Posts Tagged With: New Orelans

We live to tell the tale!  Four days in beautiful New Orleans with kids resulted in blisters, a visit to the police station, a carrot, Will Ferrell, choked chickens, and some mighty incredible eats (again).  Here are some tidbits about the trip.

• As is the case with so many of out trips, perhaps our most memorable meal was the furthest from the tourist areas.  Check out Bevi Seafood if you can
• Bourbon street is a good place to show the kids what happens if you dont do your homework.
• Pastry chefs all over town like Herbsaint’s Rhonda Ruckman (killer B’s – Banana Brown Butter tart below) are showing off some major talent
• Cafe du Monde is still the Beignet to beat according to the official by default  Ziggy Family Test Taste.  Edging Cafe Beignet by a hair covered with powdered sugar
• When both your daughters reach puberty, the “cute vs new vs  comfortable shoes” dilemma that ruins just about every walking tour gets multiplied by 3
• After a Passover style pilgrimage to the grandmother of all Snowball places, I’m still convinced that there’s nothing worth standing on long lines for.
• The key ingredient to a good hotel in NOLA is good plumbing
• Checking out the sculpture garden at City Park is worthwhile
• WWII Museum is a big time national museum that is getting bigger and bigger
• If you simply stick to Donald Link establishments (Peche, Herbsaint, Cochon Butcher, Cochon) chances are you will eat much better than the next guy.  Unless the next guy is the Donald
• Get the hushpuppies, fried bread, crawfish jalapeno capellini, whole grilled fish, pineapple rum cake at Peche (Redfish below) and call me in the morning.  Well, dont call me.  Its just an expression.
• Easter is a good time to visit.  Great weather, nicely dressed folks, and if you flash one of them during the parade you get a carrot.
• Try reserving one day for munching in the quarter panicky first time parent style (eat every few hours).  BBQ Shrimp at Mr B’s, Chargrilled Oysters at Felix’s, Crawfish Etouffee or Crawfish boil at the French market will do for a very special lunch
• If you hear any form of shouting while at any cemetery it means you need to get the hell outta there before they lock you inside.
• Atchafalaya may be my new favorite brunch place
• If the steep sidewalk curbs dont hurt you, stepping on one while suddenly facing 2 girls covered with just paint will

10 reasons why this could very well be my last post…

10.  I’ve always said that if I ever get a heart attack, chances are it will be in foodie heaven New Orleans.

9.  Once Mrs Ziggy finds out the eating schedule I have in store, it may be the end of me.

8.  3 cemeteries as part of the itinerary including Nocholas Cage’s future grave may mean plenty of deep reflecting about what exactly I am doing with my life.

7.  I may choke on Mr B’s BBQ Shrimp, out of excitement

6.  Last time I cheated on Matzos I wound up in the emergency room with severe case of hemorrhoids

5.  I don’t know how I will react to being allowed to drink in public

4.  9 out of 10 mental health professionals see a direct correlation between depressed zoo animals and depressed Americans.  Maybe we should skip the zoo this time

3.  I may get killed (thoughts courtesy of 2 full seasons of Treme)

2.  If I survive #9, I may not survive the 1.5 miles I plan to walk for a shaved ice snack.  The bi@#$ will kill me

1.  Last time I biked with the wife in public I wound up in the emergency room, with severe case of hemorrhoids

Bon Voyage.  It was a pleasure!