The Dude Imbibes

Vieux Carre

Posted on 31 May 2009

A classic New Orleans cocktail.  It was invented in 1938 at the Monteleone Hotel in the French Quarter by its then head bartender, Walter Bergeron.  If you haven’t been to the Carousel Bar at the Monteleone, well, you are missing out.  Get to it.  The name “Vieux Carre” means “old square” and while the French Quarter is usually referenced as said square there is another square within this that I would like to discuss.  A little New Orleans urban legend, perhaps.

At the center of the French Quarter lies Jackson Square, named after general Andrew Jackson, who commanded the victory at the Battle of New Orleans in 1814 (and later became our 7th president).  At one end of the square stands the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral (you have probably seen pictures as it’s one of New Orleans’ most famous photo ops).  What you may not know is that on the two sides of Jackson Square flanking the cathedral are the Pontalba buildings.  They are matching 4-story red brick buildings (with that famous New Orleans wrought iron) that house both businesses and apartments.  They were built in the 1840’s by the Baroness Micaela Almonester de Pontalba, then one of the wealthiest people in New Orleans.

Here’s where the legend kicks in.  At the center of Jackson Square is a monument to general Andrew Jackson.  It is a statue showing the general on his horse, tipping his hat.  Legend has it that the Baroness, with her wealth and connections, persuaded the city to position the statue so that it faced one of her Pontalba buildings…the one in which she lived.  She wanted to be able to see, when she awoke and drew back her curtains every day, the “Hero of New Orleans” doffing his hat to her.  I can imagine that would be quite nice.  While there is no actual proof of this fact, we do know that she did contribute quite a bit financially to the creation and placement of the monument.  I believe it…because I like a good story.  Oh, and I like the drink.