About two years ago, we got invited to our first backyard crawfish boil in New Orleans.
It featured sunshine, kids, dogs, beer and a giant tub of crawfish writhing around, awaiting their destiny. Poor bastards.
A giant kettle came to a boil over a propane burner in the backyard. The crawfish went in with the usual accompaniments of corn and potatoes — plus lots of garlic, citrus, artichokes and boudin sausage, plus a heavy dose of the necessary Zatarain’s spices.
This boil was done by a master, and the effort paid off with spicy, salty, tangy morsels of goodness. Even better with an Abita or three.
Plus the colors of everything in the pot were so beautiful that I snapped photos that inspired two paintings — this one that’s for sale in my online shop for just $99:
And this one, that sold last year:
We love New Orleans — we lived there for three months in 2011, and we’re headed back in April. I’m doing daily blog posts sharing my New Orleans-themed art, celebrating what some are calling Super Gras: the Super Bowl this Sunday, in the middle of carnival season leading up to Mardi Gras Feb. 12.
Would you like to win a free New Orleans print? Just leave a comment below with your favorite memory of that fair city. Leave it on any of these NOLA series blogposts. On Mardi Gras (Feb. 12) I’ll pick one and some lucky cuss will get a free 8.5″ by 11″ print.
PREVIOUSLY ON BATTLESTAR GALACTICA:
11 comments
My fave NOLA memories have to be surprising Colleen at Jazz Fest (after driving, like, 17 hours straight) and of course dinner at Emeril’s, one of the best meals I can remember ever. Such a fun city, and I love, love, love all your paintings!
That was one of my favorites, too, Lara. Thanks for making the trek!
I hope you had the chance to listed to John Goodman’s explanation of his love for the Big Easy in a little video posted by Mayor Mitch Landrieu. Everyone who has seen it agrees 100%… and coming from him and knowing his personal experience… it sure means more… The city is lit up with excitement due to Super Bowl and Mardi Gras, but you know that this city NEVER EVER goes dim, because even when we were devastated by Katrina, that b*tch, we managed to manage… and to celebrate life… and rise from the swamp once again… 🙂 Let it shine! Come join us on the porch soon. We are taking bets nowadays on how long it takes the guest who takes the hammock chair to fall asleep…
We’ll see you on that porch soon, Angie. I call the hammock! (what are we having for breakfast?)
I’ll post that Goodman video. Thanks!
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My favorite memory of New Orleans is passing over the bypass surrounded on both sides by the cemetery and its mouselems … seeing the SuperBowl shining in the sun as the clouds parted after a brief downpour… Everything looked so magical and clean and impressive .. made my heart skip a beat
Sharon, Colleen and I were caught in a downpour in that very cemetery. I love NOLA after a rain. Not a flood-inducing one, of course. Just a nice, cleansing rain.
What I love about New Orleans is totally summed up by your crawfish boil paintings. Seemingly disparate, colorful elements that all come together to make something truly unique, harmonious and beautiful. I love these paintings, they totally capture the New Orleans spirit.
Thanks for the kind words, Rob. You are the Robert Hughes to my Crumb.
One of the most amazing things I discovered was that the talent of the street musicians surpasses much of what you would buy tickets for in other cities.
That, sir, is a good point. On Royal or Frenchmen Streets, especially.