The last time I was in New Orleans was the
summer of 1992. I remember 3 things from
that trip: the beignets, the river cruise and the
hot-hot-hot, humid air. Upon pulling up to
the Parkview on Saturday around noon, I knew
with this trip -- I would remember more.
This was our room for the weekend. So fun!
...after check-in, the three of us set off on a 12-block stroll
through the Garden District, where just about every
house we passed by looks like this one...beautiful.
We stopped for lunch a few streets over from Magazine
where we spent the afternoon shopping. We had delicious
gruyere and carmelized onion sandwiches at St. James
Cheese Company...
...and then dessert at Sucre. Macarons and coffee and a little
gelato! The King Cake mac was my fave :)
Macarons. If you have never had one before, you must
try them. They kind of just melt in your mouth ...
On Saturday night we went out on the town. First stop was
Arnaud's where my boss told me that we must try the
classic "French 75" ~
So we did :)
The bar was actually named the French 75, which the
original owner named after the steelest of the magnolias,
Scarlett O'Hara.
Next on the foodie list was Bayona.
Complete with delicious cream of garlic soup
and a band outside our window playing
Michael Jackson's Smooth Criminal.
There is an amazing energy and
vibe in New Orleans. It really is one of the
most interesting and unique cities that I have
been to ~
Happy Birthday to us :)
On Sunday morning we headed out bright and early for a
full day ...
First stop was the legendary Commander's Palace for the
jazz brunch.
The balloons reprensent birthdays and were tied to the back of
our chairs.
I ordered this creole turtle soup to start and we finished up
with the creole bread pudding with bourbon whiskey sauce,
a dessert that Southern Living has right near the top of the list.
We concur.
The trio played us the birthday song as well as Tuxedo Junction
for the Birmingham resident in the mix :)
This 1833 cemetery was right across the street.
When given a choice between old and new,
I will {about 95% of the time} choose the
old. With the old, there is always a story
worth telling.
After brunch and more Garden District, we went down the
Great River Road toward Oak Alley Plantation.
The trees that looked out toward the Mississippi River were
said to be about 100 years older than the mansion...making
them around 300 years old, to date.
We toured the mansion...
...and stopped for a lemonade mint julep or
Virginia juleps as we like to call them.
Loving Louisiana.
The famed Oak Alley.
We ate dinner right on Jackson Square and
watched the sun set over the St. Louis
Cathedral. Softshell crab po boy for me and
muffalettas with olive salad for the sisters :)
...after our celeb sighting {Darrell Hammond, SNL} we
went to hear jazz and have a few beignets :)
Pre-departure on Monday morning, I had beignets {again}
from Cafe du Monde with Mary Caroline and Jackie O on
the steps overlooking Jackson Square. The weather was
perfect and pigeons weren't too rowdy.
We walked along Royal Street and visited a few more
shops before it was time to say good-bye. Sniff.
New Orleans, it's official.
You are one of my favorites.
~
