NOLA: Day 3
Sunday morning brunch at Commander’s Palace. From the moment we walked in the door, I knew this place was amazing. The staff are exceedingly friendly to the point that I started thinking maybe they had mistaken me for a celebrity or budding Secretary of State.
The building was constructed as gift by Emile Commander and intended as a wedding present for his daughter in 1880. According to some of the staff I spoke with, his daughter broke off her engagement, so Mr. Commander decided to turn the house into a restaurant. Their approach to Sunday brunch is classic New Orleans style: a decadent ambience that stops just short of complete sensory overload.
The view from my table.
Great Music, of course
Sunday brunch at Commander’s consists of choosing one appetizer, one entree and a dessert. I think this is pretty brilliant because I’m just moronic when it comes to “buffet strategies.”
I selected the Bayou Black Satsuma Salad, which I now refer to as “HEAVEN.”
For my entree, I ordered the Griddle Seared Gulf Fish, which I call “MORE HEAVEN.”
And for dessert, the traditional Pecan Pie.
If loving Pecan Pie this much is wrong, I don’t want to be right.
My brunch companions, Traci, N. and Tariq had good stuff, too.
Tariq had bread pudding. In my opinion, “bread pudding” is a tragic oversimplification of how good this pudding tasted. They should call it “Rock Your Socks Off, Make You Scream For More and Cry Like a Little Child Because You Will Never Taste Anything So Lovely Anywhere Else” Pudding.
N. had the most wonderful pancakes ever and Traci’s turtle soup had a lovely spicy undertone to it.
I know because I forced everyone to give me a bite of everything they ordered. Including the people sitting next to us. No, not really.
To my credit, I shared my food, too, because I’m a good person like that.
Good person. Mostly.
As the brunch wound to a close, the musicians started moving around to different tables and taking requests. They played “When the Saints” for us, but, prior to that, they played “You Are My Sunshine” for the table next to us. Which is my girl’s favorite song.
It was without a doubt the highlight of our trip as far as she was concerned.
In case you haven’t noticed, Commander’s Palace was a huge hit with me.
Not just because of the food, but also because, in a lot of ways, it’s representative of why I love this city so much. The delicious food, the history of the building, the lively music, pretty colors, and the staff that treated us with not just courtesy, but actual human warmth… were symbols to me of the eclectic and deeply diverse culture of the city our country I have come to know and love.
I love New Orleans because it’s an enduring symbol of the fact that Americans can boast of a very real, beautiful and organic culture.
A very, very, delicious culture that induced a three hour nap less than thirty minutes after the meal.
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Sarah Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 1:11 am
Oh my good that food looks so good! Yum.
[Reply]
Shelli Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 10:43 am
Reading this, I realized that if people from other countries don’t experience places like this, it stands to reason that they see us as one big commercial for places like McDonalds and Ihop and Starbucks. They need to skip those places and find the really cultural places and experiences that makes the United States unique.
Oh, and my daughter would only settle down if I sang her You Are My Sunshine when she was a little baby.
Oh, and I LOVE bread pudding. mmmm
[Reply]
Finn Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 1:09 pm
I don’t do buffets. They are far too expensive for what I actually eat and every time I see one I can only think of the letter to General Manager of the five-star, five-diamond resort that my mother worked at: “Everything on the buffet was cold. Except for my milk.” That about says it all for me.
So glad you avoided that and had a lovely meal.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 4:49 pm
@Sarah: Uh-huh.
@Shelli: Preaching to the choir… as a long time resident of Central Florida I *cringe* when I think about how we’re one of the top travel/tourist destinations in the world.
@Finn: It might just be me, but buffets always seem extremely unclean, as well. “Warm milk” sort of proves my point, I think
[Reply]
B.E. Earl Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 5:26 pm
That’s awesome that you are having such a great time.
N’Awlins is such a great place. I miss it.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 6:33 pm
@B.E. Earl: Annnd that’s why you love that I’m giving you a minute by minute account. Riiiight?
[Reply]
Poppy Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 7:51 pm
Mmmmm, pretty food.
And beautiful Faiqa.
[Reply]
Faiqa Said,
November 24, 2008 @ 9:13 pm
@Poppy Awww. That sorta made my day.
[Reply]
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