Do you want a “Foodcation?” then go to New Orleans! Known for it’s food culture, music (Jazz) and festivals (Mardi Grais). Here are the top places and attractions you just HAVE to see.
In the Summer, we wanted to travel to a place that we both haven’t been to yet, but a place that has an amazing food scene. We researched places like Boston and San Francisco. It seemed to be a set decision on San Francisco. But when we saw an amazing deal for a weekend in New Orleans, we knew we couldn’t pass it up. I don’t know why, but I’ve always wanted to go there and experience it all – the food culture, the parties at night and go on a swamp tour to see some real life alligators. So when we booked the trip, I was super excited. A month before the trip, we started planning an actual LIST of places we wanted to eat at. And let me tell you, it started off with THREE PAGES. Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner and Drink locations. We wanted to hit as many places as we could.
We arrived on a very rainy day to our hotel, called Maison Dupuy. The picture below is the courtyard of the hotel. the location was perfect and I wouldn’t stay anywhere else there. Something that I would not suggest would be to explore or wander at night. When we got there, we wanted to walk around and we ended up on some scary side streets. So, make sure you get a map and ask reception to map out where not to go in the French Quarter area, LOL. Don’t be like us!
The first stop on our NOLA “Food Tour” as we called it was this amazing place for Breakfast. When we first approached Cafe Du Monde, I remember how rainy it was out that day. Even on the most rainy day, NOLA was as exciting as ever. The FAMOUS, “Cafe Du Monde” which is world famous for it’s “cafe au’lait” and unbelievable beignets. This place is a MUST to go to when in NOLA. It doesn’t matter the time, it’s always busy so you are going to have to walk around and hunt down a table. Another tip is do NOT WEAR BLACK. If you do and it’s even a little windy out, you will have icing sugar all over you. I tell you from experience.
These BEIGNETS were everything.
The second place on our journey in NOLA was The French Market. I had heard that is was an amazing summer spot to check out. Even on a very rain day, this place was PACKED. You could hear jazz music, people were dancing, shopping and the most frequent sighting was eating. First walking in, I couldn’t believe how many food vendors that I saw. One vendor in particular caught my eye as we were walking. The “Crepe Cart.” A woman was there, by herself quickly making a ton of both sweet and savoury crepes for the huge line of people waiting,. While she was making my crepe, “The Caprese Crepe” (filled with cheese, tomatoes and spinach), I began to ask her how she got started doing this! I could see that she was so passionate about it. The way she was interacting with people and how happy she was making crepes for people was everything.
Another place worth checking out is the Lafayette Cemetery No. 1 or any cemetery in New Orleans as they have become a huge tourist attraction. This place …felt like we were in a scary movie scene but it was pretty cool to check out the history behind it.
After seeing cemeteries, something you can’t miss is going on a Swamp Tour. It is an incredible experience.
Getting the chance to go to the Swamp and see the alligators was so much fun. When we were on the boat, they mentioned how delicious it was to eat alligator. At first, the thought of eating alligator terrified me, but I decided that the next restaurant we went to that offered it, I would try it.
That brings me to Cochon Butcher – one of the greatest dining experiences of my life. It was modern, and the food was incredible. Like, we couldn’t stop eating. My love for alligator and grits was formed here. When I got home from NOLA, I ordered a box of grits online on Amazon.ca (because there didn’t seem to be any grits anywhere in Windsor). I also looked up where to eat aligator in Wndsor and found that “Gator” was featured at Snack Bar BQ in Windsor.
Here’s a picture of one of my favourite meal in Nola – the Alligator and Oysters were to DIE for! (Cochon Butcher).
Now, a little bit about the night life. in NOLA. I bold the words night life intensely because you don’t go to NOLA without getting the chance to at least walk down and experience Bourbon street at least once.
This is probably the picture I will remember most of Bourbon Street at night. All of the people, the coloured buildings, the amazing shutters on each window and door — it was so lively. I will also remember all of the women flashing, the beads getting thrown and will try hard to forget the smell of the street and all of the garbage that was picked up quickly so that in the morning the streets were clear. In the morning, Bourbon Street had transformed to a completely cl
While researching places to go to near Bourbon street or in an area called Frenchman’s Street (amazing live music), I kept seeing a place called Bacchanal Wine. People have described this place as Nola’s backyard party or Nola’s hidden gem. This place was spectacular.
We rolled up in an Uber. At first we thought the driver was lost because we were in the middle of nowhere. But it turns out that the locations you would least expect to have the best places, do. We walked into this store, dressed up with nicer outfits on. Walking in, we thought we had got the wrong place, because the pictures or vibe wasn’t what we expected.
When you walk in, it looks like you have walked into a wine store. You see thousands of bottles of many different wine selections. We began to walk around. It is overwhelming and difficult to pick one or two different choices of wine. Luckily, the staff is amazing and helps you chose based on your preferences. You chose your bottle or bottles of wine that you’d like, then,they open the back door of this “wine” store, and that’s when the real fun begins.
They give you a white bucket and tell you to fill it up with ice. Then, you place your wine bottle in the ice bucket and you go and find a seat at a table. The first two things, while walking in this backyard party was the string of lights and the live music. I was so excited to be here. We ordered the watermelon feta and salmon salads, drank wine and listened to jazz all night.
One of my best hidden gem experiences and I’m so fortunate to have got the chance to come here.
NOLA was one of the most adventurous, best trips I have ever went on. I remember first driving through the French Quarter, and seeing all of the colourful buildings and just feeling so excited to get out there and explore.
If your planning a Nola trip, make sure you research and have an idea of things that you want to do there! There is a ton of things to see! If you need any suggestions of more attractions to see/when the best time to go is, don’t hesitate to send me a message on here! 🙂
Christina
