Archived Article By Tom Fitzmorris Originally published August , 2007 Martinis And More This Evening In Japanese Room At Antoine's Tonight at 6:30, Antoine's is having an unusual party in its newly-refurbished Japanese Room. It's Martini Madness! they say. They're putting out a buffet of new appetizers thay're experiementing with--most with a summertime aspect. And one old item, oysters Foch--which may be the best dish in the house. (It's fried oysters atop pate-spread canapes with a dark brown sauce that's an unusual hybrid of haollandaise.) Oysters Foch Pineapple and Shrimp and Melon Kabobs with Mango Sauce Shrimp Canapé garnished with Caviar Tomato, basil, and onion bruschetta Pepper Smoked Salmon Rolls with Capers and Sweet Onions Fresh Watermelon with Mint and Amaretto Glazed Cantaloupe with Prosciutto  Sautéed Andouille Sausage with Golden Raisins, Apples and Mint Stuffed Eggs with Pimento, Capers and Bacon Cognac Chicken Liver Pate  served with Toasts Rounds Seasoned Crabmeat Timbale The martinis will be mixed sixteen ways, as you like them, with eight different premium gins and vodkas (and, I'm sure, many other things.) The Japanese Room is an amazing environment. First built a hundred years ago, using the Oriental style of decor that was popular in those days, it's as big as the big red-walled Annex. (In fact, it's directly upstairs of that main dining room.) The Japanese Room was closed on December 7, 1941, when Pearl Harbor was attacked. It remained unused for forty years, until it was renovated and reopened in the 1980s. They made further enhancements after the hurricane. This is the first time the Japanese Room has been opened to the public since the storm, as far as I know. As I write this at ten in the morning, I'm already thinking about how pleasant an end to a hot Friday that will be. The price is $50, inclusive of everything. You can reserve at 581-4422. Antoine's. 713 St. Louis, French Quarter. 581-4422. © 2007 Tom Fitzmorris. All rights reserved. news@nomenu.com