Margo’s son just had a birthday. In his short life his sock puppet has already had a long and tortured history, featuring maiming, loss, death, and rebirth. When Margo hit on the dea that it woukd be fun to capture all that in a cake, who else could she turn to than Midori-Tajiri Byrd.

Sometimes you meet people who have moved to New Orleans and when they tell you their life story all you can think is, “Thank God you found New Orleans. There’s no other place in the world you could be yourself.” How about tonight’s guest on Midnight Menu +1 for an example?

Where else in the world could you be a genuine Samurai/custom cake baker/hat maker/Mardi Gras parade Marshall/make up artist? Meet Midori Tajiri-Byrd.

Yes, they’re all Midori’s cakes. And that’s not half of the story. Midori is genuinely a Samurai – the last of a long line of Japanese warriors and rulers whose Japanese family lineage stretches back into the mists of history. Check out the traditional tattoo on her palm.

Midori’s +1 describes himself as “the only chef in New Orleans without a tattoo” and the reason he doesn’t have a tattoo is the reason he ended up a chef.

A veteran of a slew of NOLA restaurants from Harrah’s to Isis Matthew Ratcliff is a chef for hire, catering events with his company Crescent Cookery.

Matthew made some brisket and mrliton picked sandwiches for the evening’s get together and Midori made a cake.

This is a totally fun and fascinating Midnight Menu +1. From Samurais to sweets and sandwiches. And much more in between. There are more pix and more activity over at our Facebook page.