Missing New Orleans and Cooking Shrimp Clemenceau: a Lenten Treat

Those who have been following the news lately, it is all about the beer virus that has flooded the world with countless cases and frankly, doom and gloom for the world economy. This being said, New Orleans a hot spot in the USA for beer virus and has no chance of stopping. New Orleans, if anyone has ever visited this awesome city, knows how social we are, our love for food is like any other city in our country. Mardi Gras 2020 ended and was a topsy-turvy from the word Geaux. Not because of the latest, but because of floats causing a few fatalities. Doomed from the start, some may say, but always great for the New Orleans economy, because of one thing New Orleans relies on; the tourists. Without them, the city would not likely to survive and would be like the birthplace of Mardi Gras, our neighboring Mobile, Alabama. On all the other days of the year, New Orleans has countless festivals, restaurants pop-ups and our own residents reveling in the streets, even in the middle of a 90 degree August day.

New Orleanians have a love for "the Man upstairs", pray to the numerous saints to help ones find things, they give another saint love and devotion honoring they by providing altars of bread, sweets and sundries, and during the football season, our devotees never turn on their team, also known as the Saints, even when the games are less than fair weather. They are the most loyal to this city, treating it like an immediate family member. New Orleanians are resilient, weathering the storms of whatever has been thrown to them. They are bulletproof in their invisible armor, knowing someone will always have their backs, and if they they feel vulnerable, they never show it. We love being called New Orleanians, even if we are from the surrounding areas, once lived there and moving away, we always go back to our roots and are welcomed back with open arms.

Open arms is what we relish and during this time, social distancing is one of the hardest things being asked by our government officials. It is the same as asking a drug addict to "kick the habit" Cold Turkey. As social as we are, everyone felt as though, including myself, that rug was pulled from each and everyone of us. My job, mostly on Bourbon Street, cooking for clubs, was one of the numberless bars that were closed down due to beer virus. Shortly after Mardi Gras, I wondered what was being done about larger groups walking off the street into the bathroom, occupying bar stools, elbows on tables, hands on doors, counter tops, video and gaming devices, including asses of shot girls peddling spirits for partygoers. No one really paid much mind to what was coming up in the weeks to follow. No one suspected that cities around the country would be shut down and business would come to a screeching, smoking halt.

So here we are, a month and 5 days from when Mardi Gras ended and streets are empty except the rodents running rampant searching relentlessly for their next meal since their current "meal ticket" dried up and went away. People are getting tickets by meter maids still, and citations for attending funerals, violating the 10 or more of the required occupancy. Our hospitals are filled up by the droves, testing facilities are at their breaking points and equipment for medical supplies and general staples of food/paper products are in short demand. Oh, did I mention the date? There is a little silver lining today, at least that the Regional Transit Authority will not be charging fare. Well, how could you anyway if you have strict guidelines of who occupies the bus or streetcar? Things make you say hmmm.?

I digress, myself included, am trying to make the best of the situation. Ticky-Tocky (tik-tok) is what I call the latest platform like Vines that

shows others in great humor what is being done while in quarantine. Or "Corn Teen" if you heard it too fast and tried to spell it right after. I am only a voyeur to Ticky Tocky, not contributing anything except love for the creator. I do promise you this, we will come out of this even more resilient than ever before, armed with a new hobby. I am diving back into my love of writing and doing more cooking. I am also going through the New Orleans food withdrawals. I mean, so many damn good restaurants, so many great flavors, so many great people. So here it goes, my missing New Orleans recipe for lent. We Catholics stay together and still observe the Fridays for 40 days before Good Friday and Easter Sunday. Upon making this dish, I just pictured myself wearing my Sunday best and heels and white tablecloth in front of me with a Maitre D' greeting me, handing me a menu, while saying "Welcome to Antione's. Glad you're here".

Shrimp Clemenceau

1 pound of peeled and de-veined shrimp
1/4 cup yellow or white onion
3 green onions
4 cloves of garlic
8 oz of button mushrooms-washed
1 large Russet potato-washed
1 cup of green peas
1/2 stick of butter
2 tblsp oil
salt and pepper
1 tblsp fresh parsley

On a large cutting board, dice up one potato, including skin and place in a mixing bowl adding the 2 tablespoons of oil. Heat oven or toaster oven to 400 degrees, layout potato on a cookie sheet and cook for 30 minutes until soft, but still firm.

Prep vegetables by slicing the mushrooms thin, dice onions and mince garlic and fresh parsley. Once the potatoes are done, switch to a skillet and heating 1/4 stick of butter until lightly browned. Saute the potatoes until color forms, add the onions, mushrooms, and garlic.

In a separate skillet, heat 1 tablespoon of butter, while still blonde, add the shrimp, salt and pepper, turning over after 1 1/2 to 2 minutes on each side, remove from heat.

To the larger skillet, with mushrooms and potatoes, add the green peas, fresh parsley, remaining butter and fold gently. Taste to see if you need to season, add the cooked shrimp at the end, mix and plate up. Bon Appetit!