Soar-Dream-France: Morning Call Called

Most mornings I call my Dad at 7:00. Thursdays his schedule is a little fuller so it is the one day during the week that I don't place that call. That meant that yesterday, I got out on my bike a little earlier than usual. Walking through the kitchen I thought, I don't need to bring a thing along except my camera, but then it hit me...a little money might be nice and then I could stop for a coffee at Morning Call if I'm in the mood.

Making the turn around the back of the museum, there was no doubt I was in the mood. There were very few people in the park. It was quiet and peaceful. I relished the thought of sitting in the quiet with my cafe au lait and watching the morning and the rest of the day begin just a bit more.

When I walked up after parking my bike, there were two guys sitting outside under the covered veranda. I teased: "So, am I your first customer this morning?" And, I was. In fact, I was their only customer. I had all of Morning Call to myself. What a treat!

I know it's silly, but I like to pretend that places are mine. Yesterday morning, it felt like the Morning Call was mine. I told my waiter that I only had ten dollars on me, and was it enough for a cafe au lait and a plate of beignets (which had NOT been part of the orginal plan)? He assured me it was and then brought me a glass of water while a fresh batch of beignets were being made and cafe au lait was being brewed!

I was in heaven...quiet, no people, sun kissed Spanish Moss, and undisturbed photo opportunities in a place that is New Orleans to me!

Once my beignets and cafe au lait arrived, things became more interesting. First, my sweet waiter brought me a small brown bag filled with powdered sugar and said: This might be easier, sometimes the shakers are difficult in the warmer, more humid weather. It was as if he knew me...I always just open the shakers and dump, but this new possibility made me even happier.

Then, there were the beignets. (Those of you who have taken the day or two in New Orleans tour with me are usually treated to my beignet contest between a stop at Morning Call in City Park and a stop at Cafe DuMonde in the French Quarter on Decatur Street!) I immediately noticed some differences. First, these beignets were NOT the perfect square cakey guys that you usually get. Second, they were crispy around the edges and just cakey and airy enough inside to make me smile! Et, voila...it seemed that in the time that I was gone over the summer, Morning Call beignets had taken on the traits of the Cafe Du Monde beignets that have always made me love them most!

Too full for that last beignet, I popped it into my perfect little sack that still had LOTS of powdered sugar left in it and stuck it in the basket of my bike.