Ripped about Rips on the Lake

Yesterday we had family come into town. Since it was a nice day my husband decided to take everyone to Rips on the Lake in Mandeville. They have an incredible view from their dining porch. However, I can't say our experience there was incredible.

This was my 3rd time there and I wasn't crazy about going back this time but hubby wanted to go there. The first time, the experience was ok, but we went as a group of 8 women who didn't know each other and had to split the bill. They wouldn't bill us individually. Kind of a pain since some just had apps, others had entrees, some had water, others had cocktails.

The second time, was ok too, but I was not crazy about the menu choices and the food I ordered was just ok. Same as the first time I was there. I felt like I was paying for the view more than the food. For the price, I was not impressed with the food.

Then, there was yesterday, the third time.

We arrived after picking up everyone at the airport at 1:45pm. We thought that would be a good time as the Sunday lunch rush would be over. There was no wait, but since we had a group of 6 and wanted to sit outside we had to wait for two 4 tops to open up so they could push the tables together. The lady assured us several tables were close to leaving so we told her we were happy to wait - even though we were all starving and had two little kids in tow!

The sun was out so we sat on the stairs with the kids. Started to notice tables leaving and then suddenly people seated with menus in those tables. Hmm? I wondered. Then after 30 minutes I inquired with hubby. He said he too noticed. We continued to watch as another table got up and left. We inquired with the hostess on what her game plan was for us. She said, "As soon as that table next to the empty one pays and leaves we will push the tables together and seat you." Ok. Thank you. I return to the stairs and sit down with the kids. A couple walks by and I turn around to see the hostess seat them in the empty table. I go back and inquire. "I just sat them there because the table on the other side of the couple about to leave will be leaving soon and I will push those two together instead." Now, I am getting very irritated and it is going on 45 minutes (remember, there was no wait initially!)

So hubby speak to the hostess. He tells her we have been very patient and that if she keeps seating people in every open table there will never be two open for us to sit at. So she tells him she is now waiting for the 8 top up front on the deck to leave so we can sit there. He says, "the story plan keeps changing everytime we ask." He asked to speak to the manager. He told her what was going on. She told him he just needed to be patient. He said we have been patient for 45 minutes! She turned her back to him and started to walk away while throwing her thumb up in the air pointing at the door behind her and said, "Well, leave then."

That is exactly what we did! We took our rather hefty lunch bill to Friends in Madisonville. (Apps, Entrees, Drinks all around!) Friends seated us quickly, served us nicely and we enjoyed the view from their deck instead.

A night out with the bro in New Orleans!

Well, my brother was here visiting for Christmas and it was his first time here since we moved here 4 years ago. So we had to take him out for a night in New Orleans last Saturday. So we hired a babysitter and off we went!

First stop Jacques-imos for dinner. I had never been myself but my hubby has always wanted to take me. He takes his buds there when they come into town to visit and they all rave about it every time. I finally got my chance and man have I been missing something awesome all this time! I couldn't stop saying, "Mmmmmm. That is SO GOOD!" It is one thing to be a visitor and to go crazy over the food down here, but after living here awhile you start to know what is REALLY GOOD! We each ordered an appetizer ($7.50 each and nice size portions) and took turns tasting them. They all rocked! We got the shrimp and alligator sausage cheesecake, fried green tomatoes with crawfish sauce and four huge grilled shrimp on top and the crab stuffed shrimp. All were incredible but the stuffed shrimp was our favorite.

For entrees, my hubby got some kind of fish and bro got the Grouper. I got the waiter's suggested entree - Fried chicken! I went all out and ordered my sides as cole slaw and mashed potatoes to round it out. Man, I don't eat fried chicken a lot but this was mouth watering! The coleslaw and mashed potatoes were so good too I couldn't decide which of the three to finish as it was all too much food for me. Price for my entree - $17.95. Both hubby and bro loved their fish dinners and mmmmmm'd with every bite! My brother said that was the perfect place to take an out of town visitor and just the type of place he wanted to go to. It is a winner!

The atmosphere is cool, the food is great and the prices are affordable. Go early or expect to wait. Short story: On our way out we overheard a woman tell the hostess that they had a party of 6. She said, "Six. Well, you aren't eating here tonight." The woman looked confused. The hostess said, "Honey, I got a 3 hour wait for parties of 6 or more ." The girl left very angry;-)


After dinner, we drove into the quarter. We parked at the Ritz Carlton because that is where we would be ending our night. We walked down to the Foundation Room which is a private club off the House of Blues. A friend put us on the list for the night and we enjoyed this uniquely decorated bar and relaxed awhile in the comfy seating area.

After a few drinks there we decided to take a walk around the quarter. The week before we spent the day down in the quarter with my parents and my mom was asking me where different celebrities live. Of course I never bothered to look up such info. So this time I looked up Brad Pitt's place (521 Governor Nicholas St.) and also found Nicholas Cage's address (11 40 Royal St.) So we did a walk by and stopped into the bar that I read Angelina frequents. We rang both of their doorbells for shits and giggles. It was kinda corny but we had fun.

After a short jaunt down Bourbon Street which my brother found disappointing and too college-like (he was looking for good blues music) we made our way back to the Ritz Carlton to watch Jeremy Davenport play Jazz music for free. This was the highlight of the night for my brother (other than Jacques-imos). My hubby fanagled a seat right up front by the stage with another couple who just sat down. He had the Maitre'd ask them if we could join them since it was a table for 6 and there was just two of them. The couple turned out to be visitor's in town for the Georgia/Hawaii Sugar Bowl game. She was the Alumni Director for Georgia and he worked for the Board of Regents at Georgia. They were very friendly and welcomed us. I ordered the Sticky Toffee Pudding for dessert while the boys ordered way too many drinks and heckled Jeremy and the drummer. It was all good fun and Jeremy seemed cool with it - he is quite a character himself!

Then, I got way too tired. This mommy can't hang anymore. We said goodnight to our new friends the Andersons and wished them good luck at the game. I had us home by 1am and my brother graciously paid for the babysitter because he said he had a great time! Thanks bro! Nice having you here to visit too.

Local Lagniappe

Lucy's Retired Surfer's Bar & Restaurant is now reopened and ready for you to go and hang out there! Great outside deck to dine on and of course the games are always on and the beer is always cold! During game days they have a bucket of beer for $9! It is basically 5 Domestic bottles of your choice in an ice bucket. Food is good (including healthy choices) and reasonably priced.

Covington Food Bank needs your donations! If you live in the Greater Covington Area, please try to help out. They are low on food to donate and need canned goods (including juices), non perishables (boxed foods, dried beans, etc) And if I am not mistaken, they may even accept baked goods. But I would call first about that one.

La Petite Exchange will be having their fall consignment sale next week. If you want to participate in the sale you must drop your Sunday - Tuesday. Sale starts Wednesday. See the website for more details on drop off times and sale times. This is a great time to clean out the kid's rooms and stock up on clothes for school or toys for the holidays!

See you at the Madisonville Wooden Boat Festival! If you've never been, you must go!

Southshore businesses head north

For those of you who don't know New Orleans geography allow me to explain something real quick. There is a Southshore and a Northshore in the Greater New Orleans area. The southshore is what the rest of the world knows New Orleans to be and is basically south of Lake Pontchatrain. The Northshore is a bedroom community located (you guessed it!) north of Lake Pontchatrain. There is a very nice 25 mile bridge that connects the southshore to the northsore. Pre-Katrina, the southies (as I like to call 'em) thought the people on the northshore lived in another country. Of course they thought the northies to be crazy to commute across that dang bridge everyday!

HOWEVER!
Post-Katrina, many a southie has made the northshore their home and they seem to enjoy life over here in this other country and don't think us so crazy anymore. Ok. Well, maybe a little crazy . . .

Anyway, my point. . . .

With our new residents, I am happy to welcome all the new businesses that have found their way north too! Like the new Cafe Du Monde with a drive thru window! My friends Laura and Shannon want everyone to support their old favorite that just arrived R&O out on 190 in Covington. Can't forget Randazzo's bakery and Vic & Natly's both in Covington. I am sure there are many more. I am sorta a newcomer so these businesses are all new to me even if they did move north. Welcome!