The second LSU game of the century was going to go down in Tuscaloosa so it seemed a good weekend to visit friends, first Mark and Paige in Abita Springs for game day, then Jason and Vic at the new place they just opened in Lakeview. The weather was spectacular both days. The water and sky were both very clear in Abita. I had hauled up a sack of oysters and Mark had gathered chicken thighs and wings and some shrimp, and also had a six foot bonfire of old oak and pine ready to light after the game. I’m not sure I’ve ever been happier than I was at halftime with a twenty point lead over Bama. Great effort on both sides and definitely brought back memories of the 2011 throwdown when Eric Reid’s interception and Brad Wing’s seventy-three yard punt saved the game for the Tigers.
Since I knew I’d be in Abita Springs for the game, I had planned on crossing the causeway to Lakeview Sunday early enough to do lunch at Elle-J’s that Jason and Vic recently opened in the space left available when Susan Spicer moved Mondo’s to the new terminal at MSY. The day was gorgeous and it was my first time crossing the lake from the north shore back into town. The skyline coming in was pretty impressive, as was the collection of pieces gathered to grace the walls of Elle-J’s Lakeview.
I got there early enough to witness the brunch menu Instagram shoot at the bar, and I was very tempted to go with either the Belgian Waffles or the Shrimp and Grits, but I’d already plotted a course before I arrived. Got to talk a little shop with both Jason and Vic and was happy to see both were very happy to have their own shop and do things their way. To a large extent that means resurrecting and recapturing old, treasured family recipes and paying homage to childhood favorites from long gone New Orleans legends. Just the chance to order a cup of She-Crab soup and a bowl of cioppino made it a bit easier to decide among all the great choices they offered on the menu. Both dishes were perfectly executed, and along with the shrimp and crab and mussels and clams and calamari they were full of love and passion and pride. I’ve got to make a run down their soon and gather some friends to join me in a wood fired pizza party because I know they know how to use that oven they inherited from Susan Spicer.
