Eggs and Andouille and Cops at Mena’s
It’s early morning on day three of Tales of the Cocktail 2008. Last night I did the “Spirited Dinner” at Bourbon House, hosted by LeNell Smothers of NYC fame. Now, I’m looking for a nice quiet breakfast so I walk out of the Hotel Monteleone and turn toward Canal Street. When I get to the corner, I turn left and walk one block to Mena’s Palace.
Mena’s Palace
200 Chartres Street
New Orleans LA 70130
(504) 525-0217
www.menaspalace.com
Calling Mena’s a “palace” is typical New Orleans bragging. Anywhere else it would be Mena’s Cafe and Bar.
I arrive at 6:58am. I know it’s 6:58am because the door is still locked, but there are people sitting at the tables inside. Mena’s doesn’t open until 7am.
I know if I stand by the door politely they’ll let me in to sit and drink a cup of coffee. Yup, Margaret is opening the door now.
There are only a dozen or so tables in the whole place. I walk to a table near the back and sit so I can look out at the street. Margaret brings me a cup of coffee and I wait for Mena’s to be officially open.
At about 7:15am Margaret comes back and asks: “What’ll you have, dear?”
“Two eggs over medium. Hash browns. Toast. And a side of andouille sausage.” (I am in New Orleans, after all. I can get bacon or ham anywhere.)
“The andouille will be extra,” says Margaret. “Is that okay?”
“Sure.” It’s five bucks for the eggs and $3.50 for the andouille. Still a great price compared to the higher prices at the white tablecloth restaurants back on Royal Street.
I settle in with my coffee and go back to reading the copy of USA Today that I bought along.
Quickly enough Margaret brings my order. First the eggs and hash browns then, a few minutes later, a rather large andouille sausage. It’s the same kind of breakfast you could get at any cafe in any small town in America. Except for that andouille.
As I enjoy my quiet breakfast the free show starts up right outside Mena’s front window.
There’s a motorcycle cop slowly riding by, trying to get past first an even slower-moving bicycle and then a young couple walking in the street.
It all seems normal enough.
Until the guy on foot takes a cigarette out of his mouth, throws it to the ground and takes off running.
I’m not completely sure what happened next — since the show exited stage left — but in a minute or so the cop has the poor guy’s face pressed against the window at Mena’s and the cuffs are going on.
Two lessons to learn here:
- 1. Never draw unwanted attention to yourself –and–
- 2. Always order andouille sausage when you’re in New Orleans.
One Response to “Eggs and Andouille and Cops at Mena’s”
Posted by: Bradley - 08/04/2008
I loved that story.
Liked the rambling, chrono-order but with all the elements of a short story.
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