Red Is Life

Casamento's

Among the oyster obsessed - Casamento's is close to the Holy Grail - a must stop on the NOLA circuit -

Driving down Magazine - the storefront is small - if you blink - you'll miss it - and - like any celebrity - access is almost impossible - hours are limited - lunch - tues thru sat - 11:00 thru 2:00 - dinner - thur-fri-sat - 5:30 thru 9:00 - the season is limited - they close for the entire summer - everyone wants to go - there is a line in front BEFORE the doors open -

Tried for lunch on Thursday - missed by 15 minutes - this time - had to make it -

Mandina Redux

Drive down Canal - way down Canal - away from the lights of French Quarter - into what appears to be the deserted part of town - your mental images of the aftermath of Katrina heightening the sense desolation - when the colored lights appear - far off on the left - first as a flicker - then beacons of light - beckoning - finally - the pink box with slight overhang of a building - Mandina's -

BullDog Tavern

Late NOLA lunch - first choice Casamento's - we were too late - second choice - just plain closed - third choice - BullDog Tavern - yes they were still serving -

CDC Copies FEMA

Last July we learned that when confronted with complaints of probable poisoning FEMA's general counsel "advised that we not do testing, which would imply FEMA's ownership of the issue.''

This week we learn the bosses at the Centers for Disease Control thought FEMA was onto a good idea as a Federal scientist testified before congress that they - ignored pleas to alert Gulf Coast hurricane victims about formaldehyde dangers in government-issued trailers and told him last year not to write e-mails about his warnings of potentially widespread health problems. 04/01/08 - AP - Ben Evans

Are the "bosses" responsible for these actions still drawing paychecks ? - Are FEMA and the CDC out to kill the victims of Katrina ?? - Let's hope the House Sub Committee gets to the truth -

We Know Where 2 Go

Frank Bruni's lead article - today's (02/27/08) New York Times - Dining Section - Coast to Coast, Restaurants That Count - details his visits to - 15 acclaimed, ambitious, promising or intriguing new restaurants...coast to cost...excluding New York City -

Included in the top 10 - Cochon - which liberates Cajun cooking from its deep-fried clichés. With its stylishly casual vibe, fatty abandon, worship of pork (cochon is French for pig) and fervent devotees, it’s a Momofuku on the Mississippi -

Almost making the cut - Lüke - the chef John Besh’s brasserie in New Orleans -

Scorecard - 2 of the 15 - "already" written of in Red Is Life  - Cochon (10/21/07) & Lüke (9/30/07) - i.e. - its fun to "compare" notes -

 

FEMA Shame

The CDC confirmed (02/14/08) that FEMA trailers provided as temporary housing to Katrina victims were impregnated with unacceptable levels of formaldehyde - six months after it was revealed that FEMA lawyers blocked testing for fear of agency liability - i.e - the storm may have cost them their homes - FEMA may have cost them their health - via Associated Press -

FEMA's expedited effort (02/18/08) to move affected trailer residents to suitable housing - via The Times Picayune

Let's hope its not too little - too late -

St. Charles Streetcar Returns

A victim of Katrina - down since September 2005 - New Orlean's St. Charles Avenue Streetcar returned to  service - over its entire route - Canal Street to Riverbend - December 23, 2007 -

Beyond its significance as a symbol of recovery - this is one of the most beautiful - scenic - romantic - rides on a public transportation system - you can take -

Bayona

Just wonderful -

Listed as a Top Ten by the Times Picyunne - Bayona proved to be everything it was cracked up to be - throw in the wine - more than it was cracked up to be -

Absurd FEMA Fish Tale

Just when FEMA looked to be straightening out - this absurdity regarding a requested reimbursement by the New Orleans Aquarium - 17 months ago -

Where Are Dick And Jenny

Daughter - college student - all knowing "resident" of New Orleans - proudly proclaimed she knew where Dick and Jenny's was - we drove - from the top of Tchoupitoulas Street to F&M - "cool place for drinking and eating and dancing from room to room" - she asked - "... want to go there?" - and then added - "we went too far ... we missed Dick and Jenny's" - three point turn - we drove back to the beginning of Tchoupitoulas - "look left ... its on the left" - she exclaimed - another three point turn - "it must be further - beyond F&M" - we continued our search - not recognizing the omen -

Eventually found the restaurant - only to ask - after our meal - where were Dick and Jenny -