We Watch (Part Of) The Stupid Bowl

Long-time readers of this blog know that Mrs. C and I dislike American football. It's all about gratuitous violence, brain damage, life-long disabilities, and most of all money, as crass as greed can get. (Other than that, Mrs. Lincoln, how did you like the play?) Back in the U.S., we always go out to dinner for our own private Stupid Bowl party. If the restaurant is open you get the best table and service. But we're in Costa Rica.

I thought it might be fun to go to one of the big beachfront bar-restaurants here to photograph the scene. It was interesting if unsurprising. We had never seen a Super Bowl half time show so we stayed for that. Now I don't know Lady Gaga from Lady Macbeth but it was kind of sort of mildly fun. Then we returned to our condo. The best part was the moon through the palm trees.             

La Vita E Bella

It was a pleasant Stupid Bowl Sunday in St. Louis. Took a drive up to Bellefontaine Cemetery for some pictures of William S. Burroughs' grave for his 100th birthday on Thursday (post to follow). Went by the office and actually got something done without being interrupted. Mrs. C and I attended a performance by our superb St. Louis Symphony, at which the Dutchman Jaap van Zweden set a world land speed record for Beethoven's 5th and led the most exquisite, nuanced interpretation of Shostakovich's 5th (a personal favorite) I've ever heard. Afterward, we had our annual Stupid Bowl dinner at the new restaurant Nathalie's, and it was terrific. La vita e bella.

Nathalie's occupies a a grand old home on Lindell Boulevard near the cathedral. It was formerly the home of Savor and Salt, both very good but relatively short-lived. Nathalie's shares ownership with Overlook Farms, a bit more than an hour north of here. We ordered from the Chinese New Year menu. The bacon-wrapped dates in a red chili sauce were fabulous. I had tangerine duck breast with wild rice and vegetables from the farm. The duck was perfect and the side dish had The Best Broccoli I've Ever Had In My Life - and I've been to France. We will be back. To Nathalie's. And France, too.

BTW, the first pic is from the graffiti-permitted section of the Mississippi flood wall. Whether to take it as literal or ironic is up to you.                         

Lillet martini with gin and vodka

Nathalie's kept some of the charmingly odd decor from Savor, including the Buddhist, ancient Egyptian and Rococo bits

Madeleine Monday

Haven't had much of the granddaughter lately since we've been away. Had dinner at Emily, Brian and Madeleine's home on Saturday. The darn kid keeps getting cuter. We brought her a toy monkey from Costa Rica, which, naturally, she crammed straight in her mouth.        

It's The Annual Stupid Bowl Party!

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Everyone in U.S. and at least one in France (right, Olivier?) knows that the Super Bowl, the American football championship game, was played last night. Mrs. C and I have no interest in football whatever. We consider it to be a violent, crass, marketing spectacle. For at least 25 years, we've always gone out to dinner during the event. It's our own private Stupid Bowl party.

We made a good choice this year, dining at Brasserie By Niche in the Central West End. It's a spin-off of Niche, über-chef Gerard Craft's adventurous leader in the local fine dining scene. The Brasserie is warm, welcoming and a haven for Francophiles. Wonderful, satisfying Gallic country food. The service was very good. There is a broad, reasonably priced, mostly-French wine list. There in no television in the bar showing the game. It's a good value too. We'll be back.

The game is probably winding down as I write this. I don't know the score. Sorry, Olivier, but go Corsairs!

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