Three weeks of eating my way through the French Quarter and checking out historical plaques and buildings, and I'm not halfway done yet
by simplerich on August 17, 2005
Eating fast food in the French Quarter is possible, but ranks up there as one of the highest forms of sin. The food here is outstanding. Between the po-boys at Acme, the beignets at Cafe Du Monde, muffuletta at either Central Grocery or Napoleon House, and surprisingly good Creole Kosher Kitchen on Chartres, there's no reason to ever eat at Krystal, Popeye’s, or McDonald’s. Those three are to be found, though, if your kids insist on something familiar once in a while. I ate my way up and down the streets, always turning around at Jackson Square, a place I could spend another 3 days in and still not get enough of, and working my way back looking for another great cup of coffee. ${QuickSuggestions} ${BestWay} I walked everywhere in the Quarter. My hotel was nearby, and using just common sense, like being aware of when to cross the street and when to stay near other people and not to go down dark streets alone, I felt it was safe, easy, and much cheaper than taxi or trying to park a car in the Quarter. There is NO parking to be found.
I ate my way up and down the streets, always turning around at Jackson Square, a place I could spend another 3 days in and still not get enough of, and working my way back looking for another great cup of coffee. ${QuickSuggestions} ${BestWay} I walked everywhere in the Quarter. My hotel was nearby, and using just common sense, like being aware of when to cross the street and when to stay near other people and not to go down dark streets alone, I felt it was safe, easy, and much cheaper than taxi or trying to park a car in the Quarter. There is NO parking to be found.
They have the best po-boys in town. I didn't have them from every place in town, but did have quite a few, and these were my favorite. I recommend the half and half shrimp and oyster dressed.
This is where Bananas Foster was invented, and still the best place to get it in my opinion. I was on a budget and had the soup and salad and Bananas Foster, and it came in under $30 with a drink. It was worth it, though. Watching them make it is the fun part. It is worth the trip.
This is a world-famous coffee-and-donut stand. The beignets are, of course, the standard by which all others are judged. The coffee was excellent and the people-watching fun. Go early, though, as after about 8am, it starts filling up.
This is the home of the heated muffuletta. Get a half of one and a glass of wine, sit in the courtyard, and just enjoy the company and soft classical music. Even in the summer it's nice there. If you have room, which I only did once, enjoy an Italian ice as well.
This is the home of the muffuletta, and it's great. Go early. Get the muff to go, do some browsing through the market just down Decatur from there, and eat it later. What I'm saying is that it's good fresh, but get it to go and eat it out along the river or in Jackson Square. Don't just sit in a crowded (people-on-top-of-you close) grocery store when there's all of the French Quarter to see. I wouldn't try to eat it while walking, though. It would get all over you.
The ordering process is strange, but there's a man at the door to explain it to you. This was the first place I ate in New Orleans, and it was a good introduction to both the pace of dining in New Orleans and the food. The food is good. The pace is almost uniformly not fast. Dining in New Orleans isn't about fast food, even at a fast-food place. It's about the eating. Don't eat fast. Don't think you're going to eat fast. Eat to enjoy it and the company. Oh, I recommend the ham.
Gideon, the owner/chef, is great. His family is great. His homemade sausage in his gumbo is great. His rosemary chicken is great. I ate there three times, and he introduced me to his wife and three kids, all really friendly and with ready smiles. He moved here to Chartres Street and the Quarter, I think, 20 years ago and has done really well for himself. It's a comfortable, not huge, restaurant. I think there are six, maybe seven tables, and all have views of the kitchen. But that means you never have to wait long for a refill on your drink, right?
It's a comfortable, not huge, restaurant. I think there are six, maybe seven tables, and all have views of the kitchen. But that means you never have to wait long for a refill on your drink, right?
http://www.igougo.com/journal-j46235-New_Orleans_3_Week_Business_Trip_to_the_French_Quarter.html
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