Happy 72nd!

You never know what you're getting into when you sign up for anything. When I started working at Angelo Brocato's, I thought I was just getting a job. Instead, I ended up with a new group of wild women in my life that have taken me in and treated me like family. We range in age from 18-72. And the party doesn't stop.

Monday night was Ms. Mickey's 72nd birthday. Ms. Mickey has never been married and doesn't have children of her own. The girls have sort of adopted her and she has sort of adopted them (although I think if she had to choose between the girls and her doll collection, I wouldn't count on her picking any of us!). Since I started working at Brocato's I heard stories about Mickey's birthday dinner at Irene's. I wasn't invited the first year- It's sort of a special thing, they told me. Don't feel bad if you weren't invited.

This year I was invited. It was one of the most wonderful nights in my time in New Orleans so far.

Despite the rain, we met at Irene's for an aperitif. When we were finally seated, a huge bouquet of flowers hand made by one of the wait staff engulfed the table. Mickey was a celebrity at this joint. The owners and the staff just daunted over her, and the rest of the customers stared like we were important. And duh, we were. We were with Ms. Mickey!

After a difficult decision, we ordered dinner. After complimentary bruschetta and caprese salads, we dove into our appetizers. I have never had escargot before, but it changed my life. It was unbelievable. Imagine a giant mushroom topped with tomato, basil, and garlic, and other heavenly deliciousness on top of  a bread crust. My mouth is watering just thinking about it. I expected it to be rubbery, but no. It fell apart easily. The only chewy part is what I assume is the little part that helps the snail walk. The escargot was followed by Oysters Irene, oysters with tomatoes and pancetta. Delicious!

Between the appetizers and the main course we had a light, tart, lime sorbet to cleanse our palets. And then....The main course. I had veal. I can never resist it. The veal marsala was so good that I nearly cried. I am not exaggerating. I almost did. I can't speak about this any more because I am so sad it's gone.

Finally, Irene herself and the entire wait staff brought out a four layer chocolate and strawberry cake. The entire restaurant  stopped and sang happy birthday with us to Ms. Mickey. It was awesome.

When dinner was through, we walked to Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop, the oldest bar in New Orleans (a small challenge for me). When I came out of the bathroom, the girls were gone. They had left their crippled friend at the bar while they walked up the street to look at Ms. Mickey's old house! Fortunately, they came back to join me for a cocktail. And of course, charming Ms. Mickey in her sparkley blouse and done up hair caught the eye of the staff. After she had a couple of pina coladas, she put on her dancing shoes when the piano player started playing Elvis for her. And then he played Louisiana LeRoux's "New Orleans Ladies" , our song. And once again, all of the patrons stared at this loud, wild group of women, dressed to the nines, cocktails in hands, singing along.

The night ended with us stopping at the former Angelo Brocato's, established in the French Quarter in 1905, to take pictures. We all took turns posing in front of the tiling that says "Angelo Brocato's, 1905, Ladies Entrance."

There are moments that I am unsure if I'm in the right place doing the right thing. But it's nights like these that I wouldn't change my life for anything.