Fat Tuesday is a big day in Michigan schools. Laissez commencer the Michigan Merit Exam! Er, not quite what you were expecting? I’ll be cooped up for five hours proctoring this big old test with a room full of juniors. We’re not allowed to read anything at all besides the manual so I’m already planning my daydreams in advance. I’ll be in New Orleans, thank you very much, reliving every moment of my New Years trip to the boyfriend’s home state.
Why don’t you come along with me?
We’ve been there so much that we don’t do too much of the tourist thing, unless it’s checking out an iconic restaurant, of which there are many. We finally made it to Commander’s Palace for New Year’s Eve lunch. Let’s just say this place lives up to the hype. And it’s true-they have .25 cent martinis.
We spend most of our time trying to live like locals mainly because the boyfriend was once a local himself. We met in this great city a few years ago.
So we wander around a lot, by car and on foot. I take pictures. At least I try to.
We eat breakfast. Our favorite breakfast joint had closed in our absence. But we discovered a little Caribbean-feeling gem where I for one enjoyed an enormous banana pancake.
We coffee and relax at our favorite uptown spot.
Did I mention we avoid the French Quarter like the plague? We now prefer the Warehouse District. Oh the snobbery of the upscale tourists we’ve become. And there’s hipster restaurants.
And speaking of hipster restaurants, we stumble upon new favorites. Behold the creole burrito.
This funky spot is on Magazine Street. This particular trip seemed to be, for me at least, all about Magazine Street.
For the boyfriend, no trip is complete without a dozen of these beauties. In this case, a half dozen, since we were in one of those upscale places in the Warehouse District.
So while New Orleans will be reveling in Mardi Gras fun, I’ll be stuck in a classroom. But at least I have my misty watercolored memories.
And my leftover Gumbo.
Provence in Ann Arbor 
I am green with envy. So many lovely pictures there. That “Butcher” place sure looks like the hip place to be!
Indeed Maeve! Hipsters and meat galore. And we know how fashionable sausages and such are these days. I’d go back.
“Enjoy” the day. I have only spent one evening and the next morning in New Orleans as part of a business trip to Louisiana outside of New Orleans. It looks like we need to schedule a visit there. Thanks for sharing your memories.
I think you would really enjoy it there, Michel, being a restaurant guy (especially given the French influence). Hope you can check it out one day!
Hey Liza, great pictures. I especially like the banana pancake – yummy. Mom
Liza, hi! I was away, our mid-term vacation week. Went skiing in Austria, and I started reading Ann Mah’s book; it’s so much fun! It also makes me reflect about life in France. I identify myself with the feelings she describes in her experiences…
I love New Orleans, its spirit and its restaurants. Even the busiest business trip from Toronto to New Orleans, felt like going on vacation: -)
Have a great week!
PS. Any recipe of the banana pancake?
A banana pancake would indeed be a good recipe to work on. Yum! I’d like it to be known though that I certainly did not eat the whole thing. It was huge! I’m glad you had a nice break. Now if only it would warm up!
Wait a second… I could go to that place and get four Martinis for a dollar?! SAY WHAT NOW?! That is the best thing ever!!!
They do have a three martini limit but it’s still the most amazing deal ever! You should go, especially when you’re missing France.