Food can tell you so much about a place, a culture, an history, a moment in time. Which is why one of my favorite ways to experience a new city is to do a food tour and what better place than the melting pot of New Orleans. We learned about Creole and Cajun food, and what differentiates them – sauces, alcohol and tomato – all pointers to the higher brow Creole cooking. We heard stories of how the different settlers of New Orleans and Louisiana – French, Germans, Italians, African, Irish and more – all brought something to the table, adding their own favors to the mix. We saw bread pudding with hard sauce being made, along with gumbo, jambalaya and sweetest of the sweet pecan pralines. New Orleans has been a feast for the senses.

Special delivery all the way from England for Baby Boy O. It talks with an English accent too

Breakfast nawlins style with eggs on cochon and biscuits

Exploring on foot

Q&A session

French quarter sightseeing

Looking to spice things up

Getting ready at the New Orleans cooking school

Biscuit starter with sweet molasses

Everyone got in on the action

Watching Michael bring it all come together – gumbo, jambalaya, bread pudding and pralines

Different shades of roux

Keeping himself entertained…for almost three hours

Delectable sweet buttery pecan pralines

Buskers on Royal St

Good to know it doesn’t come with any added extras

Next part of the foodie tour in the hallowed dining rooms of Antoine’s

Each Krewe with its Kings and Queens of Mardi Gras

Sandy taking us to try Remoulade shrimp, the German side of New Orleans

Fine dining in the back room

Party gal Germaine’s Mardi Gras ball gowns

Grandstanding

Strolling by St Louis Cathedral listening to the jazz

Someone held up very well, having been out all day

Last stop for beef brisket

And world famous grasshopper cocktails (yuck!)

Little rebel

Having a good hard look

We’ve taken a bite out of New Orleans, now New Orleans is taking a bite out of me!

Where’s my mummy?
Yesterday’s post: Planes, Trains and Automobiles
Tomorrow’s post: Snap Happy in the French Quater