If you think this is delicious, check out Part I

On Thursday, my wife and I had dinner at Brennan’s, a French Quarter institution -- and deservedly so. First news of note is that the Sazerac I had at Brennan’s is now in first place. They use rye whiskey and it was good and cold, though not too cold. My wife had one too and now understands why I order them everywhere.

We were served by the team of Alexis, Corey and Marc, who are clearly the Isaac, Torry and Az of their profession. The service was impeccable, attentive but not claustrophobic.

Karen had Oysters Rockefeller and veal medallions topped with pecans, mushrooms and pecan butter. I went with the prix fixe and had Oyster Soup Brennan, Brennan Salad (romaine lettuce with a tangy creole dressing, grated parmesan and croutons), and Chicken Kottwitz (breast of chicken sauteed with sliced artichoke bottoms and fresh mushrooms, topped with lemon butter sauce.) Along with our coffee with chicory, we shared a delicious rendering of Bananas Foster prepared tableside by Alexis. Memorable evening.

Super Bowl/NFL note that allows me to count this as a working meal: Alexis is the bartender in one of Saints owner Tom Benson’s suites at the Superdome. We talked football while he made the dessert.

Tonight we are going Uptown for dinner at the Upperline restaurant, a well-regarded spot that specializes in rabbit dishes as well as seafood. I got this tip via email from a former resident of New Orleans who read my Pulsecard on Thursday. You know, I’m thinking this Internet thing may catch on.

More Larry King-style notes from Super Bowl XXXVI in the Big Easy: One of the best Mardi Gras tunes I have heard this week is Take Your Drunken Ass Home by Big Al Carson. Which reminds me that this is the last Super Bowl before they pull the plug on CNN/SI ... The beignets at Café du Monde are all they are cracked up to be. But they put so much powdered sugar on them that you look like Al Pacino at the end of Scarface after your first bite ... Jack: Straight From the Gut is one of the many books I’ve skimmed by some guy who ran a big company ... After dinner, Karen and I went to hear the Preservation Hall Jazz Band on St. Peter Street. As we waited for the band to come on, I noticed that the seat at the piano was one of those plastic, slotted-seat chairs that can be used in the shower. For a moment, I had dark, French Quarter thoughts. But then the music started. Three songs for $5 and they were good ones: Royal Garden Blues, Bourbon Street Parade and On the Back Porch, the first one being a concert staple of New Orleans native Louis Armstrong. I know I mentioned him yesterday but if you’re going to drop names, well ... Speaking of name-dropping, (and I will use classic Hedda Hopper, gossip column language here) I saw the Wellington Maras and the Art Modells at Brennan’s last night. I assume Mr. Modell paid because the Ravens spanked the Giants last year. Someone at the table ordered a Ketel One with Pellegrino, but I can report no more. There are boundaries. I will say that Mr. Modell stayed at his assigned table as long as I was there and made no effort to relocate ... This Enron stuff is one big mess, I tell you ... If the Patriots win, I am buying a wonderful signed print by Ron Wood of the Rolling Stones that I saw in a French Quarter art gallery. It’s a portrait of his bandmate called "Charlie with Saxophone." If the Rams win, I’ll probably just spring for one of those crushed pennies with a logo on it and call it a day.

John Hassan is covering the Super Bowl for ESPN The Magazine. E-mail him at john.hassan@espnmag.com.