New Orleans French Quarter Burbon Street

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by MrsFish

Hey Doris, I will be in New Orleans to run the Mardi Gras half-marathon too! I plan to use the "carbo-load" exuse to enjoy some yummy cajun food, can't wait!

I've also run the Mardi Gras half-marathon a few years back but I'd really like to run the Crescent City Classic one of these days... and then stick around for the French Quarter Festival.

Without counting, I'm guessing I've been to at least 20 Mardi Gras in New Orleans and a few in Lafayette. When they started putting up the barricades on St Charles Street, we switched our strategy, coming in a week earlier and leaving before Fat Monday. Gridlock is never fun!!

Thanks for the Deannies recommendation... that'll be a new experience for me. Been to all the other eateries mentioned, always including a stop at Mr Bs Bistro. Also glad to see someone else likes Coops Place on Decatur.

As for New Orleans... it's right up there with Playa del Carmen!!

Go Saints!!!

Jimmy

[Seakony]

Originally Posted by MrsFish

You gotta admit, New Orleans is pretty dirty, but the food is amazing!

I was there a week before Katrina...and there last year...It's alot cleaner!

One of the worst smells in the world is Bourbon Street early morning!

The best food is not in the Quarters....just ask the locals where they go to eat....it ain't in the Quarters.

[JimmyMN]

[quote=Seakony;1522502] One of the worst smells in the world is Bourbon Street early morning! [quote]

Those are good smells... makes you appreciate that you're not laying in it!!

[Sol]

Napoleon's!!! LOve their bloody Marys. They put an okra in it! We never made it to Cafe DuMonde. When we walked by, there was always a huge line.

[Sol]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

I've also run the Mardi Gras half-marathon a few years back but I'd really like to run the Crescent City Classic one of these days... and then stick around for the French Quarter Festival.

Without counting, I'm guessing I've been to at least 20 Mardi Gras in New Orleans and a few in Lafayette. When they started putting up the barricades on St Charles Street, we switched our strategy, coming in a week earlier and leaving before Fat Monday. Gridlock is never fun!!

Thanks for the Deannies recommendation... that'll be a new experience for me. Been to all the other eateries mentioned, always including a stop at Mr Bs Bistro. Also glad to see someone else likes Coops Place on Decatur.

As for New Orleans... it's right up there with Playa del Carmen!!

Go Saints!!!

Jimmy

I just love New Orleans. I could go back every year and never get tired of it.

[JoanieBlon]

Originally Posted by Sol

I just love New Orleans. I could go back every year and never get tired of it.

That's why we decided to get our timeshare there. We absolutely LOVE New Orleans ~ never get tired of this fantastic city!

[JoanieBlon]

Originally Posted by Seakony

I was there a week before Katrina...and there last year...It's alot cleaner!


The best food is not in the Quarters....just ask the locals where they go to eat....it ain't in the Quarters.

Mike and I have also noticed that the French Quarter is MUCH cleaner with not nearly as many "kitchen grease smells" as before Katrina.

We've eaten in quite a few places in the Graden District and elsewhere ~ and they all were very good ~ but there's plenty of fabulous cooking to be found in the Quarter as well......

[JoanieBlon]

Originally Posted by Sol

Napoleon's!!! LOve their bloody Marys. They put an okra in it! We never made it to Cafe DuMonde. When we walked by, there was always a huge line.

One of the neatest drinks we ever found was a "Cajun martini" ~ it was made with Stoly Pepper Vodka, the rim was dusted with Old Bay Seasoning, and it had a crawfish ensconced on the edge of the glass with a big green olive speared on one of its claws.... I think that was served up at The Cajun Cabin on Bourbon Street.

[LucyE]

I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. How is the weather in February? I'm not a fish/seafood eater, so that is one of the reasons I think we haven't visited. But if people like it just as much as Playa... I'm there!!

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by JoanieBlon

WooHoo! At the spur of the moment, Mike and I decided to do a trip up to New Orleans. We haven't been there for over a year now, so needed a fix.

We'll arrive on Ash Wednesday ~ February 17th ~ and will head home on Sunday, February 21st. We'll be staying at our timeshare ~ HOTEL DE LA MONNAIE ~ which always feels like home to us. It's in a GREAT location ~ at the foot of Esplanade Avenue at N. Peters ~ just a block from the French Market and about 100 yards from the #1 stop on the River Line Trolley. See a photo of the Hotel below....

We've been checking out places to EAT ~ I mean, that's about the main purpose (our's at least) for coming to New Orleans.... We'll be purchasing 3 day transit passes so we can get around the city easily with no parking problems ~ which can be a huge hassle....

We want to hit:

DEANIE'S SEAFOOD in the Quarter. (Thanks for the tip! ) We're *hoping* to be able to get some fresh boiled crawfish there....

MR. B'S BISTRO What a great menu & ambiance ~ plus they have $1.50 lunch martinis and bloody Marys.....

COOP'S PLACE A hole in the wall place with GOOD food at very reasonable prices. Mike wan't to try their "Hangtown Omelette" with oysters and bacon. I want to try their rabbit jambalaya.

COCHON YUUUM!

LOUISIANA BISTRO Think we'd like to try the "Feed Me" option for dining...

CENTRAL GROCERY For a muffaletta "THE" sandwich of New Orleans! From THE place that invented them!

BIG FISHERMAN SEAFOOD Again for boiled crawfish....They don't have seating there, but I was told that we can take our crawfish across the street to THE BULLDOG and they'll let us eat them on their patio if we buy a couple of beers.

CAFE' DU MONDE No trip to New Orleans is complete without enjoying Cafe au Lait and Beignets here. Mike shouldn't be indulging in these little French donuts coated (LIBERALLY!) with powered sugar, but I think we'll make an exception and just get one order of 3, knock of most of the sugar, and split them between us.

NAPOLEON HOUSE For a Pimm's Cup cocktail. I LOVE them.....



Napoleon house also serves up some pretty tasty Louisiana fare and hot muffalettas.

We also plan on driving down to LaPlace to JACOB'S WORLD FAMOUS ANDOUILLE & SAUSAGE to bring back sausage with us. We just can't get good stuff here in Tampa. Mike uses andouille (ahn dew ee) in gumbo, greens, and red beans.

I'm diligently exercising every day, cutting out alcohol, and restricting my calorie intake so I can shed a few pounds before we start on our "EATING OUR WAY THRU NEW ORLEANS" TRIP! If any of you peeps will be in or around New Orleans while we're there, we'd love to meet up with you!

JB - we are going the week after Easter - I hope one day we can meet up with you all !

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

I've also run the Mardi Gras half-marathon a few years back but I'd really like to run the Crescent City Classic one of these days... and then stick around for the French Quarter Festival.

Without counting, I'm guessing I've been to at least 20 Mardi Gras in New Orleans and a few in Lafayette. When they started putting up the barricades on St Charles Street, we switched our strategy, coming in a week earlier and leaving before Fat Monday. Gridlock is never fun!!

Thanks for the Deannies recommendation... that'll be a new experience for me. Been to all the other eateries mentioned, always including a stop at Mr Bs Bistro. Also glad to see someone else likes Coops Place on Decatur.

As for New Orleans... it's right up there with Playa del Carmen!!

Go Saints!!!

Jimmy

You know everyone raves about Mardi Gras in NOLA - but I love the one in Lafayette, next time you all are this way let us know, we will have a crawfish boil !!

Mr Bs is always my favorite...

[JimmyMN]

Originally Posted by LucyE

I've always wanted to go to New Orleans. How is the weather in February? But if people like it just as much as Playa... I'm there!!

I've been to Mardi Gras at least 20 times and most of them have been in late February or the first couple days of March. The weather has been hit or miss... often it's beautiful with 70-80 degree weather and other times it'll be in the 40's. It's always a little cool at night during that time of year. April or November are the best months to travel there.

Tappy... I suspect I'll be spending a single night in New Orlean around the 2nd or 3rd of May. As for Crawfish, I don't understand why anyone would waste their time picking them apart one by one. Throw them in a pot of gumbo and be done! And I've been to Breaux Bridge a few times and I still don't get it.

Jimmy

[Buggirl]

Originally Posted by TAPPY

JB - we are going the week after Easter - I hope one day we can meet up with you all !

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

Tappy... I suspect I'll be spending a single night in New Orlean around the 2nd or 3rd of May.
Jimmy

How 'bout you guys compromise and head to New Orleans in late April


We're very excited about our upcoming trip to New Orleans- I've wanted to go there ever since I was a little kid I'm trying to lose about 5 lbs ahead of time because I know I'll be eating my way across the city We'll be down there 4/17-24 if anyone is in town.

[TAPPY]

Originally Posted by JimmyMN

I've been to Mardi Gras at least 20 times and most of them have been in late February or the first couple days of March. The weather has been hit or miss... often it's beautiful with 70-80 degree weather and other times it'll be in the 40's. It's always a little cool at night during that time of year. April or November are the best months to travel there.

Tappy... I suspect I'll be spending a single night in New Orlean around the 2nd or 3rd of May. As for Crawfish, I don't understand why anyone would waste their time picking them apart one by one. Throw them in a pot of gumbo and be done! And I've been to Breaux Bridge a few times and I still don't get it.

Jimmy

Boiled is not my favorite way to eat them either...way to much work.
AND most of the time waaaaaaayyyyy over seasoned.
I love a good Étouffée

[JoanieBlon]

Originally Posted by TAPPY

Boiled is not my favorite way to eat them either...way to much work.
AND most of the time waaaaaaayyyyy over seasoned.
I love a good Étouffée

I still like boiled crawfish, but I like them freshly boiled ~ not just sitting around in the water stewing for a prolonged period of time...Yech! I agree that MANY places put way too much seasoning on them! I've seen people pressing cold beer bottles to their lips to try to control the burn.

The freshest and best crawfish we ever had was a few years back...Mike and I, and 2 friends from Australia, went out with a young couple (friends of some friends) in L'Anse Meg ~ a tiny community between Eunice and Mamou Louisiana ~ who had their own crawfish ponds. We waded along pushing a little specialized flat-bottom boat through the snakes, frogs and who knows what else......Got us a sack full and then took them back for a backyard boil ~ with beer and pork cracklins on the side. It was a GREAT experience and these were THE BEST crawfish I have ever had.....although the ones at HAWK'S which is located out in the middle of NOWHERE (but technically in Rayne) are pretty darned good too.

To see a slide show of our crawfishin' experience, click on the purple link below to go to our slide shows, then click on Louisiana and then on Crawfishin.....

I love a good etoufee as well and Mike and make crawfish etoufee on a regular basis from packaged, frozen tails. Tonight we're going to feast on frog legs in a suace picante.