John
Omaha, Nebraska
When I travel, I try to taste all the foods that the places I'm in are notorious for. What's New Orleans known for?
There are quite a few!
You can't just eat the entire time, so I also suggest that you hit the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, which also contains the Southern Cocktail Museum, when you're taking a break from eating. This will for sure make your trip a very food-themed one.
Might want to fast for a week before you head to NOLA ;)
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It is hard to add to these amazing answers, but I'm going to add the following:
(only if you're driving to NOLA) For those who aren't in the know, Boudin is sausage made from ground up pork, onions, peppers, celery, rice, and lots of spices. Ronnie smokes it. Generally when you get Boudin, you're actually getting Boudin Blanc (non-blanc has blood in it, which I am less keen on).
If you have any sense, make a stop and grab some hot boudin or boudin balls (a fried ball of the stuff). You can also get some packages by the pound and it freezes up well.
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Everyone did a great job covering all of the must-eats! However, I'm surprised no one brought up the infamous southern PRALINES!!!!! These buttery, sweet, melt-in-your mouth candies are a specialty in New Orleans. When you eat butter pecan or pralines-n-caramel flavored ice creams, these are the little candies that inspire them! The top-notch spot to get these is
Southern Candymakers, right along the border of the French Quarter. It's a really easy-to-miss little shop right next to the historic
Bienville House Hotel. You'll see an endless trail of chain candy shops advertising 'Best Pralines in New Orleans' along the tourist-focused strip of shops along Decatur Street- while these places offer endless free samples, I must warn you to not make your purchases until you've made it to Southern Candymakers. They are the best.
When I was in NOLA last week, I also discovered a really quaint little bakery that had all kinds of tempting-looking candies,
Bittersweet Confections! It was on Magazine Street on the way to the
The National WWII Museum, which is definitely worth a visit for something a little different than what the rest of the city has to offer.
Also, Italian cooking isn't something you'd expect to be great in the city famous for Mardi Gras, but there is one place I must pay tribute to-
Irene's Cuisine. If you've had enough of the cajun flavors but still want a great, homecooked meal in a hearty, family-style atmosphere that you can picture thriving back in the days of black-and-white nickelodean films, this is the spot. It's been there for years, and I can tell why after eating their oven-roasted chicken. They still hold a dessert menu that's true to the area's southern roots, with a GREAT Creole Cream Cheesecake.
Have fun and be merry!
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Other than Café du Monde for beignets and hot chocolate? Everyone talks about Mother's Restaurant for poboys..if you are wanting something a bit nicer? The Italian restaurant Vincent's Italian Cuisine on St. Charles street is always good. Sylvester Stallone's favorite when he is around. A little heavier but most food there is! :)
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You have to go to these restaurants:
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Shrimp & Grits (and 25cent martinis) at Commander's Palace
Beignets and chicory coffee at Café du Monde
Wood-fired oysters at Cochon Restaurant
Muffuletta sandwich Central Grocery
Fried Chicken at Willie Mae's Scotch House or Dooky Chase's Restaurant, Sazerac at Carousel Bar....enjoy!
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Depends on season:
- Oysters (seasonal- jan/feb-early summer)
- Po-boy (just a hoogie, but get it w fried fish- shrimp i like the best, but can be anything. Many people like to get roast beef, but other cities to a "french dip" better.)
- Crawfish (same as oysters)
- Jambalaya
- Red Beans and Rice w Sausage
cajun dinner
Gumbo Shop (http://www.gumboshop.com/)
Jacques-Imo's (http://jacques-imos.com/)
Soul Food
http://www.thrillist.com/venues/willie-maes-scotch-house
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