Serious Eats - seriouseats.com

Grits, stoneground of course, with some Pecorino romano stirred in.

Anything you could make with chicken legs and thighs. Back in the Dark Ages you could often buy a 10 lb. bag for 29 cents a lb. Also lots of red beans and rice.

Eggplant Parm!

It was in the middle 60's. My first husband and I met the Indian captian of a merchent marine ship in the French Quarter. We showed him New Orleans and he invited us to dinner on the ship. It was love at first bite!

Anything with delicious Creole tomatos.

I bought mine on impulse. I had an extra Bed & Bath coupon and got carried away. I use it a few times a year to spray Absinthe into the cocktail glass instead of doing the swirl and discard method when making a Sazarac. I hate to waste expensive Absinthe. I know it's ridiculous.

Let me explain a bit. Sharing a meal with friends, whether at home or in a restaurant, is an important part of my life. It is also a social contract . The restaurants part of the contract is to provide good food and service. My part of the contract is to be a pleasant and not overly demanding guest,i.e. not demanding endless substitutions or 500 glasses of water, showing up with bratty children who are too young for a fine dining experience,and worrying about bill splitting, etc. Assuming I'm with true friends, if both the restaurant and I live up to the contract, the result is a wonderful "communion of the table".
That's just me. If you have other expectations, that's fine too.Though, I do believe that my way results in better service
@janaatwg
I forgot the tipping in cash. Thanks for mentioning it.
Also, I should mention I am in high end retail and I know way too much about how clients can try to abuse you.
@gagabol
You got a point honey. That's why I try to dine only with true friends.

I am ditching the fried eggplant with marinara I was planning for supper and serving this instead. I have the shrimp, arugula, and mayonaisse ingredients. A quick stop at WF will take care of the brioche. I'm salivating now.

Grandpa's root beer floats and making cakes in my EZ Bake oven with my Great Aunt Neetsie!

My fridge says I shop like a European, 2 or 3 times a week: There isn't much in it. My freezer says I'm frugal. It's full of things waiting to become stock, chicken fat waiting to be rendered, parmesan rinds, etc.

aglio e olio with whole wheat pasta

Waffles with powderd sugar on top, purchased from the "waffle man", who had a street cart pulled by a mule in the 1950"s. My mom loved them too.