The best dinner I ever had

 

 

The best dinner I ever had

 

I’ve had many memorable meals – with my family and with friends. But the best dinner I ever had? I was by myself. (although not for long). I was in New Orleans, on a media trip to cover the annual eBay convention. Myself and my fellow Canadians soon bonded with the European journalists, and amongst our group of 10, only myself had been to NOLA previously. After four days of eBay convention and group dinners, we were given the time to go off on our own for a few hours.

 

My good friends, who had recently moved away from NOLA, advised me to check out Jacques-imos, a restaurant located uptown, far from the French Quarter and the convention centre. Despite numerous visits when they lived in New Orleans, I had never gone to this establishment. I flagged a cab the minute I was free of my pr hosts and gave the driver my destination. He turned to me and said in a rich local accent “How you know about d’at? How you know Jacques-imos?”

 

I explained I had locals advise me and the driver laughed, and happily took me to the restaurant, advising me about his favourites on the menu. The first thing I spotted was the patio out front – a permanently parked truck without a roof and a table popped into back. There were lots of people milling around out front, smoking, drinking and talking. My assumption that there was a line was quickly eradicated by someone who said, “Oh honey, just push on through to the bar.”

 

Once inside, slowly walking through the happy throngs of people, I wasn’t sure what to order, so the bartender said margaritas were the popular choice, so why not just trust him? I did and he was right, it was a spectacularly made margarita. I was soon talking with a couple beside me, who told me how they regularly came to the restaurant, a necessary infusion of food gospel according to Chef Jacques. Another group of people had ordered appetizers and offered me a taste when my hungry glance was noticed and welcomed with a smile and the passing of a fork.

 

Pretty soon a group had formed, all on first name basis, talking about our love for New Orleans. Food recommendations were shared – favourite bars dissected. I ordered the creole cheesecake – a spicy savoury wedge of andouille sausage and cornmeal delight. Adding in tastes of hush puppies, fried oysters, more margaritas and gumbo, my new-found friends passed me tastes, tips and stories.

 

Above the mix of zydeco, jazz and rock, Chef Jacques, emerged to greet the crowded bar area, standing on the bar and saluting the patrons for their lively conversation and for hanging in for “the best ol dinner you’ll ever have Uptown”. As Jacques danced for the crowd, my friends cheered and whistled and the bartender took photos of his boss, in his clogs and shorts.

 

The hostess finally found tables for my friends, and as each group left to pass through a small part of the kitchen or headed next door to the annex, every group encouraged me to join them at their table. Strangers initially, but new friends all in pursuit of real N’awlins food, meant to be shared and discussed.

 

Photo: Jacques-imos patio by WH

posted by Waheeda

~ by Waheeda on April 9, 2008.