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Posted on 12/08/2005 4:14:52 PM PST by caryatid
They're starting to call it YATon Rouge. Not only have people from New Orleans found refuge here, but now New Orleans businesses are starting to set up shop in the Capitol City.
The Baton Rouge Chamber of Commerce says more than a dozen merchants have moved their businesses here since Katrina. A few who are working on the move include Boudreaux's Jewelers, Mandina's Restaurant, Chattabox Dress Shop, and the Cork and Bottle.
Already moved and settled in downtown is Rasputin's, a Russian restaurant and bodka var similar to the one on St. Charles Avenue in New Orleans. Also, Thursday was the grand opening for Mignon Faget's new Baton Rouge location, where customers couldn't get enough of the native New Orleans jewelry. Mignon Faget herself was in town for the opening, something she'd planned, but sped up after Hurricane Katrina shut down her New Orleans store for weeks.
"Coming to Baton Rouge early was a strong objective," said Faget, "because we thought so many people have come to Baton Rouge as a refuge, some have moved here."
So Faget moved her jewelry here as well, with a few new pieces to mark the move, like her Iris collection. "The iris bloomed from the tears of Eve as she was driven from the Garden of Eden," Faget explained. She wears her iris as a badge of honor, after being driven from her Garden of Eden, New Orleans.
But the businesses aren't just moving to Baton Rouge, they're adapting to the city as well. Mignon Faget has already come out with an LSU Tiger, and a "Baton Rouge" design. But the old staples are still around, like the trout almandine at Galatoire's. Galatoire chefs are now slicing their fish amid construction at the new location on Perkins Road, a small version of the French Quarter icon that sustained damage during Katrina.
"The biggest problem was the refridgeration," says owner Justin Frey. "All the coolers... the food spoiled to the point where it just infiltrated the insulation."
Frey has managed Galatoire's for the past 30 years, and he says he's already seeing regulars in his one week of business here. Evacuee Margaret Biezer told 9 News she drove past the bistro and couldn't believe her eyes. She says she was very pleased to see the restaurant. "It's always nice to connect with people from home."
Frey says Galatoire's original restaurant in the French Quarter will open by January 1st. One big problem he's running into is contacting their former employees. Many of the service staff lived in the Ninth Ward and other areas that flooded and are not likely to return home.
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I think I would have gotten the joke sooner if it were spelled Y'aton Rouge -- as in "Where y'at?"
Bodka?
LOL I spotted the reference to the Bodka var ... thought for a moment I had had one too many Bodkas at my local var ... !
Dix pack of Sixie...
I had forgotten all about Yats.
If any of y'all are in Baton Rouge, I highly recommend buying a few bottles of wine at Cork & Bottle. The owner is a friend of mine and his store in Mid City was a popular hang out.
It's located in the old Marcello's location on Perkins Road.
I was interested to learn that Mandina's was considering relocating. That was a real favorite of all of us for many, many years. During the early days of the Hurricane the question kept arising ... What about Mandina's.
And, I have yet to hear anything about Camellia Grill, another long time favorite.
I drive by Mandina's everyday. The corner of Canal and Carrollton was/is my favorite section of the city. My law office is located about four blocks down on Canal.
There was Mandina's, Angelo Broccato's, Pho Tau Bay, Christian's, the Endymion Parade from the steps of building. The new street car really added character to the area.
The whole area is heartbreaking. It looks like Katrina hit the area on Wednesday. However I am seeing more and more activity. Baby steps. Mandina's has a large sign on the building: "We shall return." God damned right.
My first meal ever in New Orleans was at Camelia Grill. Believe it or not the owner was having financial problems pre-storm. He was very thinly capitalized and the restaurant hasn't reopened. I suspect he may sell.
Riverbend is a bit of a mixed bag. Some areas it looks ok, then a block down, it's terrible. Some things are open there but not everything.
My memories of Camellia Grill go way back ... Jimmy Schwartz owned/ran it. Jimmy was a stockbroker [and a very nice man]. His father started Camellia Grill.
I have not been there for quite a long time now and have no idea who owns it now.
"He was very thinly capitalized and the restaurant hasn't reopened. I suspect he may sell."
Oh, this saddens me. I grew up right across the street from Mater Delorosa, so Carrollton Avenue is very familiar to me. My parents and I ate many times at the Camelia Grill. I'd like to think that they would come back. Sad.
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