I’m in my hotel. I’m about to walk to the Super Dome in an hour.
I want to link to this to let you know the chatter is still that Colin Kaepernick will start.
Some of you wanted to know what I ate for dinner last night. I went to Commander’s Palace in the Garden District. I had turtle soup for the first time and I loved it. For the main course I had a great filet mignon. My dad and I split a bottle of Chinon.
It felt like the entire city of New Orleans said hello to us at our table. The Maitre D’ sat us at our table early and told us, “Tomorrow you work, tonight you rest.” Are there Maitre D’s in California any more?
Every waiter, the general manager of the restaurant and the wife of the owner – Lally Brennan – came over to introduce themselves and make us feel at home. Lally even gave my dad a kiss when we left. In California, you rarely get service like this. The restaurant’s attitude is to just leave you alone. I like New Orleans’ style.
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Alex, there are no words to express how I feel about you. I constantly search for the words, and they all seem less than I truly feel about you. You are my life, my heart, and my soul. You are my best friend. You are my one true love. How Coach could do this to us is very, very disturbing. Doesn’t he know that you single-handedly dismantled the saints last year in the playoffs? You with half your marbles are better than kip and his tattoos.
I still remember the day we drafted you I was three and I still remember my heart sinking into my stomach and my mother catching me in her arms after I fainted. I knew that you were the one I was meant to cheer you on forever. I thought of you every day, followed you in the media, read every Kevin Lynch article and dreamed of you each night. Just when I thought you had forgotten us and played a bad game you would throw for 200 yards the following week and made all my dreams come true.
Your voice during an interview with the media was the sweetest sound I would ever hear. When Harbs came and saved you from those two monsters Nolan and Singletary my heart was beating hard within my chest. My hand was shaking and I could barely breathe. Then you came out and performed like Montana and I knew you were meant to be our starter. Those were the sweetest days, greatest memories of the past. Harb’s was so close and near practically lying on your chest. I need to cheer for you, so that you know you’re the best. When you beat the Saints I felt it was a dream. I packed up my heart and it altered my life. I never looked back, now you will make me your number one fan and I am on a cloud, living in a dream, and a few days from now when Harbs back stabbing backfires on him those that once loved you, who now hate you will be begging for the two of us back but like me I hope you have enough pride left not to never do it.
I know your fragile heart is bruised and weakened right now but if you can somehow keep you head up, together we’ll find another team and new group of fans that appreciates how great you really are.
Wth?? lol
What kind of DRAMA is this!!! are you for real DS?
That is freaking hilarious, great work. Was that you Jordan?
Come on, Neal, on what planet is that Jordan? There would have to be tons of brutally misspelled words and horrible grammar for that to be Jordan’s work.
Lmao wheeeeeeeew!
Someone needs a big huggy.
LoL WAY TOO FUNNY
I must confess to the deed.
HOw did i miss this? You’re a fool man!!!! LMAO
Grant, in your opinion, was the hospitality of the restaurant a New Orleans thing or just a very good establishment? It sounded like a southern France atmosphere.
Also – filet mignon? Really? With all the cool new foods to try? You can get filet in Oakland!
It’s the only New Orleans restaurant I’ve been to, so I can’t say. I’d like to think it’s a New Orleans thing. It certainly was a terrific establishment.
The entrees were mostly steaks and fish, and I don’t usually order fish at restaurants. The turtle soup was new for me.
Here’s their website: http://www.commanderspalace.com/
I shouldn’t chide you. The first time I went to dinner in a foreign country* I essentially ordered mac & cheese. But still – no Creole?
*yes, I know New Orleans is in the US. It’s still a foreign country.
It definitely feels like a foreign country, but I don’t think Commander’s is a Creole restaurant.
On reflection, New Orleans might be one of the few places that could appreciate SF Bay Area culturally.
Sounds like a good time. That is the away game I really wanted to go to, New Orleans seems like a great place.
Commander’s is a great place and it’s a very European style of service whereas in the SF, it’s more about turning covers. You want service like that, you need to go to Danko’s or the equivalent. It doesn’t exist much more outside of the top establishments.
So, after reviewing the menu, gotta ask: Why not the ribeye?
Good question. I don’t have a good answer. The filet was great, though.
After reviewing the menu I notice that Grant picked the most expensive item.
Naughty!
That shrimp and grits dish sounds fantastic. Are there any wineries in New Orleans? I need to schedule a business trip.
Awesome Grant! The highlight of my culinary life was the Chef’s Table at Commander’s Palace. I forget what they served but it was the best meal I ever had
MSC
Ribeye was a bit more pricey. Ribeye is a beautiful cut of beef. If you’re in it for the meat flavor, the ribeye is the way to go. If you’re in it for the blood, the filet is your huckleberry!
I’ll order a rib or NY over a filet simply because I want a good size steak instead of just a medallion. I also agree that the rib is more flavorful and can be nearly as tender and juicy as a filet so why not go for the bigger piece of meat. Usually but I guess not in this case the rib-eye is less expensive as well.
I’m probably a weirdo (okay, delete “probably”) but I’m not a ribeye fan. It’s like a Fetzer wine – generic meat.
I generally go with pasta or seafood when I go out to eat. I can grill my own steaks at home.
Alec
Check this out:
http://whatscookingamerica.net/Beef/CookingPerfectSteak.htm
Nice technique for most cuts.
I will ty.
Porterhouse and rib-eye(bone in) would be my first two choices if offered. Meat on the bone is so much more flavorful and tender if cooked right. I wonder why no one offers a chateubriand? Even if you want to cook one yourself you usually have to request it even at a butchers. I get that it’s very expensive but so is Kobe and I still see that on the menu at some places.
I love a porterhouse.
Got the P-House fan group started! Nice!!!
“the filet is your huckleberry!”
Is that you Doc?
Greatest Val Kilmer line ever …
Maybe second best – you can be my wingman anytime
Hollywood was my favorite Kilmer character for a long time until I saw Kiss Kiss, Bang Bang. He’ll always be Gay Perry to me now. So f’n funny.
Harry: Still gay?
Perry: Me? No. I’m knee-deep in p**sy. I just like the name so much, I can’t get rid of it.
Gotta watch it again. Most Downey Jr. films I watch for Downey Jr., but Kilmer is one dude who can rival dude’s manic juice — thx for the ref.
yarp
So, “Breaking News” news this morning: Kaep will start.
Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy Oh Boy… …Infinity…
Who ever saw that coming. Simply incredible.
What next? SB6?
Grant, are you staying at the Homewood Suites?
No.
Since you said you were in walking distance to the Dome I thought you might be there. Grab a Po Boy at the game – they’re pretty good if you eat them and don’t have them thrown at you. Though I doubt you are wearing a 49er jersey like I was last preseason.
Have a couple Hurricanes if the 49ers win!
Kap will have 280 yard 3 td and 47 yards rushing. AS will have 2 sacks and 5 qb hits 1 forced fumble.
Not much fantasy talk on here but I have an interesting down home dilemma.
Everyone’s favorite Andrew Luck and Stevie Johnson or roll with upside in Kap and Crabtree!
Luck/Johnson to be safe. Too late in the process to take a gamble unless you’re desperate and have nothing to lose.
Thats what I have in. Just wondering if someone was gonna talk me out of it!
Grant how many yards do u think kap will throw for?
Even if Kaep fails, wich i doubt, whats better than knowing a coaching offensive genuis is there to lead the ride n put our entire playbook on the field. no limitations. Now we can c the whole shebang. Its the same playbook that got andrew luck started. Kaep can make those same throws. Now lets c if Kaep can show the poise like luck did beating the pack. Everyone is picking the drew brees saints. lets shut em up
And try the gumbo with crawfish.
My dad had gumbo with wild fowl as an appetizer, and I had a bite. It was great.
Grant
I used to be the Maitre D’ at the Redwood Room at the Clift Hotel. My godfather is the original owner of El Paseo in Mill Valley, which was, resoundingly, the most service-oriented restaurant in Marin for 35 years.
Glad you had a magnificent time in New Orleans!
Interesting. I’m an East Bay guy – don’t know much about Marin (Bart doesn’t go out there). There aren’t many good Maitre D’s in the east bay. It’s a lost art.
Owner/Chef Tony Nagiola at Central Market in Petaluma is one known for engaging and welcoming his guests personally. His resume includes N.O.
Lots of Trattorias treat you like family in Wine Country, and the upscale joints tend to get it too.
The last place I can think of that had a Maitre D’ was the Grotto at Jack London Square. The waiters wore white jackets too.
The new star of the Niners, has pocket pressence, the speed, the elusivness, the strenght to succede at his game. His game plan is simple destroy the other team. He can go to left or he go to the right. Of course he does create problems with his sacks. AS of course is going to start, who would want it any other way. And before Hammer hammers me, Bay bridges me, Jordo spews at me, I must confess I am speaking of Aldon Smith. ha ha got ya.
Get the W today Niners. Best of luck CK!
This is a huge game, in fact all of them are from here on out. I hope JH has made the right decision. I have never doubted him before, wont now but this is a riverboat gamble move. Hope it works out.
Ah, the boys except for Howie on NFL Fox are all picking the Saints to win. But JJ and Howie both agree with Grant about making Kaepernick the starter for the rest of the season, while Bradshaw and Strahan strongly disagree.
I guess we will know that answer in 6 hours. Can’t wait.
Me, too. This is a very important game for a lot of reasons. Just watching the Seahawk/Dolphin game and hoping the ‘hawks lose of course and take a little pressure off this game for the 49ers as far as the division race.
Jimmy Johnson, along with Bill Belichick, might be the only other coaches with enough conviction to make that change. Kaep has reached the point where he won’t get any better on the bench, he needs the playing time. I wish Kaep the best of luck today, he’ll be prepared.
Johnson said it is the difference between being a “good team” and a “great team.”
Now all he has to do is win today and exceed a Super Bowl expectation. No worries Kap, no pressure!
No worries. In the words of Stuart Scott, “Kaep is cool as the other side of the pillow.”
Not the only pressure Kaepernick will be facing today when Spags dials-up the blitz! If he can handle that, I think he’ll do well.
Spaceborn,
Harbaugh has his eyes on the prize. He will do what he believes is best for the team. As surprising as this past week has been, I trust Harbaugh. I have never believed anything he says to the media, but I trust his football chops 100%.
And the zone coverages and noise. Lets hope Frank Gore and the running game are a staple for Roman’s play calling. Need to help Kap and the offense be balanced.
Jack, “Natural Born Winner” the next Oliver Stone football movie! ;)
Space,
That was the first thing that came to mind while reading that story Neo linked yesterday. The guy is a winner.
Prime, yeah, they’ll be playing zone coverage because of the 49er run game, no doubt about it. The noise is crazy in the Dome, so the 49ers need to get up quickly and take the fans out of the game. Still, on the other hand, it will only take one big play by Brees to get them back in it.
If they sit in zone, Kaepernick will chew it up.
I hope all of you are dead accurate with your predictions and assumptions. We just need a W today. Don’t care how, just get it.
You think a lot of zones? I think some, and zone blitzes and plenty of man blitzes too, cuz they disrupt the run as well as apply pressure.
Brotha the Saints will want to see if CK has the ability to read complex zone coverages. He picked the Bears apart because they played mostly man and one safety overtop. I see them blitzing more and forcing him to read coverages. Confusion and chaos is probably what Spags will want out of his game plan.
Sure Prime, that’s correct, but remember their personality; I know they want to blitz. They do it well too. Outside blitzes to contain CK and games up the middle. Then some Zones to mess with him.
CK stood up to daBears pretty well, but zones or blitzes the Saints are much more complicated than Chicago.
Let’s do this!
Well said Brotha! Get the Win!
brotha, just not sure if the Saints would want to put their DB’s on an island with man-blitz with Kaepernick playing because he will definately take those shots against man.
Space they are going to throw the kitchen sink at Kap and see what works. Man, zone blitz, disguised converages, it will be an array of defensive calls to see what confuses him. He is still an unknown and to beat an unknown you try anything til it works.
Brotha,
It’s all about disguise for the Saints. Look for Roman to help dictate to the defense with personnel groupings, and force them to show their hands through motions and shifts.
The key to a win today will be the pressure applied by the 49er D on Brees.
JH drafted CK for this purpose, this was meant to be, time for a change, time for our offense to play balls out, no more 3 and out. Let’s use our explosive weapons, on our offense and get this party started.
I hear you, Space, and I admit that Spags brings a twist on their identity. We’ll see. One other problem with my blitz theory is DBs & LBs have to turn their back on CK. I don’t know if they’ll respect that; I hope they don’t!
Can CK be as accurate as last week? Our chances look good if he can.
Great football discussion this morning, 49er fans! Love it!
The Bears are allowing Cutler to start behind that O-Line. That has to be criminal negligence, yes?
You’d think the entire organization should be held for attempted murder charges for putting anybody behind that line!
The Niner’s will be jacked up for this game, Roman can open up the entire playbook because CK is that talented, but he will have some bumps on the road, but it won’t be a road block. We need to score first and often to take the crowd out of the game, this is the first time that I won’t be shocked if the Niners can score with a TD in the first series.
Grant have all the restaurants you’ve been to been like that or just the Palace?
GC said:”It’s the only New Orleans restaurant I’ve been to”
oops, never mind then.
Question for the FF people, who would you start today:
Flacco vs Chargers
-or-
Kaepernick vs Saints
Kap. Flacco sucks on the road. Averages about 176 yds on the road.
All coaches lie: All week Jax said Parmele would start at rb this week over Jennings after getting like 28 carries last week. Parmele has 1 carry for 13 yds. Jennings 9 carries and a td.
In Denver all week was the talk of seeing Hillman finally be the man! Moreno has done everything. No Hillman at all.
If they sell shrimp po’ boys at the stadium you owe it to yourself…
Welcome to New Orleans, if you like oysters you should check out Drago’s
So the wine?… You said you split a chinon with your Dad, you drank white with a filet? Did I miss something?
Yes, you missed that Chinon is red. It’s mostly Cab Franc.
Got it thanks.
Not sure if you know this Grant but Lally Brennan is restuarant royalty. Her family has owned some of the finest restuarants in the country. Good for you.