NOLA

Sorry for my absence yesterday friends, I was in a gumbo coma (or maybe it was the getting up at 5am for our flight). 

Anyway, Mister and I spent the long weekend in New Orleans and had the best time!

We had been wanting to make it to NOLA for quite some time now and our friend Sam and Celeste's wedding was the perfect opportunity to book a flight! 

We left early Thursday morning in hopes of maximizing the amount of meals we could squeeze in during our trip. 

#notajoke 

We did not have a shortage of restaurant recommendations (this girl was extremely helpful!) for our trip and we were so excited to eat such great and iconic food.

We definitely succeeded in eating our fill. 

I think we are still in a food and drinking coma. 

(I.e. it's chicken and salads for us for awhile.)

When we got off the plane on Thursday we headed directly to Cafe du Monde. 

It did not disappoint. 

They really aren't kidding about those beignets. It reminded me of a bigger and doughier funnel cake, absolutely covered in powdered sugar. 

 After picking up some more friends at the airport, we headed to Parkway for lunch and po boys. This place could definitely be called a hole in the wall but was a great find and had an extensive selection of po boys. I had the sausage and Mister had the fried shrimp. 

Both were top notch and a great introduction to NOLA food. 

After lunch the boys had to pick up their tuxes and we discovered the magical land of drive thru daiquiri stands. Yeah you read that right, it's a drive thru and they only serve daiquiris. Who know such a thing existed??

Thursday night we headed to dinner (see a theme developing?) in the French Quarter at SoBou. Holy delicious food (and very cool decor). We sampled quite a few of the tapas items on the menu and then I had a small burger and their mac and cheese. 

SoBou also had these amazing wine machines where you stick in a card and can choose what wine you want and then it pours a taste, a sip, or a glass. 

They also had the beer taps at the table. 

Very, very cool. And also a little dangerous. 

 After dinner we took our first jaunt down Bourbon Street. We didn't stay out very late that night but it was very interesting to see what Bourbon Street was all about. 

Just about anything goes down there.

Halloween was quite the the site to see and experience.

Friday morning the boys were off shooting guns and doing boy things so I went exploring. Our hotel was right on St. Charles and all down St. Charles are the most beautiful homes and buildings. 

I kept spotting beads everywhere.

Trees, power lines, lamps posts, balconies...I can only imagine how many more there are around during Mardi Gras.

The architecture around there is just incredible. I had a great time just wandering around, staring at the homes and wondering if any of them would let me move in. 

That night we had the reversal dinner at Zea and had the most amazing ribs and cheesy grits. True southern goodness. 

Saturday morning we decided to explore the French Quarter a little more. Besides the fact that the temperature dropped about 20 degrees from the day before, it was a great morning. I think I could spend a few days just wondering the streets and on and out of the little shops. 

  Saturday evening was the wedding and it was so beautiful!

It was held outside on the the golf course at Audubon Park, it was a little chilly but a quick and lovely ceremony followed up by a very fun evening.

 The food at the reception was so, incredibly good (shocking I know).

Mashed potato bar, praline brie, mini corn cakes with pulled pork...

And to top it off, the grooms cake was a doughnut cake!

How cute is that?!

Those are maple bacon doughnuts at the top...I am not normally a doughnut person but I had to taste one of those and it was out of this world.

The perfect combo of salty sweet.
 

Sunday morning the Mister and I met some friends at Surrey's Cafe and Juice Bar.

I am still thinking about that meal.

I had creole baked eggs with sausage and the most delicious biscuit that has ever been a biscuit.

After brunch Mister and I walked up and down Magazine Street just popping in and out of shops and enjoying our day.

Later in the day we took the street car around to see more of the houses and ended up walking around Tulane and Loyola.

We really had a nice afternoon and enjoyed our time together.

 Much to my dismay the street cars were not as I pictured...i.e. they didn't let me hang off the side like the Rice a Roni commercial.

However, It was still a very fun way to see the city and a form of transportation I could get used to.

We wrapped up our evening with dinner at The Irish House.  

Their chef, Matt, just recently won Chopped!

Again, stellar food.

#brokenrecord

And that was our first jaunt to NOLA!
We are already talking about going back.

I mean, there are about 468 more restaurants we need to try!

How was your weekend?

Have you been to NOLA, what was your favorite part?

Don't forget you have until tonight to enter the Frosty Paw's giveaway!

Winners will be announced on Wednesday