As the organizer, I asked Tom what kind of stuff he wanted to eat on this trip. His main request - an authentic New Orleans poboy (or poorboy or po'boy - it differs wildly, even in New Orleans).
Sandwich Stop
So, I made sure we did that first. We rolled into town at about 1 p.m. on a Monday, and we hit up Parkway Bakery & Tavern before we even checked into the hotel.
(Tom's roast beef poboy with gravy)
The line was long and seating limited. It took about 30 minutes for us to place our order and another 10 before we received our food. I don't think either one of us ordered what would be considered a traditional sandwich when you think of a poboy.
(Tiffany's ham & swiss poboy)
But even so, they were delicious. You could tell that the bread was freshly made in-house and the toppings were good quality and plentiful. Parkway Bakery & Tavern offers over 30 different kinds of sandwiches as well as gumbo, chili and standard sandwich sides: fries (regular and sweet potato, potato salad and potato chips).
Parkway Bakery & Tavern
538 Hagen Avenue
New Orelans, LA 70119
(504) 482-3047
Grab a Crepe
I love a good crepe. I think taking delicious things and wrapping them in a nice, tasty bundle is my idea of culinary heaven. Since the French typically do it better than most, I wanted to make sure that we made it to La Crepe Nanou, a fabulously intimate French bistro.
(French onion soup)
It was really everything I wanted it to be. Quiet, casual and very, very tasty. There was a great variety of both savory and sweet crepes. There was everything from crawfish, to shrimp, to filet and lamb. It was really hard to decide what I wanted.
(Foreground: Crepe Florentine - creamed spinach and bacon. Background: Crepe Ecrevisse - crawfish tails in lobster sauce)
They also have a very suitable wine list and plenty of by-the-glass options.
(Crepe Marrons - coffee ice cream and chestnut cream flambe - Get this!)
We walked right in at 7 p.m. on a Wednesday, but La Crepe Nanou does not accept reservations. The wait can get lengthy on the weekend, so be prepared.
La Crepe Nanou
1410 Robert Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 899-2670
We All Scream for Ice Cream
I saw some special on the Food Network that featured Creole Creamery, and I was instantly intrigued. Tom and I are both big fans of really good ice cream, so I put it on our to-do list.
(Four-scoop ice cream sampler)
This place is right up my alley. They had tons of great inventive flavors liked red velvet, candied bacon & cinnamon and gorgonzola & toasted walnut. And the sampler is perfect for people like me who can't make up their minds. You can get 4 mini scoops for $4 or 6 for $5.50.
Creole Creamery - Lakeview
6260 Vicksburg Street
New Orleans, LA 70124
(504) 482-2924
Creole Creamery - Uptown
4924 Prytania Street
New Orleans, LA 70115
(504) 894-8680
Breakfast Bites
We decided to spend an entire day exploring the French Quarter. I wanted to choose a breakfast spot that offered quick, light, tasty fare. Le Croissant d'Or Patisserie did the trick.
(Foreground: Ham Croissant with Bechamel. Background: Sausage Roll)
This croissant was unbelieveable. It was buttery, flaky and the bechamel added a wonderful richness that elevated it to the next level. The quality and the size made it well worth the $4.00 price tag.
Croissant d'Or offers a wide variety of pastries, soups and sandwiches. It is a great spot to stop in and grab a quick breakfast or lunch.
Le Croissant d'Or Patisserie
617 Ursulines Street
New Orleans, LA 70116
(504) 524-4663
Note: I considered casual eats to be places where 2 people can eat (appetizer, entree, dessert) for $50 and under. In this case, my future New Orleans fine dining post will consist of restaurants that are over $50 for two.
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