California Dreaming

Make mine a "Sazerac", please.

Phew! What a holiday season! But now that I have caught my breath and enjoying being home. I can start to tell a few stories of a magical holiday season, that was had by me!

As I hinted back in December, I went to New Orleans to celebrate a BIG birthday.  New friends met us for the big birthday weekend, which was their first visit. This trip had fun, fun written all over it! 

This wasn't my first trip to the "Crescent City", but I had a few things to see, do, eat and drink. Please note that not one item is on Bourbon Street.

Disclaimer:

I don't "do" Bourbon street, but for our "newbies", we walked down Bourbon,  at 8:30 in the morning, on our way to Cafe Du Monde.  Anyone who describes New Orleans and uses Bourbon street as part of the describtion, is doing New Orleans a great disservice. That's all I have to say about Bourbon street.

Any hoooo................................

 

My "Must Do" list included several items, here were a few:

• Find & Eat Calais.
• Have Sunday breakfast/brunch at Elizabeth's Restaurant.
• Ride the St. Charles streetcar to view the Christmas lights.
  
• Beignets & Cafe au Lait at Cafe Du Monde
  
• Watch the fireworks, at midnight, in Jackson Square.
  
• Drink a Sazerac.

When it came to Sazerac's, we found out that not all Sazerac's are created equal.

The  best Sazerac's, in our humble opinions, were from the following establishments.

The Sizzle Stick Bar

Muriel's Jackson Square

The Sazerac Bar, at the Roosevelt Hotel.

 

My favorite was The Sazerac Bar, which claims being the place were the drink was invented. BUT   this is highly disputed, depending where you get your resource material. Anyway, the Sazerac Bar is the type of bar that I love and usually they are set in old established hotels that exudes an old world elegance & style. 

The Roosevelt Hotel is one of these hotels.

The Christmas decorations at the Roosevelt are part of the Holiday experience in New Orleans. Sorry this photo doesn't do it justice but it was magical.   

Travel Tip # 1: The woman's public restroom is one of the elegant ones. If you are around Canal street, it's a good thing to know in a city with few public restrooms. Remember to tip the attendant.

Just off the lobby is the bar.

After many hours of walking, eating and shopping, this was an oasis in the middle of the desert. It was time to taste the famous drink.

For those of you who watch the series "Treme", it was a Sazerac, that Jeanette threw in the NYC critic's face. Sorry, I digressed.

You ask, "What's in a Sazerac"? Well....................

A true cocktail with 3 ingredients. But this isn't a sissy drink, it's a true sipper. It is the perfect cocktail to partake while relaxing in this elegant bar. Watching the bartenders is entertainment in itself.

The drink being prepared in this shot, is a Ramos Fizz. At home, I use a blender, not sure if I have the skill for this technique! 

Next time, make mine a Sazerac, please.

Etta James R.I.P.

Ms. James, you have been singing in my ear and bringing joy to my life, thank you.

May you rest in peace.

 

 

California Dreaming -Winter Fruits-Citrus

As I find myself crawling above the stacks of work and personal obligations, I wonder, "Where did the holidays go? Wasn't it Christmas & New Years, yesterday"?

It doesn't help my diminutive sense of time, that I went from a glorious 50th birthday celebration weekend, in New Orleans (more on that later) to the frozen tundras of Kentucky for work.

There in Northern Kentucky, I found fellow associates, born & bred Californians complaining about the quality of the fruits & vegetables, especially citrus. This discussion made me stop and think , "Do I take for granted the daily bounty of California?".

Answer: yes.

Winter months in California provide an abundance of citrus;from grapefruits (Oro Blanco, the best), Mandarins, Navel oranges to the ever present Cuties.

Citrus is everywhere.

Growing up in the Central Coast of California (a.k.a. Salad Bowl of the USA), citrus was part of my Christmas flavors (also Dungess Crab, See's Candy & sourdough bread). I have lived in places where I had avocado, fig & citrus trees growing in a backyard. The idea of not having easy access to these fruits/flavor, is foreign to this Cal Gal.

Where am I going with this diatribe?

As I peel my "Cutie", I give thanks for living in California.

Amen.

Flashback Friday-Elvis Costello, "I Can't Stand up for Falling Down."

Talk about time travel, that's what this song does for me. This brings up memories of my youth and the unbridle confidence I once had. Yes, my confidence now is more conservative and reserved. Could that be my age? Or is it more the saying, "Ignorance is Bliss".

This video also shows a VERY young Elvis Costello and some interesting fashion choices.

Has anyone else notice today's youth embracing the 80's skinny jean look? Thank goodness, maybe that baggy pant look will start to dissappear. I don't want to see some young wanna be stud's underwear. Oh don't get me started with the bra strap thing either.

Oh NO! Have I become one of those of another generation that would "tsk, tsk, tsk" me & my friends????

Oh well........TGIF.