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)

New Orleans, LA - Chuck Subra, Executive Chef of La Côte Brasserie, has crafted a 5-course menu in harmony with two regional brew houses, Lazy Magnolia and Heiner Brau. Each brand will feature several of their varietals, one with each course. This Southern Beer Dinner will be held on March 24, 2010 at 7:00pm and is $60 per person, exclusive of tax and gratuity. Southern Beer Dinner Menu:

I
Red Fish Ceviche - Bechnel Farms Myer Lemon, Red Naval, Pear Tomatoes
Heiner Brau - Kolsch Unfiltered

II
Spiced Pecan Salad - Mache, Candied Apples, Stilton, Sherry Vinaigrette
Lazy Magnolia - Southern Pecan

III
Lacquered Pork Belly - Celeriac Slaw, Satsuma Reduction
Lazy Magnolia - Indian Summer Spiced Ale

IV
Veal Paillard - Butternut Squash Pasta and Sage Beurre Noisette
Heiner Brau - Festbier

V
Marzen Poached Plums - Marzen Ice Cream, Louisiana Brown Sugar Tuille
Heiner Brau - Marzen

La Côte Brasserie is located at 700 Tchoupitoulas Street, and you can contact them for information at 504-613-2350.

La Thai Uptown is pleased to announce a special discount for those who protect and serve our community. To show our gratitude to our local police officers, firefighters and members of the military, La Thai Uptown is offering a special discount to all Community Service Professionals. Any member of the military, fire department or police department will receive a 15% discount off their entire lunch or dinner check (not valid at the bar) by simply showing their professional ID or badge. This special “thank you” offer is effective immediately and will run for a minimum of three months.

“These folks are the backbone of the community,” said La Thai owner, Diana Chauvin. “Each day they put their lives on the line to serve the citizens of New Orleans, so this is the least that we can do to show our gratitude and appreciate for all that they do.” she added.

Specializing in authentic Thai cuisine with a unique Louisiana twist, La Thai Uptown is open for lunch Tuesday thru Saturday from 11am until 3pm and on Sunday from noon until 3pm. Dinner hours are Tuesday thru Saturday from 5pm until 10pm and on Sunday from 5pm until 9pm.

There you have it, kids.

Please also remember that Hogs for the Cause will take place tomorrow at the Audubon Fly. There is a long list of folks competing in the cook-off, including a number of professionals, so the food is going to be excellent. I am doing a variation on Bob Iacovone's pork belly with sweet-heat glaze:

Pork Belly with Sweet-Heat Glaze and Creole Slaw

So why not come out and enjoy a shitload of pork on what looks to be a beautiful day tomorrow?

Huzzah.

An image that did not make the cut for the legitimate blog:

On Thursday, March 11, 2010, Co-Executive Chefs Allison Vines-Rushing and Slade Rushing,from MiLa, will be hosting a Wine Dinner with Pahlmeyer Vineyards and Winemaker, Erin Green. Dinner begins at 8:00pm and is $125 per person, which is all-inclusive (tax and gratuity included). Reservations are required and can be made by calling the restaurant, 504-412-2580.

Pahlmeyer Dinner Menu:

-I-
Vanilla Scented Scallop Tart, Herb Salad, Lime Vinaigrette
2007 Pahlmeyer Jayson Chardonnay

-II-
Butter Poached Chicken, Crawfish, Lobster Sauce, Potato Confit
2007 Pahlmeyer Chardonnay

-III-
Pan Roasted Striped Bass, Glazed Salsify, Red Wine Bacon Jus
2006 Pahlmeyer Pinot Noir

-IV-
Sweetbread Ravioli, Brunoise of Vegetable, Mushroom Broth
2005 Pahlmeyer Jayson Red

-V-
Cabbage Wrapped Duck Confit, Toasted Barley, Currant Sauce
2005 Pahlmeyer Merlot

-VI-
Cowgirl Creamery Red Hawk, Grilled Bread, Blackberry Jam
2005 Pahlmeyer Proprietary Red

I'm a fan of MiLa, and this looks like a pretty spectacular event. I have to admit that I'm not familiar with Pahlmeyer, but that's more a reflection on my ignorance where wine is concerned than the quality of the winery.

If you make it to the event, please let me know whether you enjoyed it? With some very rare exceptions (I'm looking at you, Sancho) I enjoy receiving emails from readers.

In addition to the picture that accompanies the story, you might enjoy this image of bratwurst:

Mmm... Bratwurst.

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.

In addition to the photograph which accompanies the blog, you may enjoy the following, also from my most recent meal at Butcher:

Charcuterie Plate at Cochon Butcher, New Orleans

Of course, this year the Saints won the Superbowl. The victory over the Colts has some folks calling this year's Carnival, "Lombardigras." Not me, because while the Saints' victory was incredible, it's no reason to change the name of a celebration we've held here for hundreds of years. "Lombardigras" was last Tuesday, when the City hosted what was likely the biggest parade we've ever held to Celebrate the victory.

But the Saints success has put an even bigger jolt into the community. Some of us have been in full celebration mode since the 'Bowl, and are now looking forward to a little rest. I'm not happy that I'm sick with some sort of stomach bug, but I suppose it could have come at a worse time. At least I'm not missing work today.

I am a member of Le Krewe d'Etat, which parades on the Friday before Mardi Gras. This year, as I have for the last several, I danced as a member of the Dictator's Dancin' Dawlins. I leave you with an image taken by my friend Norris Gagnet, early on the route. That's me, waving:

Dictator's Dancin' Dawlins

Happy Mardi Gras, y'all.

Additionally, here is a picture:

Cavatelli with Tripe, Rapini, Marrow and Piperade

From a recent lunch at La Côte Brasserie, in the Renaissance Arts Hotel, at 700 Tchoupitoulas Street, New Orleans.

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

It's been a long season; longer than any in which the Saints have ever participated. The City is in a fever pitch at the moment, both because of the Saints, and because Carnival is here. As some indication, we had a hotly contested mayoral election here yesterday, and the local media report that only 89,000 citizens cast votes. That's down from 108,000 in the last such election, which was held when the City was still recovering population from Katrina evacuees.

It doesn't make sense for adults to become so emotionally invested in a team of professional athletes, but that is what has happened. Very few people I know locally are not fans of the Saints, and I have heard more grown men admit to tearing up during Jim Henderson's call of the kick that sent the Saints to Miami than deny it.

If the Saints win tonight, the City is going to explode in celebration. No cars will be overturned, and no shops will be set on fire, but the party will otherwise be out of control. It will also last for more than a week, as Fat Tuesday is not until February 16th.

If the Saints lose, I'm not really sure what the City will be like. Subdued, likely, at least until this coming Tuesday, when there will be a parade to honor the team in downtown New Orleans. Win or lose, that's going to be an event to remember.

Whodat.

Please enjoy this image of whorish pasta from A Mano, as a substitute for my writing:

Pasta alla Puttanesca