Three years ago Mom and I took Dad to New Orleans (his favorite city) to celebrate his 60th birthday (Laissez les bon temps rouler: Celebrating Dad's 60th Birthday in New Orleans)! Sadly, he passed away on October 8, 2015.
This year as a family (14 of us took over #Blackout17) we decided to return to New Orleans to celebrate what would have been his 63rd birthday! His birthday would have been Sunday November 12th so instead of going out we decided to hire a personal chef and enjoy a meal at the mansion.
After reading a few bios of chefs in New Orleans, Mom chose Chef Gason Nelson. Chef Gason is a two-time James Beard Scholar, has appeared on Food Network's Chopped and besides that, he is professional, pays small attention to detail in cooking as well as plating the food and is friendly! Read more about Chef Gason on his website: http://www.chefgason.com!
We were NOT disappointed in the four-course meal he prepared:
The first course was a fresh salad with goat cheese, roasted cherry tomatoes, candied pecans and a homemade creole vinaigrette. It was divine!
Needless to say, we were all ready for the next course! The second course was a Pan Seared Red Fish topped with Lump Crab meat and a light lemon herb cream sauce. It was light and full of flavor. For someone who usually skips the seafood menu, I could not get enough of this dish!
Oh there is more?? Yes, please! The third course was a Sous Vide-Beef Filet cooked perfectly to the preferred temperature with oven baked vegetables and served with a horseradish sauce. It was tender, full of flavor and although I was nearing fullness I finished every bite. Every single bite!
At this point I am full and thinking "Do I take another bite?" Wait ... dessert! Then I must take at least three more bites (Yes, THREE more bites ha)! Dessert was a traditional King Cake filled with cream cheese and it was delicious. Even with the icing and cream cheese, it was not overly sweet, it was the perfect birthday cake for Daddy.
Mom had the baby! Tradition says that she must now buy the next king cake! (That is enough reason for me to return to New Orleans!)
Dinner was amazing and not only did we enjoy every single bite but of course it was a night to remember Aubrey M. Kenney Jr (Nov 12, 1954 - Oct 8, 2015). We would do this all over again with Chef Gason!
Below are more photos from the wonderful evening! Please enjoy and look forward to more entries from the shenanigans in New Orleans because you could NOT have thought this was it ha XOXO
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| The table is set |
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| Uncle Brian thanking our Chef and lovely server, Mable. |
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| Aunt Shawntain and BK thanking the Chef |
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| Kim and Mike thanking the Chef |
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| Thank you Chef Gason! |
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| Thank you, Chef! XO from the Kenney family |
