French Bread in New Orleans.
I needed to pick a title so I picked “French Bread in New Orleans.” I am not going to talk about french bread in New Orleans because I have other things to tell you, but, Mrs. King and I did sample some new french bread from some bakers who have been tinkering with their recipe for two weeks before the release it on the open market.
I do not want to talk about french bread in New Orleans but, I have to tell you, I think there is going to be some good, francophile, french-style bread, traditionally baked and with a toothy texture in New Orleans’ future. I think it is going to put Croissant d’Or’s french bread to shame.
Croissant d’Or is in the French Quarter. If you want to talk about authentic french bread in New Orleans, go talk to them.
No one is playing chess in Alcée Fortier Park today. Alcée Fortier Park is the triangular park that is bounded by Esplanade Avenue, Grande Route St. John, and the deliciously named Mystery Street. Esplanade Ridge is a nest of small triangular parks.
There are usually some people who spend the night in temporary City Park accommodations, they sit around the chess table in Alcée Fortier Park, where they play chess, eat Ritz crackers, and drink Faubourg beer. It is raining today. The usual crowd is probably in tents under the live oaks near Scout Island. The sky is in a drear mood but there is nothing to complain about.
I know the no one is playing chess in the rain today because Mrs. King and I had lunch at Café Degas, across the street from the park. Dinner is always busy at Café Degas, weekday lunches are less so. Everything that happens in New Orleans over the course of an afternoon is just limbering up for the evening.
Every minute in New Orleans unfolds in a flurry of blah-blah-blah-blah-ha-ha-ha, even when it is raining.
It is messy at the track today but the ponies are still running. Odds favor the mudders today. Gentlemen, place your bets.
It was not busy at Café Degas today. Rachel blamed the rain. It was nice to have time to chitchat with everyone and catch up, to make new and future friends. It is too bad it is raining. I would have liked to play a game of chess in the park.
I am full of snails and white bean stew from Café Degas. Mrs. King is full of onion soup and Niçoise. Mrs. King had a couple of snails, too. There is no use trying to resist the temptation of snails at Café Degas. They are the best in town. Even better than at La Crêpe Nanou, which is second place.
Crêpe Nanou is Uptown. The French Consulate is uptown, too, on Prytania Street. When the French consul entertains visitors from out of town, he takes them to Café Degas. I know because I have seen either him or his assistant more than once. I think the assistant’s name is Beatrice. I have not seen either at Crêpe Nanou. I would say that, over the years, I have spent an equivalent amount of time experiencing either establishment.
I favor Degas but I hold no ill will toward Nanou.
Now, behind the paywall, I am going to talk about what I found at Liuzza’s-by-the-Track.
It is raining today. Mrs. King and I had planned to go to Pascal’s Manale. We chose to not get more wet than we needed to so we stuck to home base.
Café Degas is very romantic. Mrs. King and I had a very romantic lunch and everyone was happy to see us. Mrs. King and I need to visit Café Degas more often. Not only does happiness love company but our neighbor who used to work at Crescent City Steaks now works at Café Degas. She says she is getting too old to work dinner shifts. She would know better than you or I.
Happiness loves company.
I need to put up the paywall. I want to talk about what happened after lunch.