Groceries, New Orleans

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After the disappointment at the Old French Market (where we thought it would be full of fresh food) we went to Central Grocery. The locals come here for some imported food items (it’s a gourmet grocery store so it isn’t cheap) but the place is famous for the muffaletta, it seemed all the visitors come for their muffaletta which is advertised as the best in town.

The truth is that we tasted it and it was great with fresh cheese, meat and olive salad of course. I liked the interior of the place with all these foods around but also some old posters. The service was kind of slow though and you may find it annoying stand on the line for a cold sandwich :) You can it there but muffaletta is great for picnic take one and go by the river and enjoy it…

They are open 9.00-17.00 but they are closed on Mondays/Sundays

This shop is right next to K Pauls and always has an outsatnding selection of wines. The prices are very resonable, almost Costco-ish at times. When we stay a week and have some friends along, it can save some big bucks to have a couple of bottles in the room .

What to buy: I bought a bottle of Santa Margarita Pinot Grigio for $60 once, that came in a pine box which may could have doubled as a coffin. It took 4 of us a week to finish that bottle.

What to buy: The prices of Cafe du Monde coffee varies all over the place. Alot of people buy from the Cafe du Monde coffeshop itself but most, if not all, of the souvenir shops carry the coffee as well for cheaper prices.

For a cheaper chicory coffee brand than C.d.M, try the Community Coffee or French Market labels which can be found in the grocery stores.

In addition to buying beignets (pictured) you can also buy coffee and beignet mix on line such as the

What to buy: Decatur St. Gift Basket
Regular coffee and chicory, beignet mix and two archway mugs. Price: $17.95

Or you can get the coffee and beignet mix separately, Emerils spices, and pralines.

You can also get items of apparel such as aprons, T-shirts, seatshirts and ties or accessories like bags with the Cafe Du Monde logo, mugs, books (cookbooks, fiction and non-fiction) and art.

Robert has an accent over the e, so it is probably pronounced like in the French - Ro-Bear.

Bob went in here to buy some breakfast and lunch supplies to take back to the room.

What to buy: You can order on-line including ordering a King Cake in addition to going to one of their 27 locations in the city.

If you don't feel like dealing with the hustle and bustle of the French Market, but still want to stock up on local spices and pre-made mixes (even Hurricane mix), this is the place. Prices are slightly cheaper, too!

What to buy: Buy etouffee, BBQ shrimp, gumbo, jambalaya, red beans & rice, & Hurricane mixes. Buy cayenne pepper & hot sauce. Plus, pick up some extra batteries or film, if need be.

What to pay: Most pre-made mixes are $1.19 to $1.29, which beats the French Market prices of $1.99 to $4.00!!

This is literally a neighborhood store, but it's most well known for the muffaletta, a giant sandwich made of Italian bread, meats and cheeses with an olive dressing. I couldn't handle a full muffaletta, but fortunately they sell half-sandwiches, which are around $5.

What to buy: Local products, such as hot sauces, gumbo, cajun and creole spices ... can be found at the French Market and in many little shops around the French Quarter.