Christmas Toast 2014

[title type="h6"]Click the arrow on the left of the graphic below to hear me read it to you![/title] [audio mp3="http://nomenu.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/Christmas-Toast-2014.mp3"][/audio] The sun with its solstice tells us that it's time To wring out the stockings in our wet clime And give out again the songs of the season! Forget for a moment about Drew Brees and Celebrate how tasty a town we inhabit With food so savory! So easy to grab it! It's nice that fourteen wasn't one of those years Whose ending we greet with relief and our cheers. No tropical storms shook live oak and home In trade, we paid dearly. Bad luck in the Dome. Another swap made us all mad with the dreads That oysters are scarce, in their bars and their beds But taste fine as ever, and even more thrilling More raw bars are open, shucking and grilling. The number of restaurants on my dining index Passed fourteen hundred. That data reflects Many Mexican vendors, food we must try Asian noodles are cool. If so tell me why Lucky Rooster is now Juan's Flying Burrito? And round the corner, Johnny Besh said "Me, too." Said Besh is the busiest vendor of food. His next restaurant has a Tel Aviv mood. Friend Danny Millan fills up his new Cava With adept young servers. Bravo and Brava! But of all the new inns that try to astound Square Root does it best, serving us in the round! Unseen new foodstuffs, ingenious mouthfeels! And touches of Mexico, too, in its meals. But notice a pink elephant in in the room To many millions did Brennan's reopening zoom. The eggshells did crack. Will the nut follow suit? We think so, but that's all-time record high loot. One matter more for the new Chef Slade Rushing: We want the old turtle soup. We're not hushing. Until it returns. And so should trout Kottwitz. Steak Stanley too. And yes--Slade's black truffle grits. A few well-known chefs have been moving around. Muriel's Erik Veney came two blocks to be found. Dominique left his namesake, for unknown stand. Kevin Vizard to Southern Yacht Club. Oh, and Chef Christian's at Andrea's--for both a good move! Nick Gile at the new Richard Fiske's in the groove. Former Bombay Club site is new one. And oh: Mike Gullotta from August opened MoPho. New restaurants open. Big deal! When we're blessed With many old favorites that really are best To slake our desire for our cuisine Creole Or alla Italia, Français, or a big bowl Of dark, spicy gumbo. That's what it's about. To those who make that, we have this Christmas shout. Hello Mr. B's! How's the ya-ya and shrimp And crabcakes in which never crabmeat does skimp! What's with a steak house next to old Galatoire's? The old place stays still the same, like it always was. Let's pay a visit now at old chez Antoine Where Rick Blount runs things with mother Yvonne With a hot spot called Hermes: finally a bar! Brings both the locals and drinkers from afar With Sazeracs, old fashioneds, martinis and beers. And oysters Foch poor boys. Hurray and three cheers! The restaurateurs in this Yuletide roll call Are so great in number I can't name them all. But surely I'm thinking of old Dick and Ella, The Brennans retired, though you can't tell a Lally or Ti, Cindy, Ralph or a Dickie That without the old folks they'd be quite so tricky. Joy! Joe Impastato, and Sal, his dear brother And the pasta and sauce they make for each other. To Uptown let's go to continue this tally With Mark, Bob and Sandy at Pascal's Manale. Wassail John Harris; Shultes at Bistro Daisy And Upperline's JoAnn, still brilliantly crazy. To Brigtsen's loving couple, Marna and Frank. The Taste Buds I hail as they drive to the bank. A carol I sing to the one-name chefs too: Susan, Emeril, and E-Man. Leah, Nanou. This year was not free from sadness and woes. After eighty-six years, friend Chris "Bozo" goes. Richard Fiske to a new place leaves just his name. Hassan Khaleghi's gone, but Torches still flame. In sadness. Next year, who will it be That I'll mention here? I hope it's not thee. My spirits are filled, though, with pure optimism. Even in this time of political schism Eschewing argument between left and right, Happy folk tell me about food every night To them and to you who visit me here, Merry Christmas! Ho ho! To you all good cheer! [title type="h5"]Tastefully yours, Tom Fitzmorris[/title]