From round the tree jumps,
Like some kind of jester,
Your joyful gourmet
And dining suggester,
Here again with my list
Of meals fondly retold,
And chefs and the servers
In hot eat'ries and cold.
I'm generalizing
When I call the past year
A time of a turning
In the way we dine here.
First Root, with its food lab,
Gelling fruit, curing meats.
Then John Besh's new Borgne
With Isleños-style eats.
But Bywater's bohemia
Is on fire--no joking!
Maurepas's innovating.
A new Joint is smoking.
A dozen new restos
Are there for the trying.
Pizza to sandwiches,
Sous-vide-ing to frying.
It all fades to background
Behind R'evolution.
With a splash and a bang
And media moochin'
Chefs Folse and Tramonto
Plus several million,
Cook everything Cajun,
American, Italian,
Prime aged beef, grilled oysters
Quail, andouille in broth.
But what's with this idea:
Maybe no tablecloth!
But luckily we have
Some retro new places.
Two spinoffs of Clancy's,
Staffed by two old aces.
One's Annunciation,
The other's Johnny V's.
White tablecloths at both
Classic dishes that please.
For such food we look to
Our venerable friends.
But even they fall prey
To the power of trends.
Example? I offer
From two thousand twelve in
No less than Galatoire's,
Announcement from Melvin
That the building next door
Was annexed, including
Six hundred seats added,
That's what I'm computing.
Now a litany of
Many restaurateurs
Charles Carter at Antoine's,
The Grill Room's grandeurs.
King Patrick Von Hoorebeck,
Uncorking a Bordeaux.
Chef Tory McPhail, who
Is partner in SoBou.
Chef Duke, who gave toys to
Hospitalized kiddos.
Farmers with their veggies
From nearby La. meadows.
Donald Link, warm greetings!
Susan Spicer, the same!
Emeril, we're proud of
Your continuous fame.
Tenney Flynn, Tommy D,
800 Bienville:
With you, Fins and Arnaud's
Is a full block of skill.
I could be here all day
with more congratulations.
So enough. Yet one more
Begs for my attentions.
To readers and list'ners
Of my incessant words,
Thank you! Merry Christmas!
I am tastefully yours!
--Tom Fitzmorris
