Successful day of eating

Friday, August 21, 2026

Alexander’s boss sent him a message this morning asking if he had taken the day off or was he sleeping. Confirmed day off. It so rarely happens.

We walked the 6 or 8 blocks to Bearcat for brunchtime. It was only 89 out (felt like 102). Benjamin and I crossed to the shady side of the street. When Keith and I were here a couple years ago, we found Bearcat and went back the next day and ordered the exact same thing. We have been raving about it ever since, so it was a must go for the boys. I had crispy potatoes, mornay sauce, and eggs. It could not be better than that for me.

The men all had a Cat Daddy – a biscuit (Alexander pointed out it was the least interesting part of the meal, but it was the heading of the section it was listed under) with fried chicken, an egg, and crayfish gravy. There were many little sounds of happiness and numminess while they were eating. They said the meal was worth the raving they had heard.

It said it felt like 104 on the walk home. Everyone stayed in the shade.

We stopped at the restaurant outside the door to our hotel – Empanola. What a great name for an empanada restaurant. How great of an idea is an empanada restaurant? How cute are they with their little names stamped on them? Did you expect a quiz so early in the introduction of a restaurant? I didn’t think.

We ordered 9 to go – all different kinds so we can have a tasting. They are only open from 10-3, so we didn’t want to miss out. While we were waiting for them to get boxed up, I saw that there was a bargain price for 12. AUGH. The missing out on a deal is such a sadness. Keith ordered a dolce de leche cheesecake as well. He started eating it as soon as we got to the room. Alexander had a taste and said, “I have $6. I’m going back downstairs.” He got a dolce de leche and he got a guava cheesecake for Benjin.

We hung out, as planned, then we napped. Benjamin couldn’t fall asleep, even though his yawning had sent us all to the napping. He went for a walk and talk out in the town. It was 95 and felt like 106. Huh.

From 5 until almost 7 we discussed where we could go for dinner. Where we could go for lunch tomorrow. We decided to order a delivery from Copeland’s because the weather said a big storm was coming in 45 minutes. We lingered about doing anything for a while. We got down to ordering from Copeland’s and it said they were out of the steak labouchere. I could have had wood grilled chicken with yams, but Benjin was quite disappointed, so we just up and decided to go to the Creole House (oldest building on Canal Street). Keith said it was going to storm in 7 minutes, so we put on our shoes and head out. (Keith and I had raincoats on, and I made the boys carry umbrellas). The storm started while we were walking. It started winding as we walked down a street with bigger buildings on either side – wind tunnel! Whooosh! We turned the corner and a few raindrops hit us. We waited for the light under an awning, then dashed across Canal St in the more frequent drops. As we hurried the last two blocks – some under cover – it started to rain and really blow. The buildings on our side of the street were really blocking the wind, but when we cross the last street, I actually felt like I was no longer walking, just lifting my feet as the wind pushed me along. As we got under the Creole House awning it really started raining. We hurried in and saw the storm rage from the inside. Anything outside not nailed down was falling over or sliding down the street. Rain came sideways. We ordered.

The boys split a bowl of duck and andouille gumbo. Man was it good.

Keith had a bowl of corn crab chowder. Mmmmm.

I had blackened chicken and jambalaya. Goooood.

Benjamin was realllly feeeeling the muffaletta sandwich that was required to be eaten at some point this trip. It was warmed and did not disappoint.

Keith had Creole stuffed fish – gulf fish stuffed with crawfish dressing baked and topped with crawfish cream sauce. He loved it.

Alexander won the night with Canal Street Redfish – panko crusted, pan-seared redfish topped with Cajun garlic sauce and topped with shrimp.

Dessert seemed like such a good idea. Keith and I shared pecan cobbler in caramel sauce. I had so much of it. It was so good.

The boys both had bread pudding. Their sauce tasted like if Werther’s candies had been turned into a liquid. There was just no denying its deliciousness.

We window-shopped home along Canal, dodging a few raindrops. Lounging around in our room, Alexander started singing a song and Benjamin joined him by the third word. It was a song about butter.