Yes, I know that New Orleans in June is humid and hot. But, I also know that New Orleans is a great place to meet up with friends in any weather. So, when my New Zealand friend booked a bus tour in the U.S., it made sense to meet him in New Orleans for the final leg of his trip. Our three-night/two-day itinerary was quite simple:
Walk & Shop the French Quarter
Even though it was hot, it was still fun to stroll along Bourbon Street and down to Decatur Street to see the Mississippi River, Jackson Square and the French Market. We made frequent stops in shops and bars to cool off. Luckily, we had prepared for rain, because it rained a good bit every day. The overcast skies did give us a break from the intense sun. It rained so hard at one point that we had to wait it out in–go figure–a bar!
We did not follow a plan for our walk. Had I thought ahead I would have obtained a self-guided walking tour map. However, I don’t think my group would have been game for an entire walking tour. They seemed to enjoy walking around aimlessly.
Ride Streetcars and Visit Cemeteries
The streetcars are convenient, fun, and cheap! Three dollars buys an all-day pass that can be used on all the streetcar routes. We caught the St. Charles line at the corner of St. Charles Avenue & Common Street and rode it to the Garden District. The Historic St. Charles Streetcar Line is the longest in the city and the oldest continuously operating street railway system in the world. Even though there was no air conditioning, the open windows kept the cars quite comfortable–once we found seats, that is.
While in the Garden District we took a leisurely walk around the gorgeous and expansive homes and the infamous Lafayette Cemetery. This is the most filmed cemetery in New Orleans with such shows as The Vampire Diaries and The Originals, NCIS: New Orleans, and movies Double Jeopardy and Dracula 2000. Did I mention, entrance is free?
I love streetcars, so later, I took the Riverfront streetcar line from Woldenberg Park along the Mississippi River to the French Market. It was quick, fun and cooler than the walk we did the day before.
Eat, Eat, & Eat
New Orleans has a lot of fantastic restaurants. They can be pricey though. We were able to cut the price by sharing an appetizer and an entree between two people. It was hard choosing which restaurant to eat at. We had so many recommendations. Our selections:
GW Fins
GW Fins on Bienville Street is famous for its seafood dishes. In fact, Chef/Owner Tenney Flynn is nicknamed “the fishmonger czar of the South.” Sadly, due to allergy/dietary restrictions, we had to forgo the Red Snapper with Louisiana Shrimp Creole and the GW Fins Original Scalibut. We found some wonderful alternatives: Fire Cracker Tuna Tacos, Local Heirloom Tomato & Cucumber Salad, Local Mangrove with chicken cracklin’ crust, and Wood Grilled Chicken Breast with dirty rice. The restaurant is very accommodating. They even added a fourth Taco to our Tuna Taco appetizer. Reservations are recommended. We were so lucky to get a table within 30 minutes of calling.
K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen
K-Paul’s on Chartres Street has so much history, we just had to give it a try. The restaurant first opened in 1979 as a small 62-seat kitchen in an 1834 historic building. It is well-known for the stories of long lines of people waiting to get seated. They’ve renovated the building and expanded the restaurant space significantly since then, so the long lines are gone. But, the menu still reflects Chef Paul Prudhomme’s smoked meats and magic seasonings.
We had to pass on the Classic Crawfish Étouffée, but there were plenty of meat choices. We tried the Chicken and Andouille Gumbo and the Blackened Twin Beef Tenders with Debris Sauce. Both were excellent. To give our New Zealand friend a taste of a classic Southern dessert, we shared the Sweet Potato Pecan Pie.
Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails
Our last night we opted to try the restaurant we found while we were waiting to be seated at K-Paul’s the night before–Kingfish Kitchen & Cocktails. The restaurant decor reflects the late 1920’s/early 1930’s during the reign of Huey P. Long, who was nicknamed, “The Kingfish.” It is a fascinating menu. We tried Smoked Alligator “Wings,” Pulled Pork Nachos with cracklin’ instead of chips, Molasses cured duck breast with sweet potato Andouille hash, and Blackened scallops with sweet pea purée. For dessert, we ordered the “Put up” Mississippi mud, which is similar to a trifle.
The Market Café
Some must have a Beignet; I just had to have a Muffuletta. These are giant, sesame-topped sandwiches stuffed with salami, cheese and olive salad spread. They are symbolic of the Sicilian working class that inhabited the French Quarter during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Many places sell Muffulettas. I chose the Market Café, located at the end of the French Market. They have an outdoor patio and a live jazz band. Even a half Muffuletta was to huge for me.
Café Conti
My favorite breakfast place was Café Conti. Their menu contains healthy breakfasts that are not the typical New Orleans’ cuisine. Everything was fresh and very good. I tried the Yogurt Bowl one day and the Ham and Gruyère Cheese Crepes my last morning.
Drink and Listen to Jazz
Bourbon Street is a mecca for bars and live bands. It can get really crazy and loud. Many bars push the sugary Hurricane drinks, which we wanted no part of. For our last night, we found a quieter indoor establishment, the Bourbon “O” Bar. They are known for their historic cocktails which they advertise on a cute newspaper-like menu. While the others sipped on Bourbon, I sipped on a “French 75,” a drink that dates to World War I.
What a fabulous way to end a short adventure to New Orleans!
good stuff. I will make sure to bookmark your blog.