Cuisine, New Orleans

Favorite thing: Try a beignet (pronounced ben yeah). A beignet is a rectangle of donut dough, about 3 1/2' x 3, they're made by rolling out the dough, then cutting them into shape with a donut-cutter fashioned like a rolling pin that has the metal frame of the shapes wrapped around it.

These dough rectangles are then deep fried until they puff up. They're scooped out of the oil, drained, then placed on saucers, three per dish. They are then covered with powdered confectioner's sugar and served. They taste very good with a cafe au lait.

Favorite thing: alright it seems silly that a simple little pastry could dominate a trip, but until you've been to cafe du monde and had an order of Beignets oh lord you don't know what your missing.. they have 2 cafe du monde's that we found the best one is in the french quarter it's the main cafe,the other is located in the river walk.

Fondest memory: BOURBON ST..... RED BEANS & RICE....

this town has a smell that i can't quite explain, or anyone can for that matter but it makes it what it is NEW ORLEANS.. the smell of the streets being cleaned in the morning,the fresh seafood, the alcohol,etc.... this town captured part of my soul, and i will be back many times to experiance the jazz the food everything great about new orleans!!!!

Favorite thing: Pick restaurants carefully. Lots of hype does not mean great food. For instance: Antoine's Restaurant has always been associated with New Orleans, but in deciding whether to go there, we walked by at prime time on a Saturday night and there were only 4 customers in the restaurant. I can guess what that means.

Fondest memory: Had a great walk on river walk along the mighty Mississippi. Started out early in the morning and finished at Jackson Square for Cafe au Lait and Beinget's (spelling ?). The Cafe au Lait is wonderfull, but the beignets were greasy, doughy and got powerdered sugar all over my black pants. Proceed with caution on the dough balls.

Favorite thing: Also on the third floor are the fudge candymakers. This fudge will melt in your mouth. While they are finishing with fudge theu swirl it in the air, joke with crown and sing. It is enjoyable. The guy who seemed to be the leader said if you bought a large amount of candy you could have one of the candy makers go home with you free of charge. Did not take him up on it. I will add more to this page when I get more pictures developed. I really enjoyed New

Favorite thing: EAT! I tended to eat at small establishments for a more intimate down home feeling. To party there are all kinds of places along Bourbon Street. My favorites included Patrick O'Brien's (very busy place with dueling pianos), Lafitte's Blacksmith Shop (very old establishment which was a front for the pirate) and, of course, the Preservation Jazz Club.

Fondest memory: Hanging out with some people I met there and meeting the locals, one of which invited us over to his house to listen to Miles Davis. Left there early in the morning and the fog filled the streets and gave a glow to the old streetlights. Very ethereal.

Favorite thing: Try a muffelata. Phone book thick, round Italian sandwich containing ham, salami, provolone cheese, and a green and black olive and vinegar dressing.
Got mine from Franks on Decatur, but locals say that Central Grocery has the best.

Goes good with chocolate milk.

Favorite thing: Eat at the Acme Oyster Bar. Sit at the bar, slurp down the oysters and enjoy the show of the guys shucking the oysters and get a side order of jambalaya. Best anywhere!!!

Fondest memory: Get a Bed and Breakfast along Prytania or St. Charles and take the streetcar in and out of the quarter. Be sure to catch 'EJ and the Electric Band' at the 'Funky Pirate' and, by all means, go to the 'Famous Door' and listen to Jeff Chaz and the All-Star Band. Unbelievable!!!

Favorite thing: Go to the french quarter, it stinks (really it does! like stale alcohol and mule poop) But despite that, it is a place you have to see, there is no other place that I have been to like it, like they say laissez le bon temps roulez!
(let the good times roll) The Louisiana Pizza Kitchen has the best and most interesting pizza I have ever tasted, try the crawfish pizza it's fantastic...hopefully it's still there.

Fondest memory: Definetely I miss the food the most, the small not so touristy restaurants are really the best. You know...where the locals eat! The people are very laid back and not to concerned about much other than enjoying life.

Favorite thing: Go to Lafitte Blacksmith bar, dark and gothic ambiance; if you like that sort of thing. Tour guides complete with costume and in character picks ghoul lovers here for a night tour macabre and spiritual tour of New Orleans; sort of like a walking theatre kinda ma jig.

Fondest memory: Taking a ride down the country along side Mississipi and plantation mansions.

Favorite thing: Suck the head. No, this is not some obscene sexual reference. It refers to the practice of eating the mud bugs, otherwise known as crawfish. First you remove the head and then you suck the juices from it before proceeding to eat the crawfish tale. This task is best accomplished with lots of Abita, one of the local beers.

Fondest memory: The Piano Bar at Pat O'Brien's. Pat O'Brien's is well known for it's mighty hurricanes - beware they sneak up on you, but don't let that be a deterrent. Our fondest memory of this place is a blurr (they say if you can remember Mardi Gras you weren't really there.) It all starts at Pat OBrien's.