When I was younger, I remember hearing an old preacher preach a sermon on gluttony. I grew up thinking that gluttony was such a silly sin. People eat too much? Now in my twenties, I understand exactly what that old preacher was talking about.
In August of this year, a group of girlfriends and I decided to take an impromptu trip to the nearby city of New Orleans. We booked an Airbnb, and within two weeks, we were off! We, of course, had glamorous plans of walking the streets and seeing the sites. However, as I posted pictures from the trip, I got a few DMs from my friends. “Do y’all do anything but eat?!” No, no we did not.
The idea to go to New Orleans had been born out of a desire to go on a food tour. However, food tours can get pricey, especially in legendary cities like New Orleans, so we created our own.
4 New Orleans Foodie Stops
Fry and Pie
When we first arrive in New Orleans, we threw our bags in the living room of our fabulous Airbnb and hit the streets to find Fry and Pie. Now, we were out and about at night, which I wouldn’t generally recommend when you’re unfamiliar with any area or neighborhood. However, the five of us stuck close together and wandered the streets a bit until we found this literal hole in the wall.
When we arrived, the waitress led us inside, and I think that’s where I died and went to Heaven. The menu for this establishment literally almost made us weep, we were so overwhelmed with amazing choices. We had cupcakes at the Airbnb, so none of us got to try the pie. However, the fries were enough.
I ordered the Death by Cheese fries, a deep pie pan full of hand-sliced fries buried under 3 kinds of cheese, scallions, and sour cream. I could’ve lived off that pie pan of fries for at least two days. It was overflowing, it was hot and fresh, and it was, at that moment, the love of my life.
Cafe du Monde
I’d been to New Orleans before in college, but at that time, we didn’t have the energy to stand in the ever-long line of the original beignet restaurant, Cafe du Monde. This trip would change that. Our group waited in line for maybe 15-20 minutes, and once we got inside, we realized just how impressive and fast that had been. At this historic establishment, you hardly even have to order–they know what you came for! We weaved through the packed dining room area, following the hostess to the back room. There we watched an assembly line of sorts roll hand-crafted, powered heavenlies from the kitchen onto serving trays. The line moved fast enough that each waiter had to quickly fill coffee cups before it ran out of track.
This was the longest wait we had all weekend, and it was 95% because we were awaiting food. I’d eaten beignets before and had even made a batch or two. However, I do believe these were the best beignets I’ve ever had. The beignet was fluffy and warm. The powdered sugar lay as a half-inch thick blanket covering the beignet. Also, no one ever told me how fantastic Cafe du Monde’s coffee was, but I haven’t been able to have another iced coffee since that day. We rearranged our departure plans to make sure we visited this place again before leaving the city.
Saints & Sinners
Best. Gumbo. Ever. That’s all I’m going to say for now.
We were minding our business, strolling along on cobble streets and window shopping as we were following my friend Robyn to an amazing restaurant her sister had tried last time they were in the city.
It started raining, and we thought as Floridians, we’d be able to handle it.
We were wrong.
We ran through what felt like a mini-Katrina. Robyn valiantly led us across shin-deep rivers with strong currents at each intersection. The restaurant was approximately half a mile away from where we started, and when we finally arrived, I personally felt like we’d survived near death. Someone really should’ve videotaped the whole thing.
Exhausted, wet, and now shivering inside the restaurant, we all hoped that Robyn’s sister didn’t let us down. She didn’t. We ordered a variety of meals, and like most of the trip, we passed plates around, sharing and tasting and enjoying like the foodies we are.
I ordered the burger and fries (needing comfort food after my near-death experience), and it was so stacked I barely got halfway through it before I was full. My friend Erin, though, ordered the gumbo, and when she allowed me to taste it, I seriously contemplated stealing the bowl from her. It was amazing! Even though I only had a spoonful, I remember the rich, savory flavors fondly. Next NOLA trip, that gumbo will be mine.
Eclaire Delicieux
Back at Airbnb, we felt like we shouldn’t stay inside on the couch all night, so we hit the streets to find more food. We drove to this amazing local eclair shop–and found out that they had run out of eclairs. Still feeling a need for sweets, we each grabbed a treat. As you can see, the rainbow-colored macarons were too beautiful to look over.
This was probably the best true local spot I’ve ever visited on a vacation that was completely unplanned and fantastic. After this, we ran into a little Mexican grocery store and bought Mexican bread, which is covered with sugar. If you’ve never had it, you’ve got to try some.
Bonus: The Big Easy Diner in Slidell, LA
On our way back, I can’t believe it, but we were hungry. Jen found a cute old-fashioned diner a little distance outside of New Orleans, and we arrived just in time for the late brunch and lunch crowds. And when you’re at a diner like The Big Easy Diner, you have to get pancakes, eggs, and sausage with coffee. It’s just what you do.
The pancakes were just crispy enough on the edges to taste old-fashioned. The hashbrowns were golden and flavorful. The bacon wore its fat proudly, and the coffee was rich with the perfect blend of coffee, creamer, and sugar. I’ll definitely be going back to this place on my next trip to New Orleans.
Bonus 2: The Yard Milkshake Bar, somewhere in Mississippi
I know what you’re thinking: “Those girls are crazy!” No, not crazy; we just love good food!
On our way home, we ran into traffic and knew it wasn’t going to die down anytime soon, so we pulled off at an exit, looking for coffee. We found The Yard Milkshake Bar instead. Overall, this was the most indulgent stop we made. Were we hungry? No. None of us had the stomach to eat an entire pint of ice cream, rest assured.
The four of us split one milkshake, and I’ll admit, my stomach drew the line there. We split a “Doughnut Touch My Coffee and Cream” milkshake. It was smooth, creamy, and sweet. I couldn’t touch the doughnut, knowing I’d explode if I took on more carbs. But I can always make room for ice cream, especially coffee-flavored, chocolate-drizzled, ice cream with espresso beans and Oreo pieces mixed in.
That weekend was full, to say the least. I don’t think any of us ate for a day or two after this trip. While we definitely ate too much, food brings people together. One of my favorite memories of this trip was that, at every meal, we’d pass around our plates and share with one another. That is true friendship. While I don’t know if we’ll ever do a trip quite like this again, I looked forward to more adventures with these amazing friends.
I’m starving now…
Oh no! haha