A couple of weekends ago I was able to take a long weekend trip to New Orleans. I haven’t been to New Orleans since I was a senior in high school and the band marched in a Mardi Gras parade. I can’t remember things that happened yesterday so good luck with my remembering that trip from a few years back. {cough cough}
While I didn’t do a lot of sightseeing while I was in town, aside from the French Quarter, I did do a lot of eating. A lot. The meals were split between going out and eating in. Family gathered for my cousin Colby’s graduation from Loyola and we all were so excited to be there. Colby’s parents, Yolanda and Derrick, rented a five-bedroom house for the family to stay in and gather for a celebration. A big thank you hug to them for their hospitality!!
The owners are building a deck on the water so please excuse the construction scene.
This house was incredible. It was about 40 minutes from New Orleans but it was so spacious and quiet that it was worth it.
Now, onto the food. Our first meal was at The Ruby Slipper for breakfast.p This is a must try restaurant.
We got there and the line wasn’t too terribly long so we only had to wait about 20 minutes for our table. We all ordered something different so we could try each other’s dishes. I think the entire table agreed that the Bananas Foster Pain Perdu was the best dish.
I wanted to just grab the plate from my Aunt Janie and lick it clean. But then I always, always have buyers remorse.
Cousin Colleen had this Catfish Coubion and she loved it. The catfish was delicious.
I had this Chicken St. Charles and enjoyed it but still wanted that Pain Perdu.
Cousin Yolanda had the Eggs Cochon and while she didn’t love it, I enjoyed the pork.
Uncle Johnny had the Hot Smoked Salmon Bennie and he devoured his dish.
A trip to Nola wouldn’t be complete without going to get some beignets at Cafe Du Monde.
Usually when you hear about Cafe Du Monde it’s people saying how long the lines are. Well, let me tell you, the locals don’t wait in line. No one seats you, so it’s find a table and seat yourself. And there are usually tables open just waiting for someone to sit down so go on in and have a seat.
The amount of confectioners sugar that comes on each beignet is unbelievable. Like you could use it as talcum powder over your whole body. But don’t do that.
We walked around the French Quarter and French Market and enjoyed seeing all the sights and vendors.
This church was beautiful, inside and out.
We took a little stop for some lemonade and to listen to some live music.
We then went by Sucre to pick up some macarons as a little gift for cousin Yolanda for hosting us.
We picked up several desserts for her to try. And two of them came with gelato so we were able to enjoy that in the car.
Yolanda described the macarons as light and perfection so two thumbs up for them.
On the way to pick up the graduation cake, we stopped at The Company Burger to split some burgers because it had been a couple of hours since we last ate anything.
While I wasn’t a fan of the burgers, Cousin Colby loves them. For me, a burger really has to wow me and make me want to come back for it and this one sadly didn’t. It was fine but it didn’t have that wow factor. But to each his own.
We all got up early on Saturday and headed out to Cousin Colby’s graduation which was held at the Superdome. Harry Connick, Jr. was the commencement speaker and he did a fantastic job. He was uplifting, funny, and encouraging. I could sit and listen to him speak (or sing) for hours.
Congratulations Colby!
After graduation, we had us a genuine crawfish boil. Becca’s (Colby’s girlfriend) aunt and uncle prepared everything and it was out of this world good.
I had never had crawfish before so I was a little leery of eating it but you know I love me a low country boil.
So I took the leap and ate some crawfish. It was quite tasty but that’s a heck of a lot of work for a little bit of meat. They also made some dirty rice and beans to go with it. Yummo!
And did I mention how beautiful the views were from the houses three balconies?
Saturday night we went to a late dinner at Superior Seafood. Colby said he always takes guests here to eat and I can see why.
I had the Crab Cakes and they were so delicious. I had to have a bite of several plates and everything was stupendous. I would definitely recommend this place to everyone.
Cousin Colleen had the Char-Grilled Oysters and they made me a believer in Oysters.
Uncle Johnny finished his Blackened Fish Napoleon before I could taste it so I gather it was amazing.
Aunt Janie’s Shrimp Andouille Brochettes were unbelievably good.
On Sunday we took the St. Charles Trolley around town and I fell in love with the houses! Each one was different and they all had character to them.
I loved that the trees had beads on them. {blurry pic from the moving trolley}
Hopefully this will give you a couple of ideas of places to try if you are heading to New Orleans. Stay tuned as I will be posting a couple of copycat recipes of my favorite dishes it the coming weeks.
