JazzFest Daze Between: Grabbing A Bite

It’s not like the Daze Between has been totally devoid of music for the hardcore element of the Cultcha Maven’s Krewe. That would be the Film Babe and me. The second weekenders arrive today.

There was Toussaint on Tuesday night. Yesterday afternoon, we stopped by the Louisiana Music Factory for some CDs. We caught the end of Mitch Woods set. And that of the Stanton Moore Trio with Anders Osborne sitting in. The place was of course jammed with hardcore JazzFesters.

I’ve run into fellow Louisville expatriates escaping Derby both times we’ve stopped by that great music store.

There’s a great little exhibit in the Cabildo on “The Unsung Heroes of Louisiana Rock & Roll.” Yesterday was opening day and we were there. After which we watched for a bit as the “Treme” crew was filming a scene with Steve Earle in Jackson Square.

Marcia Ball played her traditional Daze Between gig in Lafayette Square yesterday evening, but we missed it . . . to dine.

I’ve been trying to get a reservation at Cochon during JazzFest for the last several years. To no avail. Finally I was able to score one to eat at the indecent hour of 6:00 pm. Anyway, it’s worthy of all the praise it’s been getting, including yesterday in the New York Times.

Some quick shot restaurant reviews:

Hank Williams might have drunk less and eaten a bit more if he was presented with Cochon’s crawfish pie. Mmmmm good. The fried oyster and bacon sandwich was just as decadent as it’s combination of ingredients implies, but worth every calorie, gram of fat and cholesterol tally. Our main waitress and one of her cohorts who helped at our table were somewhat pissy and dismissive. But it didn’t ruin the experience that much. Others on the staff were friendlier.

I can also recommend Delmonica, John Besh’s Italian place in the refurbished Roosevelt Hotel. The food and service were impeccable. Besh also runs The American Sector restaurant in the WWII museum. Classic American diner food and more taken to the nth degree. The buster crab po boy and onion rings were to die for.

I’ve already mentioned Galatoire’s and Drago’s too many times, so I won’t heap any more praise.

Also on tap before we waddle back to Louisville, Emeril’s Delmonico and Vizard’s. Okay, and one more trip to Drago’s tonight with the second weekend krewe.

And, hey, there’s four more days of JazzFest. Gonna get me some Van Morrison, Neville Brothers Band, Aretha, Classie Ballou, Coco Robichaux, The Iguanas, The Gypsy Kings, Henry Butler, etc, etc, etc.