New Orleans

Since its Fat Tuesday, Mardi Gras as most of you would call it, I'm going to tell you about my couple of trips to New Orleans this past year. Out of all the wonderful cities in the world, New Orleans has become my most favorite city to visit of all time.


I can not tell you what it is that draws me to this city, but there is something about this city that makes me smile. Just thinking about it makes me want more.  I'm telling you, this city is a drug! I blame the love of my life, Adam for this. Thanks! Because of him, I am now addicted to this city. There is something in the atmosphere that just draws my attention. The people, hospitality, music, and of course the food. The food in New Orleans is phenomenal!


It has now become mine and Adams tradition to come to New Orleans. We're from Alabama, so it's just a hop, skip, and a jump away which makes it easy for us to travel. We make it a rule once we get there is to go by Central Grocery on Decatur Street and get a muffuletta. For those of you that have never been to New Orleans and heard of this, it is an italian sandwich made with mortadella, ham, salami, mozzarella, and provolone, topped with an olive salad inside a flattened loaf bread. I'm telling you it is so good, it is a must have if you ever go. If you have already been there, you know what I'm talking about.

The first trip to New Orleans this past year was in July. Of course this wasn't my first trip, I already had been several times before. But this trip was just out of the blue day trip to meet up with a friend that lives in the area. We met up at this place called The Ruby Slipper. They have four locations around the city and if you have never been there, they are the best place to eat for breakfast or brunch. They are only open from 7am to 2pm, so if you make plans on going, get there early. They are usually packed. Yes, it is that good! When I was there, I had to get the bananas foster pain perdu. If you love the dessert bananas foster, then you will love this. It is just basically the dessert on top of french toast, topped with bananas and raisins, sprinkled with powdered sugar, drizzled with lots of syrup, and a couple of pieces of bacon on top. Bacon! Yes, bacon. It is to die for if you love a sweet and savory breakfast. It is definitely the breakfast of champions.

Of course we couldn't leave New Orleans without stopping by Cafe Du Monde to get beignets and a couple of cafe au lait. Those wonderful pillows of dough topped with mountains of powdered sugar served with a chicory coffee. If you ever make a trip to New Orleans, it is a Rule to come here. They have three locations, but the one you want to go to is the original one on Decatur Street. It is a wonderful food experience you will not forget. *Here's a tip, always go late at night. Why you might ask? During the day, they are packed, I mean packed! If you don't like waiting in lines that seem like miles and miles, go at night. It is worth it if you like a late night snack after walking around the quarter and definitely worth getting sugar all over you.

The next trip to New Orleans was just recently, last week. The reason for this trip was that we had tickets to a concert to see a band that Adam hasn't seen in about fifteen years. Granted it was a week before Mardi Gras, but we had to come. Usually we don't come to town during this wonderful event because of the crowds. But it was for a concert that we wanted to see. Once we got to town, we had the idea to drive through the quarter to find parking so we could go to central grocery to get our muffulettas. Usually, on ordinary days it's less crowded in the quarter. But for some reason we had the idea to come through the quarter. Big mistake! The traffic was horrific, cars were bumper to bumper because of the parades and the foot traffic. It was awful! So we made the best of it by rolling down our windows to listen to the awesome street music of New Orleans. Now if you have never been here, music is everywhere. That's what makes this city so special.

Speaking of music, later that evening after we got through the congested quarter, we tried to make our way to the concert. The concert started at 7:30, so we didn't have time to stop at one of the wonderful restaurants in town. A hot dog at the concert is not what we had in mind for dinner, but we were starving. At the end of all the chaos of the day, the concert was a blast. There will be some lessons learned from this last trip. *Do not drive through the quarter one week before Mardi Gras!

Rather you are coming to New Orleans for the atmosphere, music, or food, it is definitely worth making a trip to this wonderful city. A city that has lost so much has come back and into something better. It is alive! Once you leave this town, you will have the urge to want to come back. I will be coming back to this town to visit for as long as I live. That is how much I love this town. I love New Orleans!

Happy Mardi Gras!

Happy Fat Tuesday!

Eat, drink, and be happy!