Gumbo with Potato Salad on Top! Only in New Orleans

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Miz Susan at Cafe B

Have you ever heard of gumbo with potato salad on top? Yup, it is for real. The new restaurant owned by the New Orleans based Brennan family is Cafe B, on Metairie Road, in Old Metairie, and instead of serving gumbo atop rice, they serve a floating island of green onion potato salad instead on their gumbo. Fattening? Maybe a tad!

At any rate, it is good. But not as good as their Barbecue Shrimp. You know how New Orleans rolls: Nothing succeeds like excess!

Your Imaginary Foodie Friend,

Patsie

Warhol and Patsie

Patsie Times Four

Dear Imaginary Friends,

Are you a fan of Andy Warhol's? I am. I love his Marilyns, his soup cans, etc. His silkscreens- times- four with color blocking really resonate. He had a great sense of design. Did you know that he is from Pittsburgh? Yup.

He had a playful sense of humor and was self-effacing, despite his thirst for publicity. He showed up for so many small events all over the country.Warhol went to openings everywhere; when somebody opened an envelope, he was there... 

Go check out his life's work at the Warhol Museum in Pittsburgh.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Lizard Meets Lantana

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I was not Susan's only house guest this week. There were plenty Lizards or Anoles sniffing out the vegetation and basking in the warm sunlight.

We both share something in common: scaly dry skin as well as appreciation of Lantana. And the desire to hang out at Susan's.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

New Orleans

Dear Imaginary Friends,

I just returned from a technology-imposed vow of silence. I spent five days in New Orleans, where my iPhone refused to let me post blogs. But I am happily home, and back in the blogging saddle.

I ate my way through town, enjoying Austin's, Commander's Palace, Cafe B, Clancy's, and Dante's Kitchen.

Had great shrimp, crab etc.?
Check.

Gained weight?
Check.

Saw some of my favorite peeps in the world?
Check.

Brought home a bodacious Haydel's King Cake, pralines, red beans, and creole mustard?
Check.

All the hallmarks of a successful trip down to my home away from home.

Your Imaginary Creole friend,

Patsie

Parker's New Toy

Parker rides 'em, cowboy, with his mom watching

What I Painted This Week

Study in Blue and Orange, Oil

Dear Invisible Friends,

Hi, there! This is my newest, hot off the easel creation. Painted this past Wednesday afternoon, it sprung to life quickly. It resembles a watercolor, as it has a certain transparent quality not usually found in oil paintings.

This painting is so new that one could say it is wet behind the ears.

Visit my still lives locally at River Farm on East Blvd., The Art League, and A Show of Hands . 

Links below:www.ahs.org

a showof hands, the art league

 

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie

Last Wednesday

The Set-Up, aka, the still life one is supposed to paint

This is such a glamorous painting space. Yes, this is what art classrooms across the country look like! I attempted to paint this last week. The colors are again a complementary juxtaposition -- this time of purple versus yellow. I struggled and struggled. 

Brought my canvas home, having thought it looked pretty good, and then realized that it stunk. Worked on it some more, made it stink less. Sometimes, paintings come so easily and other times they are like giving birth to a big-headed baby.

I will post tomorrow what the painting looks like now. It has had to travel through the tunnel of ugly in the meantime.

Your Imaginary Friend,

Patsie