New Orleans is known for its party-hard Bourbon Street which, we have to admit, is worlds of fun. But Kelly Bertrand found another foodie-heaven side of New Orleans that’s worth the trip in and of itself on a recent trip – here are her top five foodie experiences in New Orleans!
New Orleans had been on my bucket list for a long time, with the dream morphing from a party-hard trip I envisioned in my early 20s to a more ‘lets go to nice bars and restaurants and THEN to the tacky bars on Bourbon Street’ vibe of my mid 30s (gotta keep the youth alive, kids!).
It’s one of the most interesting places I’ve ever visited – the history, the culture, the vibe – and I can safely recommend it to anyone because there truly is something for you there.
But as a food and drink *enthusiast*, I was most looking forward to delving into the rich gastronomic culture of New Orleans and dear reader, I was NOT disappointed. Here’s my top five experience of New Orleans that’ll satisfy even the most discerning traveller:
New Orleans School of Cooking
This experience, legitimately, changed our future travel priorities, in that for all trips my fiancé and I will now do, we’ll make sure to include a local cooking class. Yup, it was THAT good. Chef Eric, a local lad, took our group through how to make gumbo, a New Orleans classic, and what an experience it was. My fiancé isn’t the biggest fan of cooking whereas I adore it, but I think he even had more fun than I did as Eric explained the local history and customs of New Orleans kai (also there were drinks, so that helped!) and we got a thoroughly interesting and exciting crash course on all things NOLA – and an epic meal at the end. Do this at the start of your trip and the knowledge will set you up for the rest of your time with ease – knowing the difference between Cajun and Creole, for example, puts you in very good steed!
Sazerac House
Ok if you’re a fan of cocktails (oh, so everyone) then this is the experience for you! New Orleans’ famous French Quarter is steeped in cocktail culture with the OG cocktail, the Sazerac, created here by a French pharmacist in 1832 (did you know that traditionally, a cocktail needs to contain bitters? Neither did we!?). Sazerac House is a Kiwi’s ideal museum – you can, of course, sample the cocktails – and at the same time you learn all about prohibition (gah, can you imagine) and how cocktail culture continues to evolve and inspire. The building itself is bloody jaw-dropping, and you find yourself properly immersed in the stories and, of course, the spirit(s).
International Cocktail Program at LOA Bar
Travel is always an interesting mix of experiences, and oftentimes it’s marked by the big experiences – the bucket list stuff, the super-touristy check box, the ‘thing’ the place is known for. But a truly incredible trip is one that also has the quieter, slower and intimate moments, and our visit to LOA bar, perched on its sumptuous bar leaners and chatting to renowned mixologist Abigail Gullo, was an incredibly special experience we won’t forget. My fiancé, having worked in and owned bars for most of his working life, was in his absolute happy place (I mean so was I, it was bloody cocktails on tap team) as we sat, listened and savoured Abigail’s jaw-dropping creations. There’s something special about hospitality experiences when you feel like you’re being looked after from top to toe, and if you want a true education in understanding New Orleans’ cocktail and beverage scene, here’s where you go! (We also tried our best to convince Abigail to move to New Zealand so if you go, pick up where we left off!).
Dr Gumbo Food History Tour
If you want value for money and to tick off as many famous dishes as you can in one go, then Dr Gumbo’s is the vibe for you. We sampled NINE different dishes – more gumbo (not complaining), muffulettas, pork skins and savoury plantain, as well as four cocktails that New Orleans is known for including the famously and wonderfully tacky Hurricane and a French 75. I did this tour on my birthday and once our lovely guide knew this, he walked me through an amazing New Orleans tradition – when it’s your birthday you pin a dollar bill to the front of your clothes, and then other people do the same throughout the day. Yup, people just… give you money (I made enough to buy a drink at the end of the night, mostly thanks to the wonderfully drunk and camp man we bumped into on the way to Bourbon Street who could not have been more excited for me). This is also a great one to do on the earlier side of your trip because this walking trip also allows you to get your bearings and a bit of history.
Café du Monde
This is one of those ‘you just have to do it’ experiences, where you can experience traditional beignets – soft, fluffy French fried dough, covered in icing sugar – and café au lait, while an incredible jazz band busks on the street and the rest of New Orleans just vibes out in front of you. It’s one of those ‘pinch-me-I’m-in-New-Orleans’ moments but trust me, order one lot of beignets between two because those American portions, baby!
Kelly travelled with the assistance of New Orleans Tourism