Day 12 – April 17

Deep down in Louisiana close to New Orleans,
Way back up in the woods among the evergreens
There stood a log cabin made of earth and wood,
Where lived a country boy named Johnny B. Goode
Who never ever learned to read or write so well,
But he could play a guitar just like a ringing a bell.- Johnny Be Good – Chuck Berry

Hurricane Time

Another overcast day and again on the cool side. The weather suits me but I know that it will soon be hot and humid and uncomfortable. Just hope that the change to more New Orleans like weather is later rather than sooner.
There are four new guests next door. One of the ladies asked me where in Australia I was from. When I said Melbourne she was pleased. She had been a high school exchange student and spent a few months living in Canterbury. Said she cried when she had to leave Melbourne. I told her that it was the reverse for me as I shed a tear when I have to leave New Orleans.

Breakfast is getting later each day. We headed down on Decatur and I picked a place that I have never eaten in before. Monty’s. Nice looking establishment and a little more upmarket than a diner. I went for the house speciality omelette (the Jackson Square) – cheese, shrimp, lump crabmeat, crawfish tails, red peppers, caramelised red onion all topped with the house made creole sauce and a side of hash browns and 2 anti gout pills. Now that is a big breakfast and I will not have to eat again until later tonight.

We made groceries at Rousse’s and tonight we have planned for a home cooked meal.

Got back to sitting on my balcony and watching the world go by. Some people come by half carrying a girl who is as drunk as a skunk. It is only 3:45 but I can see what the problem is as they all carrying Pat O’Brien’s to – go cups. Looks like she is another victim of the infamous cocktail called the Hurricane. That reminded me that I had promised to have myself a Hurricane in honour of the fantastic Kerri Simpson. I poked me head into the apartment to tell the girls to get ready to go to Pat O’Brien’s’

We got to the establishment around 5. Kate got aged checked at the door and then the guy asked for Wendy’s age verification. She was pretty happy with that until the guy burst into a big smile!
We ordered our hurricanes, one for me and one for the girls to share and moved into the courtyard to enjoy.
Pat O’Brien’s: The historical building that is home to Pat O’Brien’s was built in 1791 as a private home that became the first Spanish Theatre in the United States. It was later purchased by the Deflechie family as their residence until the building was purchased by Pat O’Brien.

Pat O’Brien ran a speakeasy on St. Peter street until the repeal of Prohibition. He officially opened Pat O’Brien’s bar on December 3, 1933, located on the corner of Royal and St. Peters Streets. In 1942, after Charlie Cantrell joined O’Brien, the business moved to the present location at 718 St. Peter Street.

The famed Hurricane Drink originated at Pat O’Brien’s in the early 1940’s. The name was chosen because the drink was, and still is, served in a glass shaped like a hurricane lamp. Word spread quickly about the potent beverage and Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane was an instant success. How did the Hurricane come about? In the early 1940’s there was a short supply of distilled spirits because the grains and sugars necessary to produce spirits went to the troops abroad during World War Two. There was, however, a large supply of Rum coming into the Port of New Orleans from the Caribbean. Bar owners were forced to buy large amounts of rum, 50 cases or so, in order to get one case of scotch or whiskey, for example. The experts at Pat O’Brian’s began experimenting, and the fruity potent concoction was finally perfected. So what is in a Hurricane? 4 oz. Of rum blended with 4 oz. of Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane Mix.

We finished our drinks then headed into the main bar. The ceiling is adorned with hundreds of beer steins there is an extra large T.V. screen that has on the NBA play-offs with Miami Hat taking on Charlotte Hornets. The Heat are Kate’s favourite team so we propped at the bar. I had a Strawberry Abita and the girls shared another cocktail. This time the aptly named Rainbow. A colourful drink of Grenadine, Vodka, Blue Curacao and Pat O’Brien’s Sweet & Sour Mix, layered to perfection.

We got back to the apartment and Wendy (with Kate’s help) cooked us a simple Aussie meal of steak, mashed spuds and peas. The steak we got from Rousse’s was very tender.