From the modern neon signs of legendary Bourbon Street to the magnolia-shaded stately mansions of the Garden District, New Orleans is all about melding eclectic tastes. But nowhere is that fusion more pronounced than in the region’s history-rich cuisine. From beignets to bouillabaisse, we present a diner’s guide to the Big Easy.
For the perfect start to a day of indulgent eating, visit Café Du Monde. Dating back to 1862, the bustling open-air French market stand in the city’s famed French Quarter boasts a bevy of bow tie-clad waitresses in paper hats serving up local favourites like Chicory Coffee with Milk (US $2) and, of course, their world-famous Beignets (US $2), squares of dough fried to perfection and smothered with powdered sugar.
Looking for a modern spin on Cajun cuisine? Check out the ultra-hip Cochon. We love the Louisiana Cochon with Turnip, Cabbage and Cracklins ($22) and the Fried Alligator with Chili Garlic Aioli ($10) – and topped it all off with a decadent Root Beer Parfait ($6) featuring malt and chocolate ice cream.
For classic fine-dining, try Ralph’s on the Park, which offers up plump and succulent Frogs’ Legs ($10) inventively coated in crushed salt- and-vinegar chips, fried and then finished off with a sherry vinegar and butter sauce. If amphibians make you squeamish, opt for the beautifully cooked Crispy Flounder in a Tabasco and Honey Glaze($28), or the immensely satisfying Hangar Steak with Korean BBQ Sauce, Frites and Pickled Cucumber($22). And don’t forget to save room for dessert! The nearly-too-good-to-be-true Study in American Chocolate ($9) features a homemade peanut butter cup, Snickers-like bar and rocky road pudding.
Not ready to end your culinary journey? Take a touch of Creole cuisine home with you by stopping at the New Orleans Cooking Experience, a cooking school that teaches the basics of authentic Louisiana cooking. Try a lunch menu with chef Chiqui Collier, who serves up BBQ Shrimp and Classic Chicken and Sausage Gumbo. Or hold out for a dinner with local food guru (and our personal favourite) Poppy Tooker, who will charm you with tidbits of New Orleans food history while whipping up impeccable Oysters Rockefeller, Jambalaya and Bananas Foster. (US $150 for a half-day class.)