Heading to New Orleans!

[MinEaston]

I'm heading to New Orleans at the end of this month for a business trip. I'll come in Jan 22 in the evening, and plan on heading out Jan 25 in the late afternoon. I know it's the start of Mardi Gras that weekend but to be honest I don't have an interest in sticking around.

We're staying at the Hilton New Orleans on St Charles Ave.

Any foodie recommendations? I'll have Thurs PM and Friday until I leave to myself, but I will need to eat dinner all 3 nights I am there.

For Friday morning, are there any must-see museums or galleries?

I have an almost-3-year-old daughter who loves it when her mother brings her presents from business trips, and DH loves hot sauce, so any recommendations along those lines are appreciated.

Any BBers there that might want to meet for coffee or something?

Lastly, what to avoid, given the season? I'm not a fan of huge noisy crowds :rolleyes:

TIA!

[swquilts]

I've been there a couple of times, some of my fav restaurants are:

Ralph and Kacoo's (sp?) very authentic Cajun
Red Fish Grill
Emeril's - you really should spoil yourself, but make reservations now!

I've also had beignets at Cafe Du Monde, yummy, but I can do without the chickory coffee.

Maybe Jeanne will see your post!

[___Rhianna___]

I loooove Commander's Palace in the Garden District.

[swquilts]

I forgot to add you can buy hot sauce at LOTS of stores in NO, everyone sells the stuff.

BTW, I did see in a thread that Jeanne (greysangel) will be in New Orleans the same time as you!!

[Gumbeaux]

I have an almost-3-year-old daughter who loves it when her mother brings her presents from business trips, and DH loves hot sauce, so any recommendations along those lines are appreciated.


There will be "premium" Mardi Gras beads sold in just about every store. They are colorful and something I think a 3-year-old would like.

http://www.mardigrasimports.com/shop/images/products/K569tn.jpg

http://www.mardigrasimports.com/shop/images/products/K540tn.jpg

http://www.mardigrasimports.com/shop/images/products/K549TN.jpg

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[greysangel]

Susan have you been to Ralph's post Katrina? I didn't have the greatest of experiences there but it could have been an off night too.

I have tons of recommendations and I'm also going to be in town if you wanted to meet up!

Do you want all fancy places for dinner or just good eats? All cajun/creole or other stuff as well?

You may want to look up the parade schedule so you know what to avoid...krewe du vieux is on the 19th but I'm not sure of the rest of the schedule. I would definitely avoid Bourbon Street ... Thurs-Sun on ANY weekend is pretty crazy..never mind mardi gras time. Decatur is another pretty crowded street.

My top eating recs:

NOLA - Emeril's french quarter place..it's terrific.
Napoleon House - Lunch - great atmosphere, nothing fancy but good food.
Cafe Beignet - not the one on Decatur..I think there's one on Royal. Great beignets and coffee and breakfast sandwiches if you're not in the mood for the *other* place :D
Community Coffee - very good coffee
Coop's - this place looks like a hole in the wall but the food is OUT OF CONTROL good...it is seriously one of my favorite places to eat there and it's very "locals" vibe. They smoke their own sausage and every single thing there I have had is good...burgers, jambalaya, beans and rice with andouille, cajun fried chicken ...YUMMY!!!!
Petunia Grill - Breakfast/Brunch - sweet and savory over stuffed crepes, and the boudin is delicious.
ACME Oyster House - Oyster or Roast Beef Po Boy
Pelican Club - wonderful seafood/upscale

If you're a museum person, I would highly recommend the DDay Museum...it's fantastic and I'm not a museum person at all.

Another must do's Walking Tour...there are a few and if you decide to do one, I would strongly recommend "haunted history" tour group. They have their haunted series as well as a couple of garden district tours. I liked the cemetary tours and the ghost tours the best along with their garden district one.

There is a lot of shopping along Magazine Street and I think Royal is the big "antiques" street. There are a lot of small galleries as well in the French Quarter...lots of art and music.

Your best bet is picking up an "offbeat" or "Gambit Weekly" or "where y'at?" mag when you arrive...the hotel will probably have at least one of them. All will have music, gallery and retaurant listings.

Feel free to pm me!

[greysangel]

There are a ton of tourist bead/novelty shops along both Bourbon and Decatur Streets. You can get the beads anywhere and while a lot of places sell the hot sauce, I would actually recommend a couple of places. One is New Orleans School of Cooking...they have demonstration classes and a retail shop with a lot of spices, sauces, coffees etc. Another good place for souvenirs is the French Market...it's like a big flea market with all sorts of vendors....food and novelty.

OH!

Two more recs:
Laura's Candies - wonderful chocolate, pralines and heavenly hash!
K Paul's Louisiana Kitchen

[chazkp]

I second the Haunted History Tour groups. I have been on several and the tour guides were both knowledgeable and entertaining. The ghost tour was my favorite.

You may also want to try the French Market for hot sauces. It seems that almost every other stand sells them.

[Gumbeaux]

......DH loves hot sauce, so any recommendations along those lines are appreciated.

There is a Tabasco Country Store (http://countrystore.tabasco.com/index.cfm) a few blocks from your hotel in the French Quarter.

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[MinEaston]

You guys are awesome, thank you so very much for all the recommendations. Anna (DD) will absolutely love beads, as will her cousins...

Jeanne, if you will be there at the same time, maybe we could meet up Thursday eve? Friday am for breakfast? I'll PM you once I get my final travel reservations made (today!)

[erin elizabeth]

A friend and I had two great meals at Mother's when we were in NO. Red Beans and Rice and Shrimp Po Boys. Yum! And the ladies ask "watchu want baby?" :)

[MNGirlTX]

You might want to check out the Mardi Gras Bead store on Causeway in Metairie for beads for your daughter...probably way less expensive than what you would buy downtown.

And, you should be able to find the parade schedule at NOLA (www.nola.com) .

I had one of my best dining experiences ever at Commander's Palace. Three friends and I did the "chef's table". You sit right in the kitchen and have a 7 course meal. The cost is/was $300 whether you have 1 person or 4 people, so it may be out of your price range, but it sure was fun.

I also always recommend Mother's. They have fabulous po-boys and bread pudding.

The Palace Cafe on Canal is a good choice.

I also give a thumbs up to the Haunted History Tour...a lot of fun!

If you don't stop in at Laura's, you might try Southern Candy Makers in the French Market area of Decatur street. They also have great pralines. And, of course, beignets at Cafe du Monde is a must.

[misskitty100]

My top 3:

K-Paul's Louisianna Kitchen

Mother's (for lunch/dinner -- I didn't care for their breakfasts)

NOLA -- (I liked NOLA more than Emeril's namesake restaurant - the shrimp appetizer is awesome!!) It is a bit more casual and if you can't eat in the restaurant you can sit at their bar.



DH's favorite place is Ralph and Cacoo's -- he even brought their cookbook home from his first trip. I haven't been but he can go on and on about how amazing the food was.....

[sararosalie]

I lived in New Orleans for about 4 years and have been back to visit post-Katrina. My favorite restuarants are

Galatoire's--a very traditional New Orleans fine dining experience. Outstanding food.

Acme Oyster Bar--Jeanne had this on her list as well. I would suggest the shrimp poboys there.

Both restaurants are in the Quarter.

[swquilts]

Jeanne, I haven't been back in years, but I'm always looking for a conference there to I can....

Min, I've even taken the tour of the place that builds and stores the floats, wonderful tour!! It's across the river.....they even serve King Cake after the tour.

[greysangel]

Min, I've even taken the tour of the place that builds and stores the floats, wonderful tour!! It's across the river.....they even serve King Cake after the tour.

Mardi Gras World! I still haven't done this and want to!

[srahndennis]

I lived in New Orleans for about 4 years and have been back to visit post-Katrina. My favorite restuarants are

Galatoire's--a very traditional New Orleans fine dining experience. Outstanding food.

Acme Oyster Bar--Jeanne had this on her list as well. I would suggest the shrimp poboys there.

Both restaurants are in the Quarter.


I love both of these as well as Coop's. Also the Gumbo Shop.

[MinEaston]

Shameless bump! My colleagues and I are planning our free time already (never mind the work we have to accomplish!) and we'd like recommendations for where to go to hear jazz on Weds or Thurs, or both!

TIA, again!

[greysangel]

If you don't mind getting out of the French Quarter, I would strongly recommend Frenchmen Street...there are several clubs bars in a 5 block radius. DBA, Spotted Cat, Blue Nile, Snug Harbor...just to name a few!

In the quarter you have Preservation Hall and Tipitina's.

Your best bet is waiting til you're in town and grabbing a local paper to see all the music listings..there are tons! Off Beat is a good music publication that is free in NOLA.

[MNGirlTX]

Again, I'd direct you to NOLA.com (www.nola.com). Choose "visitors" and "live music". You can search for the next 30 days.

You also might consider that there are different types of jazz...so just searching for jazz might not get you what you are really looking for.

Tipitina's, Preservation Hall, and House of Blues may be good choices of venues.

[Gumbeaux]

I was at a Mardi Gras store at lunch today and they have the teddy bear, parrot, and crown beads pictured above for $3.97 each. (they also have tons of every other kind)

If you forget to get them or can't find the ones you want while you are in New Orleans, let me know and I will help you out. ;)