appetites

The Blue Room at the Roosevelt Hotel is putting on a dinner party for New Year’s Eve. Here is the PR I received today:

The Roosevelt is hosting a New Year’s Eve party inside the Blue Room on Dec. 31 from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The event includes a complimentary bottle of champagne, party favors, valet parking, midnight champagne toast, music by Tim Laughlin and the Dawnbusters and a three-course dinner. The menu is below.
New Years Eve 09 Blue Room
Lump Blue Crab Salad, Upland Water Cress, Satsuma and Spiced Pecans
Grilled Filet Mignon with Pan seared Foie Gras, Gratin of Potatoes and Black Truffle Sauce
Trio of Chocolate
Peppermint White Chocolate Mousse, Chicory infused Milk Chocolate Pot du Crème and Dark Chocolate Feuilletine

Looks pretty good to me. I’m not sure what I’m doing for New Year’s Eve this year, but that’s on my radar.
In other news, Dick & Jenny’s is going to be open on Monday nights starting in 2010. So mark that on your list of good restaurants that are open on Mondays. Or not. What do you want? You want to be mediocre your whole life? Well, fine, the world needs ditch-diggers too. You just go ahead and slack off, and see where it gets you. No, I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

The Blue Room at the Roosevelt Hotel is putting on a dinner party for New Year’s Eve. Here is the PR I received today:

The Roosevelt is hosting a New Year’s Eve party inside the Blue Room on Dec. 31 from 8:00 p.m. to 12:30 a.m. The event includes a complimentary bottle of champagne, party favors, valet parking, midnight champagne toast, music by Tim Laughlin and the Dawnbusters and a three-course dinner. The menu is below.
New Years Eve 09 Blue Room
Lump Blue Crab Salad, Upland Water Cress, Satsuma and Spiced Pecans
Grilled Filet Mignon with Pan seared Foie Gras, Gratin of Potatoes and Black Truffle Sauce
Trio of Chocolate
Peppermint White Chocolate Mousse, Chicory infused Milk Chocolate Pot du Crème and Dark Chocolate Feuilletine

Looks pretty good to me. I’m not sure what I’m doing for New Year’s Eve this year, but that’s on my radar.
In other news, Dick & Jenny’s is going to be open on Monday nights starting in 2010. So mark that on your list of good restaurants that are open on Mondays. Or not. What do you want? You want to be mediocre your whole life? Well, fine, the world needs ditch-diggers too. You just go ahead and slack off, and see where it gets you. No, I’m not mad, I’m just disappointed.

When I spoke to chef Matt Murphy a couple of weeks ago, he told me that there was a chance he’d be back in the kitchen in October. He had another doctor’s visit to attend, but as of today, Matt is back in the kitchen at the Ritz Carlton.
I’ve written at length about what a great guy he is, and how talented, so I’ll just say: Welcome back, Matt.
This month, starting on October 7, Middendorf’s will feature an Octoberfest menu at their Manchac restaurant. Chef Horst Pfeifer is among the few chefs of German extraction cooking in our area, and I would expect that when he cooks the food of his homeland, it’s going to be pretty good. The menu will change weekly, and it looks a little something like this:

October 7 & 8
Schlachtplatte: Kassler, Bratwurst, Sauerkraut und Bratkartoffeln 15.25
Smoked Pork Loin, Pork Sausage, Sauerkraut & Roasted Potatoes
Apfel Strudel mit Vanille Eis 4.95
Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream
Oct 14 & 15
Sauerbraten, Rotkraut und Spaetzle 15.25
Pot Roast in Red Wine Sauce, Red Cabbage and Housemade German Noodles
Schwarzwaelderkirschtorte 5.25
Black Forest Cake
Oct 21 & 22
Wiener Schnitzel und Semmelknoedel 14.75
Breaded Thin Pork Loin and a Dumpling
Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream 4.95
Oct. 28 & 29
Schwaebischer Hochzeitsbraten mit Pilzen, Kraeutern, Schupfnudeln & Bier Sosse 15.50
Stuffed Veal Shoulder with Wild Mushrooms, Onions and Fresh Herbs served with Potato Noodles and Beer Sauce
Black Forest Cake 5.25
Nov. 4 & 5
Schweinebraten mit Rahmsosse und Kartoffelnkloesse 14.75
Pork Roast in a Cream Sauce
with Potato Dumpling
Apple Strudel with Vanilla Ice Cream 4.95
Nov. 11 & 12
Schweinshaxe, Bayerischkraut & Bretzel
Pork Hind Shank (Ham Hock),
Sauerkraut & Pretzel 16.75
Black Forest Cake 5.25

If you haven’t been to Middendorf’s in a few years, you’ll be surprised to find an outdoor seating area that’s right on the water. It’s really nice, and I imagine that once the weather cools down, it will be a perfect spot to enjoy those menus.
Also in October, on the 4th to be more precise, The Roosevelt Hotel will begin serving lunch in the Blue Room. Here is part of the press release I received:

Brunch will be available every Sunday in the Blue Room from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Adult plates are $59 and include valet parking and a complimentary glass of champagne. Children 10 and under will be served at half price. Reservations can be made by calling (504) 648-1200.

I’m not sure that I want to buy a child at half price, but everything else looks good.

This Friday evening, the Blue Room at the Roosevelt Hotel will be the venue for a performance of The Kingfish, in honor of what would have been Huey Long’s 116th birthday. The evening will include a three-course meal prepared by the folks at the Sazerac restaurant, and a Sazerac cocktail to kick things off. The cost, which is $185 per person with tax and tip, also includes valet parking.
As is my habit, I forgot to ask for the menu, though I do know that the third course is red velvet birthday cake. If I get the menu in the next day or two, I’ll update this post. The menu, in addition to the aforementioned bookends of a Sazerac cocktail and the red velvet cake, consists of Oyster and Artichoke Soup, and Steak Diane.
This is the first theatrical performance in the Blue Room since the Roosevelt re-opened, and what better way to get things back on track than John “Spud” McConnell’s portrayal of Huey P. Long, who was known to frequent the Roosevelt back in the day.
As of a day or two ago, tickets were still available, so if you’ve been meaning to check out the Sazerac Bar and the Blue Room, now’s your chance. Call 504-648-5380 if you’re interested.

Incidentally, insomnia sucks.