The Best Things To Do in New Orleans

Je T’aime New Orleans (French: I love New Orleans) 

Three years ago (it seems much longer), I took a trip to Essence Music Festival in New Orleans.

I had no idea it would become my favorite city!

It’s difficult not to love New Orleans.

The city’s unique essence cannot be duplicated.

It captivates you and makes leaving hard!

Now that you’ve been warned, I would like to share the best parts of The Big Easy with you!

I’ve had some crazy experiences with food reviews.

I guess that I’m adding myself to the long list of “New Orleans food critics”.

New Orleans: Don’t Believe the Hype

For the past few years, I have learned that overly hyped restaurants are rarely worth it.

I’ve heard restaurants described in terms of their tenure or the good works of the owner.

That still doesn’t equate to delicious food.

I’m in several traveling groups for Essence Festival.

My first year was a trial run of sorts where I read every blog on getting familiar with the festival and New Orleans.

I thought the groups could point me in the right direction for food.  I’ve been disappointed by most of their recommendations.

My blog about the festival does warn of long lines. But never again will I wait 3 hours in line for ANY restaurant.

Best Shrimp and Grits: The Ruby Slipper

One recommendation that got it right was for The Ruby Slipper.

The crowd extending to the outside of the restaurant discouraged me from trying it the first go-round.

By year two, I was determined to get a seat. I woke up extra early and thankfully the wait wasn’t too long.

TIP: They have a bar (easy seating for a solo traveler).

There is an option to make a YELP app reservation.

If you don’t mind the heat, you can people-watch through outside seating.

The menu described the shrimp and grits as having a BBQ sauce. At first, this was off-putting.

There are times when sight has helped me distinguish a great dish.

This occasion needed the direct objectivity of my taste buds!

The savory goodness comes with a soft and fluffy biscuit that you can lather in honey butter. I usually save it for last.

Au Bon Pain (French: Good Bread)

It wasn’t until the third year that I ordered the “Banana Foster Pain Perdu”.

This concoction is French toast (using French bread) covered with rum-flambeed banana slices and raisins. The final touch was a caramel sauce glaze.

I added bacon to my order.

The serving is quite filling and can be shared.

I follow The Ruby Slipper’s Facebook page and they gave me another reason to love them!

Recently, a Hard Rock Hotel opening next door (Canal St.) collapsed and forced the location to close.

They provided food to all of the first responders.

This same generosity is how the restaurant started after Hurricane Katrina.

Best Charbroiled Oysters: Dragos Seafood Restaurant

Dragos is number two on the best recommendations list from the travel groups. I like to give credit where it’s due.

The only location I’ve visited is attached to the Hilton New Orleans Riverside in the Central Business District.

It’s near Harrah’s and the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.

There are multiple locations across the state.

Dragos is where I had my first “oysters encounter”.

The Greek styled seasoning is so good you’ll want to use your French bread to sop up every bit.

I have yet to sit at a table in Dragos.

My visits coincide with Essence Festival so they’re always super busy.

You have to be quick and observant in your strategy to gain a bar seat/stool. But that’s the fastest way to get a plate of oysters in front of you.

A busy New Orleans restaurant doesn’t necessarily mean good food, but Dragos is one of the exceptions.

Best Beignets: Cafe du Monde 

Even before my first bite, I knew I would love beignets.

I’m a huge fan of elephant ears (though I prefer those with cinnamon sugar) and doughnuts. Beignets are basically the same thing.

Morning Star was my first taste. But Cafe du Monde stuck with me.

There’s cafe au lait (coffee with cream) and other soft drinks to wash down the pastries.

Every food item on this list is “a must-visit” when I’m in New Orleans.

Cafe du Monde’s main location is at the French Market. Riverwalk (mall next to Convention Center) also has a stand.

Best Restaurant: Mr. Ed’s Seafood and Oyster House

Mr. Ed’s was referred to me by a local hotel clerk. I was staying in the Warehouse District and was unsure of what to eat.

It’s a small and intimate spot. The tables are draped in white and the staff wore matching colors.

The waiters were very polite and went out of their way to make me comfortable.

That time, I ordered the red beans and rice with sausage. I added fried chicken wings to complete my meal.

The first thought that came to mind when I dug in was, “This is how Popeye’s Chicken/food is meant to taste”. (Spicy with just the right amount of Cajun and creole seasonings).

I rarely hear this restaurant being mentioned in my Essence travel groups. So that lets you know “to not believe the hype”.

They have another location in the French Quarter. I went there when my hotel was on that side of town.

I love their consistency in providing great food and service. You must try their seafood nachos and bread pudding.

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Best Funky/Artsy Hotel: Old No 77 Hotel and Chandlery

All I needed was a can of paint! The room’s brick wall was a blank canvas beckoning the artist in me.

As soon as you walk into the lobby, the aroma of scented candles gives a fragrant welcome.

The walls on the first floor double as a hallway museum.

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There is a restaurant on site but I didn’t get a chance to eat there.

The room was clean and the beds comfortable.

The staff was nice and helpful.

As a bonus, you can earn free items in the minibar by declining to have your room cleaned each day.

I would go back for the vibe alone!

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Best Outside the Box Excursion: Swamp Tour with Grayline Tours

I’m not much of an “outdoorsy” person.

Though I was always fascinated by the Louisiana bayous, I preferred being a bystander.

I went way out of my comfort zone and gave a swamp tour a try. It ended up being a very pleasant experience.

Our guide was a burly Cajun complete with the accent. He even had a radio playing Cajun music softly in the background.

On the grounds, you had two tour options. A full-sized or noisy airboat (they provided head-phones).

Out of my League

I felt safer going with the larger boat.

I’ve heard people talk about the swamp’s smell or mosquitoes but that wasn’t my experience.

It was a hot New Orleans summer day. The steamy temperatures were the sole irritant.

I was wearing shades and had to constantly wipe the sweat they added to my face.

Once we took off, a nice breeze provided relief.

We ventured deep into alligator territory and watched the guide call them by repeatedly hitting the calm waters with a stick.

Gator Territory

He told us about their keen sense of hearing. We could see one following curiously behind us.

The swamp was quiet. I found beauty in the murky waters and the moss hanging like long Mardi Gras beads.

The guide put marshmallows on the end of the stick and we watched the gators jump like trained animals for a bite. He promised that the treats wouldn’t cause any harm to the reptiles.

At the end of the tour, he had a baby alligator that we could hold and take a picture with.

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Best Plantation Museum: Whitney

I hadn’t heard about the Whitney Plantation Museum until after my second Essence Festival.

It was the only plantation/museum that told the story of slavery from the perspective of child slaves.

The elderly recanting their traumatic experiences were children at the time.

The grounds have large monuments filled with slaves’ names and also of stories from that time.

I wished I had time to read every single one. Some brought sadness, others caused me to smile.

I recognized my French last name and dozens of others widely popular in my family and Haiti.

New Orleans plays such a huge role in my background. My trip was likened to coming home!

TIP: Whitney Plantation was booked through Grayline Tours.

Out of the Mouth of Babes

We were given tags to go around our necks. Each one had a summary and name of the child slave.

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A picture of the child statue graced one side.

The first stop on the tour is inside the church.

I didn’t know what to expect and I could feel the tense anticipation in those around me.

The church is filled with life-like statues of brown children. I began to search for the one that matched my tag.

The Least of These…

The vulnerability of these innocent souls is what did me in. They seemed so life-like.

It was at this moment that you were forced to come face to face with the inhumanity of slavery.

It wasn’t just a (his) story.

These were humans being treated as less than. People that looked just like me, shared my name and some even a bloodline.

The saddest part is that the adults in slavery could not protect their young. They were very much a part of the suffering and injustice.

Tears flowed freely and I struggled to contain my deep anguish.

I recommend the Whitney Plantation Museum to all ages and backgrounds.

It would be great to see more Black people attend! I seem to be the sole Black person on many of these plantation tours.

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Best Plantation: Laura

Laura Plantation gives a tour of the “big house” or mansion where the slaveholders lived.

I liked having this personal view of what slaves in the house experienced.

The tour continued outside to the endless acres.

The grounds were absolutely lovely but their beauty is forever marred by the bloodstained land.

We could barely stand the heat.

It was almost impossible to comprehend slaves having to work on grounds of that magnitude in such harsh conditions. They did this for hours on end (with their children in tow).

Cotton isn’t currently farmed but other remnants of the slave’s presence remained.

Laura’s plantain and lime trees reminded me of my Creole ancestor’s influence on New Orleans. The French influence was visible in the big house’s decor.

The great Bob Marley said it best: “In this great future, you can’t forget your past”.

In some ways, slavery is everyone’s past! Its repercussions and effects are alive and well!

In tangibly acknowledging its horrors, may healing commence!

TIP: Plantation tours are outside of New Orleans. Rideshare services are not available. You can either drive or book a tour.

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Best Festival: Essence Music Festival

Sorry, Mardi Gras! I’m biased, but I call Essence as the best festival.

Essence Fest is a 3-day music concert that takes place over the 4^th of July weekend.  

It’s a time when (mostly) Black people meet to celebrate culture, music, and excellence.

The festival is preceded by a day of service where you can volunteer in the local community.

One year they had a second line (parade) to mark the festivities.

The Party With a Purpose

The day conferences are held at the Ernest M. Morial Convention Center.

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The Mercedes Benz Dome hosts the nightly concerts.

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Oprah and Michelle Obama have been past guests of honor.

Some event-goers skip these locales altogether and attend parties all over town.

New Orleans becomes even more alive during Essence Fest.

Photography takes place throughout the event and my picture made it to Essence magazine. I had no idea until I flipped through my mailed copy.

TIP: One nightly concert ticket purchase equals a yearly subscription to the magazine.

Be There or Be Square!

If you’re a sports fan, Master P (rapper/mogul from New Orleans) holds an annual celebrity basketball game.

The only thing that’s hard to come by in New Orleans is an unfried dish. Mostly everything is fried and the sodium content can be quite high.

I eat in moderation and drink lots of water. The food is too delicious to pass up!

If you haven’t been to New Orleans, what are you waiting on?

If you have, hopefully, this list gives you something new to try.

New Orleans’ authenticity can never be duplicated! Since you can’t find it anywhere else, you have to go to the source!

I’ve traveled far and near! There are a lot of places I like, but I love New Orleans best!  

~Poof…Bee Gone

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