Hungry Thursday

 

Holy Thursday in New Orleans proved to be a day for serious eating. First stop was Dooky Chase's for gumbo z'herbes and fried chicken. Now you probably know the story. You eat gumbo z'herbes on Holy Thursday to fortify yourself for the days of fasting ahead. you use an odd number of greens for good luck/letting you know how many new friends you will make, eating the gumbo means you don't have to go to church on Good Friday. You know, basic Catholic stuff. For another take on Holy Thursday, check out NOLAnotes.

The gumbo is very peppery and pungent, not mind you, spicy. The greens melt into the stock both thickening and flavoring the soup. I could have eaten bowls of this gumbo. Scratch that, I should have eaten bowls of this gumbo. Plus, a 2 piece order of fried chicken hit the spot. The crust on the chicken at Dooky's is some of the finest in town: firm, well-seasoned, and liable to shatter all over your shirt. But this batch of chicken was a little dry and under seasoned in the meat portion. Let's chalk it up to it being their busiest day of the year.

Our fried chicken appetites whet, Lindsay and I headed around the corner to Willie Mae's Scotch House for a bowl of black pepper laced red beans and rice and some more fried chicken.

The fried chicken at Willie Mae's is noticeably different than other genres around town. First off the coating is a bit more luxurious more resembling the wet batter you find on Mandarin chicken. The coating has more heft to it and tends not to crackle and splinter like old paint. The interior of Willie Mae's chicken is very juicy and well-seasoned to the bone.

 

If I could design the perfect piece of fried chicken it would have the crust from Dooky's and the interior of Willie Mae's. But until they merge, I am content to keep eating both.

A Great Program

If you have Tivo or DVR, I highly recommend setting it to record America The Wright Way: New Orleans. I caught this show tonight, and quite simply, finally this show gets New Orleans. The food, music, art, culture, and livelihood of the Crescent City is explored with the you know what lurking the background. But rather than focus on pity and play blame games, Mr. Wright puts the focus on the recovery and the hopeful, never say die attitude of New Orleanians. The quote of the evening comes from local artist Lionel Milton, "It was a tough pill to swallow, but it didn't change who we are."

One of the best segments of the show shows the interplay between Leah Chase and Mr. Wright. Chef Chase shows her bite, her passion, and her true desire to just feed people. Chef Chase is probably the strongest and most beautiful woman in the world.

The only thing to complain about is the ubiquitous (and they must be mandated) segment(s) on Voodoo. At first I wanted to change the channel, but then I remembered that Voodoo is essentially pervasive in whatever religion you choose to practice in New Orleans, okay maybe just Catholics. Making the sign of the cross when you see a hearse, praying to St. Anthony when you lose something, St. Joseph's altars, etc...In a way each of those rituals has some connection to the Voodoo we so easily deride.

Mr. Wright hits the high spots, as if you were taking your friend from college around town. You will immediately be struck with how much Mr. Wright is enjoying himself. This is not a Chamber of Commerce forced smile at a chili dog contest, Mr. Wright truly enjoys himself and you will enjoy watching this program. Program airs on the Travel Channel. I am sure it will be on replay at some point.