The ever generous Beth Fedyn sent me Eat Dat: A New Orleans Guide to the Unique Food Culture of the Crescent City and Fear Dat: A New Orleans Guide to the Voodoo, Vampires, Graveyards & Ghosts of the Crescent City. Not only do Eat Dat and Fear Dat make wonderful Birthday presents, but Beth knew I’ll be heading for the BOUCHERCON in New Orleans in September. Now I can do my homework on what to eat and do in the Big Easy! I immediately checked out the best pizza in New Orleans (Pizza Delicious) and the best breakfast (Gracious Bakery). Thanks again, Beth!
Are you going to the BOUCHERCON in New Orleans?
Fun books! If there’s one thing people in Louisiana know, it’s how to cook and eat great food! I won’t be going to Boucheron, but I live in the area (about 45 minutes and a world away from the French Quarter, in a suburb on the Northshore of Lake Pontchartrain), so I hope I’ll be able to get down there and see my “online friends” in the flesh during the convention.
Deb, we’re all looking forward to meeting you! I’m sure good food and good conversation are on the menu!
We’ll be there early and stay late! New Orleans is one of our favorite cities and you almost cannot find a bad meal there.
As I’m sure Deb would say, Laissez les bon temps roulez!
See you there.
Jeff, our plans may change depending on the Retirement Incentive. Looking forward to seeing you and Jackie in the Big Easy!
Deb, I really hope you can get there. Jackie is also looking forward to meeting you.
George, we’ll be there from the 12th to the 21st. Plenty of time to hit a lot of favorite restaurants. Right now I’m looking forward to something that probably won’t appeal to you (maybe Diane?), the blackened catfish salad at Gumbo Shop. Or a roast beef with debris po’boy at Mother’s. Or…
Jeff, knowing my tastes and Diane’s tastes we’re going to be interested in pizza and Italian cuisine.
I’ll be there from the 12th thru the 19th. Nancy will rent a car, and we will probably go outside the city on tues. the 13th. Wed. I’ve been invited to a Birthday bash at Commanders Palace, but otherwise have no plans yet. I don’t recall that there’s a banquet.
Would it be too fussy to see if we could plan a friends of george meal this far in advance?
Maggie, I think a Friends of Maggie dinner would attract more people!
Please come, Deb. Would love to meet you. I will be there from Wed-Sunday. Sweating it out in more ways than I anticipated. I haven ‘t been in NOLA since Katrina so I am looking forward to the cuisine. Truly a special city in the US. Maybe the most special.
Patti, we’re booked for Wednesday to Sunday, too. But that could change…
Nope. As is usual, all the people seem to go to the East & Midwest cons, but for we few western folks it’s too darn far (as I don’t fly). So we’ll stay at home, but hope for some con reports. As for NO, I have to admit the food doesn’t sound appealing. The things you name, Jeff…no thanks! Watch out, George, that pizza might have eels or something awful on it. I’ve heard lots of nice things about New Orleans, but the heat/humidity combo would keep away, I think.
Rick, it’s always 70 degrees in the hotel! Like you, I’m adverse to eel on my pizza. But, I’m sure we’ll find delicious food in the Big Easy!
The first time we ever went there was July of 1998, for a teacher event (Jackie got to go free as a union chapter leader, so only I had to pay). Yes, it was hot, and yes, it was humid, but we had a GREAT time. We stayed at the Embassy Suites on Julia across from Emeril’s (where we ate; Maggie, you would die for the chocolate souffle). The breakfast buffet was excellent, the daily happy hour attracted so many other teachers looking for free booze they had to start checking for hotel guests, and that doesn’t even count everything else – the boat ride up river to the zoo, the swamp tour, Cafe du Monde, hurricanes at Pat O’Brien’s, the music pouring from all the clubs on Bourbon Street, zydeco, you name it.
Jeff, I’ve been to New Orleans three times, but Diane has never been there so everything will be new to her.
The first 2 times I went to NOLA was with the Navy Reserves. The first time was when the Superbowl was there in the 70’s/early 80’s. The 3rd time was with the Old Girls Go Wild group. Had a good time every time.
maybe we could plan a lunch or a breakfast??
My favorite place the the first 2 times was court of the 2 sisters. Last time, I really enjoyed the bistro at the WWII museum. There are so many choices.
Maggie, once we all land in New Orleans we should be able to schedule a brunch or a dinner.
I like the Friend of Maggie idea. She shouldn’t even have to pay for her own lunch.
I’ll be down for the Noir @ the Bar reading on Wednesday and whatever else for the rest of the weekend. I’m not a foodie so I don’t want eel on anything. Actually, I’m kind of worried that people will go off in the night to do New Orleans things that’ll take them away from conference folks (kind of like Albany). I hope that doesn’t happen but apparently New Orleans is special. I was almost squashed by a truck driver there so that’s what sticks with me more than anything. Geo Metro vs. large, speeding full-sized semi. The math works out poorly for the Metro.
that’s sweet rick. I’d think maybe blog breakfast? I’ll try to make noir @ the bar, but sometimes its past my bedtime (I’m old)
Maggie, breakfast lunch or dinner works for us!
Rick, I’m looking forward to seeing you in New Orleans. We can talk about MAD DOG BARKED!
One of the things I remember most about the OGGW trip is the Movie Tour of New Orleans Jackie found. I think we all enjoyed it. The guide/tour owner is an extra and had been in at least one (short lived series) I watched. I’d be up for doing that again. I’m hoping to get to the mardi gras float museum. I think we’re going to try to get out to a plantation tour.
Maggie, there’s a lot to see and do in New Orleans!
good news our library is getting one copy of eat dat and I’m first on the hold list
no copies of fear dat, though that I can probably browse thru at B&N no great desire to own it
Maggie, my local Public Library will order just about anything I ask for. I’m sure if you ask the librarians, they would order FEAR DAT.
You got your MAD DOG BARKED ARC? That’s good to know (especially if you like it. If you want to beat me over the head with a board after the ending then I think I’ve done my job). I’ve been–and am–in Florida for almost two weeks. A wonderful little conference just wrapped up and now I’ve got two days of vacation with my family on Key West. Before that I was in 8 different hotels in eight different cities over eight consecutive nights. My brain fell out of my skull days ago.
I’m hoping I have ARCs waiting for me when I get home. I haven’t seen the book yet.
Rick, MAD DOG BARKED is near the top of my READ REAL SOON stack. I’m looking forward to reading it soon. My wife loves Key West!