Lady
06-02-2003, 08:34 PM
Crawfish Etouffee
The three of us head into the other room where about a dozen tables are set up as a large group is coming in at 6:30 - our original time was for 5:30 but they called me at work a few days before we left and asked if they could move it to 4:30 due to this group - no problem - so there we are in our cooking aprons - we were each given one - I stayed below on the floor and Tramp went behind the stove to the cooking area and began with Gumbo – with just about all New Orleans recipes - first you make a roux. Michael was the chef and he told Tramp that he would make a larger pot of Gumbo than what was normal since it would be his gumbo that will be served to the group following us, about 60 people! The heat was on!! A photo of the room is at the bottom of this paragraph - there was a mirror above the stove so that those sitting at the tables when they do a large group cooking class can view what the chef is doing - Tramp had the "Hand's On" Course.
http://www.thelouisianageneralstore.com/Merchant/classroom.jpg (alt+p)
Michael was, charming, knew what he was doing – knew much about the town and he filled us in on little curiosities – various characters in the town that are legend – he praised Tramp every now and then that Tramp indeed already knew how to cook – we spoke with Michael about our dream of having a Bed and Breakfast one day where Tramp would make all the delicious morning delights and afternoon treats. Michael told us he was from Michigan and how he ended up in New Orleans – his time spent in Africa and Europe – we always love listening to the adventures of others and realizing when the conversation has closed just how much we all really do have in common.
When each course was finished – we would take our bowls – plates to an unset table and eat – there was a lazy susan in the middle of the table with spices – and large containers of iced tea – Tramp and I each had a few beers from New Orleans – the name of the beer is Abita – it was okay – I also had an iced tea going and at one point when my iced tea was half empty I reached for more iced tea to replenish my glass only I mistakenly picked up my bottle of beer and filled the glass with the beer – I made a new drink – it was very tasty! That was only having ½ beer in me – well there were all those daquiris – hmmmm lol
Next came the Crawfish Etoufee – Michael had Tramp add a special hot sauce that he swears by – can’t remember the name of it at the moment – but it sure kicked it up – Tramp does hot – but Scamp and I are milder – we were both saying woaaaaa – but Michael said – it needs more – ackkk – we managed to eat this dish and it was very good – but much too hot for son and me!
Pralines – ooooh Yummmers!!! We now have the secret recipe for Pralines and Tramp and I know how to make them – yes indeedy!!! These are worth the airfare to New Orleans – if you only have two things to eat – have Pralines and Beignets – zipppedy dippppedy!!! These hardened on a sheet of wax paper and no sooner would the first row hardened when we were eating them lol – Michael had two guys who were kitchen helpers – about Scamp’s age - looking at the Pralines – Scamp told them they could take some but, Michael gave them – the "you touch those you are outta here look" – shucks – I wanted them to have some too – there were plenty!
Bananas Foster – Pralines were not enough – now we had to make dessert too – though the Pralines were dessert – the Bananas Foster course went well – the pan was flamed and the ice-cream scooped – another OMG this is too good recipe!!!
We had a great time - we enjoyed our chef - Michael and loved the meal. The aprons were ours to keep - coolzers and the recipes for all Tramp made that afternoon had been copied and presented to us – I had some good video footage and we took a few still shots – Scamp had stayed on the platform by the stove with his Dad the entire time – he wanted to cook also, I kept reminding him that this was his father’s present but it just didn’t work – the connection was not made, so he stood behind the counter and stirred the gumbo every now and then or dumped in the onions when needed. I had already prepaid the surprise and so we headed out the doors and made our way back to the hotel - our last night in New Orleans for awhile. What else can we do, I was thinking as we continued on our way back towards the hotel.
We- passed House of Blues and thought of stepping inside but still too stuffed - passed Coyote Ugly and with Scamp we most assuredly kept walking - I suggested we go to Riverwalk and visit the bottom floor as the guys had not seen that floor as yet - but we were all too stuffed we just walked our way back to the hotel - we thought of stopping in Mulatte's one more time to listen to some music - nope too stuffed!!
We made the last 30 minutes of Happy Hour back at the hotel and we decided since we had not been in the pool as yet - may as well do it now - went outside to test the waters - a bit cool but it was a very warm night and you get accustomed to it once you get in - Scamp saw two girls about his age in the pool - I felt the air part as he zoomed past me to the room to get changed - Tramp and I had just pushed the button to the elevator to go up and change when our offspring charged out of the elevator and with a quick, what sounded like hi Mom and Dad said 2,000 times faster than normal - he was gone – know the cartoons where the character leaves his clothes behind suspended in the air – that was him!
We joined Scamp a bit later and we all had a good time in the pool - loved watching the lizards on the wall eating bugs that were hanging by the lights - cute little things - Scamp was in heaven - when he moved over to the hot tub with the two girls which was located in a secluded section of the courtyard. Tramp and I thought of joining him in the tub, thereby embarrassing the heck out of him but we let him go this time!
Tramp and I were like kids – goofing around in the pool – we had swimming races and the one legged hop across the pool backwards race – stuff like that – splashed the heck out of each other too! We knew we had to be up early for the flight home so we made our way back to the room and son soon followed behind us - changed into our pjs and finished packing our suitcases for the trip home tomorrow - everywhere I looked I saw beads - where did all these beads come from as I scooped them up and stuffed them into the sides of the suitcases.
I had a few postcards left and decided I'd better jot a few lines on them and address them otherwise I would be mailing them from another State that did not begin with the letter "L" - I need to mail them in the morning. It was off to sleep - due to our early flight - yikes!!
The three of us head into the other room where about a dozen tables are set up as a large group is coming in at 6:30 - our original time was for 5:30 but they called me at work a few days before we left and asked if they could move it to 4:30 due to this group - no problem - so there we are in our cooking aprons - we were each given one - I stayed below on the floor and Tramp went behind the stove to the cooking area and began with Gumbo – with just about all New Orleans recipes - first you make a roux. Michael was the chef and he told Tramp that he would make a larger pot of Gumbo than what was normal since it would be his gumbo that will be served to the group following us, about 60 people! The heat was on!! A photo of the room is at the bottom of this paragraph - there was a mirror above the stove so that those sitting at the tables when they do a large group cooking class can view what the chef is doing - Tramp had the "Hand's On" Course.
http://www.thelouisianageneralstore.com/Merchant/classroom.jpg (alt+p)
Michael was, charming, knew what he was doing – knew much about the town and he filled us in on little curiosities – various characters in the town that are legend – he praised Tramp every now and then that Tramp indeed already knew how to cook – we spoke with Michael about our dream of having a Bed and Breakfast one day where Tramp would make all the delicious morning delights and afternoon treats. Michael told us he was from Michigan and how he ended up in New Orleans – his time spent in Africa and Europe – we always love listening to the adventures of others and realizing when the conversation has closed just how much we all really do have in common.
When each course was finished – we would take our bowls – plates to an unset table and eat – there was a lazy susan in the middle of the table with spices – and large containers of iced tea – Tramp and I each had a few beers from New Orleans – the name of the beer is Abita – it was okay – I also had an iced tea going and at one point when my iced tea was half empty I reached for more iced tea to replenish my glass only I mistakenly picked up my bottle of beer and filled the glass with the beer – I made a new drink – it was very tasty! That was only having ½ beer in me – well there were all those daquiris – hmmmm lol
Next came the Crawfish Etoufee – Michael had Tramp add a special hot sauce that he swears by – can’t remember the name of it at the moment – but it sure kicked it up – Tramp does hot – but Scamp and I are milder – we were both saying woaaaaa – but Michael said – it needs more – ackkk – we managed to eat this dish and it was very good – but much too hot for son and me!
Pralines – ooooh Yummmers!!! We now have the secret recipe for Pralines and Tramp and I know how to make them – yes indeedy!!! These are worth the airfare to New Orleans – if you only have two things to eat – have Pralines and Beignets – zipppedy dippppedy!!! These hardened on a sheet of wax paper and no sooner would the first row hardened when we were eating them lol – Michael had two guys who were kitchen helpers – about Scamp’s age - looking at the Pralines – Scamp told them they could take some but, Michael gave them – the "you touch those you are outta here look" – shucks – I wanted them to have some too – there were plenty!
Bananas Foster – Pralines were not enough – now we had to make dessert too – though the Pralines were dessert – the Bananas Foster course went well – the pan was flamed and the ice-cream scooped – another OMG this is too good recipe!!!
We had a great time - we enjoyed our chef - Michael and loved the meal. The aprons were ours to keep - coolzers and the recipes for all Tramp made that afternoon had been copied and presented to us – I had some good video footage and we took a few still shots – Scamp had stayed on the platform by the stove with his Dad the entire time – he wanted to cook also, I kept reminding him that this was his father’s present but it just didn’t work – the connection was not made, so he stood behind the counter and stirred the gumbo every now and then or dumped in the onions when needed. I had already prepaid the surprise and so we headed out the doors and made our way back to the hotel - our last night in New Orleans for awhile. What else can we do, I was thinking as we continued on our way back towards the hotel.
We- passed House of Blues and thought of stepping inside but still too stuffed - passed Coyote Ugly and with Scamp we most assuredly kept walking - I suggested we go to Riverwalk and visit the bottom floor as the guys had not seen that floor as yet - but we were all too stuffed we just walked our way back to the hotel - we thought of stopping in Mulatte's one more time to listen to some music - nope too stuffed!!
We made the last 30 minutes of Happy Hour back at the hotel and we decided since we had not been in the pool as yet - may as well do it now - went outside to test the waters - a bit cool but it was a very warm night and you get accustomed to it once you get in - Scamp saw two girls about his age in the pool - I felt the air part as he zoomed past me to the room to get changed - Tramp and I had just pushed the button to the elevator to go up and change when our offspring charged out of the elevator and with a quick, what sounded like hi Mom and Dad said 2,000 times faster than normal - he was gone – know the cartoons where the character leaves his clothes behind suspended in the air – that was him!
We joined Scamp a bit later and we all had a good time in the pool - loved watching the lizards on the wall eating bugs that were hanging by the lights - cute little things - Scamp was in heaven - when he moved over to the hot tub with the two girls which was located in a secluded section of the courtyard. Tramp and I thought of joining him in the tub, thereby embarrassing the heck out of him but we let him go this time!
Tramp and I were like kids – goofing around in the pool – we had swimming races and the one legged hop across the pool backwards race – stuff like that – splashed the heck out of each other too! We knew we had to be up early for the flight home so we made our way back to the room and son soon followed behind us - changed into our pjs and finished packing our suitcases for the trip home tomorrow - everywhere I looked I saw beads - where did all these beads come from as I scooped them up and stuffed them into the sides of the suitcases.
I had a few postcards left and decided I'd better jot a few lines on them and address them otherwise I would be mailing them from another State that did not begin with the letter "L" - I need to mail them in the morning. It was off to sleep - due to our early flight - yikes!!