Sunday, June 8, 2014

Creole Cooking in the Crescent City

This last week, my husband and I joined Jess and her boyfriend in one of our very favorite cities...New Orleans!


Jess will be spending another couple of leisurely days in the Big Easy, but when she gets back she'll be posting about all our travel adventures. In the meantime, I thought I'd share with you some of the more adventurous foods we sampled during our stay in this exciting and vibrant city.


My husband and I are always ready to try the local favorites when we travel. This plate of raw oysters, peel-and-eat shrimp, and boiled crawfish came highly recommended, and for good reason! Our waiter taught us how to pull out the tail meat and suck the spicy juices from the crawfish shell. We washed everything down with the house special--a Cajun bloody mary, garnished with pickled green beans!


We indulged in all the exquisite Creole dishes that have made New Orleans famous for its culinary traditions: jambalaya, red beans and rice, gumbo, shrimp etouffee, and muffalettas. 


But it was a lot of fun to try the more exotic foods too--like these fried alligator bites!


Of course, we couldn't pass up the sweeter treats...bananas foster, pecan pie, bread pudding, and these delightfully crispy, chewy, powdered sugary beignets from Cafe du Monde.


From the sweet, to the savory, to the spicy, the Crescent City is simply bursting with flavor! I'll be breaking out the gumbo pot tonight for dinner--how about you?

~Nel~

38 comments:

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

WOW! Brave to try alligator! Happy Sunday, Nel! Anita

Red Rose Alley said...

Nel, I always wanted to try those powdered sugar beignets. I was first introduced to them by my cousin, Sheila, when she visited New Orleans. She said they were scrumptious.

Ania said...

LOOKS deli!
Let me know if you want to follow each other on gfc, bloglovin or facebook.
X, Ania from www.overdivity-fashion.blogspot.de

Barbara said...

I love NOLA! And the food there is fabulous. What a fun post and it makes me want to go back again as soon as I can. Is anything better than coffee and a beignet?

Cranberry Morning said...

I have always wanted to visit New Orleans, but I'll have to admit, the food looks a little scary to a Scandinavian American. lol

Thank you for commenting on my little Lucy post. :-)

Cranberry Morning said...

Oh. I do have to say that I have eaten alligator and it is delicious. It's the other items that look a little scary to me. :-)

Susie said...

Nel, I guess the most exotic food I have had would be rattle snake , yes it taste like chicken...a rubber chicken....It was in Phoenix, Az. I like peel and eat shrimp. can't do oysters...not sure if I could eat crawdads. But if I were in New Orleans , I might try. Blessings, xoxo,Susie

miss b said...

I've heard such good things about real creole food and I'd certainly like to try it. You were adventurous
choosing the alligator bites too! The sweet treats sound so appealing especially the sugary beignets.

Castles Crowns and Cottages said...

Hello there dear friend! I just came in from a great gardening session and everything is looking GREEN! I see you came by! Oh how fun that you went to that festival.....what kind of cupcakes did you get? I so wish we lived close to each other so we could go out! And yes, what bravery it takes to try such foods as alligator bites and CUISSES DE GRENOUILLE! (frog's legs!!!!)

Well my friend, my horse did not win: California Chrome. But how fun to follow these gorgeous creatures. Horses are my favorite animal.

OK, off to rest and probably fall asleep!

LOVE! ANita

Tulla and Catie said...

These things look all so delicious and I can imagine that the time in New Orleans was very exciting! I have never been there but this town is also on my list for places still to visit! My daughter spent some time in Tennessee and told me of Jambalaya which she cooked for us when being back home - it was so delicious!
I am looking forward to Jess's photos of N.O.,
Barbara

Merlesworld said...

I t was my favourite city in America too so much colour and life and lovely warm weather, we were their in October a bit cool everywhere else.
Merle............

Mary@mydogsmygardenandmary said...

I loved New Orleans. Have been there two times and loved each visit. The first time I was there
I ran into the Chef, Richard who I worked with at the Buena Park Hotel as we were having dinner at the Court of the Two Sisters Restaurant. Needless to say the evening was wonderful with all the great food, wine, and cocktails compliments of the Chef.
I'm so glad that you had a wonderful dining experiences.
Mary

Leslie said...

Hi Nel! I am not sure I'm receiving you post updates.. I'll check my blog roll. Such a fun post! My Dad was born and raised here and I still have family there. My cousins ..Paula, Pammy, Patty, and Penny ;) are all married (Saint Loui Cathedral) with kids. The food.. don't EVEN get me started! I've had everything here and I'm SO glad you finished with those beignets form Cafe Du Monde ~ they are the bomb! xxleslie

Sola Scriptura said...

The food pictured looks so colorful and festive! I'm not so brave in trying new things, although my husband would love to eat what you have pictured. Have a great week!

Aida said...

Everything looks scrumptious! And did you say alligator bites? They didn't happen to be made of alligator meat. do they?
Well, I guess we have our own version of crocodile burger :)
Enjoy your week


Unknown said...

l'alligatore non รจ tra i miei piatti preferiti ^_^ ( non l'ho mai mangiato, ma solo l'idea mi fa paura ahahahah )

le foto sono sempre meravigliose
buona settimana

Riitta Sinikka said...

♥ Happy day, my dear friend! Hugs! xxx Riitta

Optimistic Existentialist said...

You had me at crispy, chewy, powdered sugary beignets :) damn that sounds awesome!! LOL.

Nely said...

I believe that you have spent a great day..wonderful post!
Hugs
Nely

Teresa said...

I hope the box with a beignet for Auntie Terese is on the mail ;).
And this post is really touching a chord as now I can put a picture into some letters ahahah I explain - I'm reading a novel - I've been postponing it for centuries because it starts too gory for my taste and being an emotional coward I could never surpass that phase and move into the rest - and the novel happens... righ!... New Orleans!
And now I'm heading to google to see what Gumbo is. When Mathew brought it up in the Oscar's Acceptance speech I was too mad to go and look but since you mention it ;)
Thank you for sharing and remind Jess to bring all the other pics (no Summer Vacations before I get to see it all)
Love,
Teresa

Unknown said...

Everything looks delicious in this post!! You have an interesting blog, would you like to follow each other?
a beautiful maison
fb/abeautifulmaison

Subham Rai said...

Those doughnuts look so tasty.Loved your blog so much
& thank you for sharing this amazing post. Would
you like to follow each other via GFC, Google+
& Bloglovin? Lemme know!
Keep in touch!

X
http://subhamrai.blogspot.in/

Cinzia said...

Wowwww!!! I would like very much to visit New Orleans!!! So many other part of USA!!!
Cinzia

Attic Clutter said...

oh fun Sheri
I want to go there someday.
wow 104 ugh..breezy and about 70 here today..been around 84 most of lastweek..
but we have had the over hundred days every summer too (:)
hugs,patty

Susan said...

OMG, Nel. Yum city! Whoaaaaaaa. Delish. Susan

sweetvintageofmine said...

I know I am not brave enough to indulge myself for this type of food but it must be good...too many people love it! Beautiful buildings and flowers~~~Roxie

Draffin Bears said...

Hi Nel,

The old building with the ferns and flowers is lovely.
Also the food looks delicious.

happy week
Carolyn

Patricia said...

Wonderful! It's been 15 years, but I still remember the beignets from Cafe Marie, and the gumbo, and the peach drink (forget its name)... Great Post!

Unknown said...

It looks so good!

http://ladyparisienne.blogspot.fr/

Antee Gurung said...

wow kudos to u!! i couldn't have done it.
the food looks delicious!!! and so doe stye flowers!!!

btw do check out my new post
stay in touch
xoxo

Unknown said...

Thank you so much for your nice comment!! We are two sisters too originally from Lebanon and we would love if we follow each other, following you now
a beautiful maison
fb/abeautifulmaison

Laura said...

New Orleans looks like an interesting city, never been there myself, but would love to check it out. And the food you tried looks super yummy! Hope you had a wonderful trip! You have a great blog, feel free to check out mine if you like ;-) xo
http://www.hollylovespaul.com/

Imogen said...

How exciting. I love to hear about different cities and your adventures. I often wondered about New Orlens specifically since I have heard so much about it. Looking forward to hopefully seeing Jess’s trip.

hi-d said...

Looks like some good eating. Not sure about the alligator though. haha...

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Anonymous said...

YUMMO! One of the BEST travel spots for food...and the music, history, and culture. I was last there with my husband in 1986. Thank you for inspiring such wonderful memories.
xoxo's

Ivy and Elephants said...

I LOVE creole cooking, it was a staple in our home. You have sampled the best of the best, so glad you enjoyed your Cajun experience!
Hugs,
Patti

Chronicles of Dolliedaydream said...

Wow what an amazing place to visit. Coming from the UK pictures of New Orleans always transports me to film sets. Also love the music! Not sure I would be brave enough to try alligator bites though x