Greek Camellia Boogaloo
New Orleans Rising: Back to Camellia Grill, Bayou Boogaloo, Greek Fest
Thursday I ate at Camellia Grill for the first time since K. It is probably the most famous eatery in the Riverbend Carrollton area near me; basically an old style diner with a few New Orleans additions. It's in the highest 10% of the city that was fortunate to only be hit by a hurricane, not the much worse disaster of the Federal levee failures. At the start of October 2005, I doubt anyone would have guessed that most of the icons in Mid City, and even a couple business in Lakeview and the Lower 9th, would beat Camellia to reopening. It finally reopened shortly before JazzFest. Every time I'd go past, there'd be a line out the door. I've always thought Camellia was worth eating at but not standing in long lines for as there are a good variety of other food options within an easy walk (which lots of JazzFest visitors and students seem not to know about). Thursday I passed by just before 4pm, no line, so I decided to give it a try. I just had a burger and a mocca freeze. It's been remodeled, but the front and food are pretty much as folks remember it. Some of the old camellia prints, in addition to the discolored old Mickey Mouse clock (which looks like it's been there forever, but I vaguely remember the clock before it) , are on the newly repainted wall. Alas, no coat or hat hooks now-- I always liked that they were one of the few casual restaurants that still provided a place to hang your hat. The back kitchen and bathroom have been more extensively redone, to good effect.
Yesterday I spent much of the day at two events along the banks of Bayou St. John. The first was the 2nd "Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo", at the head of the Bayou in Mid City. The second was the 34th Annual Greek Festival at the Orthodox church & Helenic center across from Old Spanish Fort near the lake Pontchartrain end of the Bayou. Weather was beautiful, and many people were enjoying canoeing or rafting in the bayou. Both events were lively and well attended, in neighborhoods where there are still numerous vacant formerly flooded homes around (though now most have been gutted).
The Bayou Boogaloo was first held last year to celebrate and spur revival of Mid City; I went there only briefly as a torrential downpour hit. This year was better, with two music stages, a special Mid City art & crafts market set up along Davis Parkway, food booths and other entertainment.
Mardi Gras Indian at the Bayou Boogaloo. One of the city's hospitals (Lindy Boggs) still closed since the great deluge in the background.
At Greek Fest I had the best gyro I've eaten in quite some time, with freshly cut lamb just roasted over an open outdoor rotiserie. Seeing a name badge on one of the women serving, I asked her the pronounciation. "Kah-lee-OH-pay". The Greeks should know, so it seems the local street name pronunciation ("KAL-ee-yohp") and the northern name for the instrument ("Ka-LIE-oh-pee") are both wrong.
Later today back to the Bayou, where I hope to catch some more Indians.
New Orleans Rising: House in Mid City
Thursday I ate at Camellia Grill for the first time since K. It is probably the most famous eatery in the Riverbend Carrollton area near me; basically an old style diner with a few New Orleans additions. It's in the highest 10% of the city that was fortunate to only be hit by a hurricane, not the much worse disaster of the Federal levee failures. At the start of October 2005, I doubt anyone would have guessed that most of the icons in Mid City, and even a couple business in Lakeview and the Lower 9th, would beat Camellia to reopening. It finally reopened shortly before JazzFest. Every time I'd go past, there'd be a line out the door. I've always thought Camellia was worth eating at but not standing in long lines for as there are a good variety of other food options within an easy walk (which lots of JazzFest visitors and students seem not to know about). Thursday I passed by just before 4pm, no line, so I decided to give it a try. I just had a burger and a mocca freeze. It's been remodeled, but the front and food are pretty much as folks remember it. Some of the old camellia prints, in addition to the discolored old Mickey Mouse clock (which looks like it's been there forever, but I vaguely remember the clock before it) , are on the newly repainted wall. Alas, no coat or hat hooks now-- I always liked that they were one of the few casual restaurants that still provided a place to hang your hat. The back kitchen and bathroom have been more extensively redone, to good effect.
Yesterday I spent much of the day at two events along the banks of Bayou St. John. The first was the 2nd "Mid-City Bayou Boogaloo", at the head of the Bayou in Mid City. The second was the 34th Annual Greek Festival at the Orthodox church & Helenic center across from Old Spanish Fort near the lake Pontchartrain end of the Bayou. Weather was beautiful, and many people were enjoying canoeing or rafting in the bayou. Both events were lively and well attended, in neighborhoods where there are still numerous vacant formerly flooded homes around (though now most have been gutted).
The Bayou Boogaloo was first held last year to celebrate and spur revival of Mid City; I went there only briefly as a torrential downpour hit. This year was better, with two music stages, a special Mid City art & crafts market set up along Davis Parkway, food booths and other entertainment.
Mardi Gras Indian at the Bayou Boogaloo. One of the city's hospitals (Lindy Boggs) still closed since the great deluge in the background.
At Greek Fest I had the best gyro I've eaten in quite some time, with freshly cut lamb just roasted over an open outdoor rotiserie. Seeing a name badge on one of the women serving, I asked her the pronounciation. "Kah-lee-OH-pay". The Greeks should know, so it seems the local street name pronunciation ("KAL-ee-yohp") and the northern name for the instrument ("Ka-LIE-oh-pee") are both wrong.
Later today back to the Bayou, where I hope to catch some more Indians.
New Orleans Rising: House in Mid City