Side Trip to the Big Easy

What a Labor Day that was!  Von and I ventured out of the big city to hang in the Big Easy.  New Orleans has always been one of my favorite places to visit and I haven't been able to get back there for several years.  Well, this last Winter I said, "We're going!" and booked the hotel and airfare as soon as I dusted off my credit card; I sure am glad I did.  Each trip to New Orleans is different, because I've gone with different people each time, and there's always new things to experience and food to be tasted.

I have been a notoriously picky eater over the years, but in the last couple I have tried to expand my palette just a bit.  So, on this trip I was determined to try things I never had before.  We started off the first night at Emeril Lagasse's place, NOLA (http://www.emerilsrestaurants.com/nola-restaurant), and there's just not enough complimentary words that can be used to describe that experience.  From the service (we had three people looking after us), to the drinks (the Double Barrel was just what you'd expect), to the food (outstanding Gumbo and delicious salmon), we had a complete foodgasm.  Once we finished up there and made our way to get the requisite frozen daiquiris, we sauntered into the Cigar Factory New Orleans (http://www.cigarfactoryneworleans.com/dev/).

I've not been a huge aficionado of cigars, but this seemed like one of those new things I should try.  The atmosphere in this place was old fashioned and the music added the right amount of island feel.  They actually roll all their cigars on sight and it was cool to watch them.  The guys handling this repetitive task day in and day out looked like they'd been doing it for years; a little weathered and weary, but still in good humor.  We had a great guide through their humidor and in no time we had been clipped and lit!

The next day was..........rainy.  We had to use the many awnings throughout the French Quarter to try to stay somewhat dry.  We would wait for a lull and dash for the next covering.  But, the good food continued at Huck Finn's Cafe, where I got my first Po' Boy of the trip, this one with crawfish.  This was also the place I decided to try alligator and I have to say, it tastes like chicken, albeit a much tougher version of chicken.  Once we finished up there, where else could we go but........Starbucks (I think my desire for the Skinny Vanilla Latte might just be getting a little out of hand)!  I mean, if you want to try to wait out the rain, where better to do it?!  From there, we decided to make our awning-hopping way to the gallery of a local artist, Jamie Hayes.  It was full of all types of art and I couldn't leave without a few little mementos.  By that time, there was nothing left to do but hit happy hour!

Now, I know what you're thinking, isn't every hour in New Orleans happy hour?  And you'd be right!  Even with the rain, Bourbon Street was still busy with debauchery, booze, and skin.  We hopped all along Bourbon Street and even found a spot or two off the main line of crazy.

On the patio at Razzoo Bar and Patio

Even with all the people crawling along the Quarter, we ran into a few people Von knows from Texas and I even bumped into a guy I know from Colorado!  We ended that night once again at the Cigar Factory, trying a stronger flavored stogie this time around.

The next day was sunny, hot, and humid, just what I expect from Labor Day weekend in New Orleans.  We tried going to Cafe Du Monde, but the line was huge and I just didn't think I could make it with all the sweat pouring from every part of my body.  So, we opted for Johnny's Po-Boys, which might be considered a dive and dive we did, into a couple fantastic sandwiches (that was a painful pun, wasn't it....).  More bar hopping ensued before we tried to end the night at our regular spot, the Cigar Factory, only to find it was closed for the night!  Who remembers what day of the week it is when you're on vacation (damn those early Sunday hours)?!  Oh, well, it was only a slight blemish on an otherwise fantastic trip.

The last day in New Orleans arrived far too quickly.  We made our way for a late breakfast back at Huck Finn's, where we finally got those Big Easy staples, beignets.  They were so good, my mouth is still watering.

New Orleans, NOLA, the Big Easy.....it's such a unique place, really unlike many other places I can think of in the US.  Maybe that's why I like it; the people, the food, and the fun are so diverse, which, incidentally, is also what attracts me to NYC.  You can visit these places again and again, getting something different from them each time.  One of the best parts of this trip?  Leaving behind a schedule and letting the day unfold however it chose to.  I could use more of that in my life....