I visited art galleries or shops eight out of nine days while I was in New Orleans. I ate bread pudding eight out of nine days, and no two were alike. I ate more gumbo than I can count and even ate alligator. Grilled pickles, broiled brussel sprouts, yam chips with hot vinegar, all fabulous. There are a few restaurants that I recommend, only because I had such a good experience there, probably all are exceptional, New Orleans is known for many things and food is high on the list.
As restaurants go, Booty's Street Food in Bywater was so very different and wonderful. The meals are served as "tapas- style small plates" with portions that are appetizer size, designed so you try many different things. My Tecate beer was served in a paper bag.
Jacques Imos Cafe was also a real treat. Touted as serving "real Nawlins food", it's always packed. My meal was chicken pontalba and every bite was a treat. Check out the interior -
One night was scheduled as an artist's studio tour finishing with a five course meal served by Thomas Mann at his home. We started with Linda Berman's home, she owns the Nouvelle Lune Gallery where Michael deMeng currently sells some of his assemblage art. As an artist and art gallery owner, her home was full of awesomeness.
Linda is also an artist, she paints and is a raku clay artist. She demonstrated the firing of a clay piece and explained the process. Linda's first business was Drunk Monkey Art Studio and she showed us one of many paintings of a monkey imbibing.
Then on to Benjamin Bullins warehouse studio. A new and upcoming artist that uses salvage pieces to create large assemblage art. A photographer and even salvage furniture artist, we were joined by his wife, Hannah.
Here is one of his pieces that includes an old sign for snowballs, not to be confused with snow cones. Oh yes, we were corrected, the snowballs are made of much finer, shaved ice.
This is one of the walls in his warehouse, just a small section, the photographs themselves are very, very large.
Before dinner we were treated to a tour of Thomas Mann's "Studio Flux", where his jewelry business is headquartered and the actual making and design of each piece is carried out. We had the grand tour which included some of Thomas's assemblage art.
Dinner was served in Thomas Mann's home which was once "The Rose Tattoo Bar". The bar remains and is the center of the kitchen and living room area.
Sam Shaw, a well known jeweler from Main, is making some very different pieces of art that are made up of doll body parts, most of which come from Germany. They were on display at Thomas's house, unfinished at this point but very interesting.
Before we sat down to dinner, the artists posed for us. Left to right - Michael deMeng, Benjamin Bullins, Thomas Mann, Linda Berman and Sam Shaw.
Dinner included, sweet potato bisque with a corn and jalapeno hash, black bean sauce and pepper cress. Asian slaw came next before the entree of "Rose Tattoo Shrimp n' Grits" and dessert was a bread pudding assemblage with chocolate hazelnut brittle, balsamic glaze, maple syrup and roasted pears.
Thomas Mann mentioned a cook book he is writing, the first chapter is finished and will include photography of his jewelery as it pertains to his dishes. Clearly he is very talented, a man that is also very generous and truly gave us a night we will never forget. We left just after midnight on sensory overload.
Katherine Engen organized the entire workshop, great kudos to her for another wonderful day!
And so it went as this trip was just starting. There will be lots more art, food and then there's the music, the out of this world, crazy wonderful jazz of New Orleans.
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