I love the anticipation of going on vacation. The planning, the plotting, and the making of lists. You would think after how many times I’ve been back to New Orleans I wouldn’t go through the same rituals. But I do. I love planning our trips back to my home town. We make lists of new restaurants we want to try, where are we going to go with which friends, when. In this instance, we’re printing out the Jazz Festival cubes, planning on what days we’re going, what stages we want to be at, and when.
This trip we are actually going for a full eight days. Owning a full service restaurant, two years new, it’s a big deal for us to be gone that long. We’ve worked hard, have a great team in place and we NEED to get away. Research and inspiration. Yeah that’s what we call it. Aaaaahhhh research and inspiration. Doesn’t that even sound relaxing and inspiring?
We have another really good reason to head back to New Orleans. Lisa and I want to put my family story together in the form of a cookbook. We want to see cousins that we haven’t seen in a while. We want to talk to them about memories growing up, food memories, favorite family dishes. Food is such a source of joy and comfort for me. It’s the best way to gather friends and family. It’s the best way to celebrate. It’s the best way to kick off the start of a football game. The end of a football game.
And even when we are sad, to share a meal and to share memories of a loved one, it’s such a loving and comforting way to be together.
Growing up learning how to cook, I experience real joy in providing someone with a sandwich or a plate of food that make them happy. Providing joy and satisfaction for someone –isn’t that the best? It’s immediate gratification at its finest.
OK so bags are packed, lists are checked and we’re off.
First stop, Biloxi, Mississippi. The truth is I was born in Biloxi. Dad worked for Shell Oil and decided to bring his pregnant wife to stay with his parents while he was on the road for days at a time. Sure enough, that's where I chose to pop into this world. My dad's brother Joe lived in Biloxi as well, and his eldest daughter Cece loves to tell everyone that she fell in love with me the first time she held me in her arms. To this day Cece and her wonderful husband David are more like brother and sister than cousins, and we stop in and spend the night in their beautiful home everytime we drive into New Orleans.
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Our lil cousin and her friends giving the thumbs up on our gumbo. "We love it Uncle Ricky P!" We’re bringing dinner – yep we packed up a selection of deliciousness from Ricky P’s Orleans Bistro that include Louisiana Crab Cakes, our Seafood Gumbo and Crawfish Etouffee’.
Cece and David’s son Jason, his lovely wife and two lively boys are
coming over as well as their daughter Nikki, her daughter and six friends on
the way home from soccer practice. The kids of course can’t wait to jump in the pool and after they do, they are hungry. We’re thinking uh oh we didn’t bring anything for all these kids. Well they were screaming for gumbo like most kids scream for ice cream. And they loved it. Noses running a bit from the spice and everything! How amazing is that?! It’s all in what we are exposed to isn’t it?
 After we enjoy after dinner cocktails in rocking chairs on the back porch in their beautiful home overlooking the river, we share about the family connection to Gone With the Wind and Tara and growing up with CeCe’s way of southern living. Our grandmother Mimi grew up in Atlanta and was best friends (maybe related in some way) with Margret Mitchell, author of Gone with the Wind, and shared stories about that time in the old south with us. Cece gives me a Cook Book that she's had forever...Southern Cooking. It was writted by Henrietta Stanley Dull a former editor of the Atlanta Journal, published in 1928 and promises even the most inexperienced house wife will be rewarded with success :) is very proud of her southern heritage and provides us with southern hospitality at it’s best. Of course a great nights sleep in a big luxurious feather bed doesn’t hurt either!    After enjoying a lovely breakfast of freshly baked croissants (omg) yogurt and fruit, we are jazzed up and excited to hit the road. We will drive straight into New Orleans for Jazz Fest. We are actually making Sunday of the first weekend and will then return for the following weekend as well. (The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival is always held the last weekend of April and the first weekend of May). |
A Day of Festin'
You don't have to worry about who is playing at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival...because it is always AWESOME! And it's not just jazz. The "heritage" part of the festival means there is all types of music that was inspired by/influenced by jazz. There are over 12 stages, arts, hand crafted jewelry and shoes, great hats for purchase as well as...all kinds of killer food. It truly has it all. Jazz Fest is truly one of my favorite ways to spend a weekend...it literally has something for everyone.
nojazzfest.com
We park near Liuzza's on the track and grab our traditional bloody mary. It makes for a lovely stroll into the fairgrounds :)
liuzzasnola.com/
We have our favorite foods that we must have everytime....Crawfish Monica, Cochon du Lait po boy, Crawfish Pie and Alligator Sauce Piquante to name a few. I also love that you can bring in a empty soft sided cooler, buy your beer & water and they'll give you ice to keep it cold. You can park in front of your favorite stage and not have to worry about getting up each time you are ready for a frosty beverage...brilliant!
nojazzfest.com
We park near Liuzza's on the track and grab our traditional bloody mary. It makes for a lovely stroll into the fairgrounds :)
liuzzasnola.com/
We have our favorite foods that we must have everytime....Crawfish Monica, Cochon du Lait po boy, Crawfish Pie and Alligator Sauce Piquante to name a few. I also love that you can bring in a empty soft sided cooler, buy your beer & water and they'll give you ice to keep it cold. You can park in front of your favorite stage and not have to worry about getting up each time you are ready for a frosty beverage...brilliant!