Big Easy Bites
Food New Orleans Style
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The Big Easy is known for many things - legendary nightlife, New Orleans architecture, a unique mix of Southern and French Creole charm and of course, eclectic and delicious culinary treats. From heaping plates of steaming crawfish to sophisticated meals of elegantly prepared locally caught seafood, New Orleans dining is a force to be reckoned with. During your next New Orleans vacation, look beyond the bars of Bourbon Street and sample the tastes and flavors of this sultry city. Try a day of sightseeing New Orleans with the belly in mind, and even if you’ve been to every Mardi Gras since birth, we’re betting that you just might discover a new face on an old favorite.
Cafe Du Monde
My favorite way to begin a warm New Orleans day is by sipping an iced cafe au lait while enjoying powdery beignets on the patio of the legendary Cafe Du Monde in the French Market. This New Orleans landmark has been serving chickory coffee and fluffy beignets since its inception in 1862. Open round the clock (literally, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week), Cafe Du Monde only closes on Christmas Day and during the most severe of hurricanes. For the uninitiated, “beignets are square, French-style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar,” according to Cafe Du Monde. To me, they are the epitome of pure deliciousness, and very difficult to replicate at home!
The dining area of this outdoor coffee shop is always crowded and patrons have been known to wait in line for hours for a taste of this famed New Orleans treat. But if you’re willing to forgo a seat in the dining area, head to the walk-up window and order your breakfast to go, then enjoy it on a nearby park bench or while wandering through the nearby Market and watching the city come alive for the day.
Pat O’Briens
Pat O’s, as it’s affectionately known, is the legendary New Orleans bar known primarily for knock-your-socks off Hurricanes and a lively courtyard and patio where pretty much anything goes…and often does. Established in 1933, this French Quarter New Orleans hotspot has been encouraging patrons to “Have Fun!” for more than 75 years. And while I’ve enjoyed a Pat O’s Hurricane on more than one occasion, a recent trip to the establishment introduced me to some of the best casual food in New Orleans I’ve found.
After a morning of sightseeing New Orleans with a walk around Canal Street, admiring the unique architecture of the New Orleans Garden District and perhaps a visit to a voodoo shop or two, stroll on down Rue Bourbon, New Orleans famous party street for a visit to Pat O’s Courtyard Restaurant. Behind the iron gates, tempt your tastebuds with authentic N’Awlins’ cuisine, including the best catfish strips you’ve ever encountered. The menu offers all the Louisiana regulars like red beans and rice, jambalaya, alligator bites and crawfish etouffee and includes pasta, burgers and salads for the less adventurous. And of course, you have to wash it all down with one of the famous Hurricanes. After all, you’re on a New Orleans vacation, Laissez les bons temps rouler!
G.W. Fins
After a refreshing Hurricane-induced nap back at your by owner vacation rental, it’s time to put on your grown-up shoes and head out for a night on the town. But if you left the Bourbon Street bar crawl days back in college (or even if you’re just taking a temporary vacation from them), plan an elegant evening instead at GW Fins, one of the best restaurants New Orleans has to offer.
This award-winning restaurant has received accolades from local and national media and was named the 2009 Top Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans by Zagat. The menu changes daily and always features the freshest local catch prepared in inventive, exciting ways. An extensive wine and martini list round out the offerings and a memorable dessert menu will entice your sweet tooth. The atmosphere is sophisticated without being pretentious, making GW Fins the perfect spot for a romantic dinner for two or an upscale festive evening with the whole group.
After a sumptuous meal, round out your New Orleans evening with a nightcap and some local jazz, a fitting end to a Big Easy vacation.
UP NEXT: MORE FROM THE CYBER ROADTRIP
This entry was posted on Wednesday, April 21st, 2010 at 2:59 pm and is filed under Cyber Roadtrip 2010, Louisiana, Travel Tips, We've Scene It!. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. You can leave a response, or trackback from your own site.
2 Responses to “Big Easy Bites”
Down on the Bayou | Vacation Rentals April 21st, 2010 at 3:07 pm
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