My good friend Claire moved to New Orleans to attend Tulane University and she's been begging me to visit for the past two years. New Orleans isn't a hard trip to sell to anyone with the beautiful weather and lively culture. I was incredibly excited because I'd heard New Orleans is a hotbed for fantastic food and I was not disappointed. I tasted everything from crispy fried chicken to gourmet hot dogs to the sweetest snowballs (similar to snowcones, but better). I think I gained 5 pounds this weekend alone.
Araña Taqueria y Cantina
On my first night in New Orleans I was craving tacos, so Claire took me to Araña Taqueria y Cantina. They had such a wide array of tacos that I wan't sure what to pick. I ended up getting the carne asada, al pastor, and south western fried chicken on warm corn tortillas.
The beef in the carne asada was tender and the radishes added a nice crunch. The pico also added a bit of spice to the otherwise mild taco. The pork in the al pastor was juicy and the pineapple added a sweetness that contrasted nicely with the savory pork. I also wanted to test something untraditional, so that's why I opted for the south western fried chicken. The chicken was crispy and the breading had a bit of spice in it, which went well with the fiery chipotle mayo. The taco was topped with fresh black beans and corn, which cooled down my tastebuds after the piquant mayo.
When I return (and turn 21), I definitely want to partake in one of Araña's champagne margaritas.
Café Du Monde
I knew while I was in New Orleans that I had to try Café Du Monde's famous beignets, because I'd heard some amazing things about them. Let me tell you— they are worth the hype. They come fresh out of the fryer sprinkled with sweet powdered sugar. Even in the 90 degree heat, you can't help but devour these warm bundles of goodness. The beignets themselves are chewy and deliciously fluffy. I couldn't have asked for a better afternoon snack.
Satsuma Cafe
Satsuma Cafe is an unassuming little spot situated in the heart of a residential neighborhood that serves up an array of tasty breakfast and lunch foods, like lox and bagels, a green eggs and ham breakfast sandwich, and a Mediterranean quinoa salad.
The day I visited I was in the mood for lunch, so I opted for the special BLT, which is topped with the usual ingredients, plus an avocado and goat cheese. I was in heaven.
This BLT was the stuff of dreams. The bacon was crispy, the tomato was juicy, and the lettuce added a nice crunch. Not to mention, both the avocado and the goat cheese added a nice creaminess to the sandwich. This was the best way to start my day.
Creole Creamery
The Creole Creamery is famous in New Orleans for their extensive varieties of ice cream, which are all homemade of course. It was so hard to choose between honey lavender, chocolate amaretto cheesecake, and peanut butter chocolate.
The first night I went here, I decided to get the sampler, so I could try a few different flavors. I opted for I scream fudge, red velvet cake, creole cream cheese, and salted caramel. All of them were incredible in their own way. The I scream fudge was thick and the chocolate was rich. The red velvet cake had bits of freshly made red velvet cake running through it. The creole cream cheese was tangy and deliciously creamy. The salted caramel was the perfect mixture of salty and sweet.
The flavors were all so tasty that I had to go back to get a second taste on my last day in New Orleans. I figured it was only fair to end my weekend as I had started it— with ice cream. I went for the creole cream cheese again, because it was by far my favorite flavor the first time and I mixed it with strawberry, which was fruity with small chunks of fresh strawberries sprinkled in it. These two flavors complemented each other perfectly and served as the best send off a girl could ask for.
I couldn't have asked for a better weekend in New Orleans. The weather was absolutely fantastic, albeit a tad humid (just a tad), the food was delicious, the sunsets were gorgeous, and I got to spend time with one of my friends. I can't wait to go back, so I can see and eat my way through more of this beautiful city.