Carillon Opens!

THE MAD POUNDING OF THE BELLS!!!

Being, as I am, a WORLD-FAMOUS MUSICIAN, I know what a Carillon is. DO YOU?

(HA! I didn’t think so!)

The Burleson Bells

A CARILLON is a series of bells that are strung in such a way that they can be played like a piano, that is, there is an entire scale, so tunes can be played.  Usually a carillon is hung in the bell tower of a cathedral or other majestic structure.

THe UNIVERSITY of TEXAS at AUSTIN had a magnificent carillon that was given to the University by it’s very first Valedictorian, Mr. J.J. Burleson, and the carillon was installed in the Main Building. Then later, the Main Building was razed, and the UT TOWER was built. The Burleson Bells were thought not GIGANTIC enough, and the carillon was moved to in front of the Performing Arts Center. A NEW carillon of 56 bells was installed in the Tower in 1987 and it is a HUGE carillon, not the biggest in the world (which you know UT would like best) but one of the largest in this hemisphere.

It is used to play the song “The Eyes of Texas Are Upon You”.

(If you DON’T know the story behind “Why does the University of Texas have a school song that is clearly “I’ve been working on the Railroad”, I will tell that story here another day! The STORY really makes the oddly unoriginal school song MUCH more hilarious.)

ANYWAY, the Fancy Restaurant that is in the new UT Conference center (Where IT Copy and Asel Art Supply used to be on 19th street) is named THE CARILLON, which is an AWESOME name for a UT related restaurant. I mean, really, THIS TIME the name consultants or whoever does such a thing: name a restaurant (It HAD to be a committee, right?) really did a great job, I couldn’t have thought of a better name myself. (And I think I am the BEST namer EVER on EARTH.) (That is right. If you need something named, come to me.)

I went there to eat for free the other night, and I am going to tell you all about it. I have decided to tell just a little at a time. Today I am going to talk about my SALAD.

Now, one thing I love is is a nice reclamation. I love me a reclaimed word and I also love me a reclaimed menu item. For far too long, iceberg lettuce has been in the culinary doghouse, while all the other greens and lettuces made a comeback. But iceberg lettuce is really QUITE delicious, and sometimes, iceberg lettuce is what you want! COLD CRUNCHY ICEBERG.

At the CARILLON, my first course was a gorgeous pair of iceberg lettuce lobes, cold and crunchy, dressed with those never-old complements, bleu cheese and bacon. Iceberg, Bleu cheese and bacon.

PERFECT!

PERFECT I TELL YOU!

I felt like Perry Mason!

Also, a chervil ranch dressing and red peppers and red pepper reduction. See for yourself:

Baby Iceberg Lettuce with Apple Smoked Bacon and Maytag Bleu Cheese, Chervil Ranch Dressing and red peppers