New Orleans is the biggest tourist city here, in Louisiana. It's known for Bourbon Street, Mardi Gras parades, Jazz Fest, and most importantly, the amazing food. Anyone who has been to New Orleans is familiar with Cafe Du Monde, Emeril's, and other busy, tourist attracting restaurants near the French Quarter. Here are some great eats according to someone who has been to this wonderful city more times than I can count.
1. Chef Ron's Gumbo Stop
(credit: www.restaurantnotes.com)
Boy, is this place amazing. From the outside, it looks like it wouldn't be worth your time, but once you're in, you're hooked forever. It's a small place, with booming business. There's not one time I've been in and it wasn't crowded. The atmosphere is casual and relaxing, and the food is even better. I may or may not consider myself a gumbo expert, considering it's one of my favorite foods. Chef Ron's gumbo is one of my favorites. It's what I get every time I go, and each time, it's like the first time all over again. I don't think I could ever get tired of it. There is, of course, more than just gumbo. The boudin balls taste pretty good (keep in mind this is from a girl one does not like boudin normally). There are grilled cheeses with hot sausage, jambalaya, and much, much more. Bonus: Chef Ron has worn awards for his food multiple times. That's how you know it's worth it!
2. Dat Dogs
(credit: tulane.spoonuniversity.com)
First off, I'm not a big hot dog fan (Have you caught on that I'm a picky eater yet?), but I love these hot dogs. Actually, love is an understatement. I would marry these hot dogs. You know how subway lets you pick and choose exactly what you want on your sandwich? Well, that's how Dat Dogs is, except with, you guessed it, hot dogs. There are so many choices: traditional German wiener, Polish kielbasa, smoked bratwurst, Slovenian sausage, hot sausage, alligator sausage, crawfish sausage, duck sausage, and the Guinness dog. There is also just a regular beef hot dog, which is what I get because I'm too chicken to try anything else. There endless toppings. I usually load my hot dog with ranch, cheddar cheese, and bacon. My boyfriend choose crawfish etouffee once. You can also get guacamole, hummus, grilled onions, chipotle mayo, jalapenos, and blackberry sauce just to name a few. There are vegetarian and vegan options as well. Something that makes Dat Dogs even better is that it's dog friendly!
3. Lebanon's Cafe
(credit: www.10best.com)
Unfortunately, I've only been here once, but I haven't stopped thinking about it since. They have the best homemade hummus and pita I have ever eaten. I ordered a chicken shawarma sandwich, which is the chicken wrapped in pita bread. I've gotten chicken shawarma from Athena's, a local Greek restaurant in Monroe, and it has nothing on Lebanon's Cafe. I can't even put into words how amazing this food is. It's the type that makes you sad after you've finished eating it because you didn't want to stop.
Try out these places during your next visit to The Big Easy. You won't be disappointed.
