Follow-up on Parasol's

Go see Peter's write-up at Blackened Out.

If history is any indicator, sometimes divorces work out best for both parties. (See La Petite Grocery and the Schultes; Tommy's and Irene's.) But it is nearly impossible to replicate atmosphere, especially when it is based on 58 years of history. Will Tracey's have the raffish qualities of Parasol's dining room - the low ceilings, school cafeteria chairs, and dim lighting? Will customers order their sandwich at the kitchen window and then make their way to the bar to pay separately for their Barq's in the bottle and bag of Zapp's? Will the bar flies follow to Magazine Street?

Well we do know they plan to Second Line the barflies down the street on August 29 so I'm guessing at least some of them will. I know I'm figuring on being in that number anyway. Will make for good hair of the dog after celebrating another successful Rising Tide the night before. How many days left until that, BTW?

FWIW, I don't think you'll find a better representation of the ideal New Orleans style roast beef po boy than the one they make at Parasol's. There are other examples that are as good and everyone has his or her favorite. And it's my impression that these favorites are dictated by location as much as anything else. It's hard to conjure up a more classic New Orleans location than the soon-to-be-ain't-dere-no-more Parasol's. I'm glad the sandwich itself won't be lost, but I will miss the experience of buying one there.