Nouvelle-Orléans la nuit

Laissez le bon temp rouler

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Commanders Palace Jazz Brunch

We have always loved New Orleans, ok,  so not our first trip to the French Quarter, you see we mistakenly began our New Orleans experience on the famous Bourbon St., BIG mistake.  For those who have never had the pleasure we found it to be a smelly, sex show watching, belly button shot doin, peeing on the sidewalk next to the pile of vomit kind of place.  As we first walked down Bourbon St we were convinced (so wrongly) that there was no redeeming value what so ever to New Orleans.  WRONG !!  We have never since that day, after all our sojourns to the Cresent City, once again stepped foot on that famous street.  Instead, in the following days we discovered the deep and delicious history that is New Orleans, the people are open and kind, the history is extensive, covering French and Spanish occupation, and the food...............well don't even get me started !

The New Orleans Jazz parade and second line.  Originating from Jazz funerals, these now celebrate weddings, engagements, and even a divorce !  We saw four of them during our trip, a bachelor party a hen party (bachalorette), and two wedding party's, the public is always welcome to join in, wave your hanky and dance, dance, dance.

During our most recent trip to New Orleans Brian and I attended a Jazz Brunch at the Commanders Palace.  Located in the beautiful garden district on the corner of Washington Ave and Coliseum St. it is only a short streetcar ride from the french quarter.

The restaurant was started by Emile Commander in 1880 and has only changed hands a few times in the entire history of its existence.  With the many awards decorating the walls of this restaurant we knew we were in for quite the experience.  Voted NOLA's #1 restaurant three years running and bragging 6 separate James Beard Foundation awards, we were not disappointed.  From the very start we were blown away by the service, the word genteel was created to describe this establishment.  As we were escorted to our seats through the rooms of an old antebellum mansion every employee we passed stepped aside politely and said "welcome in".

The service was beyond what we are use to, the food as well, southern creole fusion, incorporating all the fresh seafood the gulf had to offer.  The brunch had a very festive feel with balloons and the traveling jazz band that visited each table for a short performance.

Eggs Jean Lafitte
this is the link to the menu, have a look !

http://www.commanderspalace.com/_asset/0xkx91/09-06-14brunch.pdf

 My appetizer,  Fig and foie gras cinnamon roll, with a sunny side up quail egg and candied pecans.

Funny enough, the gentlemen playing the guitar is from Maine, he use to play at the Red Stallion in Carrabasset Valley !!  

When asked for a request we said "know any Mills Brothers ?"  and sure enough, Up a Lazy River was our gift for the day.

Real pecan pie !!!!

The day was such a treat, and we will be sure to return to this treasure of a restaurant when we are once again in New Orleans, more on that later.

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Sunday Morning Garden

Everything that slows us down 

and forces patience

everything that sets us

 back into the slow circles 

of nature, is a help. 

Gardening is an instrument of grace.

May Sarton

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Trading Fiddleheads for Love

Its that time of year again (using my sing song voice).   All over the forest floors, near streams and rivers in this state we call home, one of the oldest and dearest memories I have is slowly emerging from the ground……..Fiddleheads  !!!!   These delectable, asparagus meets broccoli/green bean vegetables have been a part of my life since childhood.  Fall evokes the need for wool, the buying of pencils, and a new pair of shoes, but spring means the stooping and picking and endless cleaning and subsequent eating of said baby fern.

I cannot even recall who taught me my how to pick fiddleheads, I am sure my Dad had a hand in it, but I presume my two older bothers Ed and Bob were there to instill the knowledge into my young mind.


 I was once asked by my husband, who by the way never picked a fiddlehead in his life !  until he met me, of course then the lessons began in earnest, " how do you know which ones to pick ?"
My first thought was "doesn't everyone just know ?"  but I stopped myself before the words escaped my lips.  And so, the lesson began.  The ferns are NOT the ones that look furry !!!  ewwwww and they are a very particular and specific color of green, we'll call it, fiddlehead green.  Also once the ferns become too leggy you mus'nt pick them, the taste will be very bitter.


I suppose the most imperative lesson to mention would be the geographics of the fiddlehead.  This I spoke of earlier, ferns like moisture sooooo yes they will be near streams and rivers.  Even more vital than where to find them is the ability, once you have found them, to never ever never, ever ever, tell a single solitary soul where your secret fiddle head patch lies.  I have had a couple in my lifetime but the one I left behind when I moved to Orr's Island produced some of the biggest, and I must say easiest to clean fiddleheads of my lifetime remembrance.

You see only the deepest  love can tear one away from a prime fiddlehead patch, and that is exactly what happened to me.  My love carried me away to this lovely island and I now purchase my fiddleheads, yes I actually pay money for them.  I just see it as contributing to the economy, yes that's my story and I am sticking to it.

Now you may see fiddleheads on a menu at a local restaurant, and some young chef has decided to "improve" their flavor with some a balsamic reduction, or put them in (god forbid) puff pastry.  To those of us that grew up on eating fiddleheads we all know that is positively sacrileges !!  Fiddleheads should be boiled or steamed until they are just beyond al dente and the only addition that can be made to enhance the flavor is a big pat of salty butter.  Here's hoping you are eating some for dinner tonight .

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My Bliss

Silent Sunday

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