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Toast patio season at Nicola’s!

Tis the season for summery moments out on breezy patios, and Nicola’s Ristorante Italiano is here to help you make your patio dreams a reality. Next Wednesday, June 5, the Shops at Legacy Italian eatery will celebrate patio season AND its new bar area with an indoor and al fresco happy hour from 6 to 8 p.m. They’re providing the eats, passing around their crisp, hearty little arancini (above, fried risotto balls) swimming in tomato sauce and their plump signature meatballs, a symphony of juicy beef, herbs and cheeses. Mmmm, all this patio dreaming is making me hungry!

Lest us patio-philes go thirsty, Nicola’s is offering a peppy, orange-y Aperol Spritz (right) and an Italian margarita (what makes it Italian? A splash of DiSaronno!) as refreshment. Both drinks will be a steal, at $5 during this special happy hour. So grab a group of your chicest pals, get a little gussied up and head to Nicola’s after work on June 5. Eat a little, drink a little, be a little Italian on the patio, if only for one evening. The Diva decrees it. Mangia!

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Find Your Beer Soulmate event!

Ladies — have you always wanted to drink beer but can’t find one you love? Are you convinced that you and beer are caught in a bad romance? Maybe you just haven’t found your Beer Soulmate — and I’m here to help!

On the evening of Wednesday, May 29, me and Real Ale Brewing Co. will be hosting a divas-only beer course on discovering the brew for you — the Find Your Beer Soulmate event at The Ginger Man in Dallas.

There, you’ll learn from Real Ale brewmaster Erik Ogershock about finding beers that suit you, based on cocktails and wine that please your palate most.

We’ll sample four mini-pours of popular Real Ale beers, and you’ll get to pick your favorite to enjoy in a full pint. All will be paired with nummy cheeses as well as soft prezels with mustard to help you appreciate brews in all their wonder and complexity.

We’ll even have a swag bag giveaway filled with goodies from The Diva’s gift closet! An evening of fine beer, food and fellowship, all for $25? What’s not to love?

Wanna join us for an evening of tasty education? Reserve your happy butt a seat over here. I sooo hope to see your beer-curious face at The Ginger Man! XOXO

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24 Hours in New Orleans, Part 2

We left off with TechGod and the Diva roaming the streets of New Orleans after a blissful musical eargasm courtesy of Tanya and Dorise

Dinner at Red Fish Grill

For Sunday dinner, I was invited to eat at Red Fish Grill, a Cajun cuisine hub that’s part of New Orleans’ venerable Ralph Brennan restaurant family. The menu was packed with myriad tasties from the Gulf, and I couldn’t wait to dig in!

I opened the proceedings with the alligator sausage and seafood gumbo (above), a rich, mildly spicy stew ladled over white rice. It was the perfect way to kick off dinner, as it literally warmed up my tummy for more!

And “more” meant the Redfish on the Half Shell (below), a bevy of sauteed crawfish tails sprinkled over a fillet of blackened redfish and served with mustard greens. AND it was strongly suggested to me that I add crab. And if that wasn’t enough, spicy chili butter was drizzled over … well, I don’t know, maybe the entire dish and the silverware, too, but you know what? I was prepared to eat it all, because it’s chili butter, y’all!

The fish itself was cooked to juicy flakiness, and the greens added a touch of zesty bitterness that contrasted beautifully with the entree’s spices. Big, fat plate of yum.

TechGod, who thoroughly avoids spicy stuff, opted for a simpler dish of grilled Gulf redfish and shrimp over spinach with crab thrown in for good measure. Because life needs more fresh crab, chickadees!

Red Fish Grill fosters a festive atmosphere evident from its decor and vibe as soon as you walk in. Totally apropos, as the resto is located right on Bourbon Street. So bring your beads with you as you stop in for dinner and drinks!

Late-night French Quarter stroll

After dinner and a quick stop back at the hotel, we set out to partake of one of my favorite activities in NOLA — aimlessly wandering the streets. Oh, and drinking. Definitely drinking. First stop was the Erin Rose Bar. How have I missed this Conti Street dive in the past?! Oh, right — I was probably tipsy.

Erin Rose had not only a ton of personality — as evidenced in this witticism seen in the ladies’ loo …

– but the bartenders stirred their dranks strong! Mama like. Oh, and although it was closed during my stay, Erin Rose is also home to Killer Po-boys, operated in a back room, like a proper dive!

Despite the intake of food several hours before, we were feeling snacky by the time we got to one of my favorite late-night hangs in NOLA — the Deja Vu. It is an absolute must to order the fried green beans there, no matter if your stomach is telling you it’s full. LIES! Once these crisp and snacky babies arrive at your table with a side of ranch, you’ll be powerless to refuse them. And after one bite? Fuhgeddaboutit — the entire tray is going down the hatch. Happily, the Deja Vu kitchen stays open 24 hours a day, so when the noshing bug hits you after a dozen couple cocktails, you can sate your appetite in the wee hours. Oh, and did I mention this joint has a full bar, too?!

Two hours and five songs on the jukebox after our arrival, it was time to keep on moseying through the French Quarter. I showed TechGod some of my other favorite haunts like Oz and Lafitte’s. But as we rounded the corner of the latter, good ol’ Daylight Savings whooped our butts again, and we realized it was past 4 a.m. EGAD!! We had a lunch reservation at the Loews’ Cafe Adelaide before noon … time for some beauty rest.

Up next: Louisiana lunch goodness and … a giveaway!!

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24 hours in New Orleans, part 1

After my Baton Rouge adventure, it was time to skedaddle on to New Orleans, yay! But no trip is proper without a good meal to kick it off, and with that in mind, TechGod and I headed to a popular BR brunch spot to eat.

Sunday Brunch at Mason’s Grill

Mason’s Grill is known for decadent breakfast dishes with a Cajun spin — perfect for launching a day of further Louisiana exploits, if you ask me! Keeping with my gorging-on-fresh-seafood theme whilst in the Red Stick city, I opted for a crab cake benedict …

With a side of hearty breakfast potatoes and a mimosa to wake up my senses, this brunch had me ready to sail. And we kind of did, driving as we did on the looong bridge over Lake Pontchartrain.

Lovin’ the Loews New Orleans Hotel

It was a cloudy start to the day, but at least it was fairly warm. Soon we were rolling into the Crescent City, ready to check out our fabulous NOLA HQ, the Loews New Orleans Hotel.

I can’t say enough about the phenomenal amenities and service at this palatial building on Poydras Street. From the moment I stepped inside, I felt like every care and need was taken care of, or could be. As our luggage was whisked away, we had to rush upstairs to make our spa appointment at the hotel spa; the front desk representative assured us that not only would our bags be delivered to our luxurious room, but our hotel key cards would be dropped off at the spa during our treatment. Now THAT is service!

Happy spa times at Balance Spa

When they learned of the Diva’s pending arrival, the lovely folks at Loews treated me to the Girlfriends Getaway package, which includes a two-night stay (I could only stay for one, alas!), complimentary valet and cocktails in the hotel’s famed Swizzle Stick bar, gift cards for patio-and-hurricanes haven Pat O’Brien’s and beignet beacon Cafe du Monde, a 10 percent discount at the spa AND super-fun feather boas, just for kicks! Loves it!

Added bonuses from the lords of the Loews included a beautiful gift basket full of NOLA-tastic treats aaaaand a credit for at the Balance Spa. A relaxing, reinvigorating massage and session in the hot tub later, I was ready to hit the city!

Welcome drinks at the Swizzle Stick Bar

After the rest and relaxation fostered by Balance Spa’s wonderful services, I did the very opposite of post-spa hydrating and hit the hotel’s phenomenal little Swizzle Stick Bar, which has made a name for itself in NOLA for expertly created craft cocktails. You know your Diva had to sample the signature drink — the Adelaide Swizzle (above left)! Named after the aunt of the Ti Adelaide and Lally Brennan — the proprietors of New Orleans’ legendary Commander’s Palace — the Adelaide Swizzle is a flavorful blend of rum, lime, bitters and a secret ingredient, according to the recipe in the Brennans’ book “In The Land of Cocktails.” My palate didn’t give away the secret, trust me — I was too busy savoring the splendor of the drink to focus on guessing!

Street scenes

Post cocktails, we hit the street to use the Pat O’Brien’s voucher from Loews before our dinner reservation. Strolling up Royal Street, we came across performers Tanya and Dorise, whose evocative, emotional music interpretations grabbed my attention on my last NOLA visit.

Standing there listening to their stirring rendition of “Over The Rainbow,” I nearly cried — and plenty of folks paused from their hustle up Royal Street for a moment of pure bliss. Keep on keepin’ on, ladies — hope to see you in NOLA next time! Chickadees, check out the violin-and-guitar duo’s music here!

Stay tuned for the rest of my NOLA adventures!!

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My Baton Rouge hotel and a cocktail king

As a guest of Baton Rouge, I had the pleasure of being hosted at the super-adorbsHotel Indigo right downtown! What a gem — located right near the water, the hotel is close to the bars and eateries of 3rd Street, the gleaming Shaw Center for the Arts, and the North Boulevard Town Square, as well as the Old State Capitol. And inside, ahhh, it’s what’s inside that counts …

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