Perhaps it’s a case of nostalgia or the firm belief that “things were better” when you were a kid, but nothing seems to change the fact that sweets devoured from a rumpled paper bag or dirty pillowcase after a long night of trick-or-treating is the best tasting candy ever. As […]
Ignatius’ house
“I am at the moment writing a lengthy indictment against our century. When my brain begins to reel from my literary labors, I make an occasional cheese dip.” […]
Eat It! I Dare You
“A census taker once tried to test me. I ate his liver with some fava beans and a nice chianti.” – Hannibal Lecter, Silence of the Lambs When Hanibal Lecter peers through the thick, glass barrier and utters those words, those unspeakable horrors, we all felt a chill down our […]
Outdoor adventures at Katie’s Restaurant
When you work from home, it’s real easy to become something of a recluse. You wake up, scratch yourself, roll out of bed, grab some coffee as you stumble through the kitchen, and then plant your ever-widening backside at your desk. After that point you rarely rise from your chair, […]
House of the week: Freret House on Amelia Street
Surfing through the lengthy list of houses on the market that I wish (oh how I wish!) could be mine, I found this breathtaking Southern Belle and simply had to share. On the corner of Carondelet and Amelia Streets, just a mere block from St. Charles Avenue i.e. parade route, […]
Screaming for New Orleans Ice Cream: Red Velvet Cake
Although it might be considered sacrilege to say down here in the “Deep South,” I’m just not a fan of red velvet cake. I’ve tasted a ton of different incarnations, including my own, and the flavors or texture never really appealed to me. Well, except for the cream cheese frosting, […]
Herbsaint: A blossoming birthday ritual
This past Saturday, the power was still out and John and I sat sweating, dreading another evening of darkness and sticky hands of Gin Rummy. I was irritable, stinky and facing a dinner of tuna-in-a-can when I suddenly realized I’d completely missed out on a birthday celebration. The week previous, […]
House of the week: Priorities
As you all must know, last week we experienced another hurricane. Isaac came through and with high winds, managed to do some serious damage to homes and businesses, caused flooding in a few parishes and generally wreaked havoc all over Florida and Louisiana. Comparatively, we got off easy. The only […]
No bobbing required
Hands clenching the sides of the barrel, your head plunges into the icy water and while holding your breath, you try to get a grip on the apple bobbing before your lips. Your teeth slide across the slick surface denying purchase while water makes it’s way up your nose and […]
House of the week: Double Gallery on Olivier Street
Mom. Dad. I have a proposal. Sell your 1970’s, ranch-style track house in California and for half of what you gain from the sale, you could buy this house outright. Deal? I realize it would mean selling the house I grew up in and moving to a new and vibrantly […]
Welcomed home at Brigtsen’s
Less than a month ago, I got the opportunity to interview Chef Frank Brigtsen at his restaurant on Dante Street just a few blocks from my house. It was the first time I’d met the James Beard Award-winning chef, and to be perfectly honest, I was a bit nervous. Thankfully, […]
It’s time to meet Margaret
Over a year ago, I posted about a statue we found between Camp & Prytania when John and I made an unsuccessful attempt to buy a used car. The statue depicts Margaret Haughery, a great New Orleans philanthropist who dedicated her life to helping the poor, especially the lives of […]