C U 4 Dinner

My sister L belongs to a large group of friends who enjoy doing things together on a regular basis. One of their ploys for getting together and eating (and drinking!) is called "C U 4 Dinner."

What happens is, one member of the group volunteers to be the coordinator for an upcoming month, and is delegated to offer local restaurants a deal -- if the restaurant will provide a meal of appetizer, entrée and dessert and for $35 or under a person, the group will pledge to fill the place on a Tuesday evening with between 25-35 people. (Tuesdays are normally slow days here for restaurants.) Cafés and bistros thus approached usually can come up with a choice of 2 entrées, and maybe even a choice between 2 appetizers. It's a good deal for all parties -- the restaurant makes cash money on a usually slow night, and the group comes together, drinks heartily, and eats well, with lots and lots of talking and laughing and table-hopping.

Last night, the restaurant chosen by my sister was Atchafalaya on Louisiana Avenue, and they made the group an incredible deal: a choice of *4* appetizers (2 soups and 2 salads) and *4* entrées, each one more delectable sounding than the one before. Wow! (No one knows why they went to that much trouble, but no one complained.)

With all the delicious options, and with the venue being so charming, the group turned out in force. Big Man helped L count the cash, so I happen to know that the grand total of C U 4 Dinner diners was 32. We packed the place, and I must confess that the noise level got pretty high. (At one point, restaurant employees had to close the little windows between our private area and the main dining room.)

After the Happy Hour, during which time *a lot* of drink specials, beer, and wine was consumed, we were shown up into private rooms on the upper level to be served. (Atchafalya is in one of the city's traditional old commercial-plus-residences, with the corner-cut doorway facing 2 streets, and the old commercial area on the ground level, with what used to be the house a few steps up.)

Those who ordered the potato and bacon soup really liked it, and those having the traditional gumbo pronounced it excellent (it was really, really dark, like the color of semi-sweet chocolate and tasted rich and smoky). The house salad was a generous plate of mixed spring greens with house-made dressing, and the Caesar salad was refreshingly on the dry side (too many restaurants drown the romaine) with large shavings of cheese. Big Man and I both had the quail stuffed with boudin, wrapped in bacon and served in a nest of fried thin-shredded potatoes on top of savory mashed potatoes and tart bitter collard greens. OMG it was superb! (Other enticing entrées included whole redfish, pork roast with mango sauce, and shrimp and grits.) For dessert they brought us rich dark coffee and a smooth and creamy bread pudding.

Everyone was so completely happy with dinner that they tried to nominate my sister L to be the *permanent* coordinator of C U 4 Dinner! -- an honor she graciously declined.

A great time was had by all, and we recommend that you try Atchafalaya for lunch or dinner soon!