I hope you like spicy food, because the jumbalaya could cut paint. So, indeed, could the whiskey that almost magically appears once the place starts hopping. The bass player recommends you stick with the rum, as that comes in on boats from the islands, and the whiskey is generally brewed somewhere out in the bayou, and you don't want to ask about the gin. All of it is strong and bad-tasting, but they have a variety of juices with which to cut it. "They call these 'cocktails'," one of the others says. "It's a way to get the foul-tasting alcohol past the tastebuds where it can do its job. They use code names--'Bloody Mary', 'Tom Collins', so that if they're overheard they won't be ordering alcohol. What's your pleasure?"
Buddy says it's not up to him, but he'll ask the owner. He introduces you to a young white man in a pin-striped suit who says you should call him 'Manny'. When he hears what it is you want, he draws Buddy off to the side and converses in stage whispers that are too loud.
"What do you really know about this guy, Buddy? I mean, how do I know he's not with the revenours, spying out the place for a bust?"
"Josephs vouched for him, Manny. You know Josephs; he's got a solid rep."
"Yeah, I know about Josephs, but I'm not sure I trust him, either. I mean, the man is tee-total, but doesn't even drink tea. I know the players all like him, but I don't know that he's not working for the revenours himself."
"Never thought of that, Manny. But then, there's a sense in which Josephs is just too honest to be a government agent, you know? I think if he was, he'd'a told someone by now."
"Yeah, maybe. Well, he'll have to sleep in the restaurant. I don't want him upstairs when my people aren't watching, at least not before I get to know him better. Good?"
"I'm sure that's all he wants, Manny. Thanks."
Buddy then comes to you and motions for you to follow him out of this upstairs office back through the kitchen. "It's good. Don't wander upstairs until they reopen the kitchen. There's an outhouse out back, and I'll make sure you've got a pitcher of fresh water for the night."
Incidentally, that room off the kitchen has been transformed into the bar--no counter service, but plenty of bottles and a few casks and kegs that seem to have come from nowhere, and three guys mixing the drinks to send out to the customers at the tables.
--M. J. Young