A Food Hangover Like None Other – Part 1 (Breakfast & Brunch)
It has been at the fore of my mind for quite some time to write about some of my favorite places to dine in New Orleans, a truly wonderful American city with a flavor and culture all its own. I have held back because it is a daunting task. I know I am going to exclude places, which may be some of your personal favorites, because there are just too many places from which to choose. One could stay in NOLA for weeks and still miss out on some phenomenal eats.
I’ve joined my husband on countless numbers of trips over the years, and I always return home happy and full. We call it the “food hangover.” Yes, such a thing is real, my friends. I am usually doubling my treadmill time for several weeks after one of our excursions to the Big Easy. No complaints, though. It. Is. Always. Worth. It.
Our first part in this series on NOLA is going to touch on both mine and some of my collaborators’ favorite breakfast and brunch establishments. If you are not starting your day out in NOLA with heavy food (and a Mimosa or Bloody Mary in hand), I dare say you are not doing it right.
Cajun and Creole classics at The Court of Two Sisters
The Court of Two Sisters – Located in the heart of the French Quarter, there is not a more New Orleans brunch experience than this jazz brunch, which has a buffet chocked full of Cajun and Creole classics. Enjoy the incredible cuisine (I like to get some of EVERYTHING on my plate) and music, all while dining al fresco in its famous courtyard. A cold, crisp white wine always helps get the party started.
Café Beignet – While I know Café Du Monde is the “famous” place to go for beignets and café au laits, Café Beignet has several locations all over the Quarter, and it makes a beignet just as pillowy, sugary, and delicious as Du Monde, but without the waiting and fighting over tables. Of course, I’ll still frequent Du Monde from time to time for the NOLA ambience, but it is really nice to dispatch the hubs to Café Beignet to bring me some coffee and a bag of powdery goodness to enjoy in the hotel bed.
Commander’s Palace – Ladies, don your finery, and put on your sport coats, gentlemen. Located in the city’s famed Garden District, this is about as fancy as one gets for brunch, and it is nothing short of DECADENT. The Jazz Brunch includes mimosas poured with carefree abandon, fresh seafood dishes offerings, and their world famous Turtle Soup au Sherry (finished tableside). If you even think of skipping dessert at Commander’s, please remember all of those ladies on the Titanic who waived away the dessert cart the night the ship went down. That is just how phenomenal their creole bread pudding soufflé and pecan pie a la mode are. You will thank me later.
The “Luke Burger” with homemade house fries and a fresh squeezed mimosa at Luke
Luke – This trendy little place was a revelation to us. A fellow “foodie” told us to check it out on a trip to NOLA few years ago, and it did not disappoint. Located on St. Charles, brunch has a little something for whatever your mood – traditional breakfast, a raw oyster bar and, of course, several creole classics like shrimp & grits. Personally, I’m a big fan of the “Luke Burger,” which comes with Allan Benton’s bacon, Emmanthaler cheese, and the homemade house fries are to die for. Washing all that divine greasiness with a fresh squeezed mimosa always takes me to my happy place. If you are in the mood for a signature drink, the French 75 at Luke will please your palate every time.