Les Petits Détails

Everyday details that have captured my eye.

Photo du Jour - Welcome Home

A giant display of French cheese greeted me warmly as I rounded the corner at the Olonzac market on Tuesday. It's good to be home.

The Quirky Quarter

Locals don't call it the French Quarter. It is simply the Quarter.

To say that this New Orleans neighborhood is unique is a bit of an understatement.

A tiny bit of the city - a mere half a mile rectangle - that is a whole little universe onto itself. It is crammed to the gills with charm, history, music, decadence and a seductive spirit that I've never encountered in any other American city.


The Quarter's inhabitants, affectionately known as Quarter Rats, live their lives in the midst of all the hullabaloo. They work, shop, eat, drink and even raise children in this colorful, famous (some might say infamous) and definitely quirky neighborhood of New Orleans.



We lived smack dab in the middle of it for two years.
Our narrow, faded pink shotgun house on the corner of Orleans and Burgundy was the perfect vantage point for observing life in the Quarter. And living it.

I rode my cruiser everywhere. Gone were the days when I needed a mountain bike to navigate hills like I did in Seattle. Most of my grocery shopping was done on foot with the help of my trusty market trolley at the little A&P down the street and at the Central Grocery (credited for inventing the Muffuletta, it also has a great selection of Italian and other European pantry items).
Work was only a few blocks away and even though we had a car, it wasn't used very often.



We became regulars at our favorite restaurants and bars, and had two little corner delis who offered 24 hours a day delivery on speed dial for those emergency midnight ice cream, jambalaya or po-boy cravings. One of them also makes a killer meatloaf.

New Orleans, especially the Quarter, teaches you to appreciate living in a whole new way.
It is an exhilarating roller coaster ride that rarely offers a dull moment. It is passionate and delicious and can take your breath away when you least expect it to. It is sometimes exhausting.



Yes, I miss it. Terribly sometimes.
But as others have pointed out, I have the best of both worlds. My home away from home with friends in New Orleans and my home in la belle France.
It's a perfect balance.

Craving French Cheese

Been away from home for three weeks now.

As I sit here cramming bottles of Crystal hot sauce, Community coffee with chicory, comfortable pj's from Target, cookbooks, DVD's and new shoes into my bags I can feel the excitement building.
After the boring, 20 hour journey back to France I will be happily greeted by my little family of five and plan on getting either a button of chèvre or a wedge of Comté in my hands as soon as possible.

In a perfect world I would be able to get one of these in France...I guess life is all about trade offs.


For now I'm happy with French cheese. And a glass of wine.
Of course.

Gumbo Weather

Temperatures to drop down into the 30's again tonight. That's gumbo weather here in New Orleans.

The American Sector is the newest restaurant by award winning, local chef John Besh.
I'm no expert on gumbo, but a big bowl of his delicious, velvety rich shrimp and homemade sausage gumbo is just the thing to warm you up on days like these.

New Orleans Food and Carnival Festivities

Wednesday's parades may have been rained out and yesterday was the coldest day I've ever experienced in New Orleans, but today the temperatures are warming up and things are getting crazy around here!

The last few days have been spent visiting with friends and eating. And eating.
Fabulous lunches at Bayona, the Marigny Brasserie, Felipe's and Cochon Butcher.
A shrimp fest last night with Grilled Shrimp with Remoulade sauce, Shrimp Creole and Shrimp and Eggplant Casserole at a friend's house.
More shrimp last Wednesday night with another friend - we broiled up a couple pounds of these sweet, fat Gulf shrimp and served them with lots of green onions and spicy noodles. Divine!

Carnival this year is a busy one. The hotels are full and the streets are packed with revelers. The Superbowl win by the Saints has added another dimension to the customary Mardi Gras merriment.

We're about to head out again today for more celebrating and definitely more eating. I think a steaming hot bowl of seafood Gumbo is on the agenda.
Laissez les bon temps rouler!

Black and Gold

I'm not a football fan. Never have been and probably never will be.
But I am a huge fan of New Orleans. And the Saints have done them proud!





Last but not least, a photo of a serious fan...

Just another naturally N'Awlins moment.

Dear New Orleans

I'll be seeing you tomorrow...






...looking forward to another fun and festive Carnival season!

I know it is extra special this year, with the Saints in the Superbowl and all. Can't wait to celebrate with you.

Love,
Loulou

The Aptos Farmers Market

Before flying off to Las Vegas for a few days, my sister and I hit the Aptos Farmers Market to check out the late winter offerings.
She wanted to meet some of the local, organic producers and decided this was a good place to start. I, of course, was curious about the local cheese makers.

It was a feast for the eyes! Dark green kale, rainbow chard and all kinds of salad greens. Boxes of juicy, ripe Early Girl tomatoes. A dozen varieties of apples, citrus fruit and berries to die for. Homemade bread and pastries. Oysters and seafood from the Pacific.

All of this under the fragrant shade of the eucalyptus trees with the sound of waves crashing in the distance. Not a bad place to do some Saturday morning shopping if you ask me.

The one letdown...not a single cheese producer in sight.
Luckily the Cheese Shop in Carmel isn't too far away.

Photo du Jour - Sunrise over Las Vegas

"Toto, I've a feeling we're not in Kansas any more."