Lunch at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant

Dooky Chase is one of the most beloved and respected restaurants in New Orleans and has served Presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush as well as Hank Aaron, Ernest Gaines, Quincy Jones, Jesse Jackson, Duke Ellington, Ray Charles and more. Open for lunch Tuesday through Friday and supper Friday nights, the menu includes Creole favorites like Shrimp Clemenceau and Stuffed Shrimp but it was impossible to resist the allure of tasting as many things as possible with the buffet ($19.95) which started with a spicy vegetable soup and ended with a warm peach cobbler. I couldn’t get enough of the candied sweet potatoes, crispy fried chicken and like-my-daddy-makes green beans.

Another Birthday at Commander’s Palace

I like traditions. As a child of divorce and someone who has moved many times, traditions provide me with a through-line. As such, I make new rituals and customs as often as I can and celebrating my birthday at Commander’s Palace is a tradition I hope to grow old with. Commander’s is not only one of the oldest restaurants in NOLA, having opened in the 1880’s, it is a dining experience steeped in tradition. That said, the menu includes new fare like molecular gastronomy creations and popular local farm goods from Covey Rise Farms as well as Kansas beef from Creekstone Farms processed according to the humane Dr. Temple Grandin design.

Christmas Gifts and T-shirts

Whether you’re shopping for Christmas or treating yourself, you could find reasonably priced gifts in my new virtual L.A. to N.O.LA store. Items are made to order, shipped to your door and can be customized. New Orleanians will enjoy the many items made just for them including t-shirts and sweatshirts identifying you as a “Native,” “Local” or “Resident” on a fleur de lis backdrop as well as “Throw me somethin’, Mister!” Mardi Gras shirts. I’ve also made a wide variety of Christmas cards and To/From gift labels, mostly featuring images of my handmade ornaments. The Christmas collection also features labels and a card just for Saints fans!