Hi friends!
Welcome back to Travel Thursdays! My favorite day on my blog because I get to tell you about some wonderful trips I have taken. Today I want to share with you about a recent trip I took to the Big Easy. New Orleans is the kind of city you can visit anytime of the year and never be disappointed. Andrew and I decided one random weekend to make a trip to New Orleans. I got a four star hotel through Priceline for $70 a night in downtown New Orleans. Talk about a great deal! We got there Friday afternoon, checked into our hotel, and went exploring. Some of the friendliest locals I have ever met are from New Orleans. Everyone is full of life and proud to call New Orleans their home.
After doing some research we decided to have dinner at the beautiful Palace Cafe on Canal Street. The restaurant was two stories and filled with old Southern art pieces. When you walk in you feel like you walked into a movie scene from the Great Gatsby. We were seated upstairs where we got a spectacular view of the city. I ordered their Crispy Braised Pork Shank which came with a warm salad of crispy sweet potatoes, bleu cheese, frisee and house-made bacon finished with a Ponchatoula strawberry barbecue sauce. As you can imagine by the description, it was phenomenal.
The next day we woke up early to grab breakfast at the very famous Cafe Du Monde. Here is a little bit of advice, the restaurant is set up to where seating is first come first serve. You do not have to wait for a waiter to direct you to a table. You will save yourself a lot of time if you just go find a table yourself. Just be courteous to those who have been waiting in line. Anything you order at Cafe Du Monde is great but make sure you get their famous Beignets!
Getting around New Orleans is rather easy. We walked to see the Mississippi River, French Quarter, and the beautiful St. Louis Cathedral.
Although everything I have ever eaten in New Orleans is wonderful, my favorite restaurant was a tiny hole in-the-wall place called Mother’s Restaurant. Mother’s offers the best kind of New Orleans creole home style cooking. Mother’s is very small so my advice is to go on off hours. Andrew and I went at 2pm and had no problem getting a table. I have been told the line sometimes wraps around the building! We ordered the Famous Ferdi Special (original) which came with Mother’s best baked ham, roast beef, debris, and gravy. I can honestly say it is the best Po Boy I have ever had. We also ordered Jerry’s Jambalaya and an order of red beans and rice.
Our trip to New Orleans was a spontaneous, last minute adventure. New Orleans is very affordable and has something for everyone. Although Mardi Gras in New Orleans should be experienced by everyone, I prefer going during their off season when things are not as hectic. But no matter when you go, you will not be disappointed.
