Bacon
Happy (^) Hour
My first visit to NOLA and I was surprised how small
and charming the French Quarter is. One pass of tacky
Bourbon Street was enough for me but wandering the
cobblestone streets, listening to music and seeking our
holes-in-the wall with legendary eats, was a blast.
BETTER WITH BACON
Can you believe it? Free bacon with your
drink! And it’s not just a gimmick, the wine
list at the Orleans Grapevine is sophisticated
and you can order tasting flights at Happy
Hour prices. The tiny courtyard out back has
a fountain and a few tables, snag a seat there
if you can. http://www.orleansgrapevine.com
Cool Tunes, Good Eats
I lucked out at Marigny Brasserie on
Frenchmen Street as fried green tomatoes
were on the menu and local musician Salvatore
Geloso was laying it down. Dude’s a dedicated
street musician and if you can track him down,
you won’t regret it. Frenchmen Street has a
block party vibe and plenty of jazz venues.
Waaay cooler than Bourbon Street. https://
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Some Kinda Sarnie
It’s the signature sandwich from NOLA and
there’s no better Muffaletta than the original
made to order at Central Grocery and Deli on
Decatur Street. The secret is the olive salad
that’s layered in with the cold cuts and cheese.
Eat in at the counter or get it to go but be
prepared to queue if you go around the lunch
hour. http://www.centralgrocery.com
STICKY FINGERS
They say that ordering beignets and coffee
at Café du Monde is mandatory for visitors
to NOLA but one look at the tourist hordes
massed beneath the green and white awning
sent me scuttling. The good news is that Café
Beignet’s sugar-powdered pastries are every
bit as good and they have two locations in
the French Quarter. http://www.cafebeignet.com
ONLY FOR GROWNUPS
The Sazerac is NOLA’s signature
drink. It’s a potent cocktail,
made with whiskey, bitters and
absinthe. The version I had at
Muriel’s, on a verandah with a
view of the street performers
in Washington Square, was
devilishly delicious. Muriel’s is
housed in a former bordello —
this gorgeous heritage building,
reputedly haunted, is well worth
a peak. http://www.muriels.com
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