New Orleans Trip – Day 1 of 4

French Quarter, New Orleans, LA.

This is part of the series on New Orleans travel.  For the next post visit:

New Orleans Trip – Day 1 of 4

International Food Bloggers Conference

Day 1

This Fall, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel to New Orleans to attend the International Food Bloggers Conference.

As a brand new food blogger, I was obviously excited to go learn about how to become a better blogger.  However, I was even more excited to get spend 4 days in New Orleans’ famous French Quarter, precisely on Bourbon Street.  That’s one more checked off my bucket list!  Yay!

Over the next two weeks I plan to share with you restaurant ideas, recipes, travel tips, and other useful information about New Orleans.

New Orleans Bourbon Street after 5PM

So, my Lyft driver had to drop me off down the street from my hotel.  This was because Bourbon Street was blocked off.

The first thing I learned was that Bourbon Street is closed after 5PM.  It was packed with people.  There was musicians with their instruments; would-be musicians beating on makeshift instruments (like paint cans); and tourists dancing.  It was pretty much a big old party in the middle of a street!

Travel Tip: Cars cannot get though on Bourbon street after 5PM.  You will have to walk to your hotel.  Bring comfortable shoes.

New Orleans Weather

After I started walking on the street, I really hit me how hot and very humid it was.  Being from California, I am used to heat.  However, this is something different.  You get drenched just by standing outside.  Your glasses fog up.  It’s that humid.

Travel Tip: New Orleans is hot and very humid.  Pack accordingly.

The Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans

The International Food Bloggers conference was headquartered at the Royal Sonesta Hotel on the famous Bourbon Street in the French Quarter of New Orleans.  Good job convention committee!  Our hotel was set in a classic brick building with a Gallery (basically, a larger version of a balcony) that New Orleans architecture is so known for.

In the center of our hotel was a beautiful Courtyard.  It looked like the secret garden.  This was the perfect place to have a quiet moment, away from the noise of Bourbon street.

Walking tour of New Orleans

Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel

After I got settled in, I joined a large group of my fellow convention attendees for a evening walking tour the area.  One of the first stops was at the Roosevelt, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel.  We dropped in to their elegant bar for a drink.

The majority of our group ordered this drink named the Sazerac.  It should be noted that the Sazerac is New Orleans’ Official cocktail.  Its has actually been around since the 1800’s.

Pythian Market

After a few more stops, the group headed to what was described as an upper scale food court.  My first thought was, oh great, I came all the way from California to Louisiana, and I’m going to a food court.  However, I was pleasantly surprised.

The name of the food court was Pythian Market.  After a quick look around, I decided to try two of their eateries.

14 Parishes eatery

The first was a Jamaican eatery named 14 Parishes.  They had many great choices.  I decided on the Jerk Chicken with Plantains and Jazmine rice.  The chicken was tender, pleasantly spicy, and full of flavor.  Along with the chicken came two sides.  The first side I chose was the plantains.  The second side was the Jazmine rice.

Next, I spotted an oyster bar named Cru.  How often do you see an oyster bar in a food court? I decided to try the Tempura Fried Oyster appetizer.  What came out of the kitchen blew me away (in a good way)!  Not only were those oyster delicately fried, they were topped with Tuna Tartare and Caviar!  Seriously!  Wow!  It tasted as good as it looked!

After a few more stops with the group, I decided to call it a night.

This wraps day one in New Orleans.