Monthly Archive for January 2009
New Orleans
What I knew about New Orleans before last weekend was gleaned from the pages of a paperback Grisham novel, the tragic Katrina newsreels, scenes of Benjamin Button’s life-in-reverse, stories of Kevin’s mother’s early college days (in which beignets featured prominently) and a segment of the Martha Stewart Show during which Martha and her guest shook up a couple Sazeracs. In short, not much. Which I think is one explanation for how hard, how fast I fell for the city. Really, I’m still just catching my breath.
We chose New Orleans as our destination for this trip for a couple reasons. First, it’s one of the few great American cities where neither Kevin nor I had stuck a pin in the map. Second, the food. Mention New Orleans to someone’s who’s been and he or she is sure to rattle off a list of can’t-miss meals. Third, we hoped it might be a wee bit warmer than this tundra of a town we’re living in this winter.
With a Bang
I said sometime last week that I believed resolutions don’t count until January 2, but considering that, when I said it, we were on the verge of a New Orleans trip that revolved almost entirely around food (more on that soon!), I probably should’ve nudged the date even later. But in reality, I’m not all that big on resolutions. They feel a lot like Valentine’s Day to me: made-up, invested with sky-high expectations and bound to make someone feel bad.
I do, though, think it’s wise—and natural—to take stock: look forward and backward, reflect and dream, reminisce and commit. And I think it’s also quite lovely to start the new year with a bang. And I would say that our long weekend did just that.
Goodbye 2008, Hello 2009
Happy New Year, everyone! As I’ve mentioned, we’re in New Orleans for the weekend, so our mouths are too stuffed with beignets for me to say much today. But I couldn’t let the new year ring in without saying thank you to all of you. This site has become such an important part of my life and so have many of you. Look at all this food we made this year! It was thrilling to make, inspiring to document, delicious to eat, and heartwarming to share with you. Let’s have some more fun in 2009: what do you say?
