New Orleans The Big Easy

byASuryana

576 followers

4 years ago

Do You Know What it Means to Miss New Orleans? This is a song title sung by the legendary Jazz musician Louis Armstrong https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YS5MNK0_X_Q I attached the link just in case you want to enjoy the sounds of New Orleans 😊

I was born and raised in French south Louisiana not too far from my beloved New Orleans. It is one of America’s most unique cities! I spent most of my life visiting NOLA and I have never failed to feel like a tourist on vacation while there as I still do to this day. It is a fun city with all kinds of nicknames such as ‘The Big Easy’, ‘The Crescent City’ and ‘The City that Care Forgot’ just to name a few. New Orleans is an international city with visitors coming from around the globe to enjoy the famous culinary scene, the voodoo history intrigue, the historic and fun French Quarter, the many popular outdoor festivals such as the Jazz Fest, the French Quarter Fest and let’s not forget the most famous of them all, Mardi Gras!

This unique and interesting city boasts several well-preserved hotels steeped in history such as The Monteleone with its famous Carousel Bar, built in 1886, is the oldest hotel in the French Quarter and is to this day still owned by the same family 134 years later! Another favorite is the Place d’ Armes Hotel, a registered historic landmark which embodies 18th and 19th century old world charm. Some of the best things to do in the French Quarter are mere steps away from this perfectly located hotel. New Orleans also is home to many beautiful and charming Boutique hotels throughout the city.

Most everyone knows New Orleans is famous for its vibrant culinary scene! While there are many delicious places to eat, it is worth mentioning a few of the historically significant restaurants in the city:

Commander’s Palace has been a New Orleans landmark for 127 years, since 1893, and is a world-renowned culinary legend situated in the Garden District of Uptown. It is the winner of seven James Beard Foundation Awards and has had some world-famous chefs once work there such as Emeril Lagasse, Paul Prudhomme and Jamie Shannon.

Galatoire’s Restaurant has been going strong for 115 years, since 1905, and is located on world famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter. It was founded by Jean Galatoire from Pardies, France and is in its 5th family generation of this internationally renowned restaurant.

Brennan’s Restaurant has been in business for 74 years, since 1946, serving authentic Creole food with impeccable service and ambiance. It is owned by the famous New Orleans restaurant owning Brennan family and it is located on Royal Street in the French Quarter. It is also famous for its 'Breakfast at Brennans' signature dishes Eggs Benedict and Bananas Foster dessert.

And finally the most famous of them all, Antoine’s Restaurant, circa 1840, is New Orleans oldest restaurant and has been owned for 180 years by the Alciatore family through the Civil War, two World Wars, Prohibition, the Great Depression and most recently Hurricane Katrina. Let that sink in for a minute. Man, if these walls could talk, the stories they could tell! Lining the walls are photos of the rich and famous who have dined there: musicians, politicians, presidents, military personnel, sports figures, royalty, the Pope, etc.

Some of my favorite dishes are seafood gumbo, fried seafood, boiled crabs, pastalaya (a version of jambalaya only made with pasta instead), blackened steak and seafood, crawfish etouffee, beignets (a French doughnut doused in powered sugar) and well…. I could really go on and on! As you might have noticed, we eat lots of seafood in Louisiana, but we also enjoy many other foods as well. The people of south Louisiana love to hunt and fish and cooking and eating with friends and family are a way of life there and a part of the culture I often miss. It is what we call, “Laissez les bons temps rouler” or “Let the good times roll!”

New Orleans is open 24/7 and practically 365 days a year. It is a city that holds a lot of business conventions and its enormous convention center is consistently ranked as a top meeting venue. The convention center that hugs the mighty Mississippi River in downtown is impressive as it runs a cool 3,372 feet long! I can attest to its length as I have walked it many a times, lol! Maybe after the indulgent eating and drinking that happens there, all that walking is not a bad idea 😊

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the most famous bar in the city and which happens to be one of my personal favorites, and that is Pat O’Brien’s on St. Louis Street in the French Quarter. Pat O’Brien originally ran a Speakeasy in the French Quarter through the end of Prohibition. At that point he officially opened the bar in 1933, eighty-seven years ago! The bar is famous today for its signature drink, the Hurricane, its dueling piano bar and the often-photographed gas flame and water fountain located in the courtyard. For me, no visit to New Orleans is complete without a stop by Pat O’s!

And finally, who can forget the beautiful, historic mansions in the Garden District in uptown? Yes, I love the city and I always miss being there especially since I had to move away for work purposes 12 years ago. Now when I get the opportunity to go home, it is all-the-more magical to me!