My first Mardi Gras....

Well, it's started. I attended my first official Mardi Gras parade on Saturday. I would have been at the first one of the season the previous Saturday, but parking is a bitch in the quarter. The parade itself was somewhat meh. Don't get me wrong, it was better than 95% of the parades I've seen in my life, but for this extravagant event, it seemed kind of, almost, half assed. I've been assured by my local friends that it was one of the smaller ones, and they only get better. Here's hoping.

The one I think I'm most looking forward to is the Krewe of Muses on Thursday night. It's the only all female Mardi Gras parade, and their throws include intricately decorated shoes. I'm keeping my fingers crossed I'll catch one, preferably with my hands, and not my face.

My friends start to arrive on Saturday (send good thoughts to my bestie, apparently she was in the hospital last night, trooper that she is), and the craziness will be in full swing. I'm excited about the parade that goes through my neighborhood; I hear it's pretty incredible. I'm hoping my liver and almost 30 year old body hold out...I've been noticing signs of "lack of party ability" lately, and trying to live by the "you're only as old as you feel" mantra. Short skirts and tight tops are helping, but we'll see what shakes out this weekend.

I'm not sure if I'm more excited about Mardi Gras, or if I'm more excited to show my best friend all the things I love about this city. I can't wait to take her to Parkway, and Sucre, and walk around City Park, and show her where we play kickball, and get a photo op in the Sinkhole...but I can't help but feel like there's something overshadowing it and I won't be able to share everything I want to. And I worry about the next time she'll come back. It's an awesome city, so I hope that she does, and not for something like this, or Jazzfest, just some random Wednesday perhaps, and we can play trivia at Half Moon, or I can give her the experience of a Random Bar Night. It'll be fun for sure....just different I suppose.

Miss M Recommends

Rare Cuts and the St. James Cheese Company.

It's grilling day at my counterpart's house, so I volunteered to bring the meat. Now if only I could find a piece for myself...le sigh. Anyhow, I discovered Rare Cuts through the wonder of the internet. It's a local company here in New Orleans that sells restaurant quality meats - that you can cook yourself. There are certainly nights when I would kill for a Murray's filet, but want to do it myself to save on the cost. Finding a reputable meat shop can be quite the challenge. Grocery stores can be very hit or miss, so I've taken care of the dirty work for you.

I purchased a couple of mini filets and a pork tenderloin. They have everything from racks of lamb to veal chops to Waygu sliders (which sadly they were out of - boourns on that noise). They brought out samples of the filet and I thought I was going to foodgasm right there in the middle of the store - how embarrassing! Oh! And a MAJOR bonus - Saturdays they have free bloody mary's. FREE!!! I chatted with the gentleman for a bit (who's name I sadly didn't catch - he was super cute) about how their memberships work, how they started and their private dining room. So, I know where I'm having my birthday dinner next year if I'm in town.

In addition to finding a quality butcher shop, a quality cheese shop is also integral to my survival. The St. James Cheese Company is beyond quality. It's incredible. There was a line out the door the entire time that I was there. I bought their cheese board to go (please label them next time guys, I'm not a mind reader!), which came with delicious pecans, fresh grapes, and apricot jelly. We decided that the orange blue cheese was the best. I savored half of the Brie de Meaux sandwich, triple cream brie and ham - a delight...and the name was not completely lost on me. The bread was perfect - soft and crusty and the salad that came with it was to die for (the dijon vinaigrette is one of the best I've ever had).

There is a little patio nestled into the building, and seating inside as well. Every seat was taken and I was in the store for probably 20 minutes. It's a popular joint, with good reason, so if you can handle the wait, and the lack of labels, you'll be just fine. Since I took everything to go, I have to assume they explain what you're eating when they bring it to the table. In any event, their selection is incredible, the service is friendly, though a bit rushed; understandable given how consistently busy they are. The prices seemed reasonable to me, a bit higher than expected but the quality certainly overcompensated. I say yes to the St. James Cheese Company.

What I really like about both of these places is that they know what they're doing. They know meat, and they know cheese. And they do it exceptionally. So many times a restaurant or hotel or store will have so much going on that they consistently fail on executing the basics. Pick something you're good at, do it exceptionally, and you too will have a line out your door all day long. Now, off to find some wine to go with this cheese....

Next on my list to review...Theo's Pizza and the Creole Creamery (which I FINALLY found!!!).

Apartment Hunting....

Well, I looked at my first apartment over lunch today. A 1 bedroom in the Quarter. Just shy of $800, including all utilities, a block off of Bourbon Street. While I don't know that this is the best idea ever, considering my social (re: partying) ways, I've never been much of a tourist, and cannot fathom spending another minute on Bourbon Street. I will to appease my friends, if and when they visit, but other than that, I will avoid at all costs. I may be a bit of a party girl (understatement of the decade?), but Bourbon Street just doesn't appeal to me. (I need an abbreviation for Bourbon Street....B.S. is just not going to work.)

It certainly wasn't the nicest apartment I've ever seen, but it would afford me the ability to sell my car, and walk or bike to work. It's a ten or so minute walk. However, I feel that the "touristy-ness" of the area might drive me a little crazy. There's a cute little courtyard in the back, where I could bask in the sun and read, and considering the location, it's surprisingly quiet. The one thing that's holding me back is the lack of laundry options. There are no machines in the complex, and no hookups even if I wanted to buy something. I'm willing to relax a lot of standards (see the Miller Lite I was drinking earlier in the week), but I just don't think I can bring myself to use a laundromat.

I'm looking at a place in Mid-City this evening. It's further away than I'd like to be ideally, but it's only a couple of blocks from the Canal street car and I can use that to get to work. It looks like a really cute house, so hopefully it'll be nice. I'm also looking at a place on St. Charles on Saturday morning - a SUPER cute building with lots of options for apartments. The only issue with this is that they're all studio apartments. I really feel like I'm past the point in my life where a studio is an acceptable living environment, but like I said, I'm into the relaxing of standards lately. Standards, not morals, mind you.

I'll use most of the rest of the day Saturday to drive around and hopefully find something. Our bartender suggested the Marigny district; not a lot of public transportation options, but certainly a bikeable distance. Though I'm not sure how badly I'll want to be biking with 100% humidity through most of August and September.

I've baffled quite a few of my colleagues with my disdain for driving to work, especially considering we get free parking. I don't know....I just don't care to drive for the most part. I've put less than 20K miles on my car in the last three years, and I really don't see the point. It's not a lazy thing, or a green thing, it's just a thing. One of many that make me a weird circus freak. Albeit one with pretty great legs.

One last thing. The local hotel bar has what is quite possibly the best Cuban sandwich on the planet. Last night we put bacon in it. Was. Amazing. Next quest? Wrapping it in bacon and somehow creating a Monte Cristo-like Cuban. I hope they name it after me. It is now my life goal to have a sandwich named after me. Ah, the little things in life.