Hooray Saints!

I love New Orleans.  I love the food, the music, the art, the architecture, the people, the whole steamy gumbo of it.

I don't give a hoot about football, generally, but I know how important the Saints are to the city. And I am well versed in the chant, thanks to a Gun Bun dinner years ago. 

In June 2005, a few weeks before Hurricane Katrina, Gundlach Bundschu held the first annual Wine Club Member Revel in New Orleans.

The concept of the member Revel is based on the old parties Charles Bundschu used to throw around the turn of the 19th century, hosting friends and family somewhere other than Rhinefarm to celebrate key events like an engagement, or the start or end of a voyage. They were usually grand dinners filled with the camaraderie of family and friends, and always involved some kind of performance, usually a reading poetry or singing songs. He called these gatherings Revels. We now hold these annually for 100 members of our wine club from all over the country; this year's trip to Chicago is long sold out.

That first Revel in New Orleans was full of amazing experiences, from the fais do do on a five-generation homestead on the Bayou to a long night of Sazeracs and Jazz that started at Brennan's and ended much later on Frenchman Street. But the most memorable was dinner at Muriels. Our party for 100 took over the top floor and balcony of the 200+ year old house that holds this fine creole restaurant. The group was divided between two grand rooms, with Jim and Jeff Bundschu each hosting half the group.

Somewhere between the second and third courses, the guests from Jim Bundschu's room each grabbed their napkins and paraded through the adjoining dining room swinging them high and singing, what else, When the Saints Go Marching In.

What ensued was a performance 'battle,' each room taking the opportunity between courses to stage a performance for the other. After several rounds of food, drink, and rapidly deteriorating performances, a New Orleans native (and dear friend) in attendance stood up to rally us for one last joint song. She explained that the one thing that always unites the people of New Orleans is their love of their local football team, the Saints. She proceeded to lead us in a call and response cheer that culminated with the now familiar refrain "Who dat, who dat, who dat sayin' dey gonna beat dem Saints?"

As I mentioned, I'm not into football, but tonight, I embraced the NOLA philosophy that any excuse for a party is a good one and made a dinner of a few of my cajun favorites (more on Thursday).  And when the Saints won their first Superbowl, I sang that cheer as loudly as a drunk fool on Bourbon Street.

What a way to kick of Mardi Gras, eh? That should be SOME victory parade.

Congratulations New Orleans! Two live songs this Music Monday to celebrate your triumph - Louis Armstrong, of course, and The Saints are Coming, performed by Green Day and U2 at the first Saints game in the Superdome after the storm.