The news from the New Orleans Menu is glowing today, after a couple of glitches. But glitches are unavoidable, so no problem there. What we're working on this first day after New Year’s Day is recreating the Ciao Numbers program. This will be the third attempt at this recreation after this silly but fun idea was destroyed in a computer disaster many years ago. There is some hope though-as MlL plumbs my database for vintage nuggets we came upon a page of these.
The Ciao Numbers? But what is this, even Jude is asking as he and his team code it for the subscription files. Both kids have heard mention of this but were too young in Ciao number heydey. It sounds like a funny idea, but in the two original attempts to offer it, the radio listeners went mildly crazy over it. It was like an individual tiny mark of distinction for themselves. I would run into people who identified themselves as Ciao number___. The idea is goofy, but simple. Ask me or anyone else in our NOMenu staff to give you a Ciao Number. You will be offered a number that fits the Ciao criteria. The rules are as follows:
You can choose your own number, or we can give you another. It must be between 1967 and 9761. It has to be a whole number (no half-numbers). The number can be either 1967 or 7691. We'll tell you the significance of those two numbers after we add your number to the list.
The advantage of having a Ciao Number is that the Ciao-carrying New Orleans Menu Daily readers get the front wave of what's happening in the food situation around New Orleans. But even more interesting to them, the backstory: 45 years of personal reports on restaurants in the city, following their evolution and the wider evolution of dining here.
It’s all very delicious.
