Home again, home again!
It’s been five days since we’ve completed the trip loop – Minneapolis to New Orleans to Minneapolis again – and I have to say, even though people warned us (“New Orleans in the summer?!”), NOLA was an amazingly rich experience. Even in the summer.
We originally booked the trip because we were invited to speak about none other than the nerdy-awesome š„email marketingš„ (I know – ooooh, ahhh) at an event called the Sustainable Seafood Blog Conference, which ended up being a completely awesome experience that taught us TONS TONS TONS about how to be responsible seafood consumers – something I’ve really wanted to be intentional about, but haven’t always known how to do. Plus it gave us the chance to connect with people doing really incredible things in the online + food world. I had no idea what to expect with this conference since it was so new, and it totally rocked. Look for the conference around this time again next year – location: Boston!
As we often do when we travel for conferences, we decided to book ourselves a few extra days to explore the famed city of New Orleans. So while we did go initially for the conference, we also took a few days to just mosey around the French Quarter and hop on and off of tour buses. Read: eat beignets.
Hot? Yes, very hot. Let’s just get that out of the way right now. We’re talking Philippines-type hot (the only type of hot I really know, if we’re being honest), where it’s super humid and sticky and you pull your sunglasses out of the bag and put them on your face only to find that you can’t see a thing because: FOGGED. People warned us about the heat (again – New Orleans in the summer?!) but both of us sort of enjoyed the steamy-ness for a few days. It’s a novelty to us Midwesterners.
Obviously, ob-vi-ous-ly, we ate and we ate and we ate: beignets and oysters and fried green tomatoes, catfish and gumbo and barbecue shrimp, plus a few new-to-me things like lobster ceviche, shrimp remoulade, rabbit and sausage jambalaya, and crawfish Ć©touffĆ©e (OH HAI FANCY). I documented all the food on Snapchat as I will now do for all my future trips because it was just way too fun to share and hear back from many of you on what you thought we should eat. It’s like I packed a few hundred of you into a suitcase and brought you along for a mass-eat-along. Only better, because you could stay in your pajamas. š Luckeeeeee.
That being said, today’s post isn’t a list of restaurants or recommendations because we really only had four meals on our own, in the city, outside of the conference. Today’s post is just a collection of pictures from this really wacky, historic, beautiful, wild city. I split it into three parts.
Part one: the conference – complete with a photography session by none other than Molly Yeh and Graham Blackall. Front row, edge of seat. ššššššš
Part two: the city – the eatings, drinkings, and sightings experienced through not one, not two, but THREE city tours. š Old souls? Is that what they call it?
Part three: Cubs the Poet – a street performer with a really creative and unique set up who type-writer-ed a few really poems for us right in the middle of Royal Street. Which was just really cool and inspired a ten minute photo frenzy on my part, so even though it’s a little random and might not mean much to anyone else, I included a few of those photos at the end.
WELCOME TO PICTURE LAND.
**I don’t want to break the flow of pictures here, but I DO need you to know that Brad and Angelina own this secretive and charming old-world mansion in the French Quarter. Which is why I’m standing outside it looking like fan-girl fool. OBSESSED.**
Got any insider tips or tidbits about visiting New Orleans? plz share!
Because I never got to try a real shrimp po’boy and I feel like that might (DEFINITELY WILL) require a trip back.
New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit! I visit the city almost yearly and find myself always trying something new and different. Great work on your article. It was well thought out and had valuable content. Whenever you are in Austin Texas, be sure to check out my blogs for things to do. https://nautisideboatrentals.com/blogs/
I’m so glad you had a fun time in New Orleans – and during the summer that is crazy! I live in NOLA and I’m a travel blogger and just started a monthly article about being a tourist in my home town in August – if you have any questions about any upcoming trips I’m more than happy to help you out.
Places to go – Dat Dog (three locations) for an alligator hot dog; the Joint (best barbecue, hands down), and Creole Creamery
Awesome, thanks Carly!
I’m from Baton Rouge and we go to New Orleans all the time- Mandinas!!!! It’s the best. There is also a really cool historical landmark inside the building. If you look up on one of the pillars, there is a water line mark to demonstrate how high the flooding was in New Orleans during Hurricane Katrina.
Thanks, Sterling!
Oh! This takes me back to April last year, when I spent a week in NOLA. What a great experience! The food, the people, the architecture, the music and talent were all highly memorable and I am hoping to return one day soon.
Your pictures are magnificent! We were in NoLa in February to celebrate my husband’s 40th birthday. We did a 6 mile jogging tour that started in the French Quarter, and went west into the Garden District. Wouldn’t recommend it in the summer (for obvious reasons), but if you like that kind of thing, it was a fun experience.
Please put on your “can’t miss” list- Bacchanal Wine. It’s east of the Quarter, in the canal area. (Please Uber or cab there). Amazing music, magical backyard setting, lots of locals. Just Google it and watch the video on the Music tab. You can’t NOT go there.
Great tips, Holly! I’ll pass this along to Lindsay.
My mom is from New Orleans so we go back to visit my aunt, uncle and cousin at least once a year and it is one of my favorite places in the entire world š I was there in August last year and yeah, maybe not the most pleasant time of year to visit, but the city is so fun that a little (or a lot) of heat can’t ruin it. P.S. I second Parkway for the best po boys and please please tell me you had a snowball while you were there!!!
very wonderful article and a lovely one
It looks like y’all hit some good spots! I live in New Orleans and my recommendations to anyone visiting are:
Upscale:
Domenica (get the cauliflower with goat cheese sauce!)
Sac-a-Lait (new and amazing; they’re cooking for James Beard in Oct.)
Patois
Clancy’s
Shaya (Israeli/Mediterranean)
Low Key:
Dat Dog
Domilise’s (best po boys in this city, in my opinion)
The Butcher (sandwiches are to die)
For ice cream, Creole Creamery cannot be beat. It looks like you went to District Donuts. Love that spot, the cold brew is undeniably amazing.
We did! And Bjork had a cold brew! And we loved chatting it up with the owner – super nice guy.
Thanks for the recs, Ellen!
Looks like such a great trip! Always nice to get away (even if for a talking gig). I need to make it to NOLA soonish. I live in Houston so it’s not even that far…I have no excuses! Need some beignets in mah life!
Yes! It’s drive-able! the beignets are calling…
YUM! Especially the lobster ceviche, I would have had that for a meal with the steamy weather!! If you really want a shrimp po boy, you could always go to Smack Shack on washington in Minneapolis, its pretty darn delicious.
Oh my gosh, what a great idea! We have Como Dockside nearby but I am not overly impressed with their Po Boys. Maybe they’ll improve with time. š
Yay for Snapchat!! Felt like I was on vaca too! š New Orleans seems like such a lively city and allllll that food looked incredible.
Oh…and WHERE did you get your lace sleeveless top?! Work that style giiiirl š
Hahaha- thanks Brittany! It was end of summer clearance last year at Express!
Whenever I find myself in New Orleans, I’m definitely going to have to give Cubs the Poet a visit! -Audrey | Brunch at Audrey’s
Do it! He was camped out in the middle of Royal street.
Ugh, so jealous! I’ve been dying to go to New Orleans since forever, and now I’m dying to even more. Always love your travel photos and this time is no exception!
Thank you Alexandra! appreciate that! š
Looks like such a fun trip! I enjoyed following along on Snapchat too. You guys are hilarious!
All of the food sounds amazing. Those donuts- UGH. I guess you cheated on the no sugar thing while you were there? š
And I MUST go meet Cubs the Poet! How cool is he?! You definitely have to frame that.
Thanks Sarah! Yes – we took a few days off from the sugar free commitment! We stayed strong during vacations when we did the sugar free thing the first time, but this time it sort of felt like a major loss to not enjoy the sweets in NOLA – life’s too short! 80/20, right? š
My boyfriend and I just made a quick trip there over the weekend. Steamy was an understatement! We were so surprised at how many people were walking around in jeans and long shirts.
Annica
http://www.lifemodifier.com
Right?! That’s how it was in the Philippines – we’d be dripping with sweat and people would be wearing long sleeves and pants. š
Love your bag!! Who made it…? I enjoy your posts, thank you!
Thanks Lynn! I got it on Etsy about a year ago… it’s been awesome for traveling! The shop was called TwinsClothing but I don’t think they’re doing it anymore because I can’t find the shop and my link doesn’t work anymore š
This post just made me completely giddy inside. I loved New Orleans and all the food when I went with my hubbie. Beautiful, delicious city. Thank you for sharing the pictures, it brought back some great memories.
Thanks Dawn! š Appreciate that!
SOOO glad to hear you enjoyed New Orleans! I split my time between home (1 hour south of NOLA) and Baton Rouge for school at LSU. You’ll definitely have to come back- you find something new and exciting every time no matter how much you visit the city!
I believe it! Looking forward to our next visit š hopefully sometime soon!
I just want to say that I am green with envyā¦ or maybe yellow, but anyhows, looks like you guys are having the life of all lives. Good for you, I know you work hard, even if it looks like playtime on the web. Thanks for all the fabulous foods and tips and stories, you are one of my favorites for sure! Angelika
Aw, thanks Angelika! We are really, really, really grateful that get to travel for work – and usually that we get to travel together. It’s such a unique benefit of what we do! š Thanks for the comment!
I love all the pictures! I really love that poet at the end….so incredible! Glad you guys had a good time š
PS. Send some of that heat my way…this morning in Chicago it was in the 50s.
Thank you Erin! š 50 degrees?! Come on Chi town!
Just wanted to say, as always, such a fun post and such beautiful pictures! š NOLA looks like a ton of fun! Did you meet Brangelina? š
I only found you lovely folks here at Pinch of Yum earlier this year, but every single post you share feels so much like a best friend excitedly sharing their new favorite recipes or vacation pictures (or news of adopting the cutest dog ever! Hi Sage!) that I was hooked immediately. š
Thank you for all you do, and just being you. Your passion for what you do and your love for others is always apparent. š And I hope you have a Happy Fourth of July weekend!
What a sweet comment! Thank you Dena! That is so fun for me to hear. š
Next time you go, make sure to go to Angelo Brocato for ice cream (or cannolis, or both!) and try Morning Call Coffee Stand in Metairie for beignets (similar to Cafe du Monde but way less touristy). Also, take a drive across the lake to Covington and walk around the downtown area, which has lots of cute little shops, and get a roast beef po’boy at Bear’s!
Oh my gosh. It all sounds SO GOOD.
That poem is blowing me away… for real! So talented, cubsthepoet! I will be thinking about that all day.
Thanks Michelle! He was a gem among street performers š
Wow! LOVE the pictures and CUBS is phenomenal ! Been enjoying your blog and recipes. Thanks so much.
Thank you Charlie! š Glad you are enjoying it!