World class -- everyday

So Ray and I were going to meet for coffee, but he had a conference call and I was getting my titanium glasses frames welded. Which meant it was time for lunch. I suggested po-boys at Calhoun Superette, but he had a better idea: let's go to a place we haven't been for a while. Let's go to Willie Mae's. Sure.

On the way there, I said that I heard that Dooky Chase's was open again. If it is, let's go there, 'cause I've been to Willie Mae's since the flood, but not Dooky's.

Sure thing, they were open. But for take-out only.

While we sat at the bar nursing our Barq's in the bottle, we were figuring out where to go to eat. The Quarter? Maybe, but we'd have to find parking. The levee? OK, but it was kinda cold, and the levee would be windy. Ray's house or my house? Nyaaahhh, wrong vibe.

Ray said: Howzabout we walk across the street, and sit on the stoop of one of the buildings at Lafitte?

Hell yeah.

We both admired the architecture of the buildings at Lafitte, and genuinely hope that they can be saved. These aren't the typical crime-ridden buildings one thinks of in housing projects -- these buildings were peoples' homes.

We got a few bizarre looks, a couple of mean ones, and plenty of smiles as we took our Dooky booty across the street to Lafitte. I'm not sure, but we may have even been on the local Fox newscast that night, as they were taping both inside Dooky's and pointing the camera across the street.

There on the stoop, we tore into a whole fried chicken, macaroni and cheese casserole, mixed greens, and candied yams that tasted more like bread pudding. An excellent meal, as you can see.

If we worked anywhere else, we'd be having lunch. Here in New Orleans, we were having a world class meal. For lunch.

I don't have any solution for public housing, but we need to get our people back here. And there is some good news: Dooky Chase should open for full service around January 8.

Merry Christmas to all, and keep the X in Xmas.

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Update: Check out Ray's recollection. This is the place; this is the life.

Comments

[Tim]

Every day here is better than a week in Miami, a month in Des Moines, and a year and a half in Baton Rouge.

There is no measure for a day in New Orleans versus Cleveland.

Peace,

Tim

[Aaron]

I ate at Parkway on Sunday for their annual Christmas party. The roast beef poboy was freakin' delicious - the leidenheimer just turns into this giant sponge on the bottom after about 2 minutes of sitting on the plate with the detritus cradled there oh so tenderly.

All about the Nola cuisine!

[Aaron]

The new brand spankin' new website for Parkway by-the-way: http://www.parkwaybakeryandtavernnola.com/

Swing by and tell Jay and Justin hey!