One of the great things about the movie The Wizard of OZ, is the discovery that what makes everything in this magical world happen, is the man behind the curtain. Without likening New Orleans to Oz, there is a lot of magic here. From Mardi Gras to the splendor of the mansions in the Garden District. And, because it’s New Orleans and not Oz, sometimes the man behind the curtain, is a woman.

Eleanor Farnsworth is one of those women. Eleanor is a real estate agent whose name is synonymous with sales of the highest priced homes in New Orleans.

Suzanne Peron St Paul is another of those women. Suzanne is an internationally acclaimed fashion designer who returned to her New Orleans home and now works principally designing and manufacturing fashion for Mardi Gras, and weddings.

It doesn’t get much more New Orleans than talking about Mardi Gras and mansions, over lunch at Commander’s. On this edition of Out to Lunch, Peter Ricchiuti gives a voice to two of the usually silent forces behind two of New Orleans’ most visible and valuable assets.

Photos over lunch at Commander’s Palace by Jill Lafleur.