NEW ORLEANS 2019

I told myself earlier this year that I would make it a priority to explore more states because I haven’t really done so. Considering that I am American, I wanted to visit more states because I truly believe each state has something special to offer. New Orleans has been a top destination of mine because I’ve heard amazing reviews about the food and culture and I must say that it truly didn’t disappoint!I spent three days in New Orleans and I personally think that’s enough to see what this city has to offer. For those who aren’t aware, New Orleans is a Louisiana city with history rooted in French, African and American cultures. I haven’t really been to the south before so it was a new territory. The first thing I noticed when I landed was the heat because the humidity is real guys! It wasn’t too unbearable because I have experienced intense humidity from Asia countries before and I was familiar with it since I came back from Singapore and Thailand a few months ago. But coming from New York, it was definitely a noticeable difference.

I’m not sure if it was my luck but I was welcomed with inconsistent rain throughout my three day stay. However, I’ve learned to embrace all hurdles that comes with traveling because as we all know, nothing is perfect, everything is unexpected and you just have to roll with the punches. The bright side is that it wasn’t raining all day and every now and then, I did experience some sunshine.

I’m a huge foodie so I was excited to explore the food scene in New Orleans and it is truly something else! If you love southern food, spicy Creole cuisine and seafood, then this is truly the state that you have to visit. I am allergic to shellfish so I definitely think I couldn’t fully absorb all the delicious cuisine but everything that I did eat was top notch and below are my recommendations of where to eat:

MUST EATS IN NEW ORLEANS:

• • Cafe du Monde: If you do a quick google search of where to eat in New Orleans, chances are this will be rated #1. I’ve never had a beignet before but it’s essentially a fried doughnut and this is extremely popular in New Orleans. If you are going to only pick one place to eat, then this is it! Cafe du Monde is the original French Market Coffee Stand since 1862, so you can imagine that it has a lot of history. To my surprise, I didn’t have to wait for a table and immediately sat inside where the AC was strong. I ordered the beignet, which comes in three and the Frozen Cafe Au Lait as recommended by a friend. The beignets were banging and wasn’t what I expected. It is topped with a lot of sugar as a fair warning but that’s what makes the beignets so tasteful. The Frozen Cafe Au Lait is very similar to a Starbucks frappuccino but also delicious. I would recommend sharing this order with a friend as it can be a little too sweet and heavy but definitely lives up to the hype!
    
    
  • Cafe Beignet: This is the second most popular spot to get beignets and I really wanted to try it to compare it to Cafe du Monde. In my opinion, I wouldn’t necessarily say it’s better than Cafe du Monde but I will say it’s lighter and feels less sugary which is more of my taste preference as I believe in eating healthy. It’s smaller and has a more cafe vibe whereas the other place is more of a historical and tourist spot. Regardless, both should be on your list when visiting New Orleans!

• • Cochon RESTAURANT: Cochon RESTAURANT was the first dinner spot I visited on my first day and I was blown away by the cajun and southern cuisine. I tried alligator for the first time! I was a bit hesitant because I didn’t know what to expect but it basically tastes like fried chicken. It was made with chili garlic mayonnaise and that sauce was everything! I can’t have oysters because I’m allergic but my friend said it was the best oysters she’s ever had so I would suggest ordering that!
    

• • Brennan’s: Brennan’s came highly recommended when I asked people where I should visit in New Orleans.  The restaurant is super cute and Instagram friendly with the pink exterior. However, if you go inside, it is even more stunning because the interior is consistent with green and pink theme, giving off a fancy, botanical vibe. The space is huge and I can now understand why people have weddings here! There is outdoor seating as well but I opt for the bar because I arrived in the afternoon where seating was already closed. Brennan’s is known for its famous banana foster, which is a dessert made from bananas and vanilla ice cream, with a sauce made from butter, brown sugar, and caramel. The best part is that they make it in front of you and the show stopper is when they fry the bananas in the sauce, causing a mini cool fire effect. I admit that it was delicious but to be honest, I don’t think it was out of the world amazing. It truly tastes like what it sounds like: fried banana with caramel sauce and vanilla ice cream. I still think you should visit here because it’s an experience in itself and the vibe is great!
  • The Ruby Slipper Cafe: This was high on my list because if you do a fast yelp search for breakfast and brunch, this comes up with amazing 4-5 star reviews. I really wanted to get my chicken and biscuit fix and this is truly the place that met my standards. A lot of people on Yelp mentioned that there was a long wait but due to the close proximity of where I stayed to the restaurant, I waited maximum 15 minutes. I would also suggest going after the 11-12 rush and try to get there around 1-1:30 pm as Ruby Slipper Cafe closes at 2 pm. I ordered the CHICKEN ST. CHARLES, which is essentially fried chicken breast served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs, finished with a pork tasso cream sauce. It was extremely delicious and definitely a favorite!
    

• • Meril: Unlike Cochon, Meril is a causal restaurant with an open styled kitchen and large bar area. They had great reviews on Yelp, so I wanted to check it out. I liked the atmosphere of the restaurant because it reminded me of spots that I would normally go to in NYC. You have to order the Fried Chicken salad and the winning aspect is the Tabasco honey sweet and sour glaze sauce. It was the perfect combination of spicy and sweet and I absolutely loved it!
    

• • Pêche Seafood Grill: If you love oysters, then this is the spot for you! ” Focused on working with local fishermen and farmers who harvest sustainably, Pêche serves simply prepared contemporary dishes, rustic creations cooked on an open hearth, as well as fresh oysters and Gulf fish.” Again, I can’t have oysters but if you love oysters, then I would recommend visiting Pêche Seafood Grill because they shuck the oysters in front of you at the oyster bar. I think this is a great spot for a pre dinner or a snack spot.
• Auction House Market: Across the street from Pêche Seafood Grill is Auction House Market and I love exploring halls with different vendors. There was a great selection of different foods with the following vendor options:
  ALOHA LEI SUSHI & POKE
  COAST ROAST COFFEE
  ELYSIAN SEAFOOD
  EMPANOLA EMPANADAS
  HAPPYJAXX SALADS TOAST & TEA
  LONG CHIM THAI COMFORT FOOD
  MAC & MOON MACARONS
  SOLA DELI
  TAVA INDIAN STREETFOODTHE MAYHAW

  I tried the empanadas and they were good. This is a great place to dabble into different foods and share with your friends!

MUST SEE/ ACTIVITIES IN NEW ORLEANS:

• New Orleans Museum of Art: I always try to incorporate some type of cultural aspect to a trip because I like to feel like I’m doing something educational. I enjoy visiting museums because I’m a huge fan of art and the NOMA had everything I was looking for. There are three floors with different exhibits and galleries including works inspired by Africa, Asia and France as well as artworks from the Renaissance, contemporary art, and photography. There are great photo opportunities and unique installations that I haven’t seen elsewhere.
  
• French Quarter: You simply can’t visit New Orleans without visiting the French Quarter as this is the most popular district. This is also where Bourbon Street is located so you can find tons of restaurants, cafes, shops, etc. This neighborhood also houses the famous balconies and architectural designs that you often see when you think of New Orleans.
• St. Louis Cathedral: St. Louis Cathedral is among the tallest and most prominent structures in the French Quarter. When exploring the French Quarter, we stumbled across this basilica and knew it had a lot of history. It is a beautiful landmark and I guarantee you’ll be mesmerized by the exterior when you see it in person!
• Voodoo Shops/ Psychic Readings: I am really into astrology and the spiritual world so when my friend asked if I would be interested in going for a psychic reading, I said yes! I’m not familiar with voodoo and I think the term often has negative connotations but after researching the history, I’ve come to learn that it is a ritual that dates back to the African diaspora. I know not everybody believes in it but I think it’s a cool experience that is unique to New Orleans. I won’t go into details about my personal reading but if you are open to it, I suggest looking into this when you’re in New Orleans!
• St. Charles Streetcar: As one of the main mode of transportation in New Orleans, the St. Charles Streetcar is also the oldest continuously operating streetcar line in the world since 1835. You can see it by simply walking the streets where the line runs. It reminded me of the trams in Portugal. Although I didn’t get the chance to hop on, I do think the ride is worth it as you’ll get a chance to see New Orleans from a different perspective. This definitely gives New Orleans a historic charm!

In case you guys are wondering where to stay, I would recommend staying at Windsor Court Hotel and I did a separate review and you can read all about my experience here. Overall, New Orleans is definitely a city that I plan on returning! I can see why people have their bachelorette parties here and I can see why it’s a popular weekend getaway trip. If you want to party, you can do that here. But if you also want to have a nice getaway like I did, that is certainly possible as well. The food is delicious, the people are nice and the overall vibe of the state will make you come back for more!