27 May 2008

Pictures to come (I will set up a Flickr account one of these days!), but I feel guilty for not posting the highlights of our trip (back in late March!) to New Orleans. So, here they are!

1) Seeing our great friends Todd & Andrea and their new son, James.

2) Going to a Crawfish Festival in Chalmette, Louisiana in St. Bernard Parish (which is located on the other side of the 9th Ward. It was just devastated after Katrina. Check out pics HERE.) Amazing crawdaddies and other cajun fare--including the best red beans and rice I've ever tasted. Such a non-touristy event, which I totally loved/appreciated, it was nice to see the community coming back.

3) Our friend Todd (among other things, including a university professor) is a food critic, so we had the inside info on amazing eats. The highlight for me: dinner at Upperline in uptown. We had an amazing meal with our friends there a couple of years ago, and this one was just as amazing. I'm STILL thinking about the fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade sauce. Holy Christmas. Also had a fabulous meal at Herbsaint on St. Charles.

4) I'm not much of a sweet tooth, but I must admit I did enjoy forays to Sucre for amazing gelato, the Creole Creamery (where I had a special homemade ice cream called "Black and Gold Crunch" which apparently they only usually have during the football season, but had it when were there b/c the Food Network had done a recent taping there) and Angelo Brocato's for cannoli. There was a water line on the door from Katrina's flood waters--it was as high as my belly button.

5) Also had the best oyster po' boy I've ever tasted at Parkway Bakery & Tavern in Bayou St. John. Our friend Todd and the girl had roast beef po'boys which is apparently its speciality. Very cool, local place that took a hit during Katrina, but is now back.

6) Long walks in the French Quarter and beignets and cafe lattes at Cafe Du Monde.