Always cherish my trips to the “center of the universe”

The bread pudding souffle at Commander’s Palace, the palm trees on Canal Street, the Superdome, gumbo, the French Quarter, beignets at Cafe Du Monde, and the Royal Sonesta are just a few of the many reasons I love New Orleans.

Jackson Square, Emeril Lagasse, breakfast at Stanley’s one day and Johnny’s the next, Bourbon Street, Louis Armstrong, a po boy from Mother’s, the never-ending night-life, the St. Marie, John Besh’s August, I could go on and on.

Mardi Gras, turtle soup, Jazz Fest, Hotel Monteleone, brunch at a Court of Two Sisters, the Saints, jambalaya, St. Charles Street, “Who Dat,” Irene’s, Magazine Street, the trolley, crawfish etouffee, walking to everything, the World War II museum, the Roosevelt, Frenchmen Street, and a place some call the “center of the universe” – Pat O’Briens.

I had the great fortune to spend much of last week in the Crescent City with a group of friends for our annual excursion to the SEC Basketball Tournament.

If it was up to me, the tournament would be in New Orleans every year, but it’s not, and SEC Commissioner Mike Slive won’t return my calls.

Trying to recap a trip to New Orleans in a 20 inch column is like trying to stuff an elephant in a pillowcase. My head can barely hold all the memories made.

Among the great thrills for me was seeing Henrietta Alves, who has been performing at Pat O’Briens for more than three decades.

An extremely accomplished pianist, Henrietta is a native of Winona and was a subject of a feature story we put together when I was with The Winona Times. (I worked with Derma native Tim James in Winona, who like me, never needed much excuse to go to New Orleans.)

That was roughly 15 years ago, so I was not anticipating her even remembering me. I must admit my heart fluttered when I in

troduced myself, and she said “you’re in Calhoun County now?”

After a brief, yet memorable visit in the jam-packed piano-bar, her last instructions were for me to say hello to her dear friends Keith and Dot Cobb of Calhoun City.

She then returned to her piano stool and delivered another stirring performance to the thrill of the large crowd.

A first for me on this trip was the visit to August – Chef John Besh’s premiere restaurant. My wife Lisa and I became a fan of his a few years ago, but had yet to arrange a visit. The crab bisque, filet, and Père Roux’s banana rum cake with Creole cream cheese icing did not disappoint.

We always finish our visits to New Orleans with a Saturday night at Commander’s Palace. Everything there builds up to the br

ead pudding souffle – a creation of famous chef Paul Prudhomme and remains one of my absolute favorite things to eat anywhere.

This year’s trip was capped on the ride home with a stop at Middendorf’s in Aker’s – approximately 60 miles north of New Orleans on I-55 – for some of the lightest, best tasting, thinnest, fried catfish in the world.

I don’t know when I’ll next return to New Orleans, but I promise it will be sooner than later.

“Laissez les bon temps rouller!”

You may email Joel McNeece at joelmcneece@gmail.com