I recently took a trip to New Orleans and loved the culture, the cuisine, and everything about the Crescent City. Being a foodie myself, I decided to try I all the famous eats in New Orleans before I got back on my plane home. Here is a snippet of one day of treats I enjoyed during my stay! Hopefully my fellow Spoon readers will enjoy these treats as well!
Breakfast
For breakfast, I went to Who Dat Cafe. "Who Dat" is a famous saying for the New Orleans Saints, a NFL team in New Orleans. I ordered a delicious Bywater Bené, its a cup of tea (that came in the largest mug I have ever seen), and a side of biscuits and gravy. The Bywater Bené was mouth-watering, acting as a fun spin on the classic eggs Benedict. I opted for the grilled tomato, instead of the traditional ham, with poached eggs and Creole Hollandaise sauce on Ciabatta. This kept me full for quite a while!
Fresh Drink
While pursuing the French Market, I came across a little stand with watermelon mint lemonade for $3. The flavor combination seemed unique to me, so I gave it a try and instantly fell in love! It was a great fresh start to my day. I let my friends try a sip, and soon enough we had all ordered this refreshing drink! Thirst = quenched.
Afternoon Beignets
As per New Orleans tradition, around mid-afternoon we headed over to Café Du Monde for fresh beignets. After waiting in a large line, we had warm, powdery beignets for the taking. This delicious pastry was well worth the wait. I sat in front of St. Louis Cathedral and enjoyed an afternoon in the sun.
Dinner
For dinner, we went to Acme Oyster House, as New Orleans is known for the large, fresh oysters. The lighting in Acme is neon signs and red overhead, so the pictures do not do the meal full justice. In good spirit, we ordered an appetizer of raw oysters as well as char-grilled oysters, which came hot and soaked in a herb butter and cheese sauce.
Both of style of oysters were delicious! I recommend getting a full dozen and not half because it was simply not enough!
For my main course, I had a serving of seafood gumbo, consisting of shrimp and crab. I never had seafood gumbo before, but I am now a huge fan. Yum!
Dessert
As a finale for the day, we made our way over to Brennan’s for their signature Bananas Foster. Not only did we receive excellent service, but the dessert was made right in front of us! The bananas were sauteed in butter, brown sugar, and cinnamon, and served with vanilla ice cream. The warm, savory taste of the banana mixed perfect with the sweet cold of the ice cream. I’m definitely going to be trying this recipe at home!
Eating in New Orleans was delicious, and many of the meals reminded me of my coastal New England home. I really enjoyed everything I ate and I highly recommend trying them out if you are ever given the chance! If I missed any delicious eateries or must-try foods in New Orleans, let me know by reaching out on our Instagram @Spoon_Bulldogs!