New Orleans...a foodie weekend!

I knew we'd eat good in New Orleans but I really didn't have a clue exactly what that meant.  Our NOLA hosts, Patrick & Stacie Ireland are from Utah and have lived in NOLA for 2 years now.  They have acclimated and are true locals!  Their passion for NOLA's food and culture is remarkable. 

It was exciting to experience NOLA through their eyes.  Exhausting but worth it!  Patrick and Stacie loved so many restaurants that all weekend, the had a tough time choosing where to take us and so we went to several of their favorites.   They live in an adorable house in Uptown. 

Friday night, we went to Joey K's and enjoyed traditional New Orleans food: fried catfish, jambalaya and catfish tacos.  Joey K's was featured on Diners, Drive-In and Dives - but it's not a Drive-In or Dive. It was a quaint and comfortable restaurant with lots of choices and great specials.  They serve their beer in giant frosted schooners.  Joey K's is on Magazine Street, which is lined with bars, restaurants and cute shops.  A place definitely worth spending some time. 

We spent Saturday at the NOLA Jazz Fest (separate blog later) and let's just say that the Festival was an experience!  

Afterwards, we went to the Blind Pelican, on St. Charles Street is a favorite haunt of the Ireland's.  It's located right on the Mardi Gras Parade route and when you arrive at Pelican the first thing you see is the traditional Louisana Crawfish Boil cooked right on the patio.  Yum!  We've come for oysters, but the Boil looks amazing! 

Stacie & Patrick couldn't wait to bring us here because the Pelican features 25 cent fresh shucked oysters - yes you read this right --- 25 cents!  For 50 cents , you can order them grilled with butter, garlic and breadcrumbs.  These are the happy hour prices, regular prices are $10 for a dozen.  We end up with a dozen apiece and we are stuffed when we leave.  Pretty good, $10.50 for 2 dozen oysters.  In Salt Lake, this would run you at least $70!

You'd think for a quarter we'd get little  oysters - not so!  The oysters are huge, fresh and delicious.    The grilled oysters are decadent;  you can never go wrong with garlic and lots of butter.    

After our feast we head over to the Bulldog, a great beer bar that features at least 50 beers on tap and 100 bottled beers. It's hard to decide what to choose so we enjoy several.  After-all we deserve it,  the Jazz Fest is hard work!  We ended up loving Shiner Bock Redbird, a beer infused with ginger and Texas Ruby Red grapefruit.  

Seriously, this is one of the most refreshing beers - it doesn't even taste like beer.   We also discovered Shiner Bock Prickly Pear beer - delicious.  

On Sunday, I awaken dreaming of beignets and chicory coffee but that's the one thing I missed! Next time I'm there I'll be going to Cafe du Mond.  

A good reason to go back to NOLA.  We cruise down to the French Quarter for a Muffeltta and gumbo. The Ireland's debate about which place has the best and we settle on the Market Cafe.  

A great choice, because we're seated between two amazing traditional NOLA jazz bands.  We all order 1/2 Muffellta and a cup of gumbo and the waitress convinces to order 2 full size.  Oh my gosh!!!!  The sandwiches arrive and they are as big as a dinner plate! 

 The Muffeltta was originally invented at the Central Grocer in the French Quarter and it's a large toasted delicious roll filled with a black and green olive, pepper, garlic and oil spread along with lot of yummy Italian cold cuts and salami.  Absolutely delicious.

After lunch we cruise the famous Bourbon Street area, relatively quiet for a Sunday afternoon.  

There are hundreds of bars and I can only imagine the craziness of Mardi Gras.  Every balcony has tables and chairs and lots of mardi gras beads hanging form them.  

 We finish up our day at La Fittes Blacksmith Shop Bar; supposedly a bar operating in the oldest structure in America - built in 1722. NOLA legend says that it's the oldest continously operating bar in America but a quick google search disputes that - who knows the truth?  It's a fun place to stop and cool off. 

The highlight though of the entire trip was a visit to Hansen's Sno Bliz for the best snow cones.  

We drive by Hansen's twice on Sunday and the line is too long. It's within walking distance of Patrick & Stacie's so we opt to wait out the line and walk over right before closing.  At 6:45 pm, (they close at 7:00 pm)  there's still 20 people in line!  In line is a mix of young and old all talking about which flavor and size to get - everyone who comes out of Hansen's is smiling!

Our 45 minute wait is worth it as we're handed the yummiest sno cone ever.  Pure shaved ice that is as like Utah powder snow - light and fluffy and packed into our cups.  

They have all the traditional flavors and a few specialites like cardommon, ginger, honey lavendar and ginger cayenne. Their sryups are made from home made secret recipes and the ice is shaved in a machine that is 75 years old. 

You can also add soy milk, cream or condensed milk to create an ice cream like texture.  I think simple is the best way to go.  

I had a mix of honey lavendar and ginger and Randy went with blueberry and a tart lemon.  We enjoy our sno bliz' on the Ireland's front porch a perfect way to relax on a NOLA Sunday. 

Thanks Stacie & Patrick for a fun, foodie weekend!   We'll be back soon and bring Becky & Kevin with us!!!