Friday, October 13, 2023
Vacation day 4 of 11. Patrick and I had oatmeal with milk, sliced almonds, and diced half banana. I wrote in my journal. Chris, Andy, Patrick, and I rode Lyft to Tableau and walked in the French Quarter browsing shops. Restroom. At Faulkner House Books we bought some books. Then at lunchtime we waited in line at Galatoire's. While waiting we encountered some confusion at the doorway due to a very large party arriving. I chatted briefly with a smartly dressed man and woman couple behind us who were also confused. I did my best to explain, and the woman told me, "You are cute as a button!" and I again forgot to say thank you. Inside, we learned that the very large party had a Barbie theme. There was pink everywhere on a very long table in the middle of the dining room. We were seated nearby. Bread and butter. We shared soufflé potatoes ($9, crispy potato puffs, béarnaise sauce), duck crepe ($14, roasted duck, homemade boursin cheese port-cherry reduction, pistachios), and oysters en brochette ($17, fried oysters, bacon, meunière butter). Entrees: Chris G and me each: shrimp etouffée ($26, louisiana shrimp, shellfish stock trinity, green onions, light brown roux, steamed rice), Patrick: chicken creole ($26, roasted half chicken, stewed tomatoes, creole seasoning, steamed rice), Andy T: stuffed eggplant ($28, louisiana jumbo lump crab, boiled shrimp, béchamel sauce, green onions, grilled eggplant). Our soufflé potatoes were cold, but we didn't bother to send them back or complain. The duck crepe was okay. The oysters en brochette had fatty bacon in the middle that was not crisp. Patrick said his chicken creole was okay. Andy found the shrimp etouffe was underseasoned. Everyone was dressed fancier than we were. One table had a group of men in suits. The Barbie table was almost entirely fancifully dressed women. Afterwards we walked in the French Quarter, browsing shops here and there. While waiting for Patrick or Andy browsing inside a store, Chris and I watched a man driving a donkey pulling a carriage with passengers. The driver finished saying something to his passengers then turned to Chris and me and bellowed, "Are you looking at my ass?!" and I laughed and clapped my hands in appreciation. Later we all stopped at CC's for beverages and restroom. Rode Lyft home. Napped. We walked and rode the streetcar to Crescent City Blues & BBQ Fest. Tab Benoit was playing when we arrived. We got food and drink and watched and listened. We left the festival and visited Josephine Estelle, choosing the quieter bar on the left rather than the noisier bar on the right. Drink. We rode Lyft to the Airbnb. Weary, we soon went to bed.