Floribbean Fare - A culinary fusion of the Caribbean and Deep SouthA culinary fusion of the Caribbean and Deep South

Ok, well not really. I follow college football more but if I have to pull for an NFL team I’m more of a Tampa fan by birth and Seattle fan by marriage. But I am glad the Saints won. It gives the people on Bourbon Street a reason to party. Wait a minute, like they need a reason!

I’ve always liked the City of New Orleans despite the Vieux Carre smelling like a Port-O-Potty regularly. Where else can you walk on a small street into a dingy, seedy bar reeking of spilled beer, vomit, sweat and cigarette smoke located within a building that was probably around well before Andrew Jackson was President? You then find yourself downing Hurricanes, Hand Grenades and shooters and making nice conversation with people only to wake up the next morning feeling like a Mack truck ran you down, then shifted into reverse only to back up over you.

I wouldn’t be speaking from experience though……

Seriously, culture is what New Orleans has and lots of it. The food is also ridiculously good and good restaurants are a dime a dozen. Whenever I head on business there are a varity of restaurants I hit. Some are old haunts. Some are new to me being introduced by my colleagues who live there. Whatever the case, I dare sa I have never had a bad meal in New Orleans. Most restaurants push the envelope in terms of taste. And of course if you are trying to lose weight…..don’t visit here. Each meal is made with a pound of butter, I swear. But it’s sooooo good.

Seafood is definitely the spotlight but fowl and game are also big contenders. Steaks are found everywhere but in my opinion New Orleans is not about steaks. It’s about Cajun and Creole cooking like Crawfish Etouffe, Shrimp Gumbo, Jambalaya, Seafood Gumbo, Red Beans and Rice and Beignets. I’ve only scratched the surface. There are restaurants that put a spin on classics and sometime even create their own dishes.

If you plan on visiting the “Big Easy” try and stop by one of these restaurants. They will not let you down if you’re out for a great meal.

• G.W. Fins - http://www.gwfins.com/nola/ = Try their Lobster Dumplings as a Starter. They are ridiculously good. The fish dishes are great too.
• The Gumbo Shop - http://www.gumboshop.com/ = Great Cajun and Creole classic dishes for a decent price. Crawfish Etouffe is my personal favorite.
• Mr. B’s - http://www.mrbsbistro.com/index2.php = Hip, contemporary bistro. Great Gumbo Ya Ya and BBQ Shrimp!
• Brennan’s Restaurant - http://www.brennansneworleans.com/ = Very elegant and very old world Southern in it’s service and charm. Renowned for “Breakfast at Brennan’s” which is really brunch. Try a Bloody Mary or Milk Punch before brunch, then settle down for one of many variations of Eggs Benedict followed by either Cherries Jubilee or Bananas Foster. Excellent!
• Antoine’s - http://www.antoines.com/ = Awesome place rich in history and open since the late 1800’s. Come dressed nicely (pants, button up shirt and a coat for men; dress or slacks/blouse for ladies) and not like a tourist to get into some of the better dining halls. Celebrities, Heads of State and even the Pope have dined here! Everything is great here but I particularly like the soft shell crab and Oysters “3 Way” (Rockefeller, Thermidor and A La Foch)

Of course this is just a sampling of restaurants. The list can go on and on!

- Bri