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Our tech team has launched updates to The Nest today. As a result of these updates, members of the Nest Community will need to change their password in order to continue participating in the community. In addition, The Nest community member's avatars will be replaced with generic default avatars. If you wish to revert to your original avatar, you will need to re-upload it via The Nest.
If you have questions about this, please email help@theknot.com.
Thank you.
Note: This only affects The Nest's community members and will not affect members on The Bump or The Knot.
Re: Vacations
TTC since 1/13 DX:PCOS 5/13 (long, anovulatory cycles)
Clomid 50mg 9/13 = BFP! EDD 6/7/14 M/C 5w6d Found 11/4/13
1/14 PCOS / Gluten Free Diet to hopefully regulate my system.
Chemical Pregnancy 03/14
Surprise BFP 6/14, Beta #1: 126 Beta #2: 340 Stick baby, stick! EDD 2/17/15
Riley Elaine born 2/16/15
TTC 2.0 6/15
Chemical Pregnancy 9/15
Chemical Pregnancy 6/16
BFP 9/16 EDD 6/3/17
Beta #1: 145 Beta #2: 376 Beta #3: 2,225 Beta #4: 4,548
www.5yearstonever.blogspot.com
Well now, why split hairs? Most places that serve shrimp and oyster poboys will usually serve a combo shrimp/oyster poboy
. @BluebirdMB, I don't really think any one type of poboy is more iconic than the next. I'd go with whatever sounds best to you. Me personally, I usually get either a shrimp poboy or a combo shrimp/oysters. Mmmm...during some parts of the year, they have softshell crab poboys. Heck, a lot of locals like roast beef poboys. They are basically bits of roast beef debris smothered in gravy. Personal preference, I think they're disgusting, lol, but people love'em.
I almost hate to recommend this place because it is a small chain and pretty touristy, but the Acme Oyster House has a Peacemaker Poboy that is half shrimp and half oysters with a Tabasco Mayo sauce. It's yummy. There is an Acme in the Quarter, but it usually has a really long line and is pretty crowded. However, little known secret, there is also one inside the Harrahs casino. Never a wait. And Harrahs is katty corner from your hotel.
Would love to go tropical this winter when baby is almost 1, but we wouldn't plan that until fall, so I have a while to dream!
Edit: this was supposed to be a reply to @hoffse, sorry.
Sweet! The Hilton Riverside is a really nice hotel and a great location. There is a restaurant called Dragos inside your hotel that started the "chargrilled oysters" rage. They are oysters chargrilled over an open flame in a parmesan butter sauce. They have been described as the "best single bite" in New Orleans. Even my H, who can't stand raw oysters, loves these. They are SO good!
I would definitely recommend seeing Oak Alley Plantation, though it is a couple hours away from NOLA, so it would take most of the day. But it is arguably one of the most beautiful plantations in the South. I mean, the arch of oaks is amazing to see in pictures, but it is jaw dropping to see in person. Nottoway Plantation is another beautiful one and is the largest antebellum mansion still standing. And they are actually fairly near each other, if you all wanted to check out both.
Here is my favorite factoid about Oak Alley. The trees are older than the house by 200 years. They have no idea who originally planted them. That info has been lost to history.
I forgot about the sazerac! Another classic NOLA cocktail that dates back to pre-Civil War. I've heard of the other two cocktails you mentioned, but am not that familiar. I've actually never heard of the brandy crusta, but just looked it up. Precursor to the sidecar and originated in NOLA in 1852. Learned something new! Now I want to try one also.
I actually don't like etoufee, so I'm not a lot of help there! But a lot of places serve it. This is probably sacrilege for most other New Orleanians, but I don't really have a favorite gumbo place. I pretty much like it everywhere I've had it. The Gumbo Shop in the Quarter has a number of different gumbos and is pretty good, but I wouldn't necessarily say it is a special trip just for gumbo. I don't usually eat jambalaya or red beans/rice in restaurants, so I can't make a specific recommendation. But those are dishes served in a lot of places.
The only place for beignets is Café Du Monde. Like @emily1004 mentioned, try to go at an off time. Not only is it THE place to go for beignets, but the ambience is just amazing. It's outdoor seating, but with a roof. The Mississippi River is on one side of you and the other side is Jackson Square with the St. Louis Cathedral. I don't know if you are morning people, but early in the morning shortly after the sunrise is a perfect time to go. It's quiet. The morning light is so clear and soft.
Arnaud's, which is in the Quarter, invented Oysters Rockefeller. They are a very good, but very spendy restaurant. And, for me, it is a rare case where the "original" isn't necessarily better than anyone else's. Many of the restaurants that are more seafood-oriented and carry oysters, will often have oysters Rockefeller. Heck, the buffet at Harrahs has oysters Rockefeller...but, suffice it to say, I don't recommend their buffet at all, lol. Unless it is their Sat. or Sun. brunch with unlimited mimosas. Lots of free champagne makes everything taste better
.
I love turtle soup, though not too many places carry it. The Palace Café I recommended in my food post has it.
My mom is a big foodie and, during her visits to me, has eaten at all the really famous and world renowned restaurants here. Her all time favorite is a Susan Spicer restaurant called Bayona. It's at 430 Dauphine St., next to the Mississippi River (though I don't think you can see the river from the restaurant). I think it would be perfect for an anniversary dinner. It's off of a pedestrian walkway, not a road, so it is quiet. It's a small, intimate place, but doesn't feel cramped. It doesn't necessarily have Louisiana type of food...though a dish here or there might fall in that category...but the food is excellent, beautifully plated. A real dining experience. Check out their website and, if that restaurant appeals to you, I would definitely make a reservation because they do book up. If that's not quite what you are looking for, let me know and I will give it more thought.
Just wonder on down to Frenchman's Street. There is plenty of live music. I second Drago's, especially since you will be right there. Also, if you do go to on a plantation visit, I recommend Evergreen in Edgard. They filmed Django Unchained and Abraham Lincoln: Vampire Hunter there. (I am a little biased, since my family owned Evergreen from 1894 until 1930).
We did laura': plantation. It's on the same road as oak alley- there are a couple really close together, and it was amazing. Loved the family history and the fact that they actually had some of the original slave quarters still on the grounds. It was fascinating.
Also going to throw out there a swamp your. We just got a group on for one that was a bit north (?) of the city and it was really fun.
I suspect Cannes is actually Nice from the looks of the excursions, but I posted the official itinerary cities.
Naples we'll probably be getting on one of the ferries over to Capri which I also understand are right there. Maybe see a few relatives if we're lucky.
We haven't picked out excursions for most of the ports yet. The Italian ones are easy, but after that there's just nothing that really grabs us. But I think that is mostly because I just haven't heard of anything there and so I'm not having the "oh yeah, I remember reading about that" reaction.
We do have those- mostly at food festivals and a few local places.. not super common, but not unheard of.
They're really taking off in my area! Love the slices. Spears, not so much.
Also going to throw out there a swamp your. We just got a group on for one that was a bit north (?) of the city and it was really fun.
emily1004 That's so freakin' cool! We won't have a car, so we will have to take a tour to do any plantations. Is there a tour that goes there?
Not that I know of. I suppose you could take an Uber, but that could get pretty pricey. We usually rent one car, but that's because we leave the Quarter to see family.
I'm pretty sure there are a couple tour bus type things that will take you out for the day. You end up seeing more than one plantation which is a plus. When I get home I will see if I can find one of the companies to post so you can check it out.
Here is one of the tours that I was able to find. They are a little expensive, but when you factor that each plantation can cost anywhere from 10-25 the bus ride doesn't cost too much. Plus, hopefully you get some info on the drive in and out: cajunencounters.com
That one goes to both oak alley and the Laura plantation.
I agree, I think Snug Harbor and Spotted Cat are on the top of the Jazz list. They are both on the same Frenchmen St., that @emily1004 had mentioned.
Preservation Hall is on Bourbon and has been around forever. It's probably one of the most well known jazz clubs.
Oh! We also have sweet potato fries here. I don't know if that is just in NOLA, just in the South, or common elsewhere. But I'd never seen them in CA.
I have seen Bananas Foster at restaurants all over the country. But it originated here and I don't think anyone else does it better...though, of course I'm biased!