ジュリアス・スージー
I do not know what American cuisine is. When I reread all of Truman Capote's works periodically, I start craving cherry pie or roast turkey. I also find myself wanting to eat dishes like a Niçoise salad, omelette, or Brie cheese breakfast when looking at the menu of Lafayette, one of Capote's favorite restaurants. Capote, who grew up in New York City and its surroundings from the age of seven, loved city life but considered New York to be a city of vanity and deception, with his heart always in the South. His writing style differed when depicting rural towns in the South versus urban port cities. His portrayal of New Orleans was magical, festive, and sometimes even devilish. Inspired by Capote, I found myself craving Southern American cuisine and became interested in a soul food house in Azabu-Juban. Recently, I met up with my old friend, sommelier Masayuki Ogawa, and we decided to have lunch at the soul food house. The restaurant is located in the same building as El Blanc, famous for their magical foie gras. The menu had items like burritos, waffles, soul food sandwiches, omelettes, egg benedict, shrimp, and steak. I asked the Japanese waitress for a popular drink, and she recommended a cocktail called COOK OUT made with cognac and Kool-Aid fruit drink. I chose the red color, while Ogawa opted for cherry coke. We decided to share the Creole Jambalaya and Blackened Catfish & Grits. The COOK OUT cocktail was sweet and slightly bitter, with a hidden alcohol heat. The Creole Jambalaya was a flavorful rice dish with sausage, chicken, and Cajun spices. The Blackened Catfish & Grits had crispy garlic toast and tender catfish with a Cajun twist. It was a cheerful and delicious meal, reminiscent of the lively atmosphere of New Orleans.