Everyday is Fat Tuesday!

Ty has finally had a chance to experience The Big Easy as an adult and has spent the week looking at New Orleans through his wife's eyes, three years after Katrina's evacuation. After the worst camping trip EVER (see previous post...) we got here on a Sunday morning and took some much needed rest in Hillary's former roommates' apartment. We were fortunate to have the place to ourselves for two days and reboot, while soaking up the quintessential Southern spirit. Ty and Hills both agree completely that when walking through New Orleans, it is absolutely impossible not to soak up a certain flavor that seems to simply seep into the skin and get into one's pores. There's not a single place in New Orleans where you won't run into Southern hospitality, some rogues notes of a lively jazz tune, or some absolutely amazing food. And knowing us, you better believe we followed our bellies through some traditional Southern cooking.

With an entire week to spend with our friends, Kristi and Nathan, we had plenty of time to tour uptown (Audubon Park, St. Charles Ave., and the Tulane Campus), downtown (the French Quarter, Jackson Square, Bourbon Street), and the 9th Ward. Jesse rejoined us on Thursday after spending a week with family and his lovely girlfriend, Star. We hit up some traditional joints and tourist attractions this week, but were all able to fit in some new things that even Hills hadn't done while living there.

Some trip highlights:
*Tours around Tulane University
*Runs around New Orleans Uptown to soak in old haunts and nearby above-ground cemeteries
*A streetcar ride downtown to sample some local grub, to check out architecture and the French Market, to have lunch by the Mississippi River, and to introduce Jazz and Southern heat to our dancing daughter (this is a MUST SEE video)
*An afternoon spent at a warm Audubon Park playground, soaking up humidity, meeting local parents and tots, and listening to the hum of the streetcar while playing smash ball
*Stopping at venue after venue for live jazz music

*A boys night out on the town - Jean Lafitte's, Bourbon St., and the Cat's Meow (a karaoke bar)
*A tour through the 9th Ward: Hills had never been to this part of town, so neither Hills nor Ty were really able to recognize a huge difference, although there was definitely a sad and broken down appearance to the area.
*Learning how to suck the heads of crawfish at a traditional neighborhood crawfish boil. Ty is now a pro at peeling off the tails and sucking the flavor out of those guys! This was also a first for Hills
*Catching up with old friends through late hours of the night
*A traditional Jazz brunch with a memorable version of "Baby Face" dedicated to our little "Baby Face"

Restaurant Ratings: (New Orleans is so famous for its culinary hot spots, we had to give you a taste with our own personal ratings!)
Cheesecake Bistro: Good food, but "to die for" cheesecake. We chose the 'dulce du leche and pralines' version of the dessert.

Cafe du Monde: The traditional beignet spot. (A beignet is a puff of fried down with powdered sugar piled on top). Great coffee and creamy hot cocoa. A must for any visitor.

Central Grocery: They serve a good traditional muffaletta, if you like that type of sandwich. Ham, turkey, salami, swiss, and olive tapenade piled onto foccacia bread. It's even better if you split it with the love of your life, picnic-style, next to the Mississippi.

Camelia Grill: An old uptown spot with limited sitting room, this cute old-fashioned lunch counter has the friendliest waiters, best grill, and most mouth-watering piece of pecan pie. Waiters and short-order cooks offer a smile, a quick bite, and a satisfied customer.

Club 300: Great management (our good friends Kristi and Nathan), extremely friendly service, and a really comfortable and vibrant ambiance that lend to a memorable dining and musical experience.

Frankie and Johnny's: Hole-in-the-wall Italian joint with bubbly staff and a traditional New Orleans menu. Hills introduced Aspen to her favorite dish of red beans and rice and Ty sampled a Po Boy; slightly dry, but a satisfying meal with the right sauces.

Port of Call: Said to be the best burger joint by locals and tour books alike, this edge of town place offers mushroom burgers that are only slightly better than a homemade patty, but the baked potatoes are pretty good.

R-Bar: Set deep in the neighborhood streets of the Marigny, this corner bar has a free crawfish boil every Friday evening. The cooks and bartenders are more than happy to give a crawfish peeling lesson for newbies.

Commander's Palace: An upscale spot set in the heart of uptown, this was a must on our last day in town. This place is famous for its "Jazz Brunch," where waiters in tuxedos took our orders while a three-part jazz band played in the background. Entrees include an appetizer and a dessert and we certainly got our fair share of rich Creole cuisine.