Friday, September 30, 2011.
Tree Down. Dinner By Moonlight At Lakehouse.
The tree-cutting crew came by to chop down a tall pine near the entrance to the Cool Water Ranch. Tropical Storm Lee made it leen threateningly in the direction of not just the road but two different sets of power lines. Mary Ann has been calling around for prices for the job, which have ranged from a disturbing $500 to a shocking $800. The Asplundh guys just happened to be in the area, working for the power company. Mary Ann walked up to them and asked what they'd want to do the job. "Two hundred," the man said. Sold.
Walking around later to look at the work, I saw another large pine dead, perhaps from bark beetles. And a third out back that apparently fell some time ago. Must have come down while I was immobile. If it had fallen ten degrees to the north, it would have hit the house.
Mary Ann liked the idea of dinner at the Lakehouse, right after the radio show ended. The coming of October tonight is convincing, and it was beyond breezy and rather cool on the lakefront in Mandeville. Of course, we took a table on the patio in front of the place.
It wasn't busy. Cayman Sinclair, the owner, drifted by with the report that they were full the night before and most nights lately. They blamed it on the advertising the Lakehouse does on my show and web site. Whenever someone tells me that, I always suspect they're pulling my chain. Mary Ann, who more or less owns that business, makes mental notes and reports such comments to other potential advertisers. I'm glad I don't have to get involved in that.
We started with some terrific, big fried shrimp on skewers, served with a pair of sauces--one rich, one sweet and spicy. I had a creamy soup of red peppers, herbs, and cream--just right for the blustery evening. A salad included strawberries, roasted pecans, and blue cheese on baby greens, with a slightly sweet balsamic vinaigrette. This combination is turning up on many menus lately. Fifteen years of, it would have been laughed at, because it's a lot better than it sounds.
Mary Ann had a good salad, too, but the main focus was on its garnish: a sandwich of lump crabmeat between fried green tomato slices. This was filling, she said, complaining about overeating. But all she had left was a slab of grilled salmon, the eating of which makes her feel virtuous. I had fish, too--a pecan-pecan-crusted mahi-mahi. That's not one of my favorite fish, but its reputation with me ticked up tonight.
How do they keep such a chef when the place is open only four meals a week? Because the rest of the week Cayman and his staff cater movie shoots around town. This is big business here these days.
We saw the sun set when we first arrived. Now we saw the crescent moon go down. Both orbs dipped below the horizon well to the south. The sky is falling, all right, seasonally speaking.
Lakehouse. Mandeville: 2025 Lakeshore Dr. 985-626-3006.
