The Le Pavillon Hotel holds a special place in my heart, well my belly too. My Daddy took us out to fancy restaurants, but none would compare to the fabulous Le Pavilion Hotel. My sixth-grade graduation dinner was held there in the early 80s, look I’m telling my age lol. In my last year at Allen Elementary which is located Uptown on Nashville Ave, the school building wasn’t damaged by Katrina but it has been renamed. In addition to a six grad graduation ceremony, we were gifted with a field trip to the Le Pavilion Hotel for a celebration dinner, a very fancy one at that. I’m smiling from the memory, that experience in itself made me feel deserving of the finer things in life. We had a full pledge VIP experience including an actual red carpet just for us. Not sure what going on back then but, the New Orleans Public School system and parents would raise money to show us the grander side of living when we graduated from kindergarten, sixth grade and twelfth grade. Most of us kept our noses in our books because we were anticipating our Senior Trip to Washington, DC, and the HBCU College Road Trip. But grade usually meant a field trip to a fancy hotel or restaurant for a fancy dinner and my kindergarten graduation was the OZ theme with a yellow brick road, actors and the works. Yes, we may not have had much, but when it came time to celebrate our accomplishments they went all out.
The majority of my sixth-grade class were underprivileged black children who caught the city bus from nearby urban communities. Our field trip to the Le Pavillon Hotel would be our first fine dining experience and our first times in a grand hotel… And most of our parents worked in the hospitality industry, and never had the opportunity to walk through the entrance, sit in the elegant dining, partske of the fancy cuisine they cooked or just stare in amazement at the beautiful chandeliers. Yes, it was a big deal to not only to us, but our famil.
I remember being filled with excitement and anxiety. I didn’t want to embarrass myself or my teacher. We had a table etiquette class before the event, and I was so worried about forks and elbows, but the table set up was simple but elegant. In addition to a delicious, extravagant meal, we were given a tour of the first main floor. ; Everything was beautiful and as you can get, memorable so much so I can close my eyes see and taste it all, especially the decadent triple layer chocolate cake/pie dessert that was served at the end.
I promised myself that when I “grew up,” I would return and stay as a guest in one of the best suites and order from the menu without worrying about the price. Sadly, I haven’t returned yet. I haven’t reached the level of success that allowed me to afford to stay at the Le Pavillion, but I can provide a Bijoux Brunch. Just think if I weren’t included in the email, I would have waited until I won the lottery or started writing for Oprah magazine to go lol. But seriously, let’s reminiscence over brunch!
Glamorous and grand, Le Pavillon Hotel’s signature restaurant, Bijoux, will once again offer Sunday Brunch every Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Under the leadership of award-wining Executive Chef Derek McKenna and centered around a Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier, the brunch will provide visitors with an innovative menu of seasonal dishes served in an awe-inspiring atmosphere.
Bijoux’s Sunday Brunch features scrumptious starters, such as local-made pastries, and oysters and shrimp on ice. Diners choose from five southern classic entrees served with a French twist, including herb buttermilk biscuits smothered in andouille sausage gravy, a poached egg served over pan-seared jumbo lump crab cakes, or opt for the ever-changing Chef’s special of the week. The Sunday Brunch also features five fresh stations, including made-to-order omelets, Belgian waffles and marble slab mashed potatoes to name a few.
Served every Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m., the Bijoux Sunday Brunch costs $50 for adults and $25 for children 13 years and under. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling (504) 581-3111.
Dat NOLA Chic 