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Scheduling flub ruffles royal feathers

It’s become a ritual in Louisiana for the governor to bid a warm, Mansion farewell to the royal court before they head to the 60-year-old Washington Mardi Gras festivities. But Gov. Bobby Jindal was already in D.C. that day, disappointing some of the 24 queens and 34 princesses, all daughters of well-connected political contributors, selected by Louisiana’s congressional delegation. Jindal’s precocious staff insisted it was scheduled for a different day, but the Mansion staff, which has organized the event for years, said otherwise. Scrambling to save the day, Secretary of State Jay Dardenne took over the honors and lavished the court with the royal treatment. The governor and Supriya Jindal, however, did toast the princesses at the ball in D.C.

Sneaked peeks at the Grammy Awards

What you didn’t see at the Grammy Awards: They rolled Little Richard to his piano in a wheelchair, and celebs lit up the darkened auditorium text messaging on cell phones during classical music tributes. But Baton Rouge sisters Christy Reeves and Linda Thomas saw it all thanks to red-carpet tickets from a family friend. Reeves managed this camera phone snap of country nubile nominee Taylor Swift. “My sister’s a huge fan, she told her she looked gorgeous in that dress. She said, ‘I just hope I can walk in this dress,’” Reeves reports.

Local wine show in the works

Baton Rouge wine aficionado Gene Todaro of Elio Marcello’s Wine Market will host his own television show dedicated to the grape. Wine Quest with Gene Todaro will feature local wine enthusiasts, collectors and fine dining. Lee Feinswog, a frequent contributor to 225, is producing the show. Wine Quest is expected to air later this spring, although no word yet on which station.

B.R. chef’s Today Show debut

Galatoire’s Bistro Executive Chef Brian Landry whipped up trout meuniere amandine for Today Show host Al Roker during a Mardi Gras segment in the French Quarter. Testing Roker’s newfound restraint (he’s 100 pounds lighter following gastric bypass surgery a few years ago), Landry also prepared crabmeat maison, shrimp remoulade and bread pudding with banana sauce. Landry said he found the gregarious TV host shy and reserved off camera.

What fun is a Whisper if you keep it a secret? E-mail us with some good scuttlebutt at editor@225batonrouge.com.