Elegant but casual at the same time, eat was just getting the day started when we arrived.

Upon stepping out of our hotel, we were met with dark skies and extremely strong gusts of wind. I, most determined to make my initial destination, trudged almost two blocks with my mildly disgruntled husband muttering words of disdain behind me before I gave up. Sure, we could have taken the bus, streetcar, or even called a cab, but I was in no mood for public transportation and had my mind set on walking. So, Cochon, at least for that trip, was a no go. Now I was faced with another problem… This was our last day in New Orleans, and we had yet to eat something different. After a few minutes of huddling on a street corner with my husband, and having the pointless conversation of him saying, “where do you want to go” and me replying, “I don’t know, where do you want to go?”, I remembered a restaurant that had been on my radar for quite awhile that we had yet to visit:  eat.

Crawfish pie with butter beans and shrimp…it is as good as it looks!

Luckily, eat is located just a few blocks away from the street corner where we were standing. We arrived shortly after lunch service began to a completely empty dining room. I didn’t know whether this was good or bad. What was keeping the other diners away? Was it the weather? Were we earlier than the typical lunch crowd? Worst of all, what if the food is not up to par? We were greeted by our waiter, who told us to sit wherever we wanted. The dining room was small and cozy, yet modern with hardwood floors, white paper tablecloths and green plastic chairs. I chose a window seat. He presented us with menus and left to get our waters. He returned shortly to get our drink orders. eat is BYOB, so no alcohol. I stuck with water. The menu consists of revamped creole and cajun dishes. I choose the crawfish pie, and on the recommendation of our waiter, the butter beans and shrimp as my side. My husband choose the trio, which consisted of a stuffed bell pepper, red beans and rice, and gumbo. Both came with a side caesar. I enjoyed my food. The butter beans and shrimp were well seasoned and served with a side of rice. This was my first taste of crawfish pie. I remember thinking, “this looks a lot like pizza.” The pie’s crust was slightly soggy which was the only downside. The filling was tomato-based swimming with peppers, onions and sizable chunks

The Trio features a stuffed bell pepper, red beans and rice, and a cup of gumbo.

of crawfish tail meat. The pie was finished with a healthy covering of cheese. While I was happy with my selection, my husband was somewhat disappointed with his choice. He found the food a tad too bland for his taste. While he loves hot sauce, he felt that he had to use it to season the food instead of using it to complement the flavors of the dish. He kept eyeing my pie with envy. He said his food wasn’t bad, but it wasn’t memorable. Our opinions differ on this one. I would return to eat during a future visit. My husband might, but will definitely choose a different entree.

Your chariot awaits!

This tour is one that I would call an “only in New Orleans” experience.  My co-workers were appalled when I explained my itinerary to them.  I mean, biking to several different bars at 10:00 A.M. on a Monday morning?  Before NOON?  On a bike?  Is this even legal?  These were some of the reactions I received when I told of my intentions to go on this particular tour in the early part of my trip.  Someone even went as far as to question whether we could be arrested for DUI why biking (and drinking) through the streets of New Orleans.  I assured each of my friends and colleagues that I had no inclination at all to go on some sort of drunken reckless biking escapade.  We had utilized the Confederacy of Cruisers for a previous biking tour before, and they were nothing but professional.  I trusted that they would not leave me incoherent in a pile of mystery liquid or spending the night in the drunk tank courtesy of the NOPD.  Still, the concerns of those around me started to cause me to doubt my own judgment.  I mean, when you really think about it, drinking five alcoholic beverages while navigating the narrow, crowded streets of New Orleans in the span of a few hours sounds like an episode straight out of Man Vs. Food.  I was a little nervous as the big day approached, and even considered cancelling the tour.  I was glad that I didn’t because it turned out to be one of the highlights of this particular trip.

We arrived on Sunday afternoon.  I told my husband that I didn’t want to drink or stay out too late that first night of our stay because our drinking tour was in the morning and we needed a good night’s sleep.  We also wanted to get up early enough to get a good breakfast before the tour to help soak up some of the liquid festivities.  This, my friends, did not happen.  We got, as my husband likes to say, “New Orleans-ed.”  We decided we could have a drink or two, listen to a few bands, and before we knew what happened, it was after midnight.  Of course, this translated to us oversleeping the next morning and waking up with barely an hour to get ready, grab some breakfast, and head over to where the tour begins.  Our dreams of a lavish New Orleans breakfast seemed dashed due to time constraints, but we wound up finding a quick reprieve at Café Beignet (more on that in another post).  Anyway, when it was all said and done, not only did we make it, but we were a few minutes early.  In fact, we were so early, that we were the first ones on the scene at the park.  We were starting to wonder if they had forgotten about us or if the tour had been cancelled because the weather was not exactly a pleasant Spring day.  It was overcast with periods of rain and pretty cold.  Still, the good people at Confederacy of Cruisers had confirmed our attendance via text message the night before (while we were out drinking before our drinking tour, no less), and sure enough, the tour guide came around the corner, wheeling bicycles and other equipment.  Another appeared with the final bike.  They were warm and friendly and explained that they needed just a couple of minutes to set up our bikes and the bar (um, hello!) and explained that we could grab a cup of coffee or have a walk around the park while we waited.  We chose the park since we had just downed some coffee for breakfast.  We returned a few minutes later to start our journey.

Our tour guide informed us that we were the only couple on the tour.  The other party decided to cancel out because of the weather.  Like I said before, it was a fairly cold January morning (as New Orleans goes, anyway) with a substantial threat of rain.  Still, I can’t help but say they really missed out in the end.  The tour guide started her presentation by answering many of the questions my co-workers (and okay, maybe me a little bit too) were so worried about.  She started out with a charming explanation of the history of drinking in New Orleans and what it means to their culture.  New Orleanians don’t just get trashed all the time, as the stereotype may suggest.  She explained that the notion of drinking during the night was truly an American idea.  New Orleanians have a different outlook, being from a mainly French and Caribbean heritage.  It is very common for New Orleans natives to go for a drink in the morning.  Nobody considers this taboo or even the least bit unusual.  Drinking is about social interaction and not simply about getting drunk.  She did go over the fact that technically, riding drunk on a bicycle could earn you a DUI, but this law is rarely enforced and you would have to be doing something completely ridiculous to garner the attention.  In New Orleans, it is legal to drink on the streets, and this includes when you are riding a bicycle.  While she explained all of this, she used her makeshift bar to fix us a lime and rum cooler to wet our appetites.

Flannagan’s — a good local bar that makes a great halfway point to Frenchmen Street.

The cooler was tasty, and while we sipped, she explained the functions of our bikes and the options to wear helmets.  Each bike has a cup holder attached to the handlebars, but she explained that the best way to avoid spilling your drink in the pothole-ridden streets of New Orleans was to hold the drink in your hand.  Easier to drink it too.  After the quick rundown, we were off.  The tour is very well-planned and includes stops for history and other informational stories in between drink stops.  This is great because you never feel like you have to wolf down one of these concoctions too fast and you have a little time for it to digest.  The tour also includes a variety of drinks, and stories about the bars and how the signature drinks came to be what they are today.  First stop was a local bar called Flannagan’s.  Here, we stopped in to sample some local beers.  There were a few choices.  We both chose the NOLA Blonde, a light ale.  It was delicious.  We would actually revisit Flannagan’s several more times on our trips, especially as a stopping point on our walks to Frenchmen Street.  Next came the Napoleon House where we had the famous Pimm’s Cup.  My husband didn’t like this the first time he had it on a previous trip, but he was pleasantly surprised.  Now it is one of his favorite drinks and he can’t wait to go back and have another.  We visited the Sazerac Lounge in the Roosevelt Hotel.  This place is simply oozing with turn-of-the-century elegance.  From the ornate plasterwork on the ceiling in the lobby to the plush booths in the bar, we felt like we were transported to yet another time where Old World meets art deco and flappers and gangsters bumped elbows with high society.  Here, we were given the choice between two iconic New Orleans drinks:  the Sazerac and the Ramos Gin Fizz.  My husband took the Sazerac and I the Fizz.  Both were good, the Sazerac being predominantly whiskey and the Ramos Gin Fizz being refreshing, light, and decadent all at once.  If you are wanting to try either of these drinks, you are going to want to choose a higher-class bar, like the Sazerac Lounge or the Hermes Bar.  The last bar we visited was the Erin Rose.  This is a dive bar off of Bourbon.  Our drink here was an Irish Coffee.  Typically, our guide recommends the frozen variety, but since it was cold out, you could also get it hot.  I chose hot, and my extremely weird husband chose frozen.  We then biked back to the original location to conclude the tour.

The Sazerac Lounge gave us an option of two iconic New Orleans drinks.

All in all, this tour was one of my favorite News Orleans experiences.  Did I get completely trashed?  The answer is no.  I did have a pleasant buzz toward the end of the trip, but nothing to impede my driving or comprehension of the history we learned about during the course of the ride.  I myself am not an experienced bike rider at all, and I found myself reluctant to hold my drink in one hand while steering the bike with the other.  By the end, I was on my way to perfecting the New Orleans-style ride, but not before I was covered in lime juice, rum, beer, lemonade, gin, and sorts of sugary, sticky sweetness.  My husband’s favorite moment is when he caught me trying to “Fred Flintstone” it (a.k.a. stop the bike with my feet instead of the pedal brakes) and crash, ever so slightly, into the curb, causing a mushroom cloud of alcohol to erupt from my half-empty cup and end up all over my pants and shoes.  If our sweet and professional tour guide saw, she pretended not to.  This tour is great to familiarize yourself with the drinking culture in New Orleans.  Do this tour towards the beginning of your trip so you can be sure to revisit favorites later on.  And always, the moral of the story is that anytime in New Orleans is a good time for a drink.

Great spot for casual lunch dining or an elegant dinner.

The Red Fish Grill is another entry from the Brennan empire.  Located on famous Bourbon Street, you’ll have to pass the seedier side what with the strip joints and a not-so-glamorous Krystal’s across the street, but this is one gem that you shouldn’t overlook in your New Orleans’ adventures.

We usually make at least one stop at Red Fish on our trip for lunch.  It’s a fairly casual place.  You don’t have to overdress, although business casual is expected and appreciated.  Once you enter, you will see a beautiful dining area, an eager hostess, and real chefs donned in white, hastily preparing their masterpieces in the glass window at the back of the restaurant.

Red Fish Grill runs like a well-oiled machine.  The wait staff is spectacular.  Even if you are only a couple, you will have two completely separate waiters making sure your experience is a pleasurable one.  You won’t be finding your glass empty here, that’s for sure, and in fact, if you’re less than refined at times (I know we are), you might be a little embarrassed by how prompt they are at getting your crumb droppings off the table.  No, they’re not trying to knife you, just keeping the area clean.

Red Fish always has a lunch special that presents you with several options.  I usually opt for the gumbo, although they have a special soup each day that the waiter will no doubt let you know about.  The BBQ Oyster or Shrimp Po’ Boys are second to none.  We’ll tell you just why in a second.  These are just a couple of options on a well-rounded menu that has something for anyone.  There are vegetarian options as well.  Obviously, the signature dish is the restaurant’s namesake, but we have tried several of the delicacies and never been disappointed with any of their offerings.

So, back to the Po’ Boys.  First of all, the BBQ label is deceiving.  That’s actually pretty consistent through New Orleans in general.  Whether you are from the South or the North, your definition of BBQ flavoring is likely to be a bit different than that of the Cajun Nation.  Whether you pick oysters or shrimp, they will be lightly breaded and flash-fried in Red Fish Grill’s special sauce.  It consists of butter, Crystal hot sauce, and a little honey with some spices thrown in, no doubt.  The result is one of the best things you will ever put in your mouth.  Don’t let the Crystal fool you; these are not hot.  Something about the mixture of spicy and sweet calms the heat and makes it a perfect marriage of flavors.

The Red Fish Grill’s take on BBQ oysters is a must-try while you hanging out in the Crescent City.

You can also get the BBQ Oysters as an appetizer.  I highly recommend it.  Go ahead and get a dozen, even if you are skeptical.  You will not be sorry.  A word to the wise, though.  The oysters are flash-fried, but this just gives it a little heat and pulls the breading and sauce together.  On the inside, it is still a mostly raw oyster, and if this idea bothers you, you might want to opt for the shrimp instead.  My husband had begun to warm up to cooked oysters but he happily devoured these and now eats raw oysters on a regular basis.  Consider it a great way to break yourself in on this time-honored tradition if you aren’t ready to try the oyster bar just yet.

Oh, yeah, we almost forgot.  There is a dessert at Red Fish that you must try at least once.  The Double Chocolate Bread Pudding is sensational.  And if you think they just make up a big batch of this stuff at the beginning of the day, think again.  Right there on the menu, it warns you that you have to give thirty minutes notice to get it.  So, if you want to give it a try, you have to alert your waiter near the beginning of your meal.  Go ahead and pull the trigger.  You won’t be sorry.

All in all, this is a great dining experience, but we also like to stop in at the bar for a quick snack from time to time.  You won’t get the full experience, but the bartenders are great and more than accommodating.  A particularly friendly one even gave us a free sample of a specialty drink he was preparing for another patron.  Apparently, he was so impressed with his own creation that he wanted to share it.  We were much obliged, and it was delicious.  We considered ordering one for ourselves, but we had already had a couple of refreshments and had several more stops in mind, so we declined.  Certainly not because it didn’t taste great.

We can’t wait to get back to this spot and try something different.  Or maybe we’ll just get the same thing.  It’s hard to improve on perfection.  Put it on your list and you can thank us later.

The Salmon Pastrami on Rye with potato salad on the side.

The Salmon Pastrami on Rye was a Reuben-ish sandwich that almost made my husband not wish he had gotten a BBQ Oyster Po-Boy to go with his appetizer of a dozen BBQ Oysters. Almost!

The Red Fish Grill is one of our favorite destinations each time we visit New Orleans. From oysters to entrees, this is a great choice for casual dining.

A little gumbo goes a long way. Especially when it's this good!

Some of the interior decor of the Red Fish Grill.

The BBQ Oysters are an absolute must...whether you like oysters or not. Flash-fried in a light breading and a heavenly sauce that with hints of honey, Crystal hot sauce, and butter, it's all topped off with a little chunk of blue cheese that melts perfectly over for an awesome glaze. Don't get six... or twelve for that matter. Get two dozen or more!

The seasonal salad was part of the lunch deal. And it was a pleasant surprise. This thing had a wonderful vinegarette and such fresh ingredients that it could have easily passed for an entree in and of itself.

The Grilled Cheese Vegetable Sandwich

I'm no vegetarian, but the Grilled Cheese Vegetable Sandwich had plenty of things to make me want to give it a try. Eggplant fries and a delicious honey mustard-ish dipping sauce topped it off.

Cream of Asparagus... Soup of the day was well worth a try.

The dining room as we entered at 11:00 A.M. sharp for lunch (right after they opened the doors, literally).

The lunch special is a great way to go. I had the BBQ Shrimp Po-Boy, seen here in all its splendor.

The Shrimp and Bacon Club eventually became the Shrimp and Bacon Wrap. Both were great and presented beautifully. That's the excellent potato salad in the middle to top it all off.

Drago’s is a great place to stop for an oyster snack.

My mouth is watering just writing that title.  Well, first some background.  My husband was an oyster-virgin going into his first New Orleans experience.  Well, he had consumed some typical fried oysters from the local chains, but never anything of note.  Still a little shy of the raw experience (I will explain the “five-year” plan in a later post), he just wanted to see what all the fuss was about.  Well, Drago’s Seafood Restaurant is the place to get a taste, and preferably a couple dozen, if you know what I mean.

Drago’s is synonymous with its charbroiled oysters, and there’s good reason for it.  The recipe calls for lots of butter and a variety of cheeses over the, well, charbroiled oysters.  It adds up to decadent perfection.  But, first, let’s take a look at the overall experience.

You can enter Drago’s through the Riverwalk Mall, but the trek through the Hilton can be a little confusing at first.

Our first venture to Drago’s was a little marred by our entrance point.  We made the decision to partake in a dozen charbroiled after looking at the mouth-watering menu that appears in the staircase leading to Drago’s from the Riverwalk Mall.  We were ready to take the plunge, but the staircase leads into the sprawling Hilton Hotel.  There aren’t exactly great directions, but if you make your way to the ground floor, you’ll find Drago’s.  It opens up into an elegant restaurant with a huge bar off to the right.  That bar is not actually a part of the restaurant, adding to the confusion.

Our first trip out, we went the conventional route and signed up for a table for two at lunch with the host.  We were soon whisked away to a nice table where we perused the lunch menu.  We don’t want to hate here, but truthfully, against the backdrop of a myriad of fine-eating options, Drago’s actual menu is not that exceptional.  The oysters are, though, and don’t let yourself miss out on this experience.

In retrospect, and as we have done in many trips following, the best way to go is to hunker down at the Drago’s bar and have yourself a dozen or so charbroiled as a “just-passing-through” kind of thing.  Talk about a heck of a midday snack.

You can find your way into the Drago’s bar directly straight from the Riverwalk.  Just head over the railroad track and hang a left to find the gorgeous entrance to Drago’s Seafood Restaurant.  Just inside the doors is a huge bar where the bartender will attend to your every need promptly.  We like to have a Blue Moon (with orange of course) and at least a dozen charbroiled, depending on your appetite.  What you will get is a dozen oysters on the shell charbroiled in a marvelous array of cheeses and buttery goodness that will tickle your tastebuds like never before.  It comes standard with French bread.  You’ll need it.  You will want to soak up every last bit of that sauce with the bread, and quite likely, you will want to order a dozen more.

The Charbroiled Oysters are famous…you will hear people talking about them while you are in town. Don’t be the only one dumb enough not to give it a try.

Once again, my husband was essentially an oyster virgin before he showed up at Drago’s.  Now he fiends for him, and yes, he eats them raw (that will be chronicled in another article as well, when we venture out to Remoulade’s).  In the meantime, we implore you to make a trip to Drago’s for your next New Orleans outing.  Or two or three.  You will not be disappointed.

But skip the full meal.  There’s better things to be had elsewhere, but what Drago’s does well, they do very, very well.

Brennan’s had been on my to-do list for some time. It is an establishment in New Orleans. I mean, breakfast at Brennan’s is something to be experienced. This is the place that invented Banana’s Foster, and perfected Turtle Soup. Brennan’s is a New Orleans icon. And here we were, right in front of the famous pink building on Royal Street and looking for a good meal. I figured since we were all dressed up and all, it was time.

At first, I was a little worried that we did not have a reservation. No worries, we were greeted and seated promptly. The two of us were seated in the front dining room at a white linen-covered table that could probably accommodate six. Our tuxedo-clad waiter was warm and friendly and made several menu recommendations. We were immediately impressed. The dining room was beautiful, the service was great, and we truly felt like we were receiving an authentic old New Orleans dining experience.

We were immediately drawn to the three course Prix Fixe menu (which for you Americans means price-fixed), which at the time was $40.00. This seemed like such a great deal. I mean, three courses at such an iconic restaurant for only $40.00? Seems almost too good to be true. Well, as it turned out, it kind of is. The price is just for the basics. If you want to add their signature dishes, it’s an extra charge. Want turtle soup? Its gonna cost ya. Want Banana’s Foster? Be prepared to pay. I wanted the full experience, so I added all the extras.

The full demonstration of how Bananas Foster is correctly prepared is worth the price of admission.

The Turtle Soup was very good. It is accompanied by a touch of sherry which really enhances the flavors. I had the Eggs Hussarde, which was just good.  My husband had the Eggs Owen, which he said was just ok. The cap of the meal was the Banana’s Foster. The waiters really cater to the whole experience. The dish is prepared table-side. The waiter brings a hot plate and all the ingredients to the table. He proceeds to add the brown sugar, the rum, and finally the bananas. Then he grabs the lighter, but pauses to let you know some serious stuff is about to go down, and to get your cameras ready. Then he lights the concoction on fire producing a flame that I’m pretty sure violates the fire codes. While the flame is dancing in the air, he posed for the perfect photo opp. I unfortunately did not have my camera with me (this, as we indicated in previous articles, was before the era of everyone having a 500 megapixel camera with them at all times), but because he was so enthusiastic about us taking pictures, I grabbed my ancient phone which had no camera, and pretended to take pictures. He then served us the banana-y goodness over vanilla ice cream. The result is pure heaven. One bite, and angels sing, puppies and deer frolic in a green meadow, babies laugh, and….well you think I’m going overboard, all I can say is you try it and see if that s**t don’t happen. It’s good. Thats all.  (And I don’t even like bananas…seriously!)

Now the kicker… the bill. Remember, I said that we ordered the three-course meal for $40.00. I did a double take when our waiter brought the check and it was $150, especially since we had only had water to drink. All of the extras add up real fast. My husband summed it up best when he said, referring to the mass amounts of buttery richness we had just consumed, ” I feel like I just gave a hit man $200 dollars to kill me, but kind of enjoyed it.”

Brennan’s is an establishment in New Orleans. Be prepared to drop a fair chunk of money for breakfast, especially if you want to go all out. Think of the meal as an experience. You are eating at a historic restaurant and having a meal like you can get nowhere else. Is the food outstanding? Yes and no. Is it worth it? Well, that depends on what you want. For me, it was. I like to be able to say that I had breakfast at Brennan’s. The Turtle Soup is great, the Banana’s Foster is absolutely outstanding. In sum, go for the experience and the Banana’s Foster, but be prepared to spend money on an otherwise mediocre meal.

Testing the captions to see how they look.

Mexican food in the French Quarter? Seems like an unlikely restaurant choice for a New Orleans vacation. When in Nola, its a given your going to stuff yourselves with po-boys, oysters, beignets, bread pudding, gumbo, red beans and rice and the likes. But sometimes a little break in the midst of gorging oneself on all of the glory of New Orleans is a good thing. Enter El Gato Negro.

Located just across from the French Quarter, El Gato Negro serves a variety of tacos, tamales, burritos, enchiladas, and guacamole made table-side. El Gato also serves wonderful specialty margaritas. El Gato is usually were I go when I want a break from traditional New Orleans food. My husband and I usually stop in for a quick snack each trip. A few tacos and a margarita is a great choice for a light lunch or a bite in between meals. My favorite is the fish tacos, followed by a pineapple cilantro margarita. Even if your just not feeling Mexican, stop in for a margarita. They usually offer seasonal choices in addition to their regular drink selections. On my trip this past summer, I had a very refreshing cucumber ginger mojito. And, remember you are in New Orleans, you can always get a drink to go!

El Gato Negro is a casual restaurant. The prices range from 3.75 for a taco, to 10 to 20 dollars for traditional Mexican dishes and specialties. The location is great for when you need refreshment from all that shopping and haggling in the French Market. Keep El Gato’s tacos in mind for a budget friendly snack, or light lunch that won’t spoil your dinner. The entrees and specialties are a good dinner choice when you want a break from traditional New Orleans food, and something a little more filling. If nothing else, please don’t forget about these kick ass margaritas, they have become part of my New Orleans routine for good reason!

Many people are of the opinion that a Jazz Brunch in New Orleans is a little “too touristy”. I say, you are a tourist right? What’s wrong with partaking in some tourist activities ? I spent a considerable amount of time searching for the restaurant to have my first meal in New Orleans. Since we were going to be arriving on a Sunday afternoon, I wanted a place that served a good Sunday Jazz Brunch. I ended up choosing Mr. B’s.

Buffalo Chicken Salad? So much better than it sounds…

There are many places in New Orleans that serve Jazz Brunch. We settled on Mr. B’s because of its location and reputation. We wanted to stay in the French Quarter, since we would have to check into our hotel after our meal. Mr. B’s also boasts countless recommendations and positive reviews on various travel boards. I made reservations confident that we would have a good experience.
Our meal was not only good, it was perfect. Mr. B’s is located on Royal street in the French Quarter, right across from the Hotel Monteleone. As soon as we entered the revolving doors, we were warmly greeted and promptly seated by the hostess. We received wonderful service from the waitstaff, who enthusiastically attended to all of our needs. The atmosphere was classic New Orleans. The three-piece jazz band roamed the dining room giving each table a private concert. Believe me, sipping mimosas, listening to jazz and enjoying a decadently rich meal just screams “I’m in New Orleans!” What could be more perfect?

Mr. B’s Gumbo Ya-Ya… perhaps the cream of the crop for gumbo in New Orleans?

We have dined at Mr. B’s several times since. The food and service is consistently good. If you’re going to Mr. B’s, you can’t miss out on the Gumbo Ya-Ya. The gumbo is made from a dark roux, with chicken and sausage. It might just be the best gumbo in the French Quarter. I have never had a bad meal here, but my favorite time to eat is during weekend brunch. The dress code is business casual. You will most certainly be accepted in shorts and a t-shirt, and receive no different treatment, but you might feel a little out of place. For men, a collared shirt or polo with slacks, and for women a dress, or blouse with slacks will be just fine. Entrees run about $15 to $20 apiece. I highly recommend Mr. B’s for a great Jazz Brunch, lunch or dinner – yes, it really is that good!

The majesty of Royal Street is worth a spot on your itinerary.

For months I anticipated my first trip to New Orleans with excitement.  And I was determined to make sure that the little time I had was put to the best use.  I spent countless hours researching what I wanted to see, where I wanted to eat, and what I wanted to do.  I was obsessed with my itinerary and making sure that not a moment was wasted.  On top of that, my plans included one extremely aggressive eating schedule.  I relentlessly prepared a binder full of menus, maps and other information that would come in handy during my stay (this was before I had handy gadgets like laptops, iPads, and smartphones at my disposal; I mean, really, who carries maps anymore?).

No stone was to be unturned.  I planned to have Jazz Brunch at Mr. B’s, explore the French Quarter, have an elegant dinner at Bacco’s, take in a ghost tour, have fun on Bourbon Street, and maybe take a couple of shots at a jackpot at Harrah’s Casino.  Mind you, that was all for the afternoon our first day down.  The next day was just as hectic.  Beignets at Café du Monde, a self-guided tour of the French Quarter, lunch at the Red Fish Grill, a quick snack at Croissant d’Hor, perhaps a little shopping at the French Market, another snack, a Pimm’s Cup at Napoleon House to wash it all down, museums, and well, we ran out of gas.  That was as far we got.  Clearly, I had become the victim of over-planning.  By the end of the second day of our stay, we were bloated, tired, and extremely irritable (even more than usual, in my husband’s case).  We decide to make a fresh start the next day and to scrap the aggressive schedule.

We adopted a philosophy that we continue to follow to this day and many, many trips later:

The best plan in New Orleans is no plan at all.

One of my favorite things about the city of New Orleans is its laid-back nature.  Part of the charm is adopting the laid-back attitude for yourself.  You’re on vacation, after all.  Make a list of things you would like to see and do on your trip, but be flexible.  Don’t let your itinerary beat you down.  Remember the National Lampoon vacation movies where Chevy Chase drove his family crazy with his vacation goals.  Don’t be like that.  Stop and smell the roses, as the saying goes.

Your first day in New Orleans, free yourself to wander.  Keep your eyes, ears, and nose open and note places and activities you want to revisit.  Take a stroll down Royal Street and admire the balcony-lined street.  Do some antique shopping, or dreaming.  Stop into a bar for mid-afternoon cocktail.  Wander on down to the river and sip on an Abita while you watch the boats sail up and down the Mississippi River.

Entertainment is all around you; don’t walk on by and don’t forget to tip!

Stop and take in the street performers.  They are synonymous with the laid-back attitude of the city.  Hop on a streetcar if you feel the urge.  Relax and have fun.

I look forward to each of my visits to New Orleans with the same anticipation of the first one.  In a way, researching before the trip is almost as much fun as being there and helps to prolong the vacation experience.  Instead of just the few days you have on the actual trip, I get to spend weeks daydreaming about new activities and restaurants.  But don’t get caught up in the details.  The best advice I can give about planning a trip to New Orleans is to remember the best trips can’t be planned.

They just happen.

Oh yes! When you see the sign in the distance you know your stumble is almost over!

Choosing a hotel for an upcoming vacation can be a very stressful ordeal, especially when visiting a city for the first time.  You want the best deal, a good location, and the right amenities for a comfortable stay.  Often, one may have to compromise on one or more condition, which is why it is important to focus on what is the most important to you.  Is it price?  Location?  Luxury?  The right hotel can either enhance your vacation or ruin it all together.My first trip to New Orleans, I was overwhelmed with hotel choices.  I knew I wanted to be within walking distance of most major attractions, and most importantly, in an area that was safe.  I combed travel sites finding budget rates that were too good to be true only to find out that in New Orleans, where a block or two can make a huge difference, “walking distance to the French Quarter” is not always a good thing.  I was seduced by pictures of luxury hotels outside of my budget, and wondered if I needed to drop big bucks to have a safe enjoyable stay.  After much deliberation, I settled on Le Richelieu.Let me say that I had an awesome first trip.  Le Richelieu is located on the quiet end of Chartres Street, and is easy walking distance to both Bourbon and Frenchmen Street.  The rooms are spacious and come equipped with a large walk in closet, a sizable bathroom, and a mini-fridge.  There is also a charming little bar, and a nice pool.  There is a guarded lot behind the hotel, no valet.  On the down side, the decor was a little outdated, and the T.V. still had a dial…no joke.  There were no key cards, but actual keys, which they insisted you leave at the front desk when not in your room.  This worried me a little because I encountered several different clerks running the desk and no one ever verified my identity, they just handed over the key without question.  Finally the location.  While in a safe area and easily walkable, it is just far enough away from the action to make you think twice about making a quick stop to the hotel in between activities.  Also, the walk back to the hotel late at night was a little too quiet for me.  After Le Richelieu, I moved on to my favorite group of hotels, owned by Valentino Hotels.

Valentino Hotels is a group which owns and manages five small boutique hotels in New Orleans.  I have stayed at three hotels including Prince Conti, Place d’Armes, and St. Marie.  These hotels are a perfect marriage of price and location.  One of the things that I learned from my first trip to New Orleans is that I spend very little time in my hotel room.  I would rather save the money that I would have spent on a luxury hotel and use it for food and drinks.  The three hotels I have stayed are in a great location, have clean comfortable rooms, and a courteous staff.

The Prince Conti is the most basic of the three.  It has no pool, no balconies, no courtyard, just rooms.  It also sports the lowest rates.  I have stayed in a double room, and a junior suite.  The double room was a nice size.  The only complaint that I have is the bathroom.  There is only a single pedestal sink with no room to put your toiletries.  I found it challenging getting ready in the mornings.  I ended up having to set my make-up bag on the toilet, which is less than ideal.  The junior suite was spacious, with a queen-sized bed and a small sitting area.  There was also a micro-fridge.  On the downside, the room had problems.  The heat broke constantly.  Each time, the issue was fixed promptly once we reported it to the front desk, only to be broken again by the next day.  The room was also very damp.  I had to keep my shoes on to keep my socks from getting wet.  I don’t know what was happening on this particular visit, but based on my previous stays at the hotel I believe this to be an isolated incident, and it will not detour me from future visits, or recommending this hotel as a place to stay.

They didn’t come up with the name all by themselves!

The Place de Armes is the most centrally located of the three.  I have stayed at this hotel twice, both times in an interior room, which boast lower rates.  Many people are apprehensive about an interior room because it has no windows.  The room was spacious, and had a row of mirrors along one wall that created a more open feel.  In summation, I wasn’t bothered by the lack of windows.  The downside was the small bathroom.  There is barely enough room to shut the door.  Speaking of the door…It is not solid, but has slats, similar to a shutter.  This may bother some couples, or friends rooming together.  Luckily, me and my husband are very comfortable with each other so this wasn’t an issue.  I did like that there is a separate sink/vanity area.  The Place d’Armes location can’t be beat.  There is also a large courtyard, and a wonderful shared balcony which looks over Chartres just off of Jackson Square.  Place d’Armes is a wonderful place to stay especially for first timers.

I have stayed at the Hotel St. Marie more than any other hotel in New Orleans.  Rates are slightly higher than Prince Conti, but lower than Place d’Armes.  I have stayed in a suite, junior suite, street-side balcony, courtyard balcony, and a double room.  Yeah, I’ve stayed here a lot.  This might be my favorite hotel in New Orleans for many reasons.  No, it’s not a luxury hotel.  The rooms are basic.  The location is great, located a half block from Bourbon St. and close to many attractions in the French Quarter.  The St. Marie has balcony rooms available, a nice courtyard with a pool, and a good restaurant called Vacherie.  The hotel is only two blocks in to the French Quarter, so it’s super-easy to get to.  You don’t have to worry about navigating the narrow one-way streets of the Quarter.  Most of the time, I just go for the basic double.  I mean, you’re in New Orleans, what are you doing in your hotel room anyway?  If you spring for a balcony room, I highly recommend going for the street-side as the courtyard can be quite boring.  The suite was spacious, with a separate sitting area.  The bathroom in the suite was small with no separate vanity area.  And again, the slat doors on the bathroom is a downer, but to me this is nothing compared to everything else the St. Marie has to offer.  For many reasons, the St. Marie is my choice when visiting New Orleans.

After many trips to New Orleans, I have concluded that my ideal hotel has to be both budget-friendly and centrally located.  New Orleans is a city full of things to do, see, eat and drink at all times of the day and night. In all,  I want a comfortable, clean place to sleep.  For me, you can’t go wrong with The Prince Conti, Place d’Armes, or my favorite, The Hotel St. Marie.