Monday, March 31, 2008

Time for a brutal self-assessment

100%ALCOHOLIC


That's just for starters.

Thank you, Bubbles and Kirby, for helping me see just how far I've fallen.

On the diet and weight front, I now tip the scales at 219 pounds, more than at this time last year. Last time I was in New Orleans on vacation with my family, in August 2004, I gained 7 pounds in 3 days, while training for a marathon.

And what did I fatten up on?
Well...here's just a little something for you. Please forgive me if some of the photos are a little...blurred. In an effort to avoid looking like either a rube or a voyeuristic freak, many of my vacation snapshots were taken with a cell phone camera.

Chopped pork shoulder sandwich and barbecue spaghetti at Interstate B-B-Q in Memphis



Fried dill pickles at the Praline Connection on Frenchmen Street.


And of course, my beloved Sazerac. First with lunch at the Napoleon House


And then before dinner at Arnaud's



Did I mention beignets? Forget Krispy Kreme, Dunkin Donuts, Lard Lad and all the rest of them. This is the ticket: fried dough covered in a mound of powdered sugar. Beats the hell out of any elephant ear or funnel cake you've ever had at any county fair. Served up all day and all night at Cafe Du Monde on Jackson Square.



Let's just grab one more order to go



Wait, I almost forgot--there was also bacon involved in this trip. Oh yes.

At one point, my stomach full, enjoying an expansive feeling of well-being toward my fellow humanity, my senses and speech only slightly impaired by intoxication, I suggested to MizBubs that it was in fact entirely possible to design an entire cuisine around oysters, bacon and a deep fryer. Yes, there was a lot of bacon. The most glorious example was this gem, served as an appetizer at Elizabeth's on Gallier.

Behold, praline bacon:



That's all for now. I'm off to cook dinner, some clear broth and a few pieces of spinach, followed by a piece of fruit. For now the bacon will stay in the freezer, and no deep-fried food or delicious cream sauces will cross my lips.

See y'all later.


7 comments:

Fran said...

At 82% I am merely a lush to your alcoholic with some kind of drunkard between us...

My own food and weight issues are... well not good.

That Nawlins' food and drink are pretty good if you are going to go off the deep end.

Right now my only marathon training is for the Carbo-thon that my body seems to be craving. Every piece of bread calls out my name... No chip can remain uneaten.

Deep sigh. Makes me sound so damned attractive, huh????

lulu said...

Did someone say "Bacon"?

You can get "Pig Candy", which I assume is similar to that praline bacon, at M Henry at Andersonville. It's yummy!

Dr. Monkey Von Monkerstein said...

Eat, gain weight, fat people like you fetch good prices on the black market.

Mob said...

I only scored a 91%, making me a drunkard.

Great pics, sounds like you ate some great stuff on your travels!

Katie Schwartz said...

You noshed beautifully, child. I am a beignet whore. have you ever tried them dipped in raspberry coulis? To. Die. For.

Jon Scott said...

The best Memphis Radio station is on your computer

www.AllMemphisMusic.com

Great station!

Writeprocrastinator said...

With my cholesterol being at the eat oat bran cereals to lower it or else stage, if I lived in Memphis, I'd be dead inside of a month.