L’heure Verte
by
Sun and I tagged along with Pete to his appointment at La Maison d’ Absinthe and the Absinthe Museum of America, both located inside 823 Royal Street. It still has the sign for Vive La France out front; and they are awaiting the decision on changing their sign by the Vieux Carre Commission, famous for being very deliberate in their decision-making.
The store is a delightful surprise to the senses; appealing to the eyes, and you want to touch everything in there.
Everything the absinthe imbiber/enthusiast could want lies on the shelves and in the display cabinets–vintage and modern reproduction glassware, coasters and bistro saucers and spoons. They even have individually wrapped sugar cubes. The only thing they don’t sell so far is the absinthe.
The saucers have different numbers on them and different colored stripes along the edges. The absinthe collector Pete met explained that the numbers on the saucers indicated the price of the drink, in Francs and Centimes, that was served on the saucer. The colored stripe allowed the waiters to quickly pick out the right saucer for a particular drink. The expert also gave us this little tidbit of absinthe lore. Women back in the day loved absinthe as a cure for cramping, or as he put it, “to help their monthlies.”
My purchases: the saucer, the glass in the saucer, and the spoon on top. I had bought the other glass last week at the Tales of the Cocktail market and let Pete put it to good use.
After stopping at the Freret Street Market on the way home, we picked up a bottle of Lucid Absinthe Superieure at Martin Wine Cellar and commenced the green hour rather early with a perfectly performed ritual.
This is probably the most well-written post you’ve ever done. Outstanding! I especially like “a delightful surprise to the senses.” Lovely words strung together so beautifully.
“To help with their monthlies.” Ha, I can totally see a man saying that.
Have yet to try absinthe, but if nothing else, I will at Mardi Gras because no one, and I mean no one, was more excited about the legalization of absinthe than my father.
I really want to lick the sugar cubes in the picture.
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My 21 year old niece was recently talking about absinthe and I was all, “Oh! I know what that is! Want me to tell you all about what I’ve learned from this blog I read?” Now…I just want to taste it!
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I admit, I Know nothing about absinthe, but you make me what to try it!
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I can’t believe how involved two people have gotten over a drink. I wonder if there is an Icee museum around. I would be all over that.
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Love the under plate looks as though it came from an apothecary. Enjoy. Enjoy.
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No invite? I’m not feeling the love. J/K; sounds like it was a blast.
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Single-handedly, you will have all the credit for the upsurge in absinthe sales. Those glasses are wonderful.
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Sometimes your posts make my heart hurt for New Orleans.
In this one: what I woulnd’t do for a walk in the Quarter followed by a carved chicken sandwich at Martins, complete with red onions, spinach greens & wheat bread. Mmmm.
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I gotta get out to that museum!!!
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Those glasses are timeless.. I love them.
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You gotta luv La Maison d’ Absinthe. They have everything related to absinthe at great prices!