Way back when I took my wife to the Jazz festival. She's super into food, and decided once we arrived in Louisiana that she had to eat at C.P.'s. Tried to get a table the first Saturday, and George (r.i.p.) told me it was his second busiest night of the year, but he took my number anyway. Got a call..."you're in luck". Taking us to our table, they led us through the kitchen, where my wife was blown away at the cleanliness and al the prep going on . By the time we were seated she had already decided she wanted to return.
Had a cocktail, then crept back to George's dias to plead my case for next Saturday..."Ha! That is my busiest day of the year! Don't hold your breath!"
Next Saturday we got the call at 4 in the afternoon..."be here @ six, we've had a last minute cancellation ". We weren't close to our room, much less the Palace. Crazy rental car abuse got us there at 6. They led us upstairs, and sat us at the turret table. For some reason, which I don't understand, we were comped 2 rounds of drinks and had free rein on the desert cart later. My first ever bread pudding. It was a spectacular dinner and a very memorable night.
On arriving home, the new issue of Gourmet was waiting. On the cover was a picture of the turret table we ate at two nights before. Pretty cool.