Thursday, July 9, 2009

Essence Music Festival Wrap up

As I stated yesterday, I came home a bit sick and even my play-brother that was down there in New Orleans and returned home a little under the weather. So, if you were there and returned a bit sick ... like Michael Jackson, You Are Not Alone. :-)

Here are some flicks to round up my experience ...
Sooooo remember how I was telling you about how one of my commenters mentioned they were tracking Sherri Shepherd's tweets during the Essence Music Festival??? The very next day after I wrote that blog, I ran into her backstage at the show! I got my nerve up and introduced myself to her and told her what a coincidence it was to meet her just after blogging about her being at the same event. She was soooo nice, I mean super nice. And can I say it? Skinny. Yes, truly a thing where television distorts, not that I thought she was big, but I thought she was like me, full figured. She is way smaller than me. Cute and tiny. Anyway, the funny thing is the people with her were people she mentioned in her tweets and I naturally looked at their profiles when I looked at hers on twitter, so they looked familiar and they were just as nice as she was. They watch Cooking for Real too! I watch The View everyday and sometimes conference with my best girlfriend about the show when it's over! So, it was what I call a mutual lovefest lol. Here are Sherri and I before she did an interview with TV One.
Then I ran into the man himself ...
I just had to get a picture, I don't think I met Ronald McDonald when I was young and I always liked Grimace because of his shape and color lol, but I truly turned into a kid for a few minutes when I saw him.

Ok, now for two pictures of something ... I just don't know what they are and based on the last time, I'm willing to bet they are nuthin', but look at what I cracked into TWICE this past weekend when I ordered fried oysters.
Can you see it? The little white pearl ball? Got that one at the hotel when I ordered fried oysters. It's definitely smaller than the first one. Then I went back to Mother's to get seconds because someone in the comments mentioned a po'boy and after reading the comment I couldn't help myself. So I added time to the treadmill and crossed the street for one.
See that pearl ball? Tiny right? These are both way smaller than the first 'pearl' so I'm not to excited, but I'll have them looked at by a jeweler just to satisfy the curiosity. Check back for details. As I'm typing this I'm thinking, boy did I really forget the Essence Music Festival, was about music and went straight for the food!

While I was in the Food Network kitchens a couple of weeks ago, I met a restaurant owner that was on a tour of the network and it was my luck his place was in New Orleans! I told him how I'd be down his way soon and would come by for a bite. Boy was it gooood! His place is called Huevos and it's a breakfast only place that shuts down at 3PM. Take a look at my Huevos Rancheros ... sunnyside up, not because it's my name, but because I like it runny and sunny. Over easy is cool, but I need a clean over easy, not a dirty over easy if that makes sense? You can never tell which you are going to get, so I go with sunny side up.
Pretty huh? I absolutely love avocado on the side!!! In that bottle on the left is their homemade chile oil. Very good, so good my buddy is shipping some to me. They also sent out some tamales on the house and I devoured them before I could take a picture. Just know if you ever go, it's a must order. The sauce was smoky and sweet, very good. Take a look at the inside of the spot ...
I used to have a chalkboard in my old kitchen and I loved it ... this made me miss it so much. There's even patio seating and the construction next door is a soon-to-be extension of the restaurant.
I also took in El Gato Negro and although the picture isn't the best, boy were my chicken enchiladas yummy.
I was already two bites in when I took the flick, the drinks were good too. My best male-friend lives down there and he took me and insisted I ignore my health-kick and made me have a margarita ... it was SOOOOOOO GOOOOOD! I don't know if that's because prior to that all I'd had was water and the occasional light beer, but it was good. Again, great sidewalk seating to watch the day go by ...
That's it ... I got back Tuesday and woke up Wednesday with a 100 degree temperature! For the first time I know what it means when people say they have a cloudy head, I was really a mess. My neck hurt, everything. Not that big a deal if you have nothing to do, but today I had to work! I got up early to tape The Wendy Williams Show!!! As soon as I know the airdate, I'll post flicks and a rundown. Until then, I have a date with Tylenol PM.

14 comments:

Anonymous said...

yesss Sunny i totally agree with you, I forgot about the music and went strait for the swag tents. I went to the Motions Bond over Beauty event and got some great tips on how to clean up my kitchen (lol no pun intented). And the food was to die for, but im a sucker for hair care products.

Sunny Anderson said...

anon, ita. some of the shows went on soooo late, i couldn't believe i was leaving a concert at 2am! so the music was good, but i felt like an old lady one night and opted to dine out instead of attend the show.

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

Man, all of that looks soooo good! And hey, what is music without food anyway, ya know??

I'm so excited that you met Sherri!! I feel almost like I was a part of that in a small way LOL!! I love her on The View, I know I'd love her in person too. She really seems sweet. So glad y'all met!! Tell her Mary said hey next time you see her! :)

Unknown said...

hey Sunny I absolutely lov u and your shows u are the only reason i watch shows on the FN. i had to respond to this blog because I ;ive in Baton Rouge which is about 45 minutes north of NO and essence is a ritual for me n my crew like mardi gras and the bayou classic, but anyway sunny I love u girl and u are one of the realest women on TV I luv u girl and my life would be complete if i got the chance to meet u and take u out or sumthin. much love sunny!

Sunny Anderson said...

mary, i thought about you when i saw her. i told her about the blog and you comment! this happens to me so much, i have to give credit ... you totally made that happen in my crazy head! what a coincidence huh? can you comment next about me being on the beaches of brazil???

charles, yeah i remember the bayou classics coming through making my mother's line long! lol ... thanks so much for watching and welcome to the blog!

Lys said...

I'm happy you had such a blast (and found some pearls as well - go Sunny!) Speaking of TVOne - did you happen to see G. Garvin at all?

Mary | Deep South Dish said...

LOL Sunny! I'll work on that beach thing for ya!! ;)

Sunny Anderson said...

lys, i had a pretty darn good time. got to see my best buddy and missed him so much, so that was cool. the food was amazing and yummy. good times. i didn't see g.garvin though ... was he there? he is so hyper, i'm sure i would've picked him out if he were close to the tv one area.

mary, please do ... concentrate on argentina or brazil lol ... i want that before year-end.

Unknown said...

I have a blackboard in my kitchen and I love it. I've thought about painting a door with chalkboard paint too, that'd be pretty sweet.

Would you mind if I like your blog to my blog?
Here is the link to my blog:
http://foodietc.wordpress.com/

Sunny Anderson said...

courtney, i think a chalkboard is in my future! i miss it ... no prob on the link to your blog, i don't mind at all...

Angela R said...

Sunny,
1st It was a real pleasure meeting you in the airport on the way home from New Orleans. You were such a sweetheart (even at 6 in the morning).

2nd. I need you to send me that list of vegetarian restaurants in NY again.. it got lost on the super information highway.

3rd. OK, so is it a New Orleans thing that they serve oysters with the shell on them and not cleaned. Do they just deep fry them with the shell on? I had an oyster po-boy and bit into more shell. It was the worse. Too bad you didn't find pearls.

Last- I had the chance to meet Sheri also when I went to a taping of the View.... She is the sweetest... just like you.

Sunny Anderson said...

angela r, hey! how are you doing? i think about you guys off and on and know how crazy it must be to raise two foodies! the grocery bills alone must have been crazy during high school! thanks for the compliment, was it that early in the morning? lol, i often get on people's nerves with my early morning and late night good moods. it's refreshing that it was accepted without a "what are you so happy about?", my usual answer is, "well, i'm alive for starters". i have plenty to be happy about and one of them is waking up in the morning. you know? i quickly turned sad with the mj stuff on the airplane tvs. i just sat and cried the whole way. :-( ... i'm resending the email, let me know if you get it. sorry you had crunchy oysters, i did too and both times it kind of stopped the meal. i think the volume that weekend was probably overwhelming for any kitchen. and isn't sheri a sweetie? and tiny too? i think it's the bubbies (real housewives of nj), ok well glad you found the blog! tell your kids i'm proud of them without even knowing them, they've found a calling early and even greater is support from the family!

Monique a.k.a. Mo said...

Not gonna lie...I don't remember what this was about because Ronald McDonald scares me to my core. Stephen King messed me up for life.

Can't wait for that Wendy Williams Show.

Sunny Anderson said...

monique aka mo, so the funny thing is i've never had clown issues, but when i looked at this pitcure, the guy did have a bit of a scary make up think going on ... i even commented to a friend that i see where some get the clown-fear thing! i also can't wait to see the wendy show too, i think it airs in a holiday, which is why we pre-taped instead of doing it live. when is the next gov't holiday?