Ordinarily I have a few other pictures from my most recently reviewed restaurant, but alas, that is not the case with regard to Meauxbar Bistro. I don't use a flash to take pictures, because that bothers other diners, and because I don't know how. That means in a restaurant with low lighting, images are problematic. That's really only a concern for me, as the lighting at Meauxbar and other such restaurants is perfectly adequate for dining.

Please check out the column, and leave feedback in the comments section. No cussing.

(Some cussing allowed)

The event will take place on March 6, at the Audubon Fly, on the river in Uptown. From the website:

The Second Annual Hogs For The Cause is set for Saturday March 6, 2010. Due to the overwhelming support and concern for last year's recipient, Ben Sarrat Jr., we are going to continue to raise funds to combat pediatric brain cancer. With this year's funding, we plan to establish a Diffuse Intrinsic Pontine Giloma (DIPG) Support Fund. These proceeds will be awarded to children with DIPG, DIPG Research, and other DIPG related causes. Please see our DIPG page to learn more about this very rare, debilitating disease.

So what's new this year? A lot! This year we will be instituting the State of Louisiana Pork Cookoff. This is a Louisiana State Sealed proclaimed event, signed by Governor Bobby Jindal. It's open to amateurs, seasoned chefs, cavemen, and anyone else who can basically incorporate pork and fire. Sign up for the event and earn your chance to take home Louisiana's porcine bragging rights and its highest honor, the High on the Hog Louisiana Pork Cookoff State Champion trophy and other prizes. Sign up on our Cookoff page and learn more about the event.

Bring the kids! Bring the dog! Finally, please click on our feedback/idea page and let us know what you would want to see at Hogs this year or any great ideas that you think may help. If that includes Rene in a pink Speedo with a painted on mustache, we can make that happen! We're going to try to raise $20,000 this year. Please spread the word and let's make it happen!

Pediatric cancer is devastating. It is the kind of thing that a lot of people ignore, because it's simply too painful to address directly. That's particularly true if you have kids. My son is the most important thing in the world to me, and I cannot imagine losing him. My heart goes out to the Sarrats, and I hope you will join me in donating to Hogs for the Cause this year.

I also hope that you will attend the event on the 6th. I'll be there, participating in the cookoff and generally misbehaving. If you do attend, please say hello. Although the cause is serious, it's a hell of a lot of fun. I cannot promise a scene like the one below this year, but odds are pretty good that if you like pork, beer, and good people, you'll enjoy Hogs for the Cause.

Join WYES as we kick off the first of a new event series, WYES GLOBAL GOURMET. The focus for this event will be a phenomenal combination of the culture and cuisine of Japan. If you enjoy sushi in the Big Easy and would love to learn more about the Japanese culture, join us as we absorb the nuances of this great land.

Welcoming experienced sushi eaters, as well as novice ones will be Carl Rosa, Executive Director of The Japan-America Society of Houston and founding member of the Sushi Club of Houston. Rosa will share his enthusiasm of Japan by presenting - ‘Japan - Sushi, Sake and Fascinating Facts’ and a brief sushi making demonstration. He continually travels to Japan for both organizations to bridge the cultural gap between the United States and Japan through means of education.

The Sushi Club of Houston will be donating sushi supplies, fish and premium bottles of Japanese sake from the region of Akita, Japan; Republic National Distributing Company will be providing sake, as well as lending their expertise. The Japan Club of New Orleans is spreading the word and New Orleans Bamboo will provide chop sticks and plates for all who attend. Little Tokyo and Aloha Sushi, a division of Sun Ray Grill Restaurants, will be providing food.

Tickets are $50 per person and include a vast array of sushi and sake sampling, as well as non-alcoholic beverages and lecture by Carl Rosa. To purchase tickets call (504) 486-5511 x 200. Questions? E-mail our event coordinator, Sharon Snowdy, at
ssnowdy@wyes.org

You have been advised.

What a game. What a night. What an incredible thing to experience after 35 years as a fan of the Saints. I really didn't know how the city would react if we lost. I think we'd have been despondent this morning. I think it would have put something of a damper on Carnival. Happily, I'll never know, because the Saints won the game, and won it handily.

Not to get all football nerd, but on Sunday morning, I watched a show on ESPN called "The Sports Reporters," and one of the "reporters" observed that Gregg Williams was overrated as a defensive coach, because the Saints went from 26th in defense in the NFL in 2008 to 20th in 2009. It was a shallow observation, because most of the yardage we gave up during the year was due to the fact that we had a lead in games, and played "prevent" defense. Also, when our starting cornerbacks were injured during the latter part of the season, our defense suffered. We had our cornerbacks back for the Superbowl, and it showed.

One of my partners, five years my junior, has a framed "Aints" paper bag in his office. It's a beautiful souvenir of a time when the Saints were a terrible team. Even then, we loved them, and even then, we always had hope. "Next year" was the refrain. I think this says it a hell of a lot better than I ever could, and if you haven't read it. Do so now.

I really haven't completely processed the game, and what it means to New Orleans. I have a feeling I'm going to break down at some point and cry like a child. I'm neither proud nor ashamed of it. It's just how things are.

I didn't make it to the Quarter last night. I met some friends at Clever, then another friend at Robert's bar, but everywhere I went last night, people were ecstatic. When I woke up this morning, I asked my son to bring me either horse tranquilizers, or adrenaline, but he didn't come through. Turns out I didn't need either. While I haven't processed it yet, I'm just unbelievably happy.

Tomorrow's parade downtown is going to be insane. I don't expect to be able to leave downtown for quite a while once things get started. And that's ok. It's going to be a catharsis, I think, and we won't be done until Ash Wednesday.

That's ok too. It's New Orleans. And if you understand, then you do. If you don't, I'm terribly sorry for you.

Whodat.

Update: this is New Orleans