Heading Home

We wrapped up our trip to New Orleans with more beignets and iced cafe au lait. When it's in the 90's before 11am, it's just too darn steamy to drink a hot beverage!

We did some last-minute shopping in the French Quarter before heading off to the airport.

It was 101 degrees outside when we left New Orleans; when we touched down in Chicago the temperature was a chilly 69.

On the way home, Baird and I were talking of other trips we'd taken to celebrate various anniversaries over the years: Italy for our 5th; San Francisco at 9-1/2; Miami at 10-1/2. This trip was right up there with Italy as the best ever. Hands down, it was the most amazing food I've ever had. I'm starting to think that food vacations are the way to go!

New Orleans - 3rd Day

We slept in this morning since last night was a late night on Bourbon Street celebrating our 20th. We skipped breakfast and headed to Mother's for lunch.
Mother's is wildly popular with natives and tourists alike. It was one of the first restaurants to reopen after Katrina, housing some of its staff in FEMA trailors in the parking lot since their homes had been wiped out. It's a no-frills, good-eatin' kind of place. Even before noon the line was already out the door and a block down the street.

Baird had chawfish etouffee

I went with the fried shrimp po' boy sandwich

We took a swamp tour after lunch. I'd never seen anything like this before - it's gorgeous!

And yes, there really are alligators that swim right up to the boat.
This one was about 6 feet long.

Dinner was at GW Finns. The concierge made the reservations for us and thought that tonight was our actual anniversary and told the restaurant as much. So, we had our 20th anniversary dinner...again! More Service + 1 - I didn't even have to ask for the menu this time!

The crab and corn chowder soup was absolutely incredible...

...but the smoky taste of the Wood Grilled Gulf Shimp
with Melon Salsa and Chipotle Butter was off the charts!

Baird had Sauteed Mangrove Snapper Meuniere with Jumbo Lump Crab, Yukon Mash Potatoes, Asparagus and Crispy Capers. I ate his asparagus, which was perfectly prepared and had a wonderfully smoky hint to its flavor.

I enjoyed New Beford Sea Scallops with Crawfish and Creole Tomato Risotto and Green Bean Garnish. The scallops were perfect and the risotto was the best I've ever eaten.

We split a side order of Mashed Sweet Potatoes that included vanilla bean and bananas and were loaded with complex, exotic flavors. Our waiter truly loved us, as he slipped me the recipe before the night was over. I'm filing it away for Thanksgiving!

And our evening ended with another personalized dessert!

Happy Anniversary Baby!!

We started the day with a New Orleans' classic: Beignets at Cafe Du Monde. Several people had warned me not to wear dark clothing when I ate here and now I know why. My first bite resulted in a snowstorm of powdered sugar. I ate mine with iced cafe au lait since it was 87 at 10am this morning.

Spent the day walking around the French Quarter. This whole place is just magical and I now understand why people fall in love with this city.

We swung by Leah's Candies, which is right across the street from our hotel, for some freshly made pralines.

We celebrated our anniversary at NOLA. I remarked to Baird that going to New Orleans and not eating at an Emeril restaurant is like visiting Chicago and not looking up.


We were given a complimentary celebratory appetizer of a fried oyster and scallop ceviche with crispy garnish. I hate oysters, but this one was unbelievably tasty!

Then came the appetizer we ordered: pan roasted crab cake with smokey eggplant puree, feta cheese, kalamata olives, crispy spinach and citrus butter.

Roasted Garlic-Reggiano Parmesan Bisque with Basil Pesto.
It was so delicious I resisted the urge to lick the bowl!


Salad was Jumbo Lump Crab and Celery Root tossed in a Green Onion-Buttermilk Dressing, Roasted Beets, Spiced Walnuts, Arugula and Balsamic Vinaigrette

My entree: Garlic Crusted Texas Redfish Cooked in the Wood Burning Oven with Brabant Potatoes, Crimini Mushrooms, Bacon and Sauce Beurre Rouge. The crust on the redfish, combined with the sauce, was a brilliant mix of complex flavors that just about made me swoon.


Baird's entree: Hickory-Roasted Duck with Whiskey-Caramel Glaze, Buttermilk Cornbread Pudding, Haricot Verts-Fire Roasted Corn Salad, Natural Jus and Candied Pecans

A perfect finish: custom-made dessert!

NOLA specializes in "Service + 1," the idea of going above and beyond.

Because I wore a black skirt, I was given a black napkin so there wouldn't be white lint all over my skirt when I left.

At the end of the night came the biggest surprise of all:
I got to keep the entire menu from NOLA.
I also got to meet Chef Michael Ruoss, Chef de Cuisine for NOLA, and he signed my menu.

There's no better way to top off a perfect day in New Orleans than with an over-the-top meal at NOLA. And the perfect ending to the perfect day was going to Fritzel's European Jazz Joint on Bourbon Street to listen to live jazz until the wee hours of the morning.

First Night in New Orleans - Galatoire's

On the way to the Omni Hotel, our airport shuttle driver remarked, "If you don't like the food in New Orleans, then you just plain don' like good eatin'!"

Baird had roses waiting in the hotel room for me - they were beautiful!

We picked Galatoire's for our first dinner. Galatoire's is old school New Orleans Creole and has been open since 1905. It's got a dress code but the atmosphere was lighthearted and warm - not the least bit stuffy. Trina was our waitress and her knowledge of each dish was impressive.

Shrimp Remoulade. It's supposed to serve 6. We were supposed to share. I singlehandedly devoured it all!

Fried Eggplant. I'd always eaten fried eggplant in thinly sliced rounds, but this way is delicious too.

Baird's entree: redfish topped with crawfish etouffee

My entree: crab yvonne

Baird's dessert: sweet potato cheesecake drizzled with honey and garnished with spicy pecans His was the better dessert

My dessert: caramel custard