Home again, home again!
It’s been five days since we’ve completed the trip loop – Minneapolis to New Orleans to Minneapolis again – and I have to say, even though people warned us (“New Orleans in the summer?!”), NOLA was an amazingly rich experience. Even in the summer.
We originally booked the trip because we were invited to speak about none other than the nerdy-awesome 🔥email marketing🔥 (I know – ooooh, ahhh) at an event called the Sustainable Seafood Blog Conference, which ended up being a completely awesome experience that taught us TONS TONS TONS about how to be responsible seafood consumers – something I’ve really wanted to be intentional about, but haven’t always known how to do. Plus it gave us the chance to connect with people doing really incredible things in the online + food world. I had no idea what to expect with this conference since it was so new, and it totally rocked. Look for the conference around this time again next year – location: Boston!
As we often do when we travel for conferences, we decided to book ourselves a few extra days to explore the famed city of New Orleans. So while we did go initially for the conference, we also took a few days to just mosey around the French Quarter and hop on and off of tour buses. Read: eat beignets.
Hot? Yes, very hot. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. We’re talking Philippines-type hot (the only type of hot I really know, if we’re being honest), where it’s super humid and sticky and you pull your sunglasses out of the bag and put them on your face only to find that you can’t see a thing because: FOGGED. People warned us about the heat (again – New Orleans in the summer?!) but both of us sort of enjoyed the steamy-ness for a few days. It’s a novelty to us Midwesterners.
Obviously, ob-vi-ous-ly, we ate and we ate and we ate: beignets and oysters and fried green tomatoes, catfish and gumbo and barbecue shrimp, plus a few new-to-me things like lobster ceviche, shrimp remoulade, rabbit and sausage jambalaya, and crawfish étouffée (OH HAI FANCY). I documented all the food on Snapchat as I will now do for all my future trips because it was just way too fun to share and hear back from many of you on what you thought we should eat. It’s like I packed a few hundred of you into a suitcase and brought you along for a mass-eat-along. Only better, because you could stay in your pajamas. 💃 Luckeeeeee.
That being said, today’s post isn’t a list of restaurants or recommendations because we really only had four meals on our own, in the city, outside of the conference. Today’s post is just a collection of pictures from this really wacky, historic, beautiful, wild city. I split it into three parts.
Part one: the conference – complete with a photography session by none other than Molly Yeh and Graham Blackall. Front row, edge of seat. 👓👓👓👓👓👓👓
Part two: the city – the eatings, drinkings, and sightings experienced through not one, not two, but THREE city tours. 🙈 Old souls? Is that what they call it?
Part three: Cubs the Poet – a street performer with a really creative and unique set up who type-writer-ed a few really poems for us right in the middle of Royal Street. Which was just really cool and inspired a ten minute photo frenzy on my part, so even though it’s a little random and might not mean much to anyone else, I included a few of those photos at the end.
WELCOME TO PICTURE LAND.
**I don’t want to break the flow of pictures here, but I DO need you to know that Brad and Angelina own this secretive and charming old-world mansion in the French Quarter. Which is why I’m standing outside it looking like fan-girl fool. OBSESSED.**
Got any insider tips or tidbits about visiting New Orleans? plz share!
Because I never got to try a real shrimp po’boy and I feel like that might (DEFINITELY WILL) require a trip back.
Gah! Y’all were in my city and I didn’t know! NOLA is one of the best places in the world for eating (FACT!). Best fried shrimp po-boy: Parkway Tavern and Bakery
PS Loved your pics! Great seeing the city through others eyes.
🙂
I am marking that down for a future trip! Thanks Nicole!
Yes, you HAVE to get a shrimp po’ boy (or oyster po’ boy if you like that kind of thing) from Johnny’s (on St Louis). The other thing you HAVE to do is get a muffaletta from Central Grocery on Decatur. Order 1/2 and split it (that’s 1/2 the round loaf of bread). You’ll wait in line for it deli style, then sit in the park to eat it. It is the unfanciest, best meal you will have in New Orleans but that sandwich is hands down my favorite sandwich in the entire world (and that is saying something!!). Can you tell I’m dying to go back to visit? Love that city.
I have heard of the central grocery muffuletta! Love that idea!
New Orleans just got bumped up on my list of cities to visit!
Gorgeous, gorgeous photos of the conference, the city and “cubs”!
Cubs was amazing! 😀
Oh how I love your vacation pics! They are so cheerful and just all-around great photography. Plus there’s always food which makes them even more awesome. I’m one of those people that likes to look around at other people’s food when we eat out and see how tasty their dishes look! Those beignets..oh my goodness. Thanks so much for sharing 🙂
Thanks Dorcas! The beignets were YUMMMMMS
Liuzza’s by the Track for the Shrimp Po’Boy and yes – a Muffaletta from Central Grocery. Try to catch Preservation Hall Jazz Band, Trombone Shorty and Orleans Avenue, Rebirth Brass Band or Dirty Dozen Brass Band if they’re in town. Really, you can’t go wrong – just duck into any bar with live music and have yo’self a time. Take a Cemetery tour (take an organized tour or hire a guide, the cemeteries can be dangerous for tourists). Watch the HBO series, Treme’, before you go again – very interesting/enlightening/music & foodie culture.
Now I’m jonesing for a NOLA fix!
Yes – I heard Preservation Hall is pretty awesome! Thanks Nancie!
I have been dyinggggg to go to NOLA. These pictures are so beautiful, Lindsey! Are the beignets as amazing as they say? I’ve only ever had them here in Los Angeles but I always hear they are so much better down there! For a while, I was getting Amazon shipments of the Cafe du Monde chicory coffeee – SO good!
I had no idea you were on SnapChat – following you now!
Yes! Fantastic! Catch ya on Snap Chat 😉
I love New Orleans! I have also been there in the summer months and admit to not being able to tolerate the excessive heat and humidity for too long. It’s like living in a swamp…but the splendor and wonder of this city totally supersedes any discomfort I might be feeling (not to mention the way my hair curls!). I hope you guys have a splendid time. Go to Nola’s.
Nola’s! Yes! It was recommended by a few people when we were there.
Nice photos…you can see the HEAT!
Did ya know the Bradjelina’s home is on the market?
https://www.realtor.com/realestateandhomes-detail/521-Governor-Nicholls-St_New-Orleans_LA_70116_M84093-99662?source=web
YES! so weird – I definitely stalked the online listing for pictures of the inside 🙂
I think I love your photography because you’re SO good at capturing the natural feel and warmth of the moment! I can only imagine how hot it was for you both down there, but I’m glad it didn’t stop you from exploring the city and sharing it with us! The poem is perfect! What a guy! I wish I could write that well on the spot, (especially on a type writer nonetheless).
Also – rabbit and sausage jumbalaya?? WOW. I sure hope you throw a recipe our way of your version! 😉
Thanks so much for this post! 🙂
Thanks for the sweet comment Ariel! 🙂 So fun to hear that.
LOVED your pictures! The food, of course!! But your shots of doors & shuttered windows…my own favorites to photograph. Beautiful! It’s a great city! Have to get back myself real soon! You’ll have to, also. So much more to see, do and EAT!!
Thank you Janice! We can’t wait to go back!
So glad you enjoyed your recent visit to our fair (though Africa-hot) city!!! I concur with the previously mentioned suggestions and would add . . .
– Chargrilled oysters at Drago’s in the Riverside Hilton
– Fresh raw oysters at Casamento’s on Magazine, near Napoleon, but only September through May, when they close for the summer. Otherwise, get them at Felix’s in the Quarter (it’s where the locals go, Acme across the street is mainly a tourist joint).
– For po-boys (other than the aforementioned places), I also recommend Killer Po-Boys in the rear of the Erin Rose bar in the Quarter. Also, Domelise’s Uptown is a legendary po-boy place and Anderson Cooper’s fave (I’ve even seen him there to prove it).
– For fancier meals, so SO many places to suggest; the best off the top of my head are: August (John Besh’s flagship), Cochon (Donald Link), Bayona (Susan Spicer), Herbsaint (Donald Link & Susan Spicer), Commander’s Palace (one of the many excellent Brennan family restaurants and a legendary one), Arnaud’s (one of the signature classic old-line Creole restaurants).
– For bars, again so SO many excellent ones to suggest: the Carousel Bar in the Hotel Monteleone (it rotates!); ask for Marvin, their senior bartender and one of the finest mixologists in the city. Another one of the top mixologists, Chris Hannah, tends bar at the French 75 – the bar at Arnaud’s (I recommend getting their namesake cocktail – it’s yummy). Also, the Chart Room (fun locals dive); Buffa’s (another locals joint – my brother used to be a bartender there); the Erin Rose – great Irish bar; Molly’s at the Market – another great Irish bar that NEVER closes, not even during Katrina.
– For live music: anywhere on Frenchmen Street; Tipitina’s Uptown on Napoleon; the Maple Leaf Bar on Oak Uptown; the Howlin’ Wolf in the CBD, and my favorite (it’s where we had our wedding reception after getting married on a Canal St. streetcar) Chickie Wah Wah on Canal in Mid-City.
There’s so much more I could mention, but space doesn’t permit here. Please come back anytime (but I highly recommend either the holidays or in the Spring during Jazz Fest)!
P.S.- Please tell us where and what you ate, as a New Orleanian we love to hear about that. Food is our “national sport” here! 😉
AH! This comment is pure gold.
We ate at Cafe Dumond, Coop’s Place, Peche, and District. All great!!
I moved to New Orleans last month from Pittsburgh and do love it. The donuts picture looks like from District Donuts which is pretty close to my place. Thanks for the post, it gave me a brief introduction on New Orleans.
Wow! LOVE the pictures and CUBS is phenomenal ! Been enjoying your blog and recipes. Thanks so much.
Thank you Charlie! 🙂 Glad you are enjoying it!
That poem is blowing me away… for real! So talented, cubsthepoet! I will be thinking about that all day.
Thanks Michelle! He was a gem among street performers 🙂
Next time you go, make sure to go to Angelo Brocato for ice cream (or cannolis, or both!) and try Morning Call Coffee Stand in Metairie for beignets (similar to Cafe du Monde but way less touristy). Also, take a drive across the lake to Covington and walk around the downtown area, which has lots of cute little shops, and get a roast beef po’boy at Bear’s!
Oh my gosh. It all sounds SO GOOD.
Just wanted to say, as always, such a fun post and such beautiful pictures! 🙂 NOLA looks like a ton of fun! Did you meet Brangelina? 😉
I only found you lovely folks here at Pinch of Yum earlier this year, but every single post you share feels so much like a best friend excitedly sharing their new favorite recipes or vacation pictures (or news of adopting the cutest dog ever! Hi Sage!) that I was hooked immediately. 😛
Thank you for all you do, and just being you. Your passion for what you do and your love for others is always apparent. 🙂 And I hope you have a Happy Fourth of July weekend!
What a sweet comment! Thank you Dena! That is so fun for me to hear. 🙂
I love all the pictures! I really love that poet at the end….so incredible! Glad you guys had a good time 🙂
PS. Send some of that heat my way…this morning in Chicago it was in the 50s.
Thank you Erin! 🙂 50 degrees?! Come on Chi town!
I just want to say that I am green with envy… or maybe yellow, but anyhows, looks like you guys are having the life of all lives. Good for you, I know you work hard, even if it looks like playtime on the web. Thanks for all the fabulous foods and tips and stories, you are one of my favorites for sure! Angelika
Aw, thanks Angelika! We are really, really, really grateful that get to travel for work – and usually that we get to travel together. It’s such a unique benefit of what we do! 🙂 Thanks for the comment!
SOOO glad to hear you enjoyed New Orleans! I split my time between home (1 hour south of NOLA) and Baton Rouge for school at LSU. You’ll definitely have to come back- you find something new and exciting every time no matter how much you visit the city!
I believe it! Looking forward to our next visit 🙂 hopefully sometime soon!
This post just made me completely giddy inside. I loved New Orleans and all the food when I went with my hubbie. Beautiful, delicious city. Thank you for sharing the pictures, it brought back some great memories.
Thanks Dawn! 🙂 Appreciate that!
Love your bag!! Who made it…? I enjoy your posts, thank you!
Thanks Lynn! I got it on Etsy about a year ago… it’s been awesome for traveling! The shop was called TwinsClothing but I don’t think they’re doing it anymore because I can’t find the shop and my link doesn’t work anymore 🙁
My boyfriend and I just made a quick trip there over the weekend. Steamy was an understatement! We were so surprised at how many people were walking around in jeans and long shirts.
Annica
http://www.lifemodifier.com
Right?! That’s how it was in the Philippines – we’d be dripping with sweat and people would be wearing long sleeves and pants. 🙂
Looks like such a fun trip! I enjoyed following along on Snapchat too. You guys are hilarious!
All of the food sounds amazing. Those donuts- UGH. I guess you cheated on the no sugar thing while you were there? 😉
And I MUST go meet Cubs the Poet! How cool is he?! You definitely have to frame that.
Thanks Sarah! Yes – we took a few days off from the sugar free commitment! We stayed strong during vacations when we did the sugar free thing the first time, but this time it sort of felt like a major loss to not enjoy the sweets in NOLA – life’s too short! 80/20, right? 🙂
Ugh, so jealous! I’ve been dying to go to New Orleans since forever, and now I’m dying to even more. Always love your travel photos and this time is no exception!
Thank you Alexandra! appreciate that! 🙂
Whenever I find myself in New Orleans, I’m definitely going to have to give Cubs the Poet a visit! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
Do it! He was camped out in the middle of Royal street.
Yay for Snapchat!! Felt like I was on vaca too! 😀 New Orleans seems like such a lively city and allllll that food looked incredible.
Oh…and WHERE did you get your lace sleeveless top?! Work that style giiiirl 🙂
Hahaha- thanks Brittany! It was end of summer clearance last year at Express!