24 Hours in New Orleans

I had the privilege of visiting New Orleans for work and was residing here for about two & a half weeks. Though I didn't have extensive free time, I managed to see a bit of the city... which I absolutely fell in love with.

If you've heard anything about New Orleans, you've probably heard the hoopla of the French Quarter. Let me tell you, it lives up to it's hype!

The architecture is amazing- extremely charming. I felt like I was wandering through a different era. It almost has a European feel to it.

First stop... beignets!

Cafe Du Monde is located right along the water. There is plenty of street parking & meters but also a parking lot which you can pay for hourly nearby.

Note: If you're traveling during COVID19, the cafe accepts cash only.

I was thrilled to see local Jazz street performers outside of the cafe giving some nice ambiance.

Nearby, was the famous St. Louis Cathedral church. It is absolutely stunning. Lucky for us, we were exploring on a Sunday and Mass was in session which was unique to see.

We perused through Bourbon Street which was eerily quiet, unlike Marti Gras. It was 90 degrees and humid so we stumbled upon a bar with a beautiful balcony for a beer.

After getting some souvenirs, we made a loop back down towards the water to explore the boats.

Before we went to explore another area, we stopped at Cafe Beignet for an iced coffee... we had some will-power to resist against another batch of yummy treats.

From there, we headed over to the Garden District which was about a 10-15 minute drive from the French Quarter. There's no true specific address, but we used the Lafayette Cemetery as our reference point. The Garden District is known for its historic mansions and beautiful architecture. It's a nice 'stroll through the neighborhood' feel.

Of course since the city is basically underwater, we were bound to get some weather. It was generally partly cloudy... but with the occasional torrential down pour! Luckily, I'm a kid at heart and played in the rain. I had the time of my life, actually. The funny part is, I packed both rain boots and an umbrella but I didn't bother to pay attention to the weather for this particular day. Gotta roll with the punches I guess!

We were starving at this point and made our way to Cochon. The food exceeded my expectations! WHAT A FEAST for my first time experiencing Cajun food!

The 'Crawfish Pie' is a must! I would eat 10 of them if calories didn't count! The 'Macaroni & Cheese Casserole' was also heavenly.

Afterwards, we decided to end the day with some wine. We went to an adorable spot that had a very locals-only vibe. It was quiet, small, and quaint. Definitely check out Bacchanal aka, the Backyard Party!

NOTE: They only serve by the bottle! ... Cheers!

My co-worker and I killed the La Puerta Alta Malbec!

On another day before my trip ended, we were able to sneak away for a few extra hours. Or as I like to call it, last minute Cajun food feast.

Palace Cafe was delicious. It's located right off of Canal Street in the French Quarter. Very walkable area with Street Cars and fun shops.

They offer a 'Coolinary Menu' for two & three course meal options. I decided to ball out & got the three course... zero regrets here!

First course was the 'Crabmeat Cheesecake' with a pecan crust, and creole meuniere.

Second course was the 'Gumbo Ya Ya' aka a Chicken & Sausage Gumbo. It was delicious, smokey, and creamy. I expected it to be heavy, but it was surprising light and hearty.

For the main course, I had the 'Andouille Crusted Fish' (Mahi Mahi) bathing in crystal beurre blanc & chive aioli.

My co-worker and I split the 'White Chocolate Bread Pudding' for dessert. It was warm and yummy. He soon after ditched me to go get a foot massage (I know right?!) and I had the pleasure of exploring on my own.

Naturally, I needed an afternoon pick-me-up and I stumbled upon French Truck Coffee for an afternoon iced Almond Milk Dirty Chai Latte.

Though my time in NOLA was brief, it was well-spent. I can't wait to be back and explore more-in depth.