You know how sometimes the idea of something is better than the actual - like living in a place that has perpetual summer. You kind of miss the beauty of winter, spring and fall - or maybe it's the change you miss. Or buying that beautiful little vermillion orange MGB, license plate number THL533 and bombing all over Canada with it, convertible top down and shit eatin' grin collecting bug guts and all. Then comes winter; the Triple A guy waits down the block to give you a boost every morning because he knows the call's coming in just after 7:00 bells and when you've finally got the darn car started ya gotta dress like an Eskimo so you don't freeze to death.
Well you'd think I'd learn my lesson, but oh no. History does repeat itself and last night's dinner was a perfect example. You see I got all excited because I found a recipe on line from Mr. B's restaurant in New Orleans. Several years ago the big guy took me with him to a convention there and we ate at Mr. B's as much as we could. I ALWAYS ordered the same thing ...beautiful jumbo Louisiana shrimp, wrapped in crispy almost charred applewood smoked bacon and served on a bed of creamy, rich grits covered in red eye gravy. It was amazing - the memory of it just made my mouth water! Big time.
Well I HAD to cook it for dinner last night. The big guy was on board with the idea and stopped on his way home to get some red pepper jelly and we were off to the races. Grits were cooked, all creamy, shiny and gorgeous. Shrimp wrapped in bacon and smokin' up the house on what had been my nice clean spotless stove. Ingredients for what they called Red Eye Gravy reducing in the pan - cooked shrimp on skewers waiting to be stripped and placed on a pillow of grits ...2 mouths absolutely watering with anticipation.
Well you probably get the picture. Something got lost in the translation between New Orleans and Tucson because it just wasn't that good. In fact, not even good enough to post the link and that's all I got to say about that! Now I'm off to wash the grit and smokey grime from the cupboards AND the kitchen ceiling, AND scrub the plantation shutters, AND re-polish the windows AND clean the stove ...AGAIN! Poopy darn, I say. Actually what I'm really saying is unprintable, but you knew that already didn't you.
WOw, what a great combo... and I was just going to get shrimp for dinner...hmm... think I have a new way to do it, now don't I???
Posted by: deana@lostpastremembered | 04/30/2010 at 09:37 AM
A more authentic red eye gravy, and a smokier bacon might just rescue this dish...actually a trip back to Mr. B's would do just fine! LOL
Posted by: June | 04/30/2010 at 11:33 AM
Don't you just hate it when you've got your tastebuds set on something specific and it just doesn't happen. I feel for ya. It sure does look good though!
Would've loved to have been a fly on the wall when you were saying "poopy darn".... and whatever it was that you REALLY said...LOL
Posted by: Mags | 04/30/2010 at 05:27 PM
Mags, if you were a fly on the wall and flies had ears they'da been beet red! Tee,hee,hee!
Posted by: June | 04/30/2010 at 08:21 PM