Thursday, May 5, 2011.
Cinco De Mayo At La Carreta. Keith Young's Steak House.
The Marys eat at La Carreta so often that the public relations person for the small local Mexican chain invited Mary Ann and me to their Cinco de Mayo celebration today. When Mary Ann told them of my condition, they offered to reserve a table for us--something they don't ordinarily do. How could we say no?
Here's how. When we arrived at La Carreta's flagship restaurant in Hammond, next to the train station, the streets were full of people making their way to the party. And what a party! They had a big stage set up with a live band, and dozens (maybe hundreds) of people milled around with margaritas, enjoying the great weather and the scene.
Too many people for me to negotiate through. And it appeared that I'd have to negotiate through some gravel to get to the table, something that would be difficult at best with my wheeled contraption. And it was loud--logically enough. We called the lady who invited us to tell her we didn't think a gimp was a good fit. She sounded as disappointed as we were.
So, where to go for dinner? I'd eaten nearly nothing all day. Our first thought was Jacmel Inn. They had a ramp, but it looked steep, and it was getting dark. Another time. Middendorf's? A little too far.
Keith Young's Steak House came up. That worked for me, but you really eat there, and Mary Ann doesn't want to really eat. Or so I thought. Tonight, the idea appealed to her. So there we were.
The following thought is one I'm afraid I will think often: This was the first time I dined in this place and didn't have a cocktail. Cocktails and steak houses go together like a roast beef poor boy and a Barq's, like raw oysters and beer. But I'm off of cocktails, at least until I have my first one and see that it doesn't do what the last one did.
Wine, on the other hand, seems fine. I had a glass of Merlot. As much alcohol in that as in a standard cocktail.
I started with four oysters Bienville. Very good. MA didn't want an appetizer, but Keith sent her two sea scallops anyway. MA doesn't do scallops (don't ask me why). They were too beautiful to let just sit there, so I downed them, too.
Mary Ann had steak on her mind, which is why we were here. The waiter insisted on running through the whole menu anyway, putting particular emphasis on the duck breast. I'll have to get that next time I'm here and feel the gout coming on. "The steaks sell themselves," said the waiter, explaining why he didn't say a word about them. I have steak on my mind, too.
What we should have done is split the large filet mignon. Mary Ann was left to tackle that fourteen-ounce monster alone. She ate about a third of it, but she will make sandwiches out of the rest for many days, to her leftovers-loving delight.
I don't know how, but I almost polished off the sirloin strip. Keith leaves nothing inedible on that, so it's a big job. I don't eat that much food anymore--or so I thought. I guess if one is hungry, and the food is irresistible, one can surprise oneself.
That dinner did everything a dinner is supposed to. It was all just what we wanted to eat, in the place we wanted to be. Mary Ann couldn't stop talking about how much she enjoyed it all.
At the next table, a lady who looked to be in her eighties had exactly the same roll-around walker that I have. Just a different color. I almost got up on mine and asked if she wanted to race me. But I was afraid I might hurt myself.
Keith Young's Steak House. Madisonville: 165 LA 21. 985-845-9940.
