Good Morning, Darlings!
This past Saturday night was the last stop in my birthday celebration tour. And what a night it was! My darling bff, John, took to the kitchen and whipped up the most amazing meal ever. I’m serious. If we could have had some judges there, he would have won a James Beard Award. And there was also a fabulous gift for yours truly!
The Maestro at Work
Good Morning, Darlings!
I had the sweetest time in NOLA with my darling husband, but the birthday celebration didn’t stop there. This past Friday night, 22 of us gathered to celebrate some more at Karaoke Melody, a terrific spot on Buford Highway that has private karaoke rooms. Most.Fun.Ever.
The photos really tell the story here, so lets begin!
Teague Checking The Mics
Good Morning, Darlings!
Our last day in New Orleans was off to a slow start. We had a quiet breakfast on a patio in the French Quarter and just moseyed around town on foot. The sky was grey and the day was misty. I didn’t even take any photos.
Good Morning, Darlings!
Day three in New Orleans was the greatest and….it was my actual birthday, so even better!
Eric and I arose fairly early and caught the trolley to The Trolley Stop Cafe for brunch. And since it was my birthday and I could do anything I wanted, I ordered a blueberry waffle and a crab cake. Both delicious. Eric ordered the eggs, toast and bacon. Also yummy.
After brunch we wandered around the Garden District and enjoyed all the beautiful homes. The architecture in New Orleans really is fantastic and refreshingly without a whit of snobbery. Then we hit Magazine Street for some shopping. Such fun.
First Stop - Brunch At The Trolley Stop
Good Morning, Darlings!
Thanks for not minding that I took a vacation for a few days. My birthday was this past Saturday and so the celebration started on Wednesday, of course!
My sweet Clint and Matt invited Eric and me for dinner last Wednesday night to kick off my birthday and what a dinner it was! Starting with a huge platter of the biggest steamed shrimp you have ever laid eyes on followed by tender pan-sauteed tilapia with a luscious meuniere sauce, roasted green beans accompanied by cherry tomatoes, along side scrumptious yellow rice topped off with rich and gooey chocolate candy puff pastry purses for dessert.
But even better than the food was the company. Beginning the evening with a champagne toast and ending with lots of hugs, it was the perfect start to what would be the most perfect birthday ever.
But I bet you want to see all the yummy goodness, yes?
Huge Shrimp Cocktail
Good Morning, Darlings!
I know I said we don’t celebrate Valentine’s Day around here, but that won’t stop me from saluting the man who makes everyday Valentine’s Day.
Eric, thank you for being a prince of a husband. You are here for me no matter what:
Winter
Spring
Summer
Fall
You stand by me…whether we are:
In the Mountains
Or in Wine Country
You constantly allow me to see things in a different light.
It's As Clear As Black And White
That no one else would ever do.
You are the best dad to our dogs.
Whether You Are Making An Omelette Just For Us
Or Dry Aging Beef For Eight
You always make me feel protected.
Happy Valentine’s Day, Sweetheart. I love you!
Good Morning, Darlings!
This week has been a flurry of cooking at our house. We adhered to our planned menu for the week and it was so much fun. Last night was pork belly tacos and the night before was dim sum. Wednesday night was Chicken Pot Pie. And here are the pictures to prove it.
Making Martha's Pate Brisee for the Chicken Pot Pie Crust
Good Morning, Darlings!
This past Saturday I had promised to teach our darling Chioke how to make biscuits and sausage gravy. I thought this was the perfect opportunity to throw a little get together.
Now usually, sausage gravy and biscuits sounds like a down home kind of meal. But I decided to amp up the glamour. There would be 7 of us at brunch and I wanted a very special table setting. First stop, the State Farmer’s market to see the flower lady. The roses there start at $9.99 for 2 dozen and they are really beautiful. She was having a “buy two and get one bunch free” deal that I could just not say no to. I ended up with 2 bunches of yellow roses and one bunch of a very, very, pale yellow roses. So total roses – 6 dozen. Cost – $27.50. The “wow” effect on my friends – priceless.
Good Morning, Darlings!
Eric and I were most fortunate to be invited by our sweet Clint to a party at his swell friends Calvin and Steve’s loft in Castleberry Hill last night. This loft was really something and I can’t wait to share the photos with you. Everything in the loft was huge – the Christmas tree, the disco ball, the giant nutcracker – all remarkable. But I do believe my favorite spot was the section of First Class airline seating in their foyer – who has a foyer big enough for a section of an airplane??? Why, Calvin and Steve, that’s who! Take a look:
Holiday Fun Photos After The Fold
