The lightest meal I had all weekend was at the Bourbon House
Recently for Katherine’s birthday we headed farther south to a quiet little town called New Orleans. Needless to say we ate a lot of really good food, drank a lot of really good wine and stomached quite a lot of really bad liquor.
It is just a glorified donut folks
We went on Veterans Day weekend, when a football game and the magic 11-11-11 date drew a lot of brides and revelers to town. Lines seemed to be the norm anywhere we went. Above, is the queue for a beignet at the original Cafe Du Monde as the sign clearly says. Even though the place is open 24 hours there always seems to be a line for an overpriced donut.
What can be more decadent than fried oysters with eggs benedict?
Unwilling to wait in that line, we had breakfast at a great place just up the street called Stanley on Jackson Square, where we only had to wait 20 minutes at 9 a.m. to get in.
The answer is a deep fried soft shell crab
This is still breakfast
The coolest thing about Stanley, no it’s not the plastic megaphone-shaped “screamers” they sell drinks in, is that they make their own ice cream sodas, malts and milkshakes. That flavor mix was lemon Italian soda with blueberry cheesecake ice cream. It was awesome.
Looks are deceiving
While we had a lot of great food in the French Quarter, our best meal was over in the Garden District. Above is Commander’s Palace. It may look like a bad fried fish shack one would find in new England, but inside is some of the best food in New Orleans and by far the best wine list I have ever found. Katherine made me leave the camera in the room when we went to dinner each evening, probably for the best. I needed both hands to eat. (Although it would have provided proof not everything we ate was fried.) We recommend the turtle soup, the veal chop with grits, the bread pudding souffle and everything else on the menu.
The po boy we split at The Gazebo Cafe on Decatur Street
Rufus' Food and Spirits Guide 
Oh my! These photos of the food are alone enough to make me want to go to NO’s to eat! 🙂
That was the highlight of the trip!
Mmmmmm. You’ve made me so hungry now. Those fried clams….to die for! Although I probably would have waited in line for the beignet. There was a New Orleans place up here for a while, and I would drive miles and miles to eat those things! So good – even if it is a fancy dough nut. 😉 It looks like it was a great trip! Favorite wine to recommend?
We didn’t write it down but Commander’s Palace had a Barolo that was awesome. Katherine tries to order that whenever we see it because we don’t see it often here. And I had a French pinot. What was great was they sold everything by the glass and you could get three or six ounce pours.
Awesome! I’ll make sure we stop at this place when we make it down there. New Orleans is on our short list. I love Barolo too. We just got a bottle from a wine dinner we went to – great stuff. And I love when places sell by the glass like this – it’s a great way to try different things. 🙂 (As long as it’s good wine that is…)
Made it down to NOLA this past weekend. Commander’s Palace was FABULOUS! Thanks for the recommendations. 🙂
Thanks for the update. That place is amazing, even if it does look a little like a lobster shack.
HOLY SMOKES. New Orleans has just shot its way to the top of my “really want to visit” list. Fried soft shell crab benedict? Yes, please!
Just get directions that don’t require you to drive through the French Quarter.
I’m with Kristy.. would have waited in line and THEN gone down to have breakfast where you were. I love travel posts, gives me the itch to go there and hang out in the same places:) The soda looks delicious… I bet you two will invent one with a little alcohol in it for us?? BTW Happy Birthday Katherine!
Hmm, sounds like a challenge I want to take!
🙂
I so need to get to New Orleans- the food looks decadent! And I love a place that makes their own milkshakes. It makes a huge difference. Glad to hear that Katherine had a great birthday – how can you not, with food like that?!
When the waiter brought that out, the people at the table next to us were staring!
Great post. My favorite thing about traveling is EATING my way around each destination. 😀
Yep, you have to take advantage of the local cuisine.
I love trip posts. You learn so much about a new place throught the eyes of a travelling food blogger.
Thank you for sharing the amazing pictures looking at them made me really hungry.
P.S. My husband makes me leave the camera at home when we go out to eat while travelling most of the time too lol
It was mainly that she didn’t want her birthday meal interrupted. It’s just easier to take the day shots.
When I went to New Orleans Cafe Du Monde was NOT the place to be seen – lucky me 🙂 Thanks for sharing your experiences – I love the idea of crab for breakfast 🙂
We always jump at the chance to get crab!
What a fun trip with scrumptious food – I love the idea of the crab with the eggs Benedict.
🙂 Mandy
That was Katherine’s breakfast, she was thinking oh it’ll be pan fried and we were sitting where we could see the kitchen. She saw it go in the fryer and was like oh well, it’s my birthday.
I’m sorry.. I see nothing wrong with fried food lol. I just don’t.. maybe it’s the southerner in me. But this feast looks amazing. And I bet each dinner was amazing. I truly have to eat my way through New Orleans.
We don’t either, it’s just we did eat some other great stuff at those dinners.
“I know what it means, to miss New Orleans”
Katherine saw some bakery employees wearing that on their T-shirts. Has a whole new meaning after Katrina.
Oh yes, those there are all good fried food!
Southerners do know their way around the fryer!
Wow sounds amazing. Can I just query though because I know foods aren’t always as they seem and you americans do things a bit differently… -is there turtle in the turtle soup?
Yes. Turtle soup used to be popular where we grew up on the East Coast, like centuries ago. But now you just don’t see it except in the deep South.
That is serious food, especially the eggs benedict with soft shelled crab. I’m just not used to standing in line any more.
We pretty much refused to except the wait for that one breakfast. And we looked at the art and other stuff in Jackson Square while we waited for our name to be called.
I’m curious – how does one pronounce “beignet” in the US? Is it the same as in French? They look nice though, although I’m not sure if they’re worth the queues. I would think the other food-stuffs you’ve pictured are way more worth a try!
There are a lot of French terms in NOLA and it’s pronounced the French way or the American’s best approximation anyway.
Wow – that’s some breakfast!
I couldn’t have resisted the ice cream soda, either. ‘Specially on a birthday!
Well, it was my soda and Katherine’s birthday, but same idea right?
NOLA Chamber of Commerce could use your photos and post to attract more visitors.
Looks like a fun birthday weekend celebration.
I don’t think they’re exactly hurting for visitors, but thank you Ruth!
N.O. is one of the best places to indulge in oysters, though deep frying them is a bit of a crime in my book.
Don’t worry we had them about every way you could have them.
What a great place and way to celebrate a birthday! I’m with you, though. I’m not about to spend precious vacation time standing in line for a donut, of all things, especially is a foodie town like NO.
Have I mentioned I like the way you think?
I love New Orleans. LOVE it. My son, daughter-in-law and some friends went about 10 days ago and my heart stopped when I saw that first photo. I swear that’s them. The blond taking the photo at Cafe du Monde.
Too funny, did you send them the link? That was taken Nov. 12.
Great post! Having spent time in Biloxi, stationed at Keesler AFB, defending our Southern coast from the enemy back in the 60s, NOLA was our usual destination for R&R. I can firmly attest to the quality of the food, the jazz and elaborateness of the breakfasts, particularly Breakfast at Brennan’s, which we never failed to miss on our weekend pass. And Cafe du Monde was the place for coffee and beignets, after the bars closed. Thanks for the memories!
I think that’s probably the only time it might not have a line around the block. Wait do the bars ever close?
Looks like a great food-filled trip — the best!
Amen!
Love how you love all kinds of food. A great post to start your second year. Here, here.
Thanks, Georgette.
WOW! I am hungry too now… This is amazing post! Wonderful photographs you captured as always dear Rufus. And I am so glad to hear that it was a wonderful birthday, in New Orleans… Thank you, Blessing and Happiness for you both, with my love, nia
Thanks, Nia.
New Orleans is near my top of the list of places to eat. Thanks for sharing the YUM!
You would love the wine list at Commander’s.
Looks like you had a wonderful time!
We really did.
🙂 YUM! Looks like my kind of Sunday!
We didn’t have anything bad that’s for sure.
Oh boy- are you making me miss out home! New Orleans is where my husband is from and just a few hours from my hometown. The food is just amazing and the scenery and atmosphere is something everyone has to experience once in their life. YES- the fried oysters with eggs Benedict is nothing short of heaven!
We brought back shrimp, we were so excited to be that close to the Gulf. Took a giant cooler!
The food in NOLA is amazing. After looking at these photos, I want to go back. Now. 🙂
You should Robin.
I have not been to New Orleans since before Katrina. They were in the middle of a cold spell and we were between big events, i.e. the Sugar Bowl and Mardi Gras, so it was actually not too crazy. Had some fabulous meals. The best meal was at Donald Link’s Herbsaint, but all of the meals in between were pretty fabulous as well. Hope to get back there again some day.
And by the way… those oysters on the half-shell looks AMAZING!
We were going to go to Acme, but there was a line there and at Felix’s. It was around 3 in the afternoon too. There were empty tables at this place and the food was amazing.
Oysters on Eggs benedict! Good God.. Decadence! c
I liked them not fried best, but you need to have them prepared all different ways.
One of my favorite food cities :). Looks like you guys had a terrific time!
We definitely ate well.
loving your blog, plan to come back and often…don’t worry, i’ll wipe my feet at the door!
We have two dogs, there’s no need for that!
Your pictures and descriptions of the wonderful food in New Orleans made me salivate. All of it. I agree about your opinion of the beignets. My mother made better free form fried donuts on her worst day. The chicory coffee was intriguing though I wouldn’t drink it on a regular basis. 🙂
They sell it, or a version of it, all over town. They also sell the beignet mix, but who knows…
My nephew bought a box of the beignet mix when he was in NO and brought it to my house to make for him. (His mom apparently declined his request to fry them up… smart woman!) I made half the box … they weren’t anywhere as good as the ones I had there when I visited, but the fried dough with enough powdered sugar on it was at least palatable. 🙂
I’ve been to New Orleans many, many times! I love the city, the history and of course the food!! Just looking at your pics I could taste the food! Sounds like you had a really nice bday getaway! I’m with Katherine on leaving the camera at home every now and then!!
For us food trumps history, but it was really cool seeing the French Quarter.
I am so glad you had a great time in New Orleans. The photos look great! I’m wondering why Katharine made you leave the camera at the hotel? I usually forget my Canon and end up taking bad pics with the iPhone. The eggs benny both versions look unbelievable.
Hey Eva, Greg’s camera is huge, it’s a Nikon D200, and there’s really no way to be discreet when taking dinner pictures because usually the lighting’s bad and Greg would need the flash. So I asked him to leave it behind for my dinner birthday. Also, I wanted his attention on me, not getting the right shot! There I said it! Maybe he’ll get me a smart phone for Christmas and I can take discreet shots when the lighting’s bad!
I understand completely, Katherine. Hope Santa is good to you both and you both get iPhones for xmas!
Have always wanted to go there and now I want to even more…those oysters and eggs benedict…wow! And I wouldn´t queue for a doughnut with a posh name either 🙂
I worked in a bakery in high school. I don’t do donuts! Katherine wanted one but didn’t want to wait in the line either.
UMM … fried oyster and fried soft shell crab eggs benedict?!?! And homemade Italian soda? WOW. That place sounds great. Happy (belated) Birthday, Katherine! 😀
It was egg heaven. You would have loved it.
wow, what a trip. I would not have stood in line either (but i’m not particularly drawn to donuts…) Stanley’s sounds utterly cool. Love the idea of the house ice cream sodas, malts and milkshakes…that would feel utterly authentic to me! Great pictures.
Thanks, Kelly!
Sounds like you guys had a fabulous time! Great photos. I’ve yet to visit New Orleans…I need to get on that. That eggs benedict just might put my dad’s famous recipe to shame (shhh, don’t tell him I told you that). But comon, fried oysters!?! Amazing.
Mum’s the word.
No trip to New Orleans is ever complete without oysters, a po boy and a stop at Cafe Du Monde. 🙂
the lemon Italian soda with blueberry cheesecake ice cream looks delish…i wonder how long it took for you to finish it!
After taking the picture, one minute 8.2 seconds.
What a fabulous trip! That soda with blueberry cheesecake ice cream is making me crazy! 🙂 Your meal that could not be photographed sounds crazy delicious. Hope your Thanksgiving was very happy. 🙂
That place was awesome. And their bar was wonderful too.
Lemon Italian soda with blueberry cheesecake icecream… my mind is still sitting on that one!
Looks like a fun weekend.
It’s still on my mind too!
I would love to go to New Orleans one day and starting the day with oysters, yum, I order them whenever I can, particularly our Bluff oyster when they are in season
You’re so right. Starting the day with seafood rules.
Great pics! Looks like you two enjoyed yourselves!
Thanks, we did!
I SO want a po boy for lunch now! Only one needs to be a rich boy these days to afford all the oysters! Wonderful photos, thank you! 🙂
The food did cost a pretty penny, but we did eat high end (except the po’ boy) and it was so worth it.
One of my favorite places in the whole world to visit. I love the food, the town, the quarter and just everything there. I have not been in a long while. Used to eat at a place called Tujacques right down by the french market place.(May have spelled that wrong). I’ve had some great times in New Orleans and you brought back some great memories.
There are just so many great restaurants there.
Excellent post and photos! Everything looks exactly as one (me) imagines in New Orleans. The eggs benedict with fried crab will haunt me at night. Lucky you!
That soft shell crab is staring me in the face and I can’t do anything about it!!! Thank you for that =)
I *love* the caption on your Cafe du Monde photo. I laughed out loud! 🙂
That’s a lotta deep fried food!
Oysters, crabs, shrimp po boys and lemon and blueberry cheesecake ice cream soda? Be still, my heart! What a super trip.
it’s been so long since i’ve been to nawlins. just makes me hungry thinking about it.
I am so jealous! I have always wanted to go to NOLA. That blueberry cheesecake ice cream looks to die for. wow.
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