Beignets, gumbos, po’boys, oysters and other foods at iconic (and sometimes centuries-old) addresses around the city
In addition to jazz, New Orleans It is also synonymous with great gastronomy. After all, African, French and Spanish roots have left their mark not only on architecture but also on well-seasoned food. The following list presents the flavors and addresses of the city (new or classic):
1. Antonio’s
713 St. Louis Street
OR Antonio’s It’s time travel. Inaugurated by Antoine Alciatore in 1840, the restaurant is managed by the fifth generation of the family and gave birth to Oysters Rockefeller, a dish that has become an icon of the New Orleans .
The recipe was created by Antoine’s son Jules in 1899. Baked, the oysters are covered in a sauce made from butter, breadcrumbs, parsley and other green herbs (the exact recipe is kept secret).
The grilled oysters are also worth ordering, which I admit I liked even more. In this case the oysters are gratinated in the oven with butter, olive oil, garlic and cheese. The rest of the menu remains seafood-focused, but there are meat and chicken options as well.
Among the desserts, Baked Alaska causes a sensation every time someone orders it in the dining room: the cake with ice cream has a thick layer of meringue, which is burned at the table.
The restaurant has always been on St Louis Street, a French Quarter but not exactly in the same building: in 1868, the Antonio’s he moved to number 713, a block away from his first address.
In other words, even though it’s not the original, the room is still very old, with chandeliers hanging from the ceiling and walls lined with photos of famous people who dined there, including Franklin Roosevelt, Tom Cruise and Whoopi Goldberg. Even the more formal service and waiters in suits contribute to creating a unique atmosphere.
two. Brennan’s Restaurant
417 Royal Street
The most iconic breakfast in the world New Orleans is that of Brennan’s . Run since 1946 by the Brennan family, the restaurant is famous for inventing Bananas Foster, served with ice cream and a sauce made from butter, brown sugar and rum.
Another house classic is the Eggs Hussarde, poached eggs on slices of English muffins accompanied by bacon, Hollandaise sauce and wine sauce.
The restaurant was initially located on Bourbon Street, but in 1956 it moved to 417 Royal Street, where it is located today.
The pink mansion it occupies is special: it was built in 1795 by the grandfather of the painter Edgar Degas (whose maternal family was a major cotton producer in New Orleans), became the headquarters of the first bank of the state of Louisiana and later was the residence by chess champion Paul Morphy.
The palace inside French Quarter It underwent extensive renovations and reopened in 2014, with patterned wallpaper, murals depicting 19th-century Mardi Gras floats, and mirrors painted with flamingos, peacocks, and other birds.
3. Café du Monde
800 Decatur Street
Among the delicacies introduced by the French, New Orleans they are coffee and cream puffs, which are the two items that make up the menu Café du Monde a local institution on Decatur Street in French Quarter since 1862.
The coffee served there is full of history. During the American Civil War, the custom was adopted New Orleans to mix coffee, which was in short supply, with chicory, an herb that adds a chocolatey flavor to the drink. The most traditional is to drink it with milk.
If you approve of the blend, know that it is possible to buy coffee with chicory in vintage cans – even decaffeinated – in the shop. Café du Monde which is across the street (nº 813).
To accompany, the cream puffs, rectangular sweets of fried dough, sprinkled with lots of sugar, reminiscent of a lighter version of our cupcakes. The portion is made up of three units.
Because he is very famous, the Café du Monde There are queues at any time of the day. I decided to face it and, when I got to the checkout, I discovered that they only accept cash and I didn’t have a single coin in my pocket. The solution was to find an ATM and come back later. The prices are very fair: the three cream puffs cost 3.85 dollars and the coffee with chicory and milk 2.94 dollars.
Over time: Other units throughout the city have fewer lines and accept cards. But the original address is Decatur Street.
4. Coffee Bignè
622 Canal Street (and other units)
Much newer than Café du Monde, the Coffee Bignè opened in 1990, it also serves chicory coffee and cream puffs. The desserts are fried to order, as orders arrive, and they seemed even better than those of the more famous competitor.
There are three drives on major roads in the French Quarter : on Decatur Street (#600), on Royal Street (#334) and on Bourbon Street (#311). The latter offers live jazz every day.
More recently, a fourth unit opened in a beautiful 1800s building on Canal Street (nº 622), where the big hotel chains are located.
5. Route towards the Mer
Via Canale, 2
For some time, the tallest building in Europe New Orleans it was a 33-story building on Canal Street, facing the Mississippi River. The 1967 skyscraper was designed by modernist architect Edward Durell Stone, the same architect of the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA) and Radio City Music Hall in New York.
The building was in very poor condition after the crisis caused by Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Until it underwent three years of renovations and was reopened in 2021 with the observatory Vue Orleans above is the hotel Four Seasons on the other floors.
Synonymous with luxury, the Canadian hotel chain has called upon renowned local chef Donald Link to lead it Route towards La Mer a restaurant on the fifth floor that enjoys a beautiful view of the Mississippi River.
The menu is full of typical Louisiana Cajun dishes, such as gumbo, a seafood chowder served with white rice. Others have a more French twist, like duck confit.
My choice fell on the Ora King salmon, brought from New Zealand, served on a bed of lentils, an important ingredient of Cajun cuisine. The combination is surprisingly delicious. Among the desserts, the chocolate mousse with creme anglaise is divine.
6. Dooky Chase’s restaurant
2301 Orleans Avenue
Opened in 1941 by the Chase family, who continue to operate the restaurant, the Dooky Chase’s restaurant it was a meeting point New Orleans for meetings on the civil rights of African Americans.
Even today, African American culture is present through the art collection that decorates the walls and authentic Creole cuisine.
Lunch Tuesday through Sunday consists of daily local dishes, such as rice and beans (which taste slightly different than ours) and po’boys (baguette sandwiches, usually filled with breaded shrimp).
The centerpiece is the house gumbo, a stew served with white rice that contains crab, shrimp, chicken, two types of sausage, ham and veal breast.
For Friday and Saturday dinners the menu includes some new features such as Gamberi Clemenceau, prawns served with potatoes, mushrooms and peas.
The restaurant is outside the French Quarter, but relatively close to it. From Jackson Square it’s about a 30-minute walk or 10-minute drive.
OR Dooky Chase’s restaurant He has already received visits from celebrities such as Ray Charles, Beyoncé, Jay-Z and former President Barack Obama.
7. Johnny’s Po-Boys
511 St. Louis Street
Sandwiches made from baguettes were consumed mainly by poor young people in Louisiana. Therefore, they were called “po’boys” or “po-boys”, a combination of the English words poor (poor) e lad (lad).
There are also meat fillings, but most snacks are based on fish and seafood, especially breaded shrimp. The most common accompaniments are mayonnaise, lettuce and tomato.
The po’boys, considered the best in the city, are generally away from the more touristy area New Orleans . But the Johnny’s Po-Boys which has been around since 1950, is a great option in the heart of French Quarter .
Just pay attention to the opening hours so as not to find the place closed, as happened to me. The snack bar is only open from Thursday to Sunday, from 8:00 to 15:30.
8. Peche
Via delle magazines 800
In a new part of the city, a five-minute walk from the unmissable T The National World War II Museum and fifteen minutes from the point of view Vue Orleans or Peche is the result of a collaboration between chefs Stephen Stryjewski, Ryan Prewitt and Donald Link – also from Route towards La Mer mentioned above.
Ingredients are sourced from local fishermen and organic farms to create contemporary dishes that blend influences from South America, Spain and Louisiana itself. The stars of the menu are the oysters, harvested from the Gulf of Mexico.
Both the seafood gumbo and coconut milk shrimp, served with dumplings and fried rice, were delicious and spicy. They paired well with albariño, a white wine from Spain’s Galicia region.
The atmosphere is cool, with exposed wooden beams, brick walls and fish paintings.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
