in NOLA has got to be an optimist!

[Mrs. Fury]

I'm about to head out in the effing heat so I can get a dance with Sunpie, have some great food and lots of snowballs. Thanks for your report!

[JRO]

too freakin hot. Went yesterday, miserable.

Now I know why I never go to this fest

HOT HOT HOT

[Mrs. Fury]

We survived on mimosas, snowballs and lemonade. I love the food but GOD it's hot. I posted some pictures.

http://www.ladayrides.com/viewtopic.php?f=6&t=416

[bam bam]

I played golf at Lakewood on Saturday morning. We hit the first tee and around 8:45 and I was drenched by 8:50. I was so dehydrated by the time I was done, I drank four gatorades. This weekend's heat was menacing. Who wants to go to Chicago?

[JRO]

I played golf at Lakewood on Saturday morning. We hit the first tee and around 8:45 and I was drenched by 8:50. I was so dehydrated by the time I was done, I drank four gatorades. This weekend's heat was menacing. Who wants to go to Chicago?

Not to hijack this thread but how did you like Lakewood. I've been wanting to go.

[bam bam]

Not to hijack this thread but how did you like Lakewood. I've been wanting to go.

I liked it alot. It is still 100 bucks if you are a nonmember. The course could use some shade.

[cstoehr]

Oh god the heat....my husband is wanting to strangle me for agreeing to do the Mandeville Seafood Festival! Although he wasn't complaining too much out in the gulf on Sunday,....the worse thing is I should have known better. He doesn't ever go but maybe one day to it now he is stuck for the entire festival. Oh well, I told him think about the "water weight" we will lose. Luckily they are having a misting area this year, plus if there is a good breeze off the lake that will help.

and.....Why though did all our cars.....and now my house ac crap out on me???? I blame the govt!!

[justagirl]

I was down there all day Saturday and it was hell-resembling hot. I got plenty to eat at the various booths (shrimp remoulade stuffed creole tomato, gator sausage on a stick, crawfish eggrolls) and it was all good. My friends tried several other dishes and I honestly liked everything I tried. But it was hot.

The food demos were lacking. Too many people in a tiny area with not a mirror or screen for viewing...I thought that was lacking and since I usually enjoy that the most I was a little disappointed. I headed to Checkpoints to retreat to a dark, air conditioned bar with cold beverages. Cuz in case I didnt mention it, it was hot.