#blue crab beignets
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Hali Aloke
Just the Basics
B A S I C S
Name: Hali Aloke
Nicknames: Little Star (Her family’s pet name for her) and Snowdrop (Aymeric’s pet name for her)
Age: 29 as of beginning of Dawntrail
Nameday: 31st Sun of the 2nd Umbral Moon (April 29th)
Race: 3/4 Lalafell, 1/4 Hyur; Appears Dunesfolk, but has both Plainsfolk and Dunesfolk blood, along with 1/4 Midlander Hyuran ancestry
Gender: Female, Cis
Orientation: Bisexual/Biromantic, Male Leaning
Profession: Adventurer and Scion of the Seventh Dawn
P H Y S I C A L A S P E C T S
Hair: Bright, rose pink in color, straight, usually looks somewhat messy in a wide variety of hairstyles
Eyes: Large, wide, expressive seafoam green eyes that shine in the light; glass-like Dunesfolk eyes
Skin: Fair, and absolutely will burn with direct sun exposure for long periods of time
Tattoos/scars: No tattoos; For scars, just small ones here and there over the years from battle
F A M I L Y
Parents: Father is Taito Aloke, a Plainsfolk lalafell aged 50 in ARR, and Mother is Lalani Lani, a 1/2 Dunesfolk lalafell 1/2 Midlander Hyur aged 48 in ARR. Both Taito and Lalani are researchers in Labyrinthos and members of the Sharlayan Forum.
Siblings: None
Grandparents: Nanani Nani, Maternal Grandmother, a Dunesfolk lalafell aged 75 in ARR and Jovian Carraway, Maternal Grandfather, a Midlander Hyur, deceased by ARR. Nanani is a retired Gleaner living in Old Sharlayan and is a widow to Jovian, who was an Astrology Professor at the Studium.
In-laws and Other: All in-laws deceased; Hali has distant relatives in Thanalan that have no current contact with Hali’s close family
Children: None; Will have three children with Aymeric in the distant future
Pets: An alligator named Boudreaux who also serves as Hali’s mount, a crab named Beignet, and Aymeric’s black cat named BonBon.
S K I L L S
Abilities: Astromancy, Divination, Dancing, Singing, Cooking, Fishing, and Botany
Hobbies: Cooking, Fishing, Botany, Swimming, Ice Skating, Going to the Theater, Attending Balls, Dancing, Singing, Reading fairytales and adventure books, and Playing card games
T R A I T S
Most Positive Trait: Hali is hope incarnate. No matter how grim a situation might seem, she wholeheartedly believes that things will get better. She tries to have a smile on her face and spread her positive outlook on life wherever she goes. Hali thinks that her hope is probably the only reason she’s still alive after so many years on the battlefield.
Most Negative Trait: Hali sees the best in everyone except for herself. She’s very insecure about herself, especially in terms of her appearance and her self worth. She doesn’t see that Aymeric could ever possibly love her the way that she loves him, and she doesn’t think she could ever be good enough for him. Even after they are officially together, Hali still struggles with being kind to herself.
L I K E S
Colors: Midnight Blue, Lotus Pink, Pure White, Celeste Green, and Lavender Purple
Smells: Ocean breezes, salty sea air, scent of fresh fallen rain, flowers of any kind, and musky cologne
Textures: Rain and/or snow falling on her skin, warm water, fluffy pillows, warm blankets, soft plushies, and Aymeric’s hands and/or mouth on her skin
Drinks: Strawberry Lemonade, Fruit Smoothies, Boba Tea, Pink Drink, Hot or Iced Chai, Hot Chocolate with lots of marshmallows
O T H E R D E T A I L S
Smokes: Never
Drinks: Only drinks wine and certain kinds of cocktails, but tries to only drink when she’s not busy with her Scion duties the next day, as she is a lightweight and gets drunk easily.
Drugs: Never
Mount Issuance: Hali was never given a chocobo, because she said she didn’t need one! She always used a magical umbrella that allowed her to float above the ground and fly her to wherever she needed to go. Later on, Hali found her pet alligator Boudreaux on her Island Sanctuary and she rides him most of the time now.
Been Arrested: Yes, Hali was arrested for being a fugitive that snuck back into Old Sharlayan after being banished for helping to bring Sharlayan Astromancy to the Eorzeans. She was found sneaking around Labyrinthos in order to discover the secret project that her parents were hiding from the public at large.
Tagged by: @eriyu @paintedscales @elliewiltarwyn @amalthea-felsblood and @zerelth Thank you all so much for thinking of me!! I apologize for taking so long in responding! 🥰
Tagging: @meepsthemiqo @traveler-of-light @reikatsukihana @mimble-sparklepudding @faerieearthangel and anyone else who hasn’t been tagged yet that would like to fill this out! Please tag me so I can read about your OCs!! 💖
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Beignets with blue crab
Indulge in the delicate flavors of our scrumptious Blue Crab Beignets - a true taste of the sea with a touch of Southern charm.
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Beignets with blue crab
Savor the irresistible crunch and savory goodness of our Blue Crab Beignets - a delightful twist on a classic dish. Elevate your taste buds to new heights with this unforgettable culinary creation.
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Blue crab beignets
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Okay Statesiders, time to pass judgements and start fights.
Alabama: Lane Cake
Alaska: King Crab
Arizona: Cheese Crisp (WHAT. No. Sonoran Hot Dog!)
Arkansas: Biscuits with Chocolate Gravy
California: Mission-style Burrito (this is highly regional, I think it should be some specific forms of sushi, but I’ll let it slide)
Colorado: Rocky Mountain Oysters
Connecticut: White Clam Pizza
Delaware: Blue Crab
Florida: Cuban Sandwich
Georgia: Peach Cobbler (come on Georgia you must have something less peach-based)
Hawaii: Shave Ice (OH MY GOD what a snub to Spam Musubi, how dare you)
Idaho: Finger Steaks
Illinois: Italian Beef (AGREE)
Indiana: Sugar Cream (aka Hoosier) Pie
Iowa: Loose Meat Sandwich (I admit I am dying to try one of these)
Kansas: Fried Chicken (I...how could you not say some form of barbecue?)
Kentucky: Hot Brown
Louisiana: Beignets (...not crawfish? Really?)
Maine: Lobster
Maryland: Blue Crab (uh, Maryland and Delaware gonna FITE)
Massachusetts: Clam Chowder (I want to argue but I refuse to say Baked Beans)
Michigan: Coney-Style Hot Dog (Detroit-style pizza is the correct answer)
Minnesota: Hot Dish (you’ll regret it, but yes)
Mississippi: Gulf Seafood (come on now, you can get a little more specific)
Missouri: Gooey Butter Cake
Montana: Pork Chop sandwich
Nebraska: Runza (this looks amazing)
Nevada: Prime Rib
New Hampshire: Lobster Corn Chowder
New Jersey: Taylor Ham, Egg, and Cheese
New Mexico: Green Chile Stew
New York: Pizza Slice (yeah ok sometimes you gotta play to the stereotype)
North Carolina: Barbecue Pork
North Dakota: Knoephla Soup
Ohio: Buckeyes (you don’t HAVE to play to the stereotype, guys)
Oklahoma: Fried Onion Burger
Oregon: Marionberry Pie (Marionberry ANYTHING they are the BEST BERRY)
Pennsylvania: Roast Pork Sandwich (I say no. I say either water ice, pepperoni roll, or anything ordered from a computer screen at Sheetz.)
Rhode Island: New York System Weiner (THE CORRECT ANSWER IS A QUAHOG STUFFIE HAVE YOU NO GODS. Sci don’t even START ON ME about pizza strips)
South Carolina: Frogmore Stew
South Dakota: Fry Bread
Tennessee: Nashville Hot Chicken
Texas: Brisket (NO. KOLACHES. Texas Brisket is average at best. If you must have meat in Texas get smoked turkey from Rudy’s.)
Utah: Utah Scones (these look amazing)
Vermont: Sugar on Snow (have also long wanted to try this)
Virginia: Country Ham Biscuits
Washington: Dungeoness Crab (y so much crab, Chicago Tribune)
Washington DC: Half Smoke
West Virginia: Pepperoni Roll (maybe Pennsylvania can let WV have this)
Wisconsin: Fried Cheese Curds (Wisconsin has so much to recommend it but realistically...yeah, it’s the curds.)
Wyoming: Chicken-fried Steak (I feel like they must have given this to WY as a consolation prize becaus they couldn’t think of anything else. Wyomingites, weigh in, all 3 of you.)
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Hiya friend! Do you mind doing some dishes for a mermaid? I liked salmon and crab, but also fruits that we traded for. Anything pirate inspired would be great! And no nuts, just in case. xoxo love your blog!
Heyo~ No problem and thank you for the love! <3 Did some seafaring (some variation included because I’ll be honest, almost no one eats like a true pirate nowadays) inspired recipes that are salmon and crab primarily and of course some tropical fruit. None of these should have nuts but if I missed something feel free to omit, shouldn’t be a big deal!
Crab Legs w/ Garlic Butter
Crab Legs – 4 Easy Ways
Blue Crab Beignets
Tropical Fruit Roasted Salmon
Roasted Salmon w/ Tropical Fruit Salsa
Blackened Salmon w/ Tropical Fruit Salsa
Jamaican Jerk Chicken Skillet
Salmon Cakes
Thai Pomelo Crab Salad Avocados
Crab Cakes with Tropical Salad
There ya go! I hope you enjoy these and if not feel free to come back and ask again. I’ll refill to the best of my ability. The pirate theme may be slightly lacking but I hope you enjoy these nonetheless. Cheers and happy eating~! <3
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Sunday, 14th July 2019 – The Yeatman, Vila Nova de Gaia
Sunday night was the blow out meal of the weekend, a 2 Michelin-starred tasting menu in what might be the best hotel in the area, the Yeatman. First, however, we stopped off for a drink in Porto before getting a taxi across to Vila Nova de Gaia. In our search for a good place to get a drink, we stumbled upon the Livraria da Baixa, another of the ex-bookshops that have become other things over the years. There seems to be quite a bit of that going on in Porto. We had yet another porto tonico, and this one was different again. The barman asked us which one we liked best, but they were all good in their own ways.
After we’d finished our drinks we headed to the Intercontinental and asked the concierge to find us a taxi to the Yeatman. It didn’t appear, after all, to be the sort of place we wanted to fetch up in looking all sweaty and dishevelled! Also, we wanted to get there a little early so we could have a second round of drinks in Dick’s Bar up there. We’d heard it had excellent views. The taxi pulled up and several uniformed doormen appeared to hold doors open and point the way for us.
It’s very nice! We were escorted in, shown to the restaurant, and asked if we could start the evening in the bar. We were soon installed in a table on the terrace overlooking the river and it is certainly reasonable to say they have a view. As well as the river, and Porto opposite, you get a view of the gardens and the swimming pool – the latter appeared to be full of seagulls using it as a giant birdbath. Perhaps they have a better class of seagull at the Yeatman. Who knows!
Armed with a port cocktail each we dragged our attention away from the seagulls, and towards the view. The weather was not as clear as we might have liked, but the vista is still pretty impressive, even without sunshine and blue skies. I rather imagine in fine weather it would be gorgeous.
The port cocktails were pretty good too!
We decided it was best not to have a second round, and instead moved across to the restaurant to start dinner. There is only the tasting menu (at €170 per person), but if, as we did, you reserve online, this is emailed to you along with your confirmation so you can let the restaurant know if there is anything you don’t eat. In our case it was the pork option, so we let them know and then relaxed into the evening, knowing we’d be well looked after. I should also say that the restaurant has great views, but we weren’t on a window table (I assume those probably go to people actually staying at the hotel), so I only got a photo at the end of the evening.
The first thing that happened, given the Yeatman is part of the Taylor’s port group, was that we were offered a glass of white port as an aperitif while we looked at the menu to make sure it was still to our liking, and we checked the wine list and decided on that or the matching wines chosen by the restaurant for an extra €75 for 6 different wines). The wines in question can also all be bought through the Yeatman Wine Club so it was really easy to establish what we’d had for once. The aperitif was a glass of Churchill’s Dry White which is rather more sweet than the name implies, though it still has a good, dry finish and peppery notes that would probably mean it’s good with cheese too. It worked very well in the heat, well chilled as it was, even if taking a good sniff of it left condensation all over the glass!
Before the first course of the tasting menu arrived, our first glass of wine was delivered, a Filipa Pato 3b Rosé (https://www.theyeatmanwineclub.com/en/espumante-filipa-pato-rose-3b) or more precisely perhaps Filipa Pato & William Wouter 3B Metodo Traditional Rosé, Bairrada, Beiras, Portugal, fresh, elegant, sparkling and just the thing with the parade of amuse bouches that arrived next.
First up, however, was a pair of cool towels for us to freshen up with, which were much welcomed.
The first morsels of food started to appear! And they were good! The first items was described as a Cocktail of apple, spinach and kale (manzana, espinacas y col) and was served with a very fresh bowl of oyster, jalapeños and apples with was fresh from the apples, tasted of the sea and packed a lively punch from the jalapeños.
It was soon joined by a tiny selection of “fish and chips” with two tangles of thinly chipped potato, and a piece of batters fish each. It was both fun and fabulous, and it was quite clear that the kitchen and the chef know what they are doing and have a sense of humour.
The cocktail was delicious (and may be the only way to deal with kale in a way that makes it palatable rather than like trying to eat crispy cardboard)! It was also a slightly alarming shade of green, with sweetness from the apple overlaying a slight cabbage-y bitterness.
The next round was barbeque chicken, and again demonstrated both humour and skill with a chicken sandwich, a smoked chicken oyster in panko breadcrumbs, and a chicken liver mousse, and superb even to those of us who normally avoid chicken (mostly for fear of how it might have been raised, though I rather suspect that the Yeatman is as concerned about provenance as Lynne and I are).
The final round of amuse bouches was tuna-based with a bonito “nitrogeno” that was tartare-style…
And a tuna “sandwich”, with fish roe and mayonnaise wrapped in a nori seaweed sheet. It was a fun thing, full of flavour and it came with its own little dramatic reveal from inside a scroll of paper that the waiter then opened at the table. I was liking this place, because although there is a formality to the Yeatman, there is also a great deal of playfulness, and the staff could not be friendlier.
The sommelier brought the next wine, an Ilha do Pico Arinto 2017, from the Azores and fermented in oak vats for 6 months. The result is incredibly drinkable, especially with seafood, which is where the menu started. It doesn’t look as if it often escapes from the Portuguese speaking world, which is a pity because I really enjoyed it and would like to drink more of it.
It went brilliants with the Gamba Blanca (crayfish) with crab and clams. The crab and clams were in the form of a neat little beignet, and we were encouraged to use our hands to eat it rather than being wussy and using cutlery, neat though the cutlery was.
There was a sauce with it that needed to be scooped up and smeared on the beignet, and it was a positive pleasure to do just that. The dish was described as including chawanmushi, a traditional Japanese appetiser of steamed savoury egg custard and usually full of things like prawns, fish cake, mushrooms and so on so I assume that was what was holding the crab and clam mix together.
The crayfish came separately, carrying on the egg custard theme but being decorated with what the French would probably call mimosa style eggs, coriander and a traditional broth. It was a most excellent portion of shrimp, prawn, crayfish, whatever you want to call it.
We had moved, oenologically, onto a new white wine, this time a glass of Anselmo Mendes Parcela Unica 2016, made from Alvarinho grapes. We got the expected peach, citrus and minerality from it, which went well with the shrimp, and also with the cuttlefish that was brought out next. These were tiny cuttlefish served two ways, with fried rice and with a gloriously unctuous spicy Hollandaise sauce. The first pieces were served an a plate possibly made from a dried cuttlefish, which just made me laugh…
It also tasted good, especially dredged through the spicy Hollandaise sauce.
The other pieces came on a plate decorated with octopus shapes. It seemed a lot of trouble to go to, but then it’s that sort of place.
We knew we’d moved on from fish when the waiters brought us some butter in a very stylish box…
There was also a dish of olive oil, the oil a lovely shade of golden yellow that instantly made me want to dunk some bread in it.
That was made possible when the loaf of sourdough was put in front of us.
We had reached what would usually be the suckling pig course, but the restaurant swapped things round and served us the national beef first. It was a small but perfectly cooked piece, the iron of the rare meet working brilliantly with the roasted spring onion, the Jerusalem artichoke puree, and the rich, deep civet sauce. The meat would probably have fallen apart with just the application of a spoon, but we used our knives, cutting small pieces to try and make it last as long as possible. With it was drank a mighty fine, deep Maria João Private Collection 2008 from the Dão, and made possibly from Alfrocheiro, Aragonez, Touriga Nacional, and Jaen grapes (at least the 2010 was), with notes of chocolate, toasted cocoa, spices and dried red fruits that I definitely picked up.
If the beef and wine combination was good, the replacement for the suckling pig, which came next was sublime. It was the same accompaniments or mango, coconut and chilli, but served with two perfectly cooked pigeon breasts, the skin beautifully seasoned and crsip. We drank a Boavista Reserva 2015. I’ve seen the wine described as “deep ruby colour. Complex, deep, intense and seductive hints of both red and black fruit, plus tobacco, spices and dark chocolate”. I see no reason to disagree with that assessment.
The last of the pigeon was gone, and it was on to the home straight for a dessert or two, starting with wild strawberries (in different textures), including a soup served in a wonderfully complicated drinking vessel. This definitely was essence of strawberries in all their wonderful forms, and it was a brilliant way to complete an excellent meal. Especially with a glass of Adega de Favaios Moscatel Colheita 1999, a sweet white moscatel instead of a port, but made with much the same levels of care, commitment and, dare I say it, obsession to create an ideal dessert wine. The Moscatel Galego grape produces a clear, bright, golden coloured wine, with citrus freshness and honeyed sweetness that matches fruit as well as chocolate. It’s a wonderful wine.
There was also São Tomé chocolate (with toasted corn, toffee, and whipped cream) which came along with the terrifyingly well-stocked petit fours trolley. We resisted the temptation of an offer to let us have a piece of everything on the trolley because I think we’d have needed to be put of trolleys to be taken out to the foyer if we’d done that.
I did weaken and have a tiny doughtnut, and a pastel de nata though, along with a cute little meringue.
We turned down the offer of infusions or coffee and were presented with a copy of the menu each in a lovely sealed envelope, along with a list of the wines we’d drunk. It was a lovely evening, and we were more than happy to get a taxi back to the Intercontinental instead of trying to walk to the metro (which would be doable, but who wantes to after a meal like that, right?)
Food 2019 – The Yeatman, Vila Nova de Gaia Sunday, 14th July 2019 - The Yeatman, Vila Nova de Gaia Sunday night was the blow out meal of the weekend, a 2 Michelin-starred tasting menu in what might be the best hotel in the area, …
#2019#Bars#Cocktails#Cooking#Dick&039;s Bar#Dinners#Drink#Europe#Food#Food and Drink#Hospitality#Hotels#Porto#Portugal#Restaurants#The Yeatman#Travel#Vila Nova de Gaia#Wine
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The Healthy Food and Drink
Here's the place you'll locate the best: Best Bar: It's said that F. Scott Fitzgerald kept in touch with a portion of The Great Gatsby at The Old Seelbach Bar in Louisville, and it's a tasteful bar with extraordinarily mixed drinks Best Cupcakes: Baby Cakes Cupcakes in Lexington is controlled by a couple group, and the assortment and quality is astonishing Best Fried Chicken: The huge broiled wings at Shirley Mae's in Louisville are made by Shirley Mae herself Best Sandwich: Louisville's Brown Hotel designed the Kentucky Hot Brown in 1926, it's as yet the best put in to request it Best Steakhouse: The steaks at Malone's in Lexington are delivered in from Chicago, and the steak and potato soup is an unquestionable requirement arrange
Louisiana
Grill shrimp, po'boys, jambalaya, gumbo, crayfish étouffée, beignets, muffuletta, red beans and rice… These are the absolute most delightful dishes on earth, and keeping in mind that you can presumably discover workable varieties outside of Louisiana, they'll never be on a par with the genuine article, served at unbelievable establishments like Brennan's, Commander's Palace, Galatoire's, Dooky Chase, and Tujague's. Be that as it may, there's much more than Cajun and Creole sustenance to be found in Louisiana.
Here's the place you'll locate the best: Best Burger: Company Burger in New Orleans, where the twofold cheeseburger is just about impeccable Best Food Truck: Rollin Fatties, which serves the absolute best burritos around Best Fried Chicken: Willie Mae's Scotch House, which may serve the absolute best browned chicken in America Best Pasta Dish: Potato gnocchi with smooth Parmigiano-Reggiano sauce, lumps of new Gulf blue crab, and shavings of new dark truffle at New Orleans' August Best Seafood Shack: Big John's Seafood Patio in Erath, a standout amongst the best places on earth for crayfish
Maine
Maine is certainly the ideal spot to appreciate crisp fish, delicious lobster, and blasting blueberries. Be that as it may, the easternmost state in the U.S. is additionally home to numerous eateries and bars represent considerable authority indefinitely something other than cliché Maine charge.
Here's the place you'll locate the best: Best Bar: Ebenezer's in little Lovell, which has an astounding 35 Belgian lagers on tap Best Chinese Restaurant: Empire in Portland spends significant time in diminish aggregate and customary Chinese soul nourishment Best Hot Dogs: Simone's in Lewiston has been moving its remarkable sausage since 1908 Best Sandwich: The lobster move at Red's Eats in Wiscasset is the standard by which all others are judged Best French Fries: At Duckfat in Portland, nearby potatoes are seared in duck fat and presented with eight plunging sauces
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Ranking the Restaurants
Now that I’ve been back a few days, I’ve had time and distance to reflect on my trip, and the amazing food odyssey that I experienced. As a part of that, I thought it would be interesting and fun to score the restaurants.
I decided to borrow my ranking system from the Washington Post’s Tom Sietsema. Here’s how it works:
First, any restaurant with a star is excellent. Just to make the list and be scored means that the place is worth a visit. The good news is that thanks to my research, I had very few restaurants come through with zero stars, but they’ve got their own space below. With that in mind, here’s what the various stars mean:
**** — Outstanding. Really something special. Usually marked by an interesting point of view, innovative or elevated approach to the food, technical excellence and great service. Among the best restaurant experiences I’ve had anywhere, beyond this trip.
*** — Excellent. Great food. Great service. But not quite as distinctive or elevated as a four star place.
** — Darn good. A place that I’d be happy to visit again.
* — Perfectly fine. Often these were places that I liked, and was glad to have tried, but wouldn’t go back.
0 — Crap. No good. I’m sorry I visited, and I discourage anyone else from going.
So, with the scoring system sorted, let’s look at the scores:
**** Stars
Outstanding, innovative and elevated.
Peg Leg Pete’s
Pensacola Beach, Florida
Michelin’s criteria for two stars is “excellent cooking, worth a detour.” I would happily plan a long weekend in Pensacola just to return to Peg Leg Pete’s. Yes, it’s a dive bar. Yes, the menu is almost entirely fried. Yes, the food was served on styrofoam. And I don’t care a whit. The seafood was fresh and perfectly cooked. The beer was local and excellent. The staff was kind and welcoming. And the Key Lime Pie was made by someone’s grandmother in her home kitchen. The bill was less than $30. For all of the high-end places I tried, this was the best meal of the trip.
Key Lime Pie at Peg Leg Pete’s.
Shagbark
Richmond, Virginia
Chef Walter Bundy spent years creating high-end, French-inspired classics at Lemaire. Now he’s using those techniques to elevate southern cuisine, making the most of local and seasonal products, and delivering something that’s next-level good. If a Michelin inspector ever made it to Richmond (fat chance), Shagbark would be worthy of serious consideration for a star. Bundy’s food isn’t as playful and evocative as Sean Brock’s: The experience is more serious and considered. But Shagbark would be a great restaurant in any city. Richmond is lucky to have it.
Pimento Cheese and Ham Salad at Shagbark.
Fisher’s
Orange Beach, Alabama
Fisher’s has pulled down big accolades. Like Brock and Bundy, Chef Bill Briand is elevating southern food, and using the best ingredients, plucked out of the sea and delivered to his kitchen from the fishermen who use his marina. I’m sorry I didn’t get to try his fine dining offering, but his ability to elevate a simple fish taco, reimagine sweet potatoes, and deliver it with a sense of humour across a bar tells me all I need to know. Like Peg Leg Pete’s, I would happily go out of my way to return to Fisher’s.
Fish tacos at Fisher’s.
Ajax Diner
Oxford, Mississippi
Located on a busy town square in the middle of a college town, you could forgive the Ajax for turning out burgers and beers. Instead, they produce home cooked classics that you’d be happy to eat at your grandmother’s kitchen table. The Ajax was probably the most traditional place I went, but they embrace tradition all the way, revel in it, and turn out great food flavoured with love. If I lived in Oxford, I’d be a regular.
Meatloaf and sides at the Ajax Diner.
*** Stars
Excellent. Great food and service.
Commander’s Palace
New Orleans, Louisiana
High-class throw-back cooking in New Orleans most beautiful neighbourhood. What’s not to love? Great ingredients brought together into some of the south’s most iconic recipes. Service with a smile and laugh.
Gallatoire’s
New Orleans, Louisiana
Cornerstone of the French Quarter. Stand in line with local residents and well to-do out-of-towners, then revel in some of the best cooking around. Trust your waiter. They know what’s fresh and tasty.
Husk
Nashville, Tennessee
Sean Brock’s Nashville spot. His menu was playful and brilliant. The food was excellent. And I totally buy into his philosophy. I wish I’d been able to go for dinner, as I suspect that would have been a more elevated experience.
Indian Pass Raw Bar
Port St. Joe, Florida
They harvest the oysters, then shuck them, then bake them, in just a few hours. Serve yourself. Pay for what you eat and drink. Settle in for the afternoon, or the evening. Worth a detour. You won’t regret it.
Le Bakery
Biloxi, Mississippi
Vietnamese is now local cuisine across the gulf coast, and this is one of the best spots to find it. Fresh bread that a Parisienne would love. And you couldn’t find a better Banh Mi from Hanoi to Ho Chi Min City.
Monell’s
6th Avenue, Nashville, Tennessee
Home cooking around a communal table, making new friends over great food. What’s not to love? Ultra-traditional with fabulous flavours in big bowls. Another place that I’d love to be a regular.
Ravenous Pig
Winter Park, Florida
Husband and wife team, James and Julie Petrakis doing their bit to elevate and renew southern cooking with a real emphasis on pork. From the homemade bread to the pork porterhouse, I left happy and full.
The Regional Kitchen & Pub
West Palm Beach, Florida
Chef Lindsay Autry getting into the elevated southern game with her brilliant cooking. More homestyle than Husk or the Ravenous Pig, but building from underused classics like Devilled Crab. Homemade parker house rolls were a winner, too.
The Roosevelt
Richmond, Virginia
Chef Lee Gregory’s place helped renew Church Hill and contributed to Richmond’s food renaissance. The Roosevelt manages to balance fine dining and neighbourhood stalwart, with great food I’d be happy eating every day.
Sally Belly’s Kitchen
Richmond, Virginia
Nearly a hundred years old, and still delivering great food every day. If there’s better potato salad on the planet, I don’t know where to find it. Also, cupcakes. And egg salad. And, and, and. Visiting Richmond and missing Sally Bell’s should actually be a crime.
Spoonbread Bistro
Richmond, Virginia
Stylish spot in the Fan by Chef Michael Hall. Another perspective on elevating southern flavours. Local and fresh. Great food driven by clever ideas. Another place I’d be a happy regular.
** Stars
Darn good. Worthy of a return visit.
Allman’s Barbecue
Fredericksburg, Virginia
Great Virginia-style barbecue. A classic. Huge portions. Yes please.
Blue & White Diner
Tunica, Mississippi
Old-fashioned road-side diner with stellar Sunday buffet. The only place to eat in Tunica.
Cafe Bouchee
Franklinton, Louisiana
Superb local fare with a cajun accent. Worth passing by.
City Grocery
Oxford, Mississippi
Big reputation, but merely darn good. Chef Currence is evidently innovating elsewhere.
Dandguerre’s
Nashville, Tennessee
Local meat and three that the tourists haven’t found yet. Definitely worth trying.
The Kitchen
West Palm Beach, Florida
Weird atmosphere. Good food. Great coconut cake. That’s enough to bring me back.
NOLA
New Orleans, Louisiana
Emeril Lagasse’s French Quarter spot. Cajun reimagined sort of works.
Obrycki’s
BWI Airport, Maryland
Crab cakes in an airport. Are you kidding? No. If you’re in BWI, eat at Obrycki’s.
Pierce’s Pit Cooked Barbecue
Williamsburg, Virginia
Great Virginia-style barbecue. An institution.
Puckett’s
Nashville, Tennessee
Tasty breakfast. Favourite of local police. Good food and nice service.
St. Roche Market
New Orleans, Louisiana
Food truck food behind permanent counters. Glad I went. Wish I lived nearby.
Taylor Grocery
Oxford, Mississippi
Great catfish and other local delicacies.
* Stars
Perfectly fine, but I wouldn’t return.
Apalachicola Seafood Grill
Apalachicola, Florida
Local ingredients, but lacking the care and attention. Go elsewhere.
Away from the World Burger & Beer Bar
Cedar Key, Florida
Decent burgers with a view.
Ballpark of the Palm Beaches
West Palm Beach, Florida
Hot dog before the game, with a fixings bar that included sauerkraut. #winning
Brickhouse Barbecue
Columbia, Tennessee
Perfect adequate barbecue if you’re just passing through.
Cafe Beignet
New Orleans, Louisiana
Good beignets without the queues at Cafe du Mont. Next door to my hotel. Winner.
Champion Stadium
Lake Buena Vista, Florida
Hot dog before the game. Yes, please. And darn tasty.
Cilantro Mexican
Vicksburg, Mississippi
A much needed Mexican diversion.
Felix’s Oyster Bar
New Orleans, Louisiana
No substitute for Acme just across the street. Go there.
Pancho & Lefty’s Tacos
Nashville, Tennessee
Great tacos just off broadway.
Ruby Slippers
New Orleans, Louisiana
Breakfast to battle the French Quarter hang over, just outside the Quarter.
Starlite Lounge
Richmond, Virginia
Hangover cure: burger with chilli and a fried egg. Tastes better than it sounds.
0 Stars
Dreadful and Disastrous. Avoid.
The Island Restaurant
Cedar Key Florida
The infamous culinary crime. How could you serve clams and pasta with no sauce? I still can’t believe it. Catastrophic.
Mary Mahoney’s Old French House
Biloxi, Mississippi
Frozen in time, but in all of the wrong ways.
The Grill at Libbie and Patterson
Richmond, Virginia
Good sandwiches. Wretched service. Will never return.
Woolworth on 5th
Nashville, Tennessee
Great idea. Amazing history. Bad food. Rooting for it to get better.
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70+ Fryer Healthy Recipes For All Meals (2020)
First the magic bullet and now the air fryer. Every so often a food craze breaks out that’s so great that you can’t help but jump on the bandwagon. In my quest to eat healthier but still enjoy the taste of my food I’ve landed on the infamous air fryer. In this blog post, I’m going to share with you my mega list of healthy air fryer recipes.
Note: This page contains affiliate links, which means that if you buy something using one of the links below, I may earn a commission.
Air Fryer Recipes - get 70 plus healthy air fryer recipes. Air fryer recipes for breakfast, lunch, and dinner #airfryerrecipes
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What is an air fryer?
An air fryer is a device that uses hot air to fry foods. Air fryers can fry foods with little to no oil. This results in healthier versions of your favorite fried foods.
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What Can You Cook with an Air Fryer?
You can cook almost anything in an air fryer. From the list of healthy air fryer recipes below, you’ll see that you can cook complete breakfast, lunch, and dinner meals using just an air fryer. There are even air fryer recipes for cakes!
Does Air Frying Destroy Nutrients
Cooking foods using any cooking method can cause it to lose up to 40% of its nutrients. Due to its cooking methods, air fryers allow you to keep more key nutrients than many other cooking methods. Air Fryer’s cook food by circulating hot air. Air frying your food allows you to cook food quickly and healthy.
Is Buying an Air Fryer Worth It?
Buying an air fryer is worth it for many different reasons. What you have to determine is if these reasons are important to you. An air fryer can allow you to cook foods that taste like they are fried using the traditional method. You get the taste of fried foods in a healthier version that is cooked with little to no oil.
Air fryers also allow you to cook foods faster. If you are short for time and looking for ways to cook fast healthy meals, and air fryer will be worth the buy.
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Finally, air fryers also allow you to cook many other non-fried types of dishes. This includes things like cakes and pizza. If you have a small cooking space, an air fryer can serve as a method of cooking multiple types of foods using one kitchen gadget.
Air Fryer Advantages and Disadvantages
There are multiple advantages to adding an air fryer to your kitchen gadgets. Air fryers allow you to save time by cooking foods faster. They also allow for faster kitchen clean up time. Most importantly, air fryers allow you to make healthy dishes that taste good.
There are a few disadvantages to cooking with an air fryer that is worth pointing out.
Overcooking meats in an air fryer can cause them to get a layer of blackened crust. This layer of crust is called acrylamide, a fairly common compound that can potentially cause cancer. When cooking in your air fryer you should remove this layer of the blackened crust before eating your meats.
Air fryers also present you with a higher risk of burning or drying out your food. These magic gadgets cook food rapidly at high temperatures. It is important that you watch your food and cook for the proper duration.
How to Use an Air Fryer
Here is a great video that demonstrates how to use an air fryer and the many dishes you can make.
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Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Breakfast
healthy air fryer recipes
Air fryer bacon – Recipes that Crock
Homemade Sausage Rolls In The Airfryer – Recipe This
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Air fryer French toast sticks – 5 Minutes for Mom
Air Fried Vegan Beignets – Healthy Slow Cooking
Breakfast puffed egg tarts – The Flying Couponer
Ham and egg toast cups – The New Chew
Vegan Bacon-Wrapped Mini Breakfast Burritos – Spabettie
Monte Cristo Sandwich – Blue Jean Chef
Air fryer heavenly french toast – Fork to Spoon
Air Baked Eggs – Senses
Air fryer greasy spoon home fried potatoes – This Old Gal
Air Fryer Tofu Scramble – Glue and Glitter
Air fryer frittata – Awe Filled Homemaker
Air fryer breakfast sausage and cheese wraps – Dana Vento
Air Fryer Eggs in a Hole – Go Wise USA
Easy Air Fryer Omelette – Bitz & Giggles
Air Fryer Perfect Cinnamon Toast – This Old Gal
Blueberry Lemon Muffin Air Fryer – Wine Lady Cooks
Cinnamon Rolls – Blue Jean Chef
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Veggies
healthy air fryer recipes
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Crispy roasted broccoli – Saffron Trail
Crispy air-fried brussels sprouts – Glue and Glitter
Roasted chickpeas – Care 2
Air fryer fried green tomatoes – Spicy Southern Kitchen
Air-Fried asparagus – Moma Shire
Air fried carrots, two ways – Bewitching Kitchen
Crispy oven-fried garlic mushrooms – Recipes Diaries
Lemony green beans – The Real Kitchen and Beyond
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Chicken
healthy air fryer recipes
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Crispy low-fat air fryer chicken – The Midnight Baker
Air fryer Chick-fil-A chicken sandwich – This Old Gal
Air fryer garlic parmesan chicken tenders – Kitchen Dreaming
Air fried buffalo chicken strips – Beauty and the Bench Press
Air fryer crispy honey garlic chicken wings – This Old Gal
Air fryer chicken fajita rollups – Awe Filled Homemaker
Air fryer buffalo style skinny chicken wings – Just Plum Crazy
Air fryer whole roasted chicken – Funny is Family
Air fryer chimichangas – Recipe Diaries
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Pork
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Pork-Chop air fryer recipe (Bone-in or Boneless) – Saving You Dinero
Air fryer steak with garlic butter – The Forking Life
Pork tenderloin with bell pepper – The Philips Chef
Air fryer Chinese salt and pepper pork chops – This Old Gal
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Beef
healthy air fryer recipes
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Air fryer steak with garlic butter – The Forking Life
Air fried meatloaf – Toast to Roast
Beef & vegetable recipe – Cooking with Doug
Air fryer Mongolian beef – Mommy Hates Cooking
Air fried burgers – Hot Air Frying
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Seafood
healthy air fryer recipes
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Air fryer cajun shrimp – Spatula On Fire
Zesty Ranch Air Fryer Fish Fillets – The Kitchen Magpie
Air fryer bang bang panko-breaded fried shrimp – Stay Snatched
Air fried crab cakes – Color Your Recipies
Perfect air fryer salmon – Noble Pig
Air fryer parmesan shrimp – Bitz & Giggles
Thai fish cakes with mango salsa – The Philips Chef
Coconut shrimp – Power Air Fryer
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Appetizers & Sides
healthy air fryer recipes
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Air fryer pizza bagels – Mommy Hates Cooking
Air fryer sweet potato chips – Awe Filled Homemaker
Air fryer bacon and cream cheese stuffed jalapeno poppers – Stay Snatched
Air fryer french fries – A Pinch of Healthy
Air fryer dill pickles – Just a Pinch Recipies
Weight Watchers air fryer cajun zucchini chips – Life is Sweeter by Design
Flourless crunchy onion rings – Recipe This
Weight Watchers air fryer buffalo cauliflower – FOODSERVICE
Air fryer crispy crab rangoon – Stay Snatched
Cauliflower tater tots – Blue Jean Chef
Air fried Hasselback potatoes – Key Ingredient
Air fryer mac and cheese balls – A Sparkle of Genius
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Air fryer baked garlic parsley potatoes – Courtney’s Sweets
Air fryer perfect biscuits – Fork to Spoon
Healthy Air Fryer Recipes – Desserts
healthy air fryer recipes
Five-minute air fryer donuts – Hip 2 Save
Air fryer apple dumplings – Key Ingredient
Air fryer apple hand pies – Recipe Diaries
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Air fryer churros – Recipes for Our Daily Bread
Chocolate chip zucchini bread – Recipe This
Chocolate cake in an air fryer – Allrecipes
Let’s Get Healthy
Are you ready to jump on the healthy eating bandwagon? Grab you and air fryer and give some of these tasty healthy air fryer recipes a try. I’m sure you will enjoy them as much as I do. Here are a few air fryers to get you started.
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New Orleans, a city steeped in rich history and its vibrant celebration of life! This year for Christmas, instead of buying each other gifts, we decided that since travel is our passion, this was the city we wanted to visit. Two days after Christmas with bags packed, off we went. No journey is ever exactly how you think it will be but for us, plenty of pre-planning helped to insure that we would enjoy a wonderful time in New Orleans without breaking the bank! We have another big trip that we are planning for later this year that requires a lot more of our resources than usual and we didn’t want this trip to interfere with that in any way.
Travel lodging: As a military member there are quite a few travel options that are available to those in uniform if you know when and where to look. Every military base that has billeting in the Department of Defense offers lodging on a Space Available basis. Since this was not peak season for tourism (or so we thought, more on that later) we decided to take book at the Reserve Naval Air Station, New Orleans for accommodations. At $65 a night and only a 20 minute drive to anywhere in the city, this was by far an easy decision for us. The rooms where very large with Queen size beds, walk-in showers, refrigerator and WiFi. if you have animals with you, they are pet friendly as well. They have a full commissary, Base Exchange, fitness center etc. all of which makes for a very safe, secure and super nice place to stay. They also have an RV park right on base with full hook-ups! We had already winterized the RV so that really wasn’t an option for us on this trip. In comparison to nearly $400 a night downtown this was by far a bargain! If you are a military member, Active Duty, National Guard, Reserve or Retired, I highly recommend looking into this option for you and your family.
Inside the Crescent City:
Belle Chase:
Our journey began the night we arrived into town. Staying outside the downtown area is an advantage for travelers because you get out of the immediate tourist areas and into the local community. We ate our first meal at Salvo’s Seafood and it is definitely the place to go! Our waiter (his name escapes us) was super friendly and the food as you can see was off the chain! All you can eat (Yup, I said it!) Blue Crab, Shrimp, Sausage, potatoes and corn in a seafood boil. A local eatery that was actually the culinary highlight of the whole trip.
Also located in Belle Chase is Town View Cafe. a local eatery/bakery that has been in business at the same location for over 50 years. Open 24 hours a day and serving breakfast at anytime day or night. Almost everyone who walked in knew each other (except us of course) and chatted up with warm welcomes and small talk with each other. The ladies behind the counter welcomed us with open arms and we felt immediately welcome! Awesome experience for sure!
The French Quarter:
The oldest part of New Orleans and the place where the party literally never ends! We thought we were booking during a slow time in New Orleans but I don’t think there is ever a slow time in this city. The Sugar Bowl was being played in the Superdome and Clemson and Alabama football fans descended upon the city by the thousands!
Every street is loaded with bars and restaurants every few feet combined with alcohol at any time, in any flavor 24/7. We tried Absinthe for the first time and realized that you have to be very careful. At 110 proof it needs to be handled with kid gloves otherwise it’s gonna bite you hard!! There are no open container laws (except no glass) and this guarantees a good time by all. Drink while you walk and see all the sites! Street performers keep the entertainment alive and live music from nearly every open door add to the festive air and celebration. From street musicians, escape artists, fortune telling, and artists the city’s vibrant charm is sure to please everyone.
DCIM100GOPRO
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The next morning, we got up and decided that we wanted to go to the world famous Cafe Du Monde. Now for travelers, here is a big tip, DO NOT stand in line. We ended up first in a line waiting to be seated in the main area, Two nice young ladies came by and informed us that we just needed to step around the corner and go inside to a smaller area. We walked around the corner and ended up in another line for carry-out (our mistake). Finally after a few minutes, Tiffanie walked into the Cafe Du Monde and immediately called me to meet her in a smaller room away from the main room, she had a seat! Did we cut line? Nope, just walked past unnecessary lines that people themselves created. It is strictly a first come, first serve area! The Cafe Du Monde serves one food and one food only. Beignets which are small, deep fried square donuts covered in confectionery sugar. Enjoyed with a dark roast coffee and chicory blend mixed with hot milk that make up the their Cafe Au Lait you quickly realize why the place is as famous and as busy as it is.
Jackson Square is a local landmark surrounded by some of the most historic buildings in the country. Buildings such as the Pontalba Apartments. The oldest apartments in the United States and St Louis Cathedral, where Pope John Paul II worshiped during his visit. On a whim, we stepped inside an old building that sold tickets for the haunted tours. The first floor was modern and very nice and inside a very nice lady let us explore the other three floors of this old home. She advised that the owners were fixing the upper floors up to Air BnB the rooms but we were more than welcome to look around. During our self-guided tour we discovered that it was rundown, in disrepair and absolutely beautiful.
Birthplace of Jazz and so much more:
New Orleans is known for its artistry and culture. We took a haunted tour at night narrated by a enthusiastic young actress known to us only as “Lucy”. who expertly wove history with myth, the paranormal and superstitions and made it a good learning experience into the cities past. Local artists paint, draw and display their work on the square’s iron fence. Here is where we found a talented young man playing his trade performing a Houdini straight-Jacket escape for the people.
We have a sweet spot in our hearts for street performers and artists. As a young man on occasion I too played guitar along with friends on the streets of Bardstown and Lexington looking for tourists and passer-byes to throw a bit of spare money our way. These folks are living their art form and many are very, very good at it.
Outside the Quarter:
On Frenchman Street is where to true party is. Open air markets, Jazz, blues and funk music pours from every bar and restaurant. Take note though, very few are free. Most require a substantial cover or tickets to get in and all have at least minimum one drink requirements. We had dinner at the Snug Harbor and where treated to the live sounds of legendary Jazz pianist Ellis Marsalus Jr. playing in the next room. If your like us and travel on a budget though, if you really want to hear and see great art in all it’s forms, Just walk! You can find the best shows as you just walk along and see amazing contortionists, skilled poets and talented musicians that rival the greats as well as visual art that could be displayed in any fine art gallery in the world and its all free!
The absolute highlight of the evening was the performance on the street corner of the Young Fellaz Brass Band! A talented group of young men performing their unique style of music that covers many genres, including traditional jazz, hip-hop, R&B, rock and pop tunes . All in an old style Dixieland jazz brass band!! they tore the music up and had everyone dancing in the streets!
National WWII Museum:
Next up, the National World War II Museum. Here they have done an awesome job of telling the story of a nation that came together during one of the darkest times in history. There we met 92 year old WWII veteran, Reid Sonnleitner who served on a tug during the war. The fact that the few men and women still with us of the Greatest Generation are there and willing to volunteer to tell their story is so awesome. Small children can meet people of a generation that literally saved mankind. In just a few short years those first hand accounts of the the most devastating war in human history will be lost to time and the world will will never be the same. Because of them we enjoy the freedoms and liberties granted to us as Americans and as a nation, we are forever in their debt.
During one of our short lulls in the action while sitting in our room, we turned on the TV and began watching the news. After a few minutes we realized that all with all the negativity that you hear in this world about how divided we are and yet no matter where we have traveled across this nation from the subways in New York City to Venice beach, to the Gulf of Mexico and the deserts of the American West and everywhere we go everyone is always friendly and accommodating and New Orleans was no different. We shook hands, asked for pics and delved into complete strangers personal pasts to learn more about the great people that make up this amazing world. We can’t wait until the next adventure to see who we will meet next.
Check out Facebook or Instagram.
You can find much of what we saw and discovered at the websites below.
http://www.salvosseafood.com/
http://www.dodlodging.net/
https://www.hauntedhistorytours.com/
http://www.snugjazz.com
Happy Travels!!
Craig and Tiffanie
The Bluegrass Traveler
The Big Easy New Orleans, a city steeped in rich history and its vibrant celebration of life! This year for Christmas, instead of buying each other gifts, we decided that since travel is our passion, this was the city we wanted to visit.
#adventuretravel#cafedumonde#frenchquarter#jazz#louisiana#neworleans#salvosseafood#snugharbor#townviewcafe#wwIImuseum#youngfellazbrassband#Food#Travel
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The Ultimate New Orleans Itinerary
From the vigorous avenues of the French Quarter and the streetcars of the Backyard District, to tasty Louisiana delicacies and the sound of jazz at each flip, this New Orleans itinerary is the right introduction to town.
Welcome to New Orleans! One of the distinctive of all American cities – everybody has a picture of it of their minds. It’s a spot that glows with neon and you’ll barely stroll a block with out listening to some evocative jazz music.
Rising from the ashes of the destruction brought on by Hurricane Katrina in 2005, New Orleans is without doubt one of the hottest journey locations proper now, and it’s simple to see why. New Orleans is the place the place French, Creole and Cajun cultures meet, producing among the best gastronomy in the USA. It’s a metropolis steeped in historical past and tradition, with great structure and loads of spectacular monuments to go to.
Jazz, iconic structure, color and skyscrapers – welcome to New Orleans!
Nonetheless, town of New Orleans is greatest recognized for jazz music, and a visit right here is certain to get your toes tapping.
There’s by no means been a greater time to go to the Massive Straightforward. That can assist you plan your journey and select the most effective issues to do in New Orleans, I’ve put collectively this useful journey information. It covers all of the must-sees and as you learn, you’ll have the ability to create your very personal New Orleans itinerary!
Lovely structure in New Orleans
Greatest Time to Go to New Orleans
Louisiana’s summers are notoriously scorching, humid and sticky. In the meantime, autumn may be affected by thunderstorms, so the most effective time to go to New Orleans is within the spring.
Temperatures are heat and nice, often over 20 levels Celsius. It’s additionally the time when some epic New Orleans festivals happen, together with Mardi Gras, the French Quarter competition and Jazz Fest.
In the event you’re actually seeking to keep away from the crowds, nevertheless, plan your go to for winter when the main sights can be quieter.
New Orleans Itinerary
Individuals Watching in Jackson Sq.
Begin your New Orleans itinerary with a visit to Jackson Sq., the guts of town and the right place to get your bearings. It’s greatest recognized for the gorgeous St. Louis Cathedral, the oldest within the nation.
St Louis Cathedral, New Orleans
Situated within the centre of the French Quarter, Jackson Sq. covers 2.5 acres, and as you wander by way of it, you’ll really feel such as you’re passing by way of an open-air studio. There are many painters exhibiting off their work subsequent to the distinctive iron railings, with horse and carts ready exterior to take vacationers on a bit of route by way of the historic quarter.
Throughout the road is Café du Monde, a New Orleans establishment, and THE place for a espresso and a beignet. It’s open 24/7, at all times busy and an important place to observe the world go by.
Chunk down on a beignet and watch as icing sugar covers you, the desk, and the air round you. It’s all a part of the enjoyable!
Espresso and beignets at Cafe Du Monde, New Orleans
Get Misplaced within the streets of the French Quarter
In the event you’re in search of ambiance, allure, and a bit of New Orleans historical past, lose your self within the streets of the French Quarter. This charming maze of slender streets is full of retailers, bars, eating places and historic points of interest. Admire the colorful buildings and the intricate balconies – the structure is critically particular!
Exploring vibrant New Orleans
In the event you’ve solely received 2 days in New Orleans, you’re prone to spend a lot of your time on this district, absorbing the ambiance, listening to music and sampling some fabulous New Orleans delicacies.
Specifically, don’t miss the infamous Pirate’s Alley, Bourbon Avenue, or the bustling French market, the place you’ll discover native artists, craftsmen and producers plying their wares.
The French Quarter actually is the guts of town, and one of the crucial well-liked locations to go to in New Orleans.
French Quarter, New Orleans
Take pleasure in Dwell Music on Frenchmen Avenue
Frenchmen Avenue is without doubt one of the greatest locations in New Orleans to listen to reside music. The enduring avenue is lined with venues that placed on exhibits by proficient musicians daily of the week.
Head to venues such because the Noticed Cat, Comfortable Harbor and Blue Nile for the perfect New Orleans jazz. That is an absolute should for any New Orleans itinerary.
Jazz at The Noticed Cat Music Membership, New Orleans
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Trip the Streetcars
Wish to expertise as a lot of town as potential on a finances? For just some {dollars}, you possibly can trip the streetcars throughout town. Hop on board within the French Quarter, go by way of the Backyard District and head all the best way to the Central Enterprise District.
The classic streetcars are full of conventional fixtures and fittings, and ooze previous world allure. They’re one among my favorite methods to see town!
New Orleans Avenue Automotive on Canal Avenue
Hit the Outlets on Journal Avenue
Journal Avenue runs all the best way from Canal Avenue to Audubon Park, skirting the sting of the Mississippi River. It’s an important place to go for a wander and a spot of procuring, all whereas marvelling on the stunning homes and structure.
It’s a fab place for classic lovers, with loads of cool retailers promoting retro gadgets. If you end up all shopped out, don’t fear – there are many cafes and eating places within the space serving up glorious New Orleans delicacies.
Eat Po’Boys at Parkway Bakery and Tavern
New Orleans delicacies is in a category of its personal, with classics corresponding to seafood gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp and grits, crawfish, po’boys, blackened crab and candy beignets. Except you possibly can magically stretch your abdomen, you may discover it a battle to squeeze in all these delights in a single journey!
Nonetheless, for those who’ve solely received 2 or three days in New Orleans, be sure you go to Parkway Bakery and Tavern to pattern one among their fabulous po’boys. This native establishment has been serving up the normal Louisiana sandwich since 1911.
Shrimp po’ boy in New Orleans
I had no thought what a po’ boy was earlier than I arrived, however everybody advised me that I simply needed to strive it! It’s a chunky sandwich made with a New Orleans crusty baguette, then full of a beneficiant serving to of meat, fried shrimp or fish, plus salad, tomatoes, pickles and mayo.
The title? Effectively apparently it comes from a the 1929 streetcar conductor strike when homeowners of a espresso stand within the French Market gave out free sandwiches to staff. When individuals turned up, they used to say ‘right here comes one other poor boy’.
At Parkway Bakery and Tavern, you possibly can choose from components together with roast beef, oysters and seasoned shrimp. It might be messy to eat it, however you’ll really feel like a New Orleans native whenever you do.
I cherished consuming my approach round this metropolis, so make sure you learn my submit concerning the different New Orleans meals you possibly can’t miss.
Po’boy, New Orleans
Go to a Plantation
Like many elements of the Deep South, New Orleans’ historical past incorporates some darkish parts. The legacy of slavery nonetheless looms giant right here, and the most effective methods to be taught concerning the methods during which the commerce formed Louisiana’s society is to go to a plantation.
Huge mansions and estates line the Mississippi River, and I’d advocate together with a day journey to go to the world in your New Orleans itinerary. Oak Alley Plantation is without doubt one of the most tasty and recognized for its stunning oak timber. In the meantime, Whitney Plantation presents the unhappy tales of the slave commerce, and its impression on the area.
Oak Alley Plantation
Go for cocktails on the Carousel Bar
New Orleans’ most well-known drinks are the sazerac and hurricane. Hurricanes are a candy rum drink with fruit juice and syrup, not dissimilar to a Caribbean rum punch. The birthplace of the drink was Pat O’Brien’s however I had an important one at Pierre Masperos on my first night time.
In the meantime, the sazerac might be America’s oldest cocktail. Containing cognac and bitters (or generally whiskey) it’s very sturdy and positively a sipper! My favorite spot for cocktails within the metropolis was the Carousel Bar at Resort Monteleone. Sure – similar to a fairground carousel, it rotates!
Carousel Bar, New Orleans
Keep at a Luxurious Resort in New Orleans
The Ritz-Carlton New Orleans
For the final word luxurious lodge expertise, you possibly can’t go fallacious on the Ritz-Carlton on Canal Avenue. Completely situated, moments from the French Quarter, it’s inside strolling distance of all you can want within the metropolis.
With elegant interval décor, a swanky spa, common reside music concert events and complimentary seafood gumbo, the Ritz-Carlton is a good place for first time guests in search of a sensible place to loosen up.
Test availability and newest costs on the Ritz-Carlton right here
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans
Soniat Home
Step again in time and immerse your self in Louisiana’s historical past with a keep at this stunning advanced of historic Creole cottages.
Situated within the coronary heart of the French Quarter, with an atmospheric courtyard lit by conventional gasoline avenue lamps and framed with wrought iron balconies, you’ll really feel as if you’ve stepped again in time. Every room options distinctive decor, interval furnishings, and the service is attentive, heat and pleasant.
Test availability and newest costs at Soniat Home right here
Soniat Home, New Orleans
Maison de la Luz
In the event you’re in search of aptitude, fashion and baggage of character, Maison de la Luz is the New Orleans lodge for you! With stylish Beaux Arts décor, luxurious furnishings and a wonderful grand staircase, this luxurious lodge is certain to get your coronary heart beating a bit of quicker.
Add to this an unimaginable bar (full with a secret room hidden behind a revolving bookcase!) and you’ve got the best base from which to discover New Orleans in fashion. When town calls, you possibly can merely step out of the door and on to one among New Orleans’ iconic streetcars.
Test availability and newest costs at Maison de la Luz right here
Maison de la Luz, New Orleans
Seek for different resorts in New Orleans utilizing this useful map
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Excursions in New Orleans
Take a Ghost Tour
New Orleans is without doubt one of the United States’ most walkable cities, and there are many excursions on supply. With a knowledgable information stuffed with native info, it’s a good way to immerse your self within the metropolis’s historical past and tradition.
This Ghosts, Vampires and Voodoo Strolling Tour is without doubt one of the hottest issues to do in New Orleans, offering an eerie perception into among the occult beliefs and tales that hang-out New Orleans’ historical past. Go to spooky homes within the French Quarter, and be taught concerning the legends of witchcraft and voodoo which have formed town’s tradition.
Test availability and newest costs right here
Quick paced New Orleans
Take a Swamp Tour
The historical past of New Orleans has additionally been formed by water, with the Mississippi River operating by way of it, and the delta creating some fascinating habitats.
This swamp tour takes you deep into the Bayou, the place you possibly can be taught extra about Cajun nation, crawfishing, the world’s biodiversity and the native cultures that maintain it. You may even catch a glimpse of an alligator!
Test availability and newest costs right here
Exploring Bayou Pigeon – the swamps in Louisiana
Exploring Bayou Pigeon – the swamps in Louisiana
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Hello! Would you mind if I requested some things for a divinekin? Some alcohol -free drinks (but, maybe alcohol-based, like wine or champagne? Except, without the alcohol)? And some maybe simple but fancy-ish foods, salads, snacks, etc.? Thank you so much!
Hello! Sure! Wine without the alcohol would be grape juice, but… without added sugars? Don’t know if you’re into that sort of thing. Grapes come with their own sugar of course, but juice you buy in store often has ten million grams of sugar added. But yeah, with true wine they don’t really do much just let it ferment which kind of creates the alcohol content. So I’d recommend grapefruit juice and for champagne, I’d recommend things like spritzers. Sweet, light and bubbly. They have what I personally call “kids champagne” (cause I used to drink it as a kid while my parents drank alcohol over New Years) and it comes in glass bottles like champagne but it’s basically soda. It tastes a lot like a non boozy champagne :) Not sure if you can find it all year round, but I know around New Years they put it out in grocery stores ^-^ Moving on from there fancy foods, sure!
Salt-Baked Leg of Lamb with Olive Oil Potatoes
Celery Root and Mushroom Lasagna
Smoked-Chile-and-Mango Guacamole
Bittersweet Chocolate Crémeux
Deviled Eggs
Blue Cheese and Bacon Lettuce Boats
Savory Palmiers with Roasted Garlic and Rosemary
Blue Crab Beignets
Pickled Vegetable Lettuce Cups
Scallion Pancakes
Coconut Lavender Lemonade
Millionaire Sour
Thai Tea
Ginger-Peach Soda
There ya go anon! I hope you like what I’ve listed if not feel free to come back and I’ll look some more no problem :3 Cheeers~!
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Exclusive use Luxury Townhouse Package (£4850.00)
Townhouse No.5 can be exclusively yours for your special day. It includes opulent features, original fireplaces, rich wood paneling, dramatic stained glass windows and sweeping wooden staircases with 12 truly luxurious bedrooms and suites, as well as the ultimate honeymoon suite, 'Domaine Georges Vernay', complete with private patio area.
Capacity
Ideal for up to 80 guests in the day guests and 120 evening guests.
The property's own 'secret' terraced garden is perfect for an intimate and sophisticated wedding ceremony and reception. The Macallan, Glenlivet, Ardbeg and Glengoyne private rooms will all be at your disposable.
✔ Private function rooms
✔ Honeymoon suite on a basis for the wedding night
✔ 12x luxury bedrooms on a B&B (Bread and Breakfast ) basis for the wedding night
✔ Dedicated Wedding co-ordinator
✔ Flowers for table centerpieces
✔ Place cards
✔ Personalized menus
✔ Candles
✔ Cake knife
✔ Master of ceremonies
Menu Options
CANAPÉS (£3 PER CANAPÉ)
Oyster in shell with caviar
Mini roast beef and Yorkshire pudding and horseradish cream
Seared, hand dived Scottish scallop with chorizo
Dunkeld smoked salmon with a herb bannock and crème fraîché
Tartlet of spiced Mediterranean vegetables with aged Parmesan
Deep fried calamari with sweet chilli jam and mango
Bon bon of Dingwall black pudding and pear chutney
Pea and Parmesan crostini
Sun blushed tomato and mozzarella
Free range chicken satay and salsa
RUINART MENU ( £44.50 PER PERSON )
Dunkeld smoked salmon, classic garnish
Roast plum vine tomato soup with basil oil
Tian of Stornoway black pudding confit potato, poached free range egg and Dijon mustard
Green apple sorbet
Cullen skink soup, lemon oil
Strawberry jelly, Champagne foam
Pan fried sea bream with herb pommes purée and sauce vierge
Butter roasted corn fed chicken suprême with pommes fondant, truffled haricots vert and a Madeira cream
Loch Duart salmon fillet with a warm salad of ratte potato and spring onion, caviar and cucumber, beurre blanc
Risotto of fresh herbs and Roquefort blue cheese with herb oil
Devonshire sticky toffee pudding with clotted cream
Peanut parfait, cherry sorbet and chocolate sauce
Fresh fruit pavlova with crème Chantilly
Tea or coffee with petit fours
Supplement of £9 per person: Selection of British and continental cheeses
POL ROGER MENU (£49.50 PER PERSON)
Risotto of saffron and fresh pea, aged Parmesan Terrine of smoked ham hock and puy lentils, toasted farmhouse bread, pickles Cullen skink, lemon oil
Crab bisque Lychee and chilli sorbet Carrot and cardamom soup.
Traditional roasted sirloin of Scottish beef, Yorkshire pudding,truffled French beans, château potatoes, red wine and rosemary sauce, béarnaise Pan fried sea bass, basil crushed potatoes, anchovy beignet, sauce vierge Roasted rump of Perthshire lamb with baby carrot puree, pomme fondant, savoy cabbage and thyme jus Butternut squash and ricotta gnocchi, micro herb salad.
Dark chocolate and pistachio tart, pistachio ice cream, cocoa nib croquant White chocolate panna cotta, passion fruit syrup, langue de chat biscuits Poached William pear, crème frâiche mousse, Valhrona chocolate sauce
Tea or coffee with petit fours
Selection of British and continental cheeses
Supplement of £9 per person
VEUVE CLICQUOT MENU (£55.00 PER PERSON)
Chicken liver parfait, baby figs, toasted brioche
Tian of west coast crab, avocado, cucumber and dill dressing Velouté of wild mushroom and hazelnut oil
Lemon sorbet
Lobster consommé
Champagne granita, strawberry mousse
Highland roasted venison loin, dauphinoise potatoes, cinnamon braised red cabbage, celeriac purée, port wine jus
Beef Wellington, wilted baby spinach, mange-tout, sauce à la périgourdine
Fillet of line caught halibut, chowder of mussels, surf clams, razor clams, tomatoes, wilted greens, basil oil
Italian white truffle tagliatelle, Parmesan cream
Valrhona chocolate crème brûlée, shortbread fingers
Baked New York cheesecake, apricot coulis
Chocolate and golden raisin brownie, rum and raisin ice cream, white chocolate espuma
Tea or coffee with petit fours
Selection of British and continental cheeses
Supplement of £9 per person
BARBEQUE MENU (£29.50 PER PERSON)
Pork and apple sausages
Mini Cairn Hill burgers, sesame buns
Marinated St Bride chicken legs
Halloumi vegetable kebabs
SALADS&VEGETABLES
Pasta salad
Tomato, cucumber and coriander salad
Seasonal rice
Potato salad coleslaw
Grilled sweet corn
INDIVIDUAL DESSERTS
White chocolate panna cotta
Fruit salad
Tarte au citron, raspberry sorbet
Strawberries and clotted cream
DRINK PACKAGES (FROM £25.00 PER PERSON)
PLANETA (£25.00 PER PERSON)
A glass of sparkling wine
Half a bottle of house wine
Glass of sparkling wine for the toast
GEOFF MERRILL (£29.50 PER PERSON)
A glass of Champagne
Half a bottle of house wine
Glass of Champagne for the toast
Half a bottle of mineral water
WILLI OPITZ (£34.50 PER PERSON)
A glass of Champagne
Half a bottle of wine to complement your menu
(please speak to your Wedding Co-ordinator)
Glass of Champagne for the toast
Half a bottle of mineral water
FAQ
What's the capacity of the function rooms? Our venue offered the exclusive use of a Townhouse with a number of private rooms in it. The smallest is our Glengoyne room seating up to 10 / The Ardbeg seating up to 16 / The Glenlivet seating up to 50 or if combining the Glenlivet & Ardbeg it can seat up to 80.
What are the check-in and check-out times? Check-in – 3pm / Check out – 11am
What else comes with the function room (projector, stage, table setup: boardroom table, etc.)? All tables, white table linen, white linen napkins, crockery, cutlery, glassware, wooden dancefloor hire, and own events staff.
What is the cancellation policy? There is a non-refundable deposit of £ 1000 to reserve the day and make preparations for your event. Cancellations will :
7-12 months prior event date, we charge 10%
4-6 months prior, we charge 25%
3 months or less prior, we charge 100%)
Is a special food arrangement possible for food not listed on your menu? We can tailor catering to suit each party
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Leftover Thanksgiving ingredients! Blue crab (purchased and used for beignets) and creme fraiche (purchased and used for tartiflette) that I couldn’t bear to let go to waste... I added shallots, parmesan, and just a touch of bread crumbs as a binder + coating and voila! A beautiful, wasteless crab cake, which is a real treat me for me! Not pictured: a tiny portion of lemon aioli. . . . #planalittleeatalot #food #prep #crabcake #crabcakes #crab #wastenot #leftovers #leftoveringredients #cremefraiche #parmesan #shallots #breadcrumbs #lemon #aioli #lemonaioli https://www.instagram.com/p/B5yjt6FJJG2/?igshid=1xqffptq778cd
#planalittleeatalot#food#prep#crabcake#crabcakes#crab#wastenot#leftovers#leftoveringredients#cremefraiche#parmesan#shallots#breadcrumbs#lemon#aioli#lemonaioli
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XXII
Dante St. James
Exhilarating.
Intoxicating.
Addictive.
I’ve never felt anything as silky, velvety, and luscious against my skin until she meshed her supple lips into mine to create an unparalleled harmony between our mouths. The feel of her nails digging into the flesh of my neck enticed me; nearly beyond control, and I was left at her mercy as her flawless frame pinned itself to my own. Not to be outdone, I locked her into my arms and changed our positions so she was the one pinned against the elevator’s stainless steel walls instead of me. I’d poured every aspect of myself into that kiss; my tongue being the enforcer of my emotions and affections for the woman I was sharing it with. My hands relentlessly caressed, brushed over, and lightly grasped every accessible part of her, including the plumpness behind her that I so often find my staring at no matter what she’s wearing.
Time halted.
The world suddenly felt like a playground for only two souls and we’d lost ourselves into one another without care or concern of our location and it’s surroundings. In my blatant staring at Autumn as she enjoyed herself mostly with Mike and all of his antics, I realized that I undoubtedly have never set my eyes on anything or anyone more beautiful than she is. I thought I’d been a fool to believe that when I saw her for the second time as she formally greeted me at BlueStar. I’ve been to multiple countries, set my sights on mountains whether they were desert rocky or snow covered, seen the blues of the oceans, and most of all, walked amongst people from all of the world while taking in their similarities, differences, unique capabilities, and intriguing cultural backgrounds and yet this one woman superseded all of it. The essence of her soul is the embodiment of what it means to be genuine and her nurturing nature has not only entranced me, but has also been caring for my mind, body, and spirit since we’ve gravitated towards one another. She’s within my thoughts when I open my eyes every morning, implemented into my plans and schedule no matter how light or strenuous it is, and who I prefer to be around whenever time permits it…and even when it doesn’t.
I’ve seen a ton of films, read some of the greatest novels, and studied the works of the worlds greatest poets and writers. I’m not a discriminatory reader nor do I use my gender to limit my interests. I’ve taken in many different aspects of what romance is. Most importantly, I’ve had my attempts with it. Though unsuccessful, I’ve quietly sought for the undeniable heart to heart, mind to mind, and soul to soul tie to another human being who is perfectly suited for myself. In yearning for the emotional, I’ve tested out the physical aspects of it and though the climaxes came, the emptiness that followed took a blow to my gut time after time. In all of the kisses I’ve had over my nearly thirty years of living, none of them stimulated every aspect of myself in the manner that the one I had in the wee hours of this morning did. I nearly felt embarrassed as the chills followed by goosebumps, warmth followed by arousal, and the sparks followed by an endless need engulfed me and engraved the moment and her into my mind forever. A man my age was already supposed to have experienced all of that and tons more and yet here I am, nearly feeling like my purity is still in tact, and yet so pleased to know good things actually do come to those who wait.
“Yo!” I glance to the right of myself to give Mike the attention that he’d most likely been egging for for a couple of seconds and the look of confusion and agitation on his face matched the expression he’d given me just fifteen minutes ago.
“What’s up with you? You keep zoning out. This was a no for me as soon as we stepped inside. Fred’s not feeling it. Are you on board with that? Is it a no for you as well?”
He extended his arms outward to signify the space we were standing in and I turned in a complete circle to scan it’s perimeters once more and shook my head. Nothing about it drew any interest from me. Though I’m sure we could hire a contracting company for major renovations, consult with upscale interior design teams, and use our own expertise to turn this property into exactly what we’re looking for, I still don’t think it’d be enough. The square footage is odd. We pride our properties on intimacy and what we’re standing in is a social killer. Vegas is all about the glitz and glam; the grand nightclubs specifically constructed to make everyone feel like they’re someone of importance once they step past those velvet ropes. We’ve never cared for that style of ambiance and I’d rather we not start.
“Yeah, I’m on board with that decision. This is a no.”
“Cool. Let’s get out of here. I’m starving.”
“What’s new?” Mike raised an eyebrow as I took a jab at his endless hunger and he smirked.
“We’re going to find out over lunch. Nothing new is going on over here on my end, but I’m positive that you can’t say the same brother.” He glanced over at Fred for a co-sign and received exactly what he was looking when he chuckled and nodded his head as confirmation for the both of them plotting to intrude on what they’ve been curious about since this morning.
“Whatever. Lets keep it light. I’m taking Autumn out to lunch.”
“You can keep it light. I’m eating a full damn meal. You can starve until you eat with your woman if you want.”
The light chuckles between the both of them filled my ears until we were at the very front of the vacant establishment thanking it’s owner for allowing us to do a walk through on such a short notice. Though we’d make appointments with the others, we were given information about this property while viewing a spot over on West Flamingo Road. Once we gave him a call, he immediately agreed to drop what he was in the middle of handling and meet us here. Though it’s not what we we’re looking for, I respect his ethic.
“Grand Lux Cafe?”
“Fine with me.” I’d always preferred the international brand off of the Cheesecake Factory over it’s originator in the first place. The dishes were a decent spin on the best European cafes and French bistros. Whenever I’m over in Jersey at Mike’s house, we’d shoot over to the one right by Garden State Plaza and grab a meal that suited whatever the time of the day it was. He goes there so much that nearly all of the waitresses knows who he is. I’m sure his endless filtration plays a part in it as well.
“I do have a taste for those crispy Thai shrimp and chicken spring rolls. I’m with it.”
Though we could have left the car parked and walked down to the restaurant, the Vegas heat had already drained a ton of energy out of our bodies since our two hours of being out in it, so we drove. If it were up to me, I’d be in a pair of basketball shorts and a t-shirt while maneuvering around in this dreadful weather, but I dressed up in simplistic khaki pants, a Polo golf style of shirt, and Stan Smith’s collaboration with Adidas for my footwear. It’s not the business attire I’m used to for meetings but I could have shown up in a Hawaiian style button up shirt, shorts, and a pair of sandals for all these sharks could care. Money talks much louder than anything I could ever put on my back.
“Are we going to need drinks? Between you zoning out and that flustered expression on your face, I think alcohol might be needed.”
“Man, shut up.”
“So what happened after y'all left last night?” Fredrick cut straight to it just like I knew he would. He hadn’t even picked up his menu yet.
“Damn. Can we get the drinks first? Can we order the food?”
“I already know what I want. I want a Heineken and the Pastrami Burger. If I’m not too full, I’ll get the beignets for dessert. As a matter of fact, we can get them and share those shits.”
“Okay Mr. Prepared. I’m going with the Baked Rigatoni. Mai Tai for me. Jon B, what you getting?” A smirked danced along my lips and I couldn’t help but to laugh at yet another one of his cheap jabs at my complexion. He’s about the only person that I let get away with that.
“Crab cakes. Side of fries I guess. Mai Tai for me as well.”
“Good. That shit has four rums in it and you need all four of them to take you off of the edge of whatever you and Autumn were doing in that bed.”
“Sleeping? That’s what we did in that bed, Mike.”
“Aye man. You don’t have to be modest or lie to me. It’s just me, your best friend, shit, your brother. Y'all are two grown and single people. There’s nothing wrong with the pokey pokey.” Drips of water trickled down the sides of Fredrick’s mouth area as he failed to contain his budding laughter at Mike’s ridiculousness. “From the way you were staring at her last night, I figured you were bound to go for it. You looked like your damn head was about to explode.”
“There’s nothing wrong with the what?” His question to further Mike’s antics was followed with loud laughter.
“The pokey pokey.” Before I could knock down his assumption yet again, the waitress returned to the table for our order and my talkative best friend’s flirtation. What makes it amusing is he’s never serious about it. About ninety percent of the time he’s just playing around for either a reaction or a giggle out of whichever woman is wearing her uniform skirt too short or the pants too tight. It’s been his thing to do since we were teenagers and it’s not changing any time soon. I look forward to the day when he’s married and he has to resist doing it so that his wife won’t chew his head off. I’d pay to see that sight.
“Alright, the food and drinks are ordered. Now we small talk until it’s time to eat. Dante, the floor is yours. Well, the table. What happened?”
“The driver took us back to the hotel and were just talking the whole time. Autumn had a bit more to drink than I did so she was tipsy. Not drunk. She was walking and talking just fine, no slurred speech, and literally everything she said made sense. I’ve or rather we’ve been working in the nightclub business long enough to know when a person is wasted.”
“Yeah, she was sipping those zombies moderately until Fredrick started talking to her. I saw her gulp down the last drink she had. What did you or she say?” Mike turned his head to look at him and he shook his own nonchalantly.
“We were just having a casual conversation. Trivial. It’s really not important. Dante, continue.”
“So, we walked through the lobby talking, I called for the elevator, and as soon as it came, I stepped on first. She was apprehensive; I’m assuming now that I think about it. She was standing in-between the doors for a couple of seconds, just staring at me, and I took it upon myself to grab her waist and pull her inside so the doors would close. By now, she’s standing directly in front of me and I asked her if she had a good time. She never answered that and instead mentioned that I have a high tolerance for alcohol and I admitted that I hadn’t had that much to drink. From there, I randomly started talking about the club itself and she wasn’t listening to me. I could tell because her eyes were lowered and staring at exactly what she was going to go for next; my lips. I don’t know, Fred, I felt like this jolt of astonishment, relief, lust, and need all at once. It was the wildest feeling I’ve ever experienced and I don’t know if I should feel embarrassed or crazy for saying that.” I expected a few giggles and even those witless glances between the two of them but instead they sat there in silence accessing what happened between Autumn and I just as much as I was. Fredrick slightly slouched himself down and dropped his head back in as subtle shock while Mike took a sip of his water and awaited the rest of the details.
“A peck?”
“No. It was intense and potent. My hands were exploring every aspect of her curves as I pinned her to the wall of that elevator.”
“Tongue?” Mike’s eyes widened.
“Yes, man. Feeling. Grabbing.” I gulped down the knot in my throat. “Gripping.”
“Oh shit.” Fred mustered up a small smirk and he nodded his head in pride at the last verb I’d mentioned. I still can’t believe I did that myself. My hands went from resting on the small of her back to sliding down over the thick flesh below it. My subtle aggression was the cause of her moaning against my mouth and that only further enticed me to want and need more from her. My mind had gone beyond the moment. My eyes were tightly shut closed as she savored my mouth and yet I was fantasizing about my own nibbling at the most sacred part of her flesh. That embellished black dress that was such a sight to see suddenly become nothing more than a layer of inconvenience keeping me from what I yearned and damn near ached for.
“We were so caught up in the kiss that we hadn’t realized the elevator was called back downstairs to the lobby. We left this older couple mortified. Though we pulled apart and attempted to regain our composure in record time, they were so disgusted that they wouldn’t even get on. They just waited for the next one.” They’d finally had something to laugh at and wasted no time in doing so at the expense of Autumn and my embarrassment.
“Sounds like some teenager shit man. That’s hilarious.”
“It felt like it. Shit, it felt like my mom walked in on me or something along those lines.” I couldn’t help but to chuckle about it. Maybe it was the liquor but Autumn thought it was hilarious and had I not grabbed her waist and locked her at my side, she would have continued that kiss with no regard for their presence.
“And how did she end up in your bed?”
“I invited her to come up and watch a movie since she said she wasn’t tired. We just did it in the bedroom instead of sitting out in that common area. About ten minutes into the movie, she started falling asleep so I took her boots off and pulled the covers up over her. After turning off the TV, I got back in the bed, she kissed me goodnight, and we went to sleep. Nothing sexual happened.”
“A goodnight kiss as well? Well that’s a nice touch on things. She’s pretty bold. That must have been something that she’s been wanting to do for a while and finally just decided to give in. That wasn’t liquor or some random and impulsive act. If it was, she would have been embarrassed as hell after doing it and there wouldn’t have been a movie night in your bed or a goodnight kiss. She would have left you on that elevator and went about her business.” Fredrick’s statement was what I already believed. I’d been thinking about it while readying myself earlier and making sure not to awaken her as she peacefully laid there entangled in the sheets. I could feel the tension between us as we stood there on the peak for a while talking and eventually just basking in one another’s presence on the hue of the stars. I figured it’d be unspoken for and ignored much like it’s been for a little while now because I’ve been hesitant to address that elephant in the room and I’ve doubted that she’s ready to due to all of the circumstances in her life. The concept of the right time held so much conflict and complexity until that kiss. Now I’m left to wonder what’s next.
“And that opens up the floor for the what’s next question. What’s next?”
We took a pause when our waitress approached the table with the drinks and I gulped down just about half of the Mai Tai as I used as much mental capacity as I could to figure out an answer to that question. What’s next can’t be what I want because what I want contains plenty of greed.
“I don’t know. That’s a question that I don’t know how to answer.”
“Well, what do you want? Start there. You obviously want her. That’s been obvious since damn near the beginning. So right now, at this moment, in what manner do you want her?” Leave it to Mike to continue to push for depth with difficult questions to answer.
“I don’t know. There’s a part of me that feels like what I want is understandable and justified while there’s another part of me that feels like I need to take a step back and allow her to make that decision and to take whatever time that she needs to do so. I don’t want her to feel like I’m forcing her hand or disregarding what she just went through with her ex-husband. I don’t know what she’s ready for and I’d rather not make her burdens any heavier than they already are. The last thing she needs is pressure. Maybe she’s not ready to date or be in a relationship. If that’s the case, I can’t fault her for that no matter what disappointment that may inflict upon me. I don’t know. This shit’s confusing. Maybe we can just go with the flow and see how things go. Don’t people do that when they’re trying to figure things out?”
“So you want to coast in a sense? You’d like to have something with her with no strings attached right now. There’s no commitment or title just yet, but there’s an understanding that there’s an attraction and you’re just seeing where things go.”
“That also means that we can be involved with other people. I don’t like the way that sounds.” Fredrick snickered once I shot down his analysis while Mike raised an eyebrow and shook his head.
“Possessive already? Damn. Okay, so you want an understanding and agreement that you two are exclusively seeing one another, but there’s no title on it. It’s just an understanding. That sounds better?” I took a couple of seconds to assess Mike’s version of Autumn and I’s next step and eventually shook my head.
“I don’t like the way that sounds, honestly.”
“Man, you want the commitment then. You want a relationship. You want titles; boyfriend and girlfriend. You want to be able to claim her and introduce her to people with the appropriate title and you want to be able to feel like she actually belongs to you instead of the situation you two have being up in the air because there’s nothing official about it.”
“Is that a bad thing?” Is it? I’d like to think it’s what’s right but how can I say that when I’ve yet to actually court her? I may be skipping over the actual process. Am I not supposed to allow her to feel me out over the course of a couple of dates and then make her decision? Maybe. I already feel like she’s felt me out and the time frame of dates is trivial. I can take her on a date every single day with her as my woman and court her just as much as I would if she wasn’t. None of that stops once the relationship is real. I want she and I to have a life outside of spending time together when we’re out of town due to my work obligations. I want to be able to be in New Jersey spending time with her just as much as I want her to be spending time in New York City with me. Every trip we take doesn’t have to be about business. She and Stacey are right when they say that I need a vacation, but I have no interest in traveling to some part of the world and doing so alone. That’s not a vacation; it’s isolation and I’ve had more than enough of that before Autumn made her mark. I’d also rather not feel like I can’t speak to her, see her, touch her, and show her affection unless we’re hundreds to thousands of miles away from those familiar with us by the way of relation or friendship. I may be a private person but I’m not secretive.
“No.” Their response was in unison.
“There’s nothing wrong with that. Shit, just hearing that come out of your mouth is super wild to me. I’ve been knowing you forever and I’ve never heard you sound this serious or invested about anyone. If that’s what you want, tell her that. If honesty has been an importance between the two of you thus far, then keep it that way and tell her what you feel and what you’d like. People get into relationships and still have to build. Neither one of y'all are running to a chapel any time soon nor are kids on your minds, so I don’t see what the big deal is.” Fredrick made it sound so simple, like he does with just about anything. He’s so smooth that he’d make you think jumping into a lion pit is as simple as taking a walk through a park. He rarely ever sweats over anything. The last time I seen the man stress out was over some fling of his mentioning a pregnancy and that eventually turned out to be negative result. Other than that, he’s as cool as a breeze and of course he’d believe that I’m supposed to have the same outlook on life.
“But I feel like I’m asking her for too much.”
“I don’t get it. You’re asking her for a commitment. Once you’re committed to someone, there’s a title on that. The way I see it, the only way that’s a big deal to her is if she wants to explore her options. Are you saying it’s too much because you believe that’s a possibility?” I could feel my stomach beginning to churn and suddenly every sip of the alcohol felt like a shot of fire tickling down my throat. I don’t have the answer to that question either. If I’m going by these couple of months we’ve spent together, I’d only be assuming that she’s not dating anyone or even considering it because she’s never spoken with me about that. If I look at it that way, I’m going to have to include myself into the equation of her lack of consideration. Maybe she does have options or is leaving the opportunity open for someone to step in but doesn’t want to let me know that. Women tend to be discreet with their dating lives and whatever is going on within their bedrooms because of male expectations and sexist fictitious laws crafted by men to keep them on leashes while we indulge in anything of our choosing. Autumn and I share a lot but I’m not Heather or Rachel. Women will always feel like those type of conversations are better suited for a female friend of theirs.
“I don’t know. Maybe. She’s newly single. Well, technically, her ex-husband’s been out of the picture for two years, but she’s newly single in terms of not being legally tied to anyone else and aside from all that she’s gone through in the midst of those two years, I know she was waiting until she and that guy were completely done and no longer tied to one another to move on with her life.” To soothe my throat, I took a sip of water and placed the glass along side the cocktail. “That’s honorable and I respect her for that. Now that she’s gotten that out of the way, whose to say that she wants to be tied to someone else so soon, you know? Maybe she is interested in seeing what’s out there.”
“Or maybe she’s not and she wants you. It’s been two years. That’s a long ass time man. I don’t care if she was still married and I mean that in non fucked up way. The man got involved with someone else, got engaged, and that woman is pregnant with his child. That happened within two years. No offense to her and the decision that she made but she didn’t owe him that. Yeah, there was a marriage license in tact but Autumn has been single for two years. I didn’t know there’s supposed to be some trial period or some type of wait period to date after divorcing someone. What kind of shit is that? Shit, if anything, he’s lucky. She could have went up in front of a judge during the divorce proceedings and hung his ass out to dry by claiming marital abandonment.” Mike’s lawyer talk earned a snicker out of Fred and he nodded his head in agreement with all that he’d said. “Talk to her and tell her what you feel. You’re never going to know until you do. Don’t be a bitch about this.”
“Shut up. I plan to. Today. I told the both of you that I’m taking her out to lunch. I also snagged tickets to the Boyz II Men residency so I’m going to take her to see that tonight. She’s extremely into R&B and soul music dating back all the way to the fifties so I know she’ll like that.”
“Boyz II Men concert with your girl? Cute shit man.”
“She’s not my girlfriend, Mike.”
“My momma tells me to always speak things into existence. Say it, claim it, believe it, then go and get it. Follow the rules pink boy. I’m speaking it into existence for you.”
“You might have to go ahead and get it for him too because I have a feeling he’s going to shrink up today.” Fredrick’s joke sparked up Mike’s annoyingly snide snicker and the both of them eyed me just to see if I would crack under the pressure. Though they’re sitting here encouraging me, that wouldn’t stop them from having a grand ol’ laugh at my expense if I do shrink up in front of Autumn this afternoon. I can admit, as Stacey as said, I’m absolutely a shark in the boardroom. I can handle business without breaking a sweat but romance? I’m an amateur. I’ve remained stagnant in that area because I’ve yet to encounter someone who mentally and emotionally impacted me to the point of wanting more, until now. Autumn is that and I’m ready to explore what it means to have a meaningful relationship. I’m never going to know if I don’t experience it first hand.
“I have it under control.”
“And don’t get drunk and end up in some Vegas chapel either. I know you’re turning thirty and she’s fine as hell but slow your roll. Y'all got time.”
“You’re going to have to chill with all of that she’s fine as hell shit.”
“She’s not your lady yet. Until she is, I’m letting these compliments blast off brother. I’ll stop when you make me stop. Good luck.”
Fredrick raised his glass in ode to me and we all shared a laugh as we eventually tapped out glasses to commemorate the positive outcome that we all seem to be hoping for. I wasn’t expecting our conversation to result in the depth that it did but to say that I appreciate the both of them would be an understatement. That was one of those big brothers and little brother moments that we occasionally share but this time it was about a topic that the both of them love just as much as any man would. I’d finally given them something outside of work and my dreadful family to be informative about and all that they said was useful. I’d been stuck in my head trying to figure it all out on my own since waking up this morning but they aided in putting it all into perspective. The only person missing is Stacey, who is an expert at getting into everyone’s head whether you want her to or not. She would have been able to assess the entire situation effortlessly, but we’ll save that for another day. When I return to New York, she’ll either show up at my apartment or the office to nag the hell out of me for the details that I know for a fact that Mike has already given her. If all goes well between Autumn and I, she’ll erupt into a ridiculously over exaggerated celebration and damn near marry me off and if it doesn’t, she’ll be there to pick me up no matter if I’m hurting or not. They’re my family and there isn’t a day that goes by where I don’t understand and cherish that.
“Oh and can you stay downstairs in her suite if y'all plan to celebrate with the pokey pokey? We’d rather be spared of those details.”
“Shut the fuck up Mike.”
My sweaty palms worsened during our walk through the hotel’s lobby and my ears drowned out just about everything happening around me, including yet another one of Mike’s rants about the high temperature outdoors. I considered going upstairs to our suite to truly figure out all that I would say to the woman who shook up my world in the wee hours of this morning but if I did go up there, I wouldn’t have come back down for a while and it would have resulted in me standing her up. No matter how many times I rubbed my hands down the sides of my pants and Fredrick squeezed my shoulders, I don’t think I’ll ever be as completely ready for this moment as I usually am for everything else. That’s the unpredictability of someone having partial control of your emotions. No matter what the outcome may be, I’ve already felt and learned so much. The difficult part is I’m already drawn her and the feelings that she evokes within me. Early on I feared it. Now I want nothing more than to immerse myself into her world.
“Get it together man.” I mumbled the words to myself as my knuckles tapped against the door to her suite. The taps were so minimal, I knew for a fact that she didn’t hear them. I did that for the sake of gathering my myself and finally knocked like any normal person would.
“I kind of thought you’d be back a little later. I know you all had a decent number of properties to look at.” She opened up the door with that statement already coming out of her mouth and my eyes immediately panned down to the mauve strapless romper and how it’s silhouette hugged every aspect of her curves that it could possibly cover. The floral design made it playful and yet the open back and the matching choker she wore on her neck gave it the spice that represents a part of her that tempts me like no other. Her hair being pulled back into a tight low ponytail left her breathtaking face to effortlessly outshine every other part of her and the natural make up pulled it all in for what she displays everyday: perfection.
“We saw all of them. We hated all except one which is why it went so quickly. There were some that were literal turn offs upon entry and there were others that we took our times walking through, but ultimately one of them garnered equal interest from all three of us.” I closed the door behind myself and slowly followed behind her as she headed in the direction of the master bedroom. My eyes couldn’t pull away from the sight if someone paid me their life savings to do so.
“What did you like about it?”
“It’s just about the same size as Baraya. Slightly smaller but it’s the atmosphere that we care about most. If we were interested in opening up one of those grand nightclubs like Drais, Hakkasan or Omnia, we would have done it a long time ago. We just want a place where people can actually come together and have a good meal and a good time at as well. Some choose to do either or. It doesn’t matter. It just needs to have the right vibe and that one property was near it but it needs some work.”
“Is the property worth the investment?”
“We’re still looking at the logistics but no final decisions are being made just yet. We’re going to wait it out and see if we come across anything else we favor.”
“That sounds fair enough. There’s no point in immediately investing into any property after seeing it for the first time. Take some time, look at others, check out the paper work, and come back to see it a second time as well. Is it on the strip?”
“Yeah, what you’re saying is right and it is on the strip.”
I stood in the doorway of the bedroom as she walked to and from the bathroom accessorizing herself. Her last trip inside of it resulted in her coating her lips with a nude lipstick.
“Which ones? Sandals or the Converses?” She held them up for me to see and I quickly pointed at the heeled sandals as their long laces dangled in front of her. The Converses would have been just as nice, but the heels were quietly for my viewing pleasure. They add another hundred levels to her already off the meters sex appeal.
“Did you eat anything?”
“I had a fruit parfait but in a bowl though with almonds in it. It was really good. I had it like an hour ago.” My follow up response flat lined as I watched her concentrate on carefully lasting up the sandals to her liking. There seemed to be a method to the madness that I didn’t quite understand because she was far more precise and exact than I expected her to be. When she finished and compared her second attempt, they were aligned as she needed them to be.
“We’re going to Due Forni Pizza & Wine for lunch.”
“Sounds good. It’s by here?”
“No. It’s actually like twenty five minutes away. We still have the Jeep, so I figured it’d be a nice little ride. What do you think? I can pick a place closer if you want.”
“No. I’d love to go on the ride. There’s more to Vegas than just the strip, so I’m glad you chose a place away from here.” She stood to her feet, grabbed her purse off of the bed, placed it’s strap on her shoulder, and she glanced in my direction. “Okay, I’m ready. Luckily you came here just in time for me to be ready. I didn’t have you waiting like yesterday.”
“I don’t mind waiting.”
“Yeah, right. You say that now.” Her giggle was light.
“Sexy. Very sexy.” I used my finger to point from the top of her head to the very tips of her toes and she sighed and full on laughed while shaking her head.
“You seem to think that everything I wear is sexy.”
“That’s accurate.”
“No it’s not but I can’t speak for you. All I can do is thank you. You look good yourself. I love it when you’re all suited up and yet I really love it when you’re casual. I can’t choose. That just means you look great at all times.”
“I appreciate that.”
She double checked her purse for the room key and I led the both of us our of her suite and down the hall to the elevator. Once the doors shut and confined us within the small space, I peered over at the overwhelming sight who was standing to the left of me tapping away at the screen of her phone. She has the height and figure of a runway model and yet she has this subtle thickness to her shape that truly takes form in her hips and thighs. Her legs are beyond comparison; making her stride graceful. Her facial beauty is so unique and striking; unlike anything or anyone I’ve ever seen before. She often makes fun of her forehead but it suits her so much. She has the eyes of a feline and their green color weakens me whenever I dare to stare into them. Her lips, the sight and feel of them; a dream.
God showed off with her.
“Are you going to use the valet?” My lip slowly eased from in between my teeth as she looked up at me and I quickly nodded my head.
“Yes. We have to wait in the front just like yesterday.”
Our wait wasn’t as long as I expected it to be. We stood along side one another no longer than ten minutes until the valet pulled up directly in front of the entrance. I helped Autumn into the passenger side of the car and put her seat belt on myself before getting in on the drivers side. She chose to use the Bluetooth to stream a nineties and early two thousands Hip-Hop playlist from Spotify and we were off just seconds after. Initially, we were in silence. She tapped her fingers against her lap in a nervous manner and I couldn’t fault her because I too felt the same as my hands gripped the steering wheel and my mind switch from thought to thought over and over again. Nas was our ice breaker. I took his verses of “If I Ruled The World” while she took Lauryn’s silky and infectious hook. Our heads bopped in unison while her rocking body made competition for the road. Song after song, I found myself stealing glances at her. I was paying less attention to the records and more so to her as she rapped along to literally every song. Lil Kim’s records excited her more than any of the others. I thought she’d morphed into Kim herself during her verse on Player’s Anthem. Her ponytail blew with the warm wind coming from the lowered windows and she used her hands to put emphasis on every word that came out of her mouth.
“Might have to change your name from Peaches to Lil’ Peaches.”
“Shut up! I love Kim. I was actually able to hang out with her a couple of times because she was good friends with Shane. Don’t ask me how my brother became such a good friend of hers because I truly don’t know. That man knew every damn body. He was loved.”
“Your brother had an interesting mind. It’s not surprising that so many people gravitated towards him. His book is a great read for young adults. It’s truly a guide to take you through the twenties. I appreciate that about it.” Her smile wasn’t solemn. Instead, it was one of pride and she nodded her head to confirm all that I’d said as accuracy.
“Absolutely. I remember when he was writing it. He started writing that book before he even hit his twenties. He’d hang all over New York City and have conversations with anyone he encountered to gain their perspectives on life. He was a life enthusiast and it showed in his free spirited nature. A liberal to the core too. That’s why he and Issac clashed so much. I loved everything about him.”
“I can tell he was special to you just as I know you were as special to him. He dedicated his book to you.”
“He wrote the book for me. That’s what he told me, so I’m going to have to believe it. He said to me my beautiful baby doll, this book is a guide for you to live your young adulthood to the fullest and I wrote it so you’ll know that no matter what you choose to do, I love you and it’ll be alright. I think I’m at the chapters about failure. Well, maybe I’m a little past it and getting to the part of picking back up and trekking on.”
“That’s one of the best parts.” Her eyes locked on me and she slightly dropped her head to the right.
“Of the book or life?”
“Both. Life because you’ve learned so much and you’re applying that to better yourself. There are people who don’t do that and end up creating a toxic cycle of screwing up but not you. You don’t carry yourself that way.”
“That’s true. I think for me, I don’t want anything more than to have an onslaught of joy in everything that I conquer. That’s it. Nothing will ever be perfect and I don’t want it to be because it’s not realistic and that’s boring. I like challenges. Overall, I want the joy though. Not happiness, joy. Happiness is based upon temporary pleasures and even some permanent ones, but joy is all about the sense of self. It’s true acceptance. You know, I’d say I need both.”
“Having both is a healthy balance.”
“What makes you happy?
“Currently?”
“Yes.” As I made a left into the parking lot of the restaurant I quickly glanced over at her and turned my attention back to the road. She was staring out of the window. As I awaited an answer, she turned to look at me but never opened her mouth to say anything. Instead, she unbuckled her seatbelt and awaited my next move.
“You’re not going to answer me?”
“Do I need to?” Her eyes widened a bit and she chuckled as she opened the door and hopped out of the truck. A huffed slipped past my lips as I accepted her avoidance to allow me into her head and I took the keys out of the ignition, opened the door, and stepped out. As I walked around the front of it, I used the keypad to lock the doors and Autumn playfully brushed her shoulder against my arm to garner my attention.
“It’s right here.”
“Excuse me?” I pushed the keys down into my pocket and watched as she gained a bit of a lead.
“What currently makes me happy. It’s right here.”
My smirked was nearly identical to her own and she playfully shook her head as I reached for the handle of the door and we stepped inside one after the other. The hostess seated us at a back corner booth at Autumn’s request and we settled on lemonade instead of indulging in the assortments of alcohol the bar was stocked with. She’d had enough last night and as our designated driver, I couldn’t do it.
“You know what you want?”
“Yeah. I’m getting the Spinaci pizza. It sounds so good; garlic spinach, ricotta cheese, mushrooms, peppers, and caramelized onions. You should get the Brasato pizza. Then we’ll share.” She pointed at what she was referencing to on my menu and I chuckled at her suggestion while reading over it’s ingredients.
“That actually does sound good. I’ll get it, even though it’s you who really wants it.”
“I do not. I just want to taste it.” Her eyes impishly rolled to the back of her head as I side eyed her and she nudged me in the midst of our laughter. “I’m sharing mine with you, so we’re even.”
“Yeah, okay Peaches. It’s okay to be greedy. I won’t tell anyone.”
“Whatever.” She nudged me again and her cinnamon and berry scent intoxicated me far more than any glass of wine could. When the waitress returned to the table with the drinks and took our order, silence invaded our space as she took a sip of her lemonade and scanned her eyes over our surroundings. I didn’t know whether to just come out with it or wait until her stomach was full to do so. Yet again I was left to figure out timing and this time there was no one to give me advice or a push to just go for it. It’s either now or I continue to sit around contemplating, hoping, and wishing, but never seeing results.
“Autumn.”
“Hm?” She didn’t look at me. She continued to stare at the painting to the left of herself.
“Why’d you kiss me last night?” We were close enough for me to feel her body tense up and shrink down in embarrassment. That wasn’t my intention and the sigh that came out of her mouth nearly made me cringe.
“I asked the question because I want to know if it meant to you what it meant to me.”
“I kissed you because I’d been wanting to do so for quite some time and I suppose my liquid courage knocked all of the fear out of me for just that moment and I went for it. I know it could have been in better taste but I wasn’t necessarily thinking about all of that.” She finally twisted her body so that her eyes and complete attention would be focused on me and I leaned on the table while nodding at what she explained.
“The taste was fine.” My tongue ran across my bottom lip as my nerves continued to rattle me. “You know, since the first time we’ve met I really couldn’t get you off of my mind. I thought of you after I braced you from falling, but it was non-stop after I’d seen you for a second time and truly took in all of you without you saying much of anything to me. I was baffled by your beauty but most of all, I was intrigued by your aura. Fredrick recognized you. He’d given me a bit of information that I could have found out if I Google’d you and your ties to your ex-husband but that wasn’t enough for me. It didn’t even touch the surface of what I wanted to know and still need to know. I want to say it was a mere coincidence that Isaac asked you to be my temporary flight attendant but that’d be cliche. I have faith so there had to be something more to that. That doesn’t just happen. From day one, you’ve been nothing but honest with me and you opened up and allowed me into your mind.”
“And you did the same.”
“Because you made me comfortable enough to do so. I don’t talk to many people nor do I care to share much about myself beyond who I am as a professional. Your honesty unknowingly to you was a push for me to be honest with myself and you’ve opened up the floodgates for a lot of demons that I’ve been avoiding to acknowledge. You’re making me look into myself and look for means to repair so much of the damage so that I can have that joy and happiness that you’re currently seeking.” Her infectious smile brightened up the room as it does anywhere we are and she rubbed my back in appreciation and encouragement for what I’d just revealed.
“You deserve joy and happiness. You’re too good of a man to allow those demons to get the best of you and control your destiny. It’s not worth it. You have too much life to live and too much good to come to let the past withhold you from enjoying it.”
“As do you. The thing is, right here and right now, I feel that. When I told you that I don’t think I give you enough credit last night, its because I hadn’t said any of this to you. It’s been hard to withhold this because I didn’t know when would be the right time to let you know. I didn’t want to overstep any boundaries initially and eventually it came to me not wanting to overwhelm you since I already had knowledge about what you’ve gone through. I’ve bit my tongue and even silenced myself before I went too far with my words a couple of times but that kiss gave me further ammunition to put my feelings out there. It’s beyond me liking you. I’ve liked you since we met. I want you.”
“Dante…”
“Let me finish. I don’t want you to feel pressured about any of this nor am I asking you to make a decision about me right now; not if you don’t want to. I just know that I want you and I’ve thought about what that entails and I can’t help but to want you with the appropriate title and position in your life. Maybe you just want to date me to feel me out a bit or maybe you don’t want to commit to anyone right now, which is understandable and I’d respect that but I’d like a chance. We can take it slowly in the midst of that. It’s not about me proving that I’m better than anyone or that I’m the perfect guy for you. I’d just like a chance to be along side you as your man while we live our best lives. That’s if…if you’ll have me.”
My heart thrashed against my chest after having sped up in pace word after word. Everything flew out of my mouth as quickly as it came to mind and none of it was what I rehearsed mentally throughout the course of the day. My emotions did the talking and allowed me to get it all out there to not only prove myself but to also alleviate the pressure I’d been experiencing for months. I’ve never done or said anything like that before and to live on this edge is exhilarating and frightening beyond what I could have ever imagined. No matter what she chooses, there’s no going back now and I’d never choose to do so. I’m all in. The question is, is she?
Her mouth fell agape as her nails lightly pressed into my back. The emotion in her eyes triggered the all too familiar fluttering in the pit of my stomach as I awaited what could make or break this moment.
“I’ll have you.”
I searched her eyes for any sign of hesitation but only found admiration for me. She’d chosen to soothe me by rubbing her hand against the nape of my neck just as she’d done last night but I needed more. As my arms locked around her petite frame, she leaned her head back to allow mind to align with the front of it and my lips meshed into hers in a burning hunger. It’d been such a challenge to refrain from relieving that agonizing desire for quite some time now and early this morning only served as a tortuous teaser. I had the urge to kiss her as soon as I opened my eyes and turned over to look at her. I fought it while readying myself to leave and also forced myself to refrain from awakening her for one as we were preparing to walk out of the door. In between my thoughts of this moment and how I’d go about it, her lips were embedded into my every thought and I could only fantasize about the moment when I’d be able to feel them against mine once again. The difference between the kiss we shared hours ago and now is the seal of our commitment to one another and the security in knowing that this is my reality now and I can share this kind of intimacy with her whenever I want.
“This is okay? You don’t mind public displays of affection?” Our lips met again after she’d gotten her question out and I quickly shook my head in the midst of the peck.
“No.” Her hand locked around the nape of my neck with subtle aggression and the moment only intensified when the both of her lips wrapped around my bottom one. I couldn’t help but to grab her thigh and draw her closer to my frame as she marked her territory by running her tongue across it and sucking it into her mouth. Yet again, the world seem to center around us and nothing else mattered; barely even the waitress who placed the two pizzas down on the table for us to consume.
“I’m so speechless right now. I can’t believe you said any of that.” The flustered smile on her face turned into a bit of a blush and my fingers lightly ran across her cheek in yet another gesture of my admiration for her beauty and essence.
“Why?”
“Because I didn’t think I was your type. I nearly wanted to kick myself in Paris when I finally began to admit to myself that I had feelings for you. Even this morning, I woke up and I was literally panicking because I thought that I’d truly crossed the line; so much to the point that I called my brother and quit.” My eyes widened as she revealed the last bit of information and she chuckled while nodding her head to confirm it as the truth.
“I called him back and fixed that long before you came to my room, but the first thing I could think of was to call him and create a barrier between myself and the potential embarrassment that would have happened if I wasn’t what you wanted.”
“You forgot that I was just as much into that kiss as you were?”
“This morning? Absolutely. All I kept thinking was that my drunken self pounced on you.”
“Well, you did…but I like it.” Our laughter rang out in the small corner that we were sitting in and she nudged me with her shoulder while shaking her head.
“Our first kiss could have been better though, don’t you think?”
“Nah, I liked that one.” Her shoulders dropped as she huffed and a smirk formed on her face as she reached to grab a piece of my pizza. The warmth of her body meshed with my own as she leaned into me and I leaned in to give it a try just as she had.
“I’ve been trying to show you that you’re my type ever since we met. Though I wasn’t verbal with it, in all the time that we’ve been spending together, there has been nothing more that I’ve been looking forward to other than that. I had my fears too baby. I thought I was out of your league initially. I didn’t think I’d be interesting enough for you.”
“I don’t know how. I was intrigued by you from the beginning.”
“I guess we were both so caught up in our fears, insecurities, and hesitance that we didn’t take the time out to actually pay attention to the signs that we were giving one another nor did we act on them…until now. The kiss aside, I’d been thinking of ways to ask you out on a date and I planned to do so after you returned to the east coast from Heather’s wedding festivities. I couldn’t wait much longer than that. Also, I didn’t want some guy out here to swoop in and ruin my chances because then I would have had to fight.”
“Oh, please!” She could barely chew on the bite she’d taken as she snickered. Immediately after she swallowed it down, her lips pecked mine.
“Can I be honest with you about something?”
“Anything.”
“When my ex and I got involved with one another we kept it to ourselves for the most part. Heather sort of knew about us but I was very limited with the information I gave her because it was a risky situation and I think me being young and so caught up into it, I enjoyed the thrill and adrenaline rush of being with him though it had the potential to be problematic. My family didn’t find out about Andreas and I until everything leaked out into the media and it was an ugly situation. There was a lot of fighting involved between my family and I and his mother had such a distaste for me. I chose a side and it was Andreas’. Once he took the Miami Heat coaching contract, I decided to leave UCLA and go to Miami with him because we agreed that we were going to get married. The only person who met him was Shane and it stayed that way. Even when I decided to take a breather two years ago, he never showed up to be with me during the mourning of my brother’s death or when I had the stroke. He was wrapped up in the NBA season and didn’t want to take a leave of absence. By the time he decided that he was going to come, I told him not to and the next thing you know, divorce papers were being served to me on a gloomy Friday morning.” She took a sip of her lemonade while allowing me to take in all that she’d said and I did my best to quickly understand what she was getting at.
“So no one other than Shane met him?”
“Right and that left a bad taste in all of their mouths. I skipped Isaac’s wedding because they didn’t want him there. They warned me not to bring him and I opted out of being apart of it and attending for the sake of my husband. That started a lot of tension between my brother and I and that tension is still very much between us currently. I fear what his reaction to us will be because you’re his client and he respects you for all that you are as a man but most of all as a professional. I’m nothing but the little sister who he believes is irresponsible, erratic, and childish. He’s disappointed in me because I left school and married young but overall, I think he truly resents me for choosing Andreas over him and he’s yet to let up on it. Now I’m with you. It’s tough.”
“Did you apologize to him for it? I’m not saying that you have to regret the decision you made but sometimes an apology works.”
“I do regret not going, honestly. I believe that could have been a moment for my family and I to make amends for all of the drama but instead, I reacted in a spiteful manner because I believed they were doing the same thing to me. I should have been there to support him but I refused. Hell, that was the first time I told Shane no. Now, I’ve yet to apologize to Isaac because we fight and his insults only make me want to insult him without a filter. He’s verbally vicious when he wants to be and he’s a pompous asshole the majority of the time. We clash a lot so I avoid him for the most part. So when it comes to you and I, that’s why I avoid displaying our personal connection in front of him. I can only imagine his reaction to it and if that man makes some type of assumption that I’m screwing you for what you have or that I’m involving myself with you in order to be spiteful towards him, my reaction’s not going to be one of my better moments.” Though the background situations differ, I can absolutely understand her strained relationship with her brother because I have one with my own and we’ve had the riff between the two of us ever since we were kids. In him being my older brother, I did crave for him to take me under his wing and be an influential figure in my life when I was past the toddler years but the more Matthew figured out where I came from, what happened between our father and his mother, and why his family dynamic changed, the more he pushed me away and lashed out in manners that I’d yet to understand. Richard eventually pitted he and I against one another and of course he favored Matthew because he owed it to him to do so; as did my mother. Despite all of that, I don’t think I truly took a disliking to my brother until they shipped me off to London for boarding school. It was at that point that I felt like an orphan. I still feel like one.
“You want me to talk to him?”
“No, of course not.”
“Autumn, I don’t want to hide. I want this to be as real and as normal as possible. I don’t want to creep around with you because we have no reason to do so. There’s nothing dishonorable happening here. We’re two people who took an interest in one another and developed a bond that has now turned into a relationship. What I do for a living and what you currently do for a living has nothing to do with that. You don’t ask me for anything but that doesn’t mean that I’m not going look out for you and look after you.”
“You don’t have to do all of that.”
“But I will because it’s what I want to do. I don’t want to have to hide that either. I want to meet your family because that’s where you currently reside and if I should want to come to pick you up, I’d hate for them to be surprised or confused. I don’t think you want that either. Why take them through that all over again? If you discuss it with your family, I believe that all will go well because it’ll be a much better approach than the one you took before and they’ll take it seriously. If you want me there for it, I’m in. You’ll meet my family too.” As she pulled her lip in between her teeth, she nervously nodded. “I don’t want to hide baby.”
“You want me to meet your family?”
“If I could avoid and hide you from the dysfunction that is my shitty family forever, I would. I can’t though. Richard has eyes and ears all over the place. So yes, in some type of manner, I’d like you to meet my family.”
“They can’t be that bad.” If she only knew what she was talking about. I’d like to believe that too but they’re fucking horrible as far as I’m concerned. No one deserves a set of parents like mine. They may have made sure I had luxuries and an expensive education but I would have easily traded that in for their love and moral support throughout my childhood. I wanted a soccer mom and one of those overbearing fathers who coached from the sidelines during their kid’s games. Though I had damn near perfect grades, I still wanted someone scolding the hell out of me and threatening to take away my favorite toys and game systems if my report card didn’t come in looking good. I wanted my mother to teach me how to treat a woman while my father schooled me on safe sex. I want to be assured that I was loved and cherished enough to turn to them for anything but I wasn’t. Aside from my uncle being there for me when he could, I raised myself.
Autumn picked up and bit into another piece of the pizza that I was barely eating and lightly moaned in satisfaction. She hadn’t even touched hers.
“So my pizza is better than yours greedy?” She nearly choked on the piece she was chewing as she cackled against my shoulder. Though I hadn’t touched much, I could admit the braised short rib, calabrian peppers, red onions, and chinchurri were quite a taste.
“It’s so good and you’re not even eating it.”
“What are going to do with yours? You’ve yet to touch it.”
“Midnight snack, of course. I’ll save you some of yours.” I could actually picture her sneaking a piece of pizza and laying around on the couch watching some show of hers. She receives more pleasure from dough, marinara sauce, and cheese than I’ve ever seen anyone else have.
“Nah, don’t worry about it. Enjoy it. You taste my pizza, I taste your lips. Deal?” Before she could take another bite, she gleamed in happiness and quickly leaned in.
“Deal.”
As her lips covered mine, she slowly ran her tongue across the slit of my own and I swiftly opened my mouth and permitted her warm tongue it’s entry. She granted me the best of both worlds within that moment.
I want this feeling forever.
A roar of laughter filled the twenty third floor of the Venetian without regard for the resting residents or the hour of the early morning. I inhaled the sweet scent of my woman’s body as my arm remained locked around her shoulders. Her right hand tightly intertwined with mine while her left held a frozen margarita she’d gotten as we randomly walked along the strip. It turned into a spontaneous outing after having an incredible time sitting front row and watching Boyz II Men literally serenade her song after song. Though she wasn’t the only woman within reach, she quickly became the target of Nathan Morris’ vocal affection and it didn’t stop at the direct singing. Even though they were supposed to be giving out roses to random women in the audience during their famous hit “I’ll Make Love To You”, both Nathan and Shawn seemed to return to Autumn multiple times which resulted in her having a damn bouquet worth of red roses to swoon over while singing along to the song as I fought the urge to stick a leg out and trip the both of them while they made their way back to the stage.
It was the dress. Actually, no, it was the entire package with the dress simply being the subtle enhancer. She looked like some mythical goddess of the sea as she confidently stood along side me all night long in an apricot colored mid-thigh length dress that was interestingly and intricately crafted like a coral reef all over. It’s deep v-neck opening and backless additions furthered the appeal and what damn near blew my mind were the matching platform sandals that covered her feet. I’d never seen anything like it on anyone before and she informed me that the Alexander McQueen pieces were just more old garb that had been collecting dust in her Miami closet for a couple of years. She was supposed to wear it to Adrienne Bosh’s birthday party but ultimately opted out of attending. Thankfully she didn’t, because it would have been a sight that I would have never gotten to see and my God, it’s one that no one should ever have to miss. It’s was what had the members of the nineties R&B group damn near drooling and also what caused her to be showered with dozens of compliments as we walked along the strip joking about the most trivial topics. Lastly, aside from my emotions being on an never ending and elated high, her choice in attire for our night out together played it’s part in my unabashed antics in being all over her. What I’d grimace and turn the other way over whenever I’d see couples out in public doing it, felt so natural and fulfilling to me tonight. Stacey would always tell me that when it’s real, you’ll know and I would quickly dismiss she and all of her soap opera dramatics, but I owe her now. I might not tell her how right she’s been because the gloating would be unbearable, but I’ll figure out a way to give her some form of credit.
“I put down my Boyz II Men roses when we got the drinks and I forgot them. I’m shitty.” After inserting her key card into the door, she waited for the green light to appear and opened it up for our entry.
“You had those old men trembling in their Depends.” As she walked towards her bedroom, once again we were joining one another in laughter. While she tossed her bag on the bed, I finished off what was left of my drink and disposed of the plastic cup. Autumn bought the drinks with earnings from her random luck at a penny slot machine she decided to play with while I took a phone call from Richard. She spent less than five dollars and walked out of that casino with five hundred dollars in her purse. Her win was far more hilarious than exciting to the both of us. She wasn’t even eager to win and it was clear that she didn’t know what she was doing since she’s never gambled before. Her curiosity got the best of her for the few minutes my attention wasn’t completely hers and the cards or should I say slots aligned for her.
“The show was so good though. Thank you for taking me. I love me some Boyz II Men.”
“You’re welcome Peaches. I figured you’d like it since you’re an old soul and all.” Her platform sandals were next on her agenda. While sitting on the edge of the bed, she unbuckled them one by one and carefully removed them from her feet.
“You say that like Boyz II Men aren’t during your time. You’re hitting thirty in a month old man. Speaking of, what do you want for your birthday?”
“Nothing.” As she stood up, her eyes playfully rolled to the back of her head.
“I figured you’d be difficult. I’ve been trying to think of a good gift for a few weeks now and I have ideas but I’m not sure which route I’m going to take. Give me a hint of something you’d like.”
“I like you.”When she huffed, her eyes repeated the gesture once more and a smirked danced along her perfect lips. As I stood in the door way, she inched closer until we were face to face and used her pointer finger to poke my chest.
“You have me and I’m not all that. Be serious.”
“You are all that and I’m being serious.” My chuckle forced her to cut her eyes. “But uh…maybe you, food made by you, in some place chosen by you? That sounds nice.”
“Me?” My eyes widened as an expression of curiosity arose on her face and I quickly threw my hands up in an honest defense.
“Not like that. Not like that. I mean you as in your presence, not you as in something else. You as in you.” The nervousness that arose within the pit of my stomach and eventually made it’s way to my face was an amusing sight for her to witness and she didn’t hold back from giggling while slightly holding her head to the side.
“I’ll take that into consideration. You staying down here tonight?”
“I can?” I hadn’t expected that invitation. Did I want it? Sure.
“Yes. I have an extra bedroom. Make yourself comfortable. We have a flight to take in a couple of hours.” I took a step back and my mouth fell agape as, I too, joined her in amusement.
“I can’t sleep in here with you?”
“Nope. You said that we’re taking things slowly. Remember?”
“I did say that but I didn’t mean this slow. We slept in the same bed upstairs.”
“I didn’t know there were guidelines. You said slow.” The teasing within her tone and the sultriness of her stance were on the verge of driving me up a wall and yet I could do nothing but stand there and allow her to have that power because I liked it.
“Platonic sleeping is slow.”
“Platonic sleeping? Ha! That’s a new one. Sweet dreams.” The kiss she planted on my lips worsened the fire already burning within me while the sight and sound of her bedroom door closing served as the extinguisher to put me out.
“Goodnight! You got that teasing shit from that show at Crazy Horse. I’m never taking you there again.” Like she’d been doing since we left out for our night out on the town, she cackled loudly enough for me to hear and I could still hear it as I made my way across her suite to the second bedroom.
I’m alright with slow.
I’m alright with whatever she needs from me.
But damn Autumn.
According to the pitch blackness surrounding the bedroom and the eerie silence that was cause for my eyes panning back and forth, I hadn’t been sleeping long. I removed my clothes a half an hour after lounging on the bed and answering e-mails that I’d received from A&M. Richard already informed me about the mandatory meeting happening within a day and the company luncheon that is to follow directly after but it didn’t stop the five reminder e-mails from coming my way. We’re hosting intern seminars and I’m scheduled to speak at three out of five of them. Matthew’s doing two. The only reason he summoned he and I to speak and then to observe is because our latest batch of interns is compiled of far more women than men. His knack for enticing interns is unmatched. After a week in the New York office, I’m off to the London office for a couple of days and then it’s back to New York for the MoMA Party in the Garden. This year’s event is being underwritten by Cartier. In the midst of trying to mentally access and properly pan out what had been added to my schedule, I nodded off to sleep.
Three hours. I only slept for two hours and it seems like I’m not the only one to have done so. I could hear Autumn’s footsteps pacing the floors as I laid in silence for the past couple of minutes. I mentally followed along with her every move until she surprisingly opened up the door to where I was resting. I could see her poking her head inside but it was clear that she didn’t know I was awake and it made me smile. Her next move was to step inside and quietly close the door behind herself. Her tip toeing nearly made me burst into laughter and flutters filled my core as she climbed into the bed on the left side.
“Slow huh?” She flinched at the sound of my choice and my laughter followed as she dipped down until her head hit the pillows.
“Why are you awake?”
“I just woke up. Why are you awake?”
“I never went to sleep. Couldn’t sleep.” As she slightly turned, I reached for her arm and pulled her to the middle of the bed and slid over until I was there with her. I left it up to her to pick a position and she chose to throw a leg over mine and mesh into my side until her head was resting between my neck and shoulder. We shared a peck once I turned my head and my arm rested over her back.
“Sweet dreams.” While my hand caressed her back, I listened to the sound of her breathing until it slowed to signify her slumber.
I didn’t have the urge to sleep.
No dream could be better than my current reality.
There’s no way possible.
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