The crawfish boil chronicles: Heather Goodwin

Photo by Andreas Koch

Due to my own relative physical "inactivity", it never fails to amaze me when someone I know displays an overwhelming passion for a particular sport. I'm speaking here of individuals who are so enamored, that they take it upon themselves and their busy schedules to incorporate participating in what is essentially...just a game.

A few weeks ago, I met with a friend of mine who has done just that. Heather Goodwin, a.k.a. Vieux Careen of the Big Easy Roller Girls invited me into her Algiers home just across the Mississippi River in an effort to continue my research of the ubiquitous crawfish boil.

Born in Columbia, Maryland; Heather is still local to me considering she moved to Baton Rouge at six months old and then into New Orleans when she was eight-years-old. Heather's parents divorced when she was only five and she left with her mother, Dolores, and her brother Charles to live in a one bedroom apartment off of Severn Avenue in Metairie.

When Heather speaks of her mom, a light glints in her eyes and she sits up straighter, obviously proud of her mother's accomplishments. Apparently, right after the divorce, Dolores went back to school at Louisiana State University (her ex-husband agreed to pay for college) to major in Physical Therapy. Heather describes the short time in the Metairie apartment as "a summer that felt like an eternity," but Heather's mom went on to became one of the premier physical therapists in the state of Louisiana. "My mom is an amazing, strong and independent woman." Heather says with pride.

Dolores remarried about a year after her divorce to a man named Ike Hardee and moved, with her two children, into a three bedroom trailer in Westwego. "It was so crazy," Heather explains, "I was living with my mom, stepfather, brother Charles, stepsister Sherri and stepbrother Joe."

In the 5th grade, Heather's new family moved into Algiers, the city she has never left. She attended Rosenwald Middle School in the "cutoff in the hood" where she learned how to "curse, smoke cigarettes and skip school." Obviously, school was not one of her passions. In fact, her hatred of school was a strong factor in keeping her virginity intact until she graduated. "My mother who is very religious, told me that girls who got pregnant didn't graduate from high school. I wasn't going to let anything stop me from getting out of there!" she exclaimed.

Likely due to her parents' strictness, Heather rebelled and moved out of the house only three months before she graduated when she was 17-years-old. For only a year, she lived in the Parc Fontaine apartment complex with her roommate, a "crazy" guy named Jason Huffman. "He thought he was either my father or my husband...neither of which were true. I was young and stupid and naive, and as I look back on it now, I think he was madly in love with me." A feeling which was obviously not mutual. It only lasted about a year before she moved out. 

Photo by Andreas Koch

Throughout her life, Heather has been employed in the service industry as a waitress, bartender and hostess..working at restaurants like Steak & Ale (ain't dere no more) and the Dry Dock Cafe. But, it seems she enjoyed bartending the most, especially at The Old Point Bar where she stayed for six years.  

At 22, Heather gave birth to her son Kyle and decided that bartending and its risks (she was held up twice at gunpoint) wasn't conducive to raising a son. She decided to go back to school to get a degree in Graphic Design from the Southeast College of Technology. 

In 2004, she started what could have been a successful graphic design company with her friend Rachel. Unfortunately, they were working out of a house in Lakeview and lost everything (almost $50,000 in computer equipment and software) under 15 feet of water when Katrina hit and the levees failed in 2005.

Heather's latest obsession began only a year ago when she decided to try out for the Big Easy Roller Girls. After months of practicing and trying out...Heather made it onto the team and is now part of Crescent Wenches playing as Vieux Careen and attending practice 2-3 times a week to retain "active" status. 

"I am trying to find a happy medium between derby and life, because derby takes over very easily." she explains. Heather makes an effort to talk about other things besides derby, but it has become such a big part of what she had become, that is is a difficult endeavor. "When I start not liking it, we'll have a bout and it puts everything back into perspective. I love it!"

When I asked her what derby veterans on the team she would like to emulate, Heather replied "All of them?" and laughed. "I would like to have Lacy's mobility and then Peaches is tough and small and firecracky and Slaughter is just perfect! When she falls, it's graceful." In essence, Heather just tries to do the best that she can and puts out 100% of herself...and she has a fabulous time doing it.

Because she's lived in New Orleans most of her life, remembering her first crawfish boil was difficult, if not impossible. As far back as she can remember, her stepfather Ike would have boils (pronounced "bowls") every spring and summer.   

When her boyfriend Pat comes home from work each spring, the first thing he buys is a big sack of crawfish for a boil. Although Pat won't reveal his "secret" seasonings, Heather did say he liked to add oranges, mushrooms, celery, garlic, onions and Zatarain's Crab Boil.

Yes, Heather most definitely sucks the heads too. "I even eat the orange stuff inside...don't know what it is, but I love it." 

One in the dirt equals two in the nest...

So I've been hearing quite a bit of hullabaloo about the "yard egg." It seems that anything from pizza to pasta or even burgers can be improved with the delicious addition of an egg.  And not just any egg...a "yard" egg.  At first I thought it meant that the egg had to be prepared in such a way that enables the yolk to ooze all over the desired  entree...partly true, but not quite.

Then I did a search for "yard egg" on Google, and the first entry that popped up was this:

We call eggs we find out in the farmyard "yard eggs" These eggs have been "dropped" by a hen unable to get to a nesting box and sometimes overlooked when gathering eggs. They can still be good but must be float tested to ensure they have not been in the yard for a number of days.

Uhm ew? First off, how can you tell you are purchasing an egg meeting that description? Do you ask the vendor at the farmer's market? "Excuse me sir, but I was wondering if this particular egg fell out of your chicken's butt prematurely...you found it in the dirt right?"

And if they miraculously said yes, do you trust that they performed the "float test" or do you bring a bowl of water along with you when you purchase eggs?

I assume a "yard egg" is fresh, not refrigerated or processed in any way. Additionally, I would hope it came from a "free-range" chicken raised on organic or natural feed. But is there really that much difference in the flavor? This is something that will keep me up nights until I find out for myself.

Believe me, I will let you know.

Stepping out: Le Petit Theatre's production of "Hairspray"

After indulging in delicious food and decadent cocktails at Muriel's Jackson Square, we (Casey, Stephanie and I) strolled over to Le Petit Theatre, excited to finally see the local production of Hairspray. We arrived in just enough time to purchase a few more drinks and find our seats in the balcony before the music began.

Though I have never seen the Broadway musical performed live, I'll never forget John Waters' 1988 film version of Hairspray featuring Riki Lake in the starring role of Tracy Turnblad. The story is an underdog's dream come true! How could I not fall in love with a hilarious musical that not only promotes racial unity and dancing to your own dreams, but where the fat girl actually gets the guy?

Directed by Ricky Graham, Le Petit's local production of Hairspray was as grand as any other big city theater performance I've seen, yet managed beautifully on the small, historic French Quarter stage. It's been ages since my last theatrical experience and I found myself running the emotional gamut throughout the performance. Through tears and laughter, I praised the powers that be for the company of women, as both Casey and Stephanie shared the teary eyes and bursts of unabated laughter with me...without humiliation.

The entire cast was amazing, performing with strong voices and practically flawless transitions from one scene to the next. Dianna Duffy was wonderful in the lead role of Tracy Turnblad, radiating so much energy and enthusiasm that it seemed to infect every other performer on stage...not to mention the audience.

So many of the musical numbers rocked the house, but my favorites were "Welcome to the 60's" with Dianna Duffy (Tracy) and Sean Patterson (Edna) and "I Know Where I've Been" exquisitely sung by Kesha McKey (Motormouth Maybelle). Plus, everyone in the audience (including me) went crazy for Sean Patterson (Edna) and Roland "Butch" Caire, Jr.'s (Wilbur Turnblad) sweetly romantic and gut-wrenchingly funny performance of "You're Timeless to Me."

After the show was over, we hung out in the (newly renovated) lobby and talked about our favorite scenes. The courtyard seemed all-a-buzz about the wonderfully energetic performance and it seemed obvious that no one was ready to go home...including the three of us. We sauntered over to the Pirate's Alley Cafe and rounded off a perfect night with a few drinks and a lot of laughs, rehashing the evening's highlights. I had almost forgotten how fun hanging out with the girls can be.

Stepping out: Muriel's Jackson Square

When Casey invited me to a show at Le Petit Theatre a few nights ago, I instantly thought, "Where should we go for dinner?" An evening on the town isn't complete without a meal after all and I'd recently discovered a fabulous package deal specifically designed for theater-goers, a three course menu for $25, plus (and here's the real kicker) five hours of free parking in the French Quarter from Muriel's Jackson Square Restaurant.

This is my 54th cheat and I lost one of the pounds I gained last week, so I am down 71 pounds.

We were joyfully joined by another close friend of Casey's, so Stephanie made three on our epic girl's night out in the "Quarters." We arrived on time for our six o'clock reservations, the car snuggled away in the Place D'Armes Hotel parking lot and dressed "to the nines" for a night without the boys. Well, they were dressed up. My supply of evening wear disappeared when my dress size rose above 22. Still, I knew that Muriel's attracted a lot of casually dressed diners, so I wasn't too worried about it. Besides, I'm certain at least a few of the catcalls echoing across the Square were meant for me as well.

We were seated at a nice table and offered menus, though from what we read online, we already had a pretty good idea of what we wanted, but we also selected some drinks. Stephanie likes her vodka straight up, but Casey and I decided to share a couple of Muriel's special cocktail concoctions, a "Streetcar" featuring New Orleans Spiced Cajun Rum (gotta love Old New Orleans Rum) and a "Neutral Ground" with Hendricks Gin, Campari and absinthe. Giggling at the giddy wave of freedom flowing over us, we (carefully) clinked our glasses together and toasted to the beginning of a wonderful evening.

While we were sipping, the first course arrived. Casey and I both chose the Turtle Soup with Sherry while Stephanie had the Seafood Gumbo. Since Stephanie let me taste a spoon, I can say that they were equally creamy and rich, and both were based from a dark, nutty roux.

Last Thanksgiving when John and I visited Muriel's, I ordered a double-thick pork chop and I simply couldn't resist ordering the same thing, even though I did everything in my power to select something new. I get so few opportunities to re-try dishes I've tasted before, I just couldn't help myself. Served with smoky collard greens and pecan glazed sweet potatoes, the juicy chop was almost as good as I remembered.

Casey's order was the Seafood au Gratin, this bubbling, creamy goodness arrived in a hot cast iron pan featuring a large potato croquette on top. Stephanie got the Pecan Crusted Puppy Drum (it's not a puppy, right?) served atop a pile of crab meat relish and surrounded by lemon butter sauce. I found both of their dishes tasty, though the Puppy Drum had a nice crust and was cooked perfectly, without the sauce (which she wanted to lick from the plate), it was sadly bland. Neither dish made me regret ordering my beloved chop.

We were all pretty full, but we manage to polish off our delicious dinner with some decadent desserts. I had to get the Creme Brulee, but both Casey and Stephanie opted for the Bread Pudding with rum sauce. Keeping our schedules in mind, we inhaled most of the desserts while the wait staff provided our check, returned with the change and still left us with plenty of time to scurry across the Square to order yet another drink and find our seats at the theater. The show must go on...