Battle for soul of Galatoire's

Times-Picayune ^ | 7-16-02

[mikenola]

A waiter is fired from a restaurant, a non-event most anywhere in America. But this is New Orleans and the restaurant is Galatoire's. A popular waiter's departure from the temple of French-Creole cooking has the well-heeled regulars up in arms and ...

[xsmommy]

ping to you.

[CholeraJoe]

Thanks. Until the 90's Galatoire's did not accept reservations or credit cards. The waiters would tell you, "This is your table for the night. Stay as long as you care to." It was old New Orleans for sure.

Not like that carpetbagger Emeril Lagasse's place. Although, it was kinda neat having Emeril himself cook and serve his specials the one time I went there as a guest of someone very rich.

The father of one of my hunting buddies was a waiter at Galatoire's for many years. When he retired a few years back, he was making $80,000 a year.

[CholeraJoe]

Missing the Big Easy ping.

[billhilly]

I can't remember the name, but the trout cooked in a brown paper bag was memorable.

[AppyPappy]

Women waiters! BAH!

[geaux]

I think they still won't take reservations. My husband's firm hires a bum to stand in line and hold their place for a table every year for their Christmas party.

Re: "Emeril's place" Do you mean Commander's? He was head chef there for a while. Or do you mean Delmonico's, which I believe he recently bought.

[CholeraJoe]

I'm referring to Emeril's Restaurant on Tchoupatoulas in the warehouse district. I've eaten at Delmonico's on St Charles and it was pretty good but that was before Emeril bought it.

I miss the food in NO.

[Askel5]

Not like that carpetbagger Emeril Lagasse's place.

Having worked for him, I call him the Emperor who Wears No Clothes.

I could tell you some stories that would likely make Gilberto's sexist skin crawl ... =)

[Askel5]

More interesting links in here (I was taken by and posted one of the letters I found on www.welovegilberto.com)

The Soul Withers, Doesn't It ... On Raising (but never touching) the Bottom Line

[Askel5]

Delmonico's

Most overpriced room in the city.

[CholeraJoe]

I call him the Emperor who Wears No Clothes.

Do you mean that he cooks au naturel? That could be painful or dangerous.

[Charles Martel]

Most overpriced room in the city.

Make that the SMALLEST, most overpriced room in the city.

[dennisw]

His rich patrons must help him open his own restaurant. Even make it a private club. Good luck to Eyzaguirre.

[bourbon]

thanks I enjoyed this article immensely, mainly b/c I'm going to N.O. this weekend with the fullest intentions of spending about $300 on food alone.

As well, I think I enjoyed the article b/c I don't recall seeing that soulless neologism "server" used once to describe a waiter or waitress.

[sinkspur]

Always preferred Arnaud's to Galatoire's.

[caddie]

I got Commander's Revenge one time after having the trout amandine there.

Snazzy place though.

[Clemenza]

Galatoire's

Best restaurant in the quarter.

Speaking of celebrity chefs, gotta love how K-Paul's still lined up the tourists when I was in NO last October.

[Clemenza]

Kenneth Holditch

I highly recommend Mr. Holditch's literary tour of the Quarter. He is quite a character.

[Askel5]

Arnaud's is a fine restaurant. Galatoire's is just the more richly laden with ritual, that's all.

All this talk about "elites". Silly. New Orleans is just a small town at heart and folks like to see and be seen. I know all my neighbors and I expect to run into someone I'll kiss and see half a room full of folks whose faces and names are familiar for one reason or another.

Gives us something to talk about during a four-hour lunch (scandal, family trees, successive marriages) besides who we plan on seeing and what we plan on having for supper that evening or who we saw and what had for lunch the day before. =)