New Orleans, Lousiana (NOLA)

I recently visited the city of New Orleans for the first time. I accompanied Julie, Angie, and Doris to help Jessica celebrate her bachelorette party. And let me tell you, it was the best party trip I’ve ever taken. Like the Las Vegas motto, “What happens in New Orleans, stays in New Orleans!” But of course, I have to blog about all the wonderful nuances about the city, its charming southern hospitality, and of course the rich, delicious, Cajun and Creole food that they are known for. As most of my trips go, it is pretty much revolved around finding good eats. This time, it also revolved around some serious drinking, which New Orleans is also known for.

1. The famous Pat O’Brien’s Hurricane and the Grenade drink: Our first night, we quickly walked over to the French Quarter, Bourbon Street to eat at Pat O’ Briens and enjoy some Hurricanes. Then we headed to Tropical Isle to drink the Grenade drink. I have no idea what are in these drinks, but apparently some seriously strong alcohol masked to appear like punch.

2. Luke Restaurant at the Hilton: Luke Restaurant is owned by Chef John Besh. We ate here 3 times and it was great every single time. For breakfast I had Crab Cakes Benedict. For snack, Croque Monsieur with fries. And for lunch, the Luke gourmet burger with fries (note the cute little bottles of ketchup).

3. The Central Grocery Muffaleta Sandwich: New Orleans is known for this sandwich. It has meat, cheese, and a delicious olive salad spread on a soft 10 inch round sesame bread. It is to die for and I love that greasy feeling it leaves on your lips….like Vaseline.

4. Café Du Monde: Home of the French Beignet and coffee with chicory in it. The Beignets reminded me of a funnel cake, without the funneling. I didn’t have the coffee since it was just way too hot outside. I actually recommend the diet coke there (I loved the carbonation from their dispenser there!). Anyways, the beignets were sweet, dense, and covered with powdered sugar. I loved them so much, I not only went there twice, I bought a boxed mix and hopefully will get to try to make my own beignets with my deep fryer!

5. Petunia: We walked our hung over bodies to this eatery in the French Quarter to enjoy a nice southern breakfast of Cajun sausage, Boudin sausage, eggs, toast, and whole lotta grits! It was yummy, but I swear, it felt like 5 pounds of food. It was my first time eating a Boudin sausage, which kind of tasted like there was rice mixed in it. I think the picture says it all.

6. Emeril Lagasse’s Restaurant: Emeril got his start in New Orleans and opened his first restaurant in the Warehouse District which we went to. I ordered the Dusted Jumbo Gulf Shrimp with Brown Butter-Sweet Potato Grits, Skillet Beans, Smoked Corn and Mango Chow Chow (I cut and pasted that straight from the menu). For dessert we shared Banana Cream Pie and Bread Pudding…yummy.

7. K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen: Another Cajun/Creole Restaurant by Paul Prudhomme. They love to “season” their food, which basically included a lot of salt and hot sauce. Not my favorite restaurant we tried, but good. Angie and I shared Fried Green Tomatoes and Shrimp Etouffee. For dessert, we all shared the Bread Pudding with Chantilly Cream.

8. Republic: We met some charming southern gentlemen who kindly escorted us to Club Republic where the locals go to party. They played the best music and basically stay open past 4 am. We ended up going their two nights in a row and my feet were dead from all the dancing we did there. It was a nice break from the dirtiness of Bourbon Street.

9. Mother’s Restaurant: We couldn’t go to NOLA without eating a PoBoy sandwich. Angie and I shared a roast beef poboy and a fried shrimp poboy with some fries. The shrimp one was divine…the roast beef was just alright. It was a cute shop, kind of cafeteria style. If you’re lucky the old man running the counter who calls himself Elvis will sing “All Shook Up” like he did for us.

10. Gumbo: we ate gumbo at almost every single restaurant we went to in NOLA. I loved the gumbo that had okra in it. The best one was probably at Emeril’s. It had the perfect combination of vegetables, sausage, roux, seafood, spices, and rice. Gumbo is to New Orleans as Miso Soup is to Japan….it is the best way to start your meal.

11. Magazine Street and Sucre Sweet Boutique: We took the street car to Magazine Street which is this quaint area in NOLA that reminds me of Montana Street in Brentwood. A lot of cute shops, coffee shops, and stores. Julie and I got spa pedicures while Angie and Jessica sat at a coffee house. We also stopped by Sucre Bakery and I got my fill of my favorite obsession: French Macaroons. They had wonderful Cassis, Gianduja, and Pistachio flavored macaroons. They were quite delicious…possibly the best ones I’ve had since Laduree in Paris.

Here are some more random photos from the trip: