|
Tee
Eva - The Queen of Pralines
-
Janet James
|
|
|
Got a question
about New Orleans
Ask
Us |
|
|
|
TomAtoes, tomAWtoes, potAtoes, potAWtoes, prAlines, prAWlines - aw, who
cares?
If it's pralines you're talking about, Southerners do! Say it
with an 'aw' and you'll fit right in.
|
Mark Twain
said, "Southerners speak music..." No one
ever mentioned which tune we were singing, however.
HOW
TO SPEAK SOUTHERN |
But, there's more to a praline than pronunciation, and all the secrets are
stored away in a shacky looking walk-in storefront at 4430 Magazine
Street.
Tee Eva, a 63 year old ball of fire, is making praline history.
 |
|
When we arrive, Tee Eva invites us in to the rickety kitchen where she
is stirring a sticky brown sugar mixture on a gas stove,
Plastic wrapped pralines and other goodies are lined up in
organized groups on an old wooden table.
Click for a close-up.
It looks and smells yummy!
Her smile is radiant and she begins, without pause,
explaining how her days are spent and how she became famous for her
cooking.
|
|
|
Born on the Glendale Plantation in the St.
Charles Parish, Eva Perry (her real name) learned how to cook from
her Grandmother, who also taught her to say 'yes, ma'am' and 'no ma'am'
and to deliver a smile to every living being. Even doggies get a
"hi, puppy, how ya doin?" from Eva.
Her journey to 'Queen of Pralines' began early, when armed with a
basket of pralines and this picture, she planted herself in front of
corporations and other businesses and sold her goodies on the street.
Her pralines were so popular that she added some of the other family
recipes to her 'basket', including crawfish pie, sweet potato and pecan
pie.
|
|
|
She was invited to cater and catering led her to Beverly Hills where
she catered to some of the hottest celebrities in Hollywood.
Newspaper clippings of write-ups and photos that hint of her
achievements are lying on the counter which she offers to us proudly. |
 |
|
Tee Eva has been in the movies playing bit parts, and is, in fact,
scheduled to appear in an upcoming film with Clint Eastwood.
|
Eva With Governor Jerry Brown
of California
|
|
Now back in her home of Louisiana, she operates in a much lower style, but
with no less demand for her marvelous creations. Her walk-up
quarters provide only a fraction of her business. Most of her cooking
is done for special order, either by mail or for locals.
In the summer she holds a Snoball Festival, hires a band and people
line up for blocks to get a taste of her mouth watering ice, injected
with rich fruit flavors.
|
| Finally!
she offers us a taste. The sight and smells have been
overwhelming, but we've been able to calm our cravings until now.
Dub has been eyeing a sweet potato pie, but I've got to have the
praline. We gobble them down like starving orphans and hint around
for another. She's probably used to it, so she invites us to take
another, which we do and stick them in our pockets for later. |
|
|
|
|
It's time to ask the question. "What is your secret?" I
ask.
She laughs and explains that tradition has always been to add your
own ingredients, vary the recipe just enough to make it unique, but
NEVER, NEVER tell your secret.
I had to try.
|
You can order Tee-Eva's cookery by calling
504-899-8350 or from her website.
|
|
The top of her flyer reads "She cooks, sings and dances," and
at the bottom, it says "Food for the SOUL."
Eva IS soul.
Now! How do you say praline?
|
Leaving Tee Eva with our sweets in our pocket, we're ready to
explore Royal Street. The
shopping is supposed to be some of the finest in New Orleans! But first, a
stop at the Fairmont to see
Angel Hair Lobby.
Let's Go!
|
|
