Cherry Coffee Roasters
Outside Faulkner House Books in the French Quarter
Oak Alley Plantation
Evergreen Plantation
Bevi Seafood Co.
Cochon Butcher
Revelator Coffee Company
Central City BBQ
Daniel and I tend to go south for our anniversary trips, but not for Florida’s sunshine and sandy beaches. No thank you. We want 60-70* weather and ideally, locations that would be miserable to visit in the summer. Such as, Austin. Or Puerto Rico.
This year, we chose New Orleans and it did not disappoint us.
We had basically 3 goals for the duration of our stay:
1. Eat good food. If you’re familiar with Netflix’s show, “Somebody Feed Phil”, you might know he visited New Orleans and did an episode featuring gumbo, red beans and rice, etc… We took notes and made it to two of the restaurants he ate at: Bevi Seafood Co. and Cochon Butcher. Here is a list of all of the ones Phil visited, with addresses if you are planning a trip here too. With advice from friends who had been to New Orleans before, we looked up the famous beignets (pronounced “ben-YAY”) from the original Cafe Du Monde and throughly enjoyed each bite. I even generously gave some powdered sugar to the birds at my feet when I was done. I hope I didn’t give them high blood sugar.
The last meal of our trip before catching our flight home was at Central City BBQ. Their roasted and marinated brussel sprouts were especially good.
2. Sit long, talk much, read and drink coffee. With no toys, spilled drinks, interrupted conversation, needing to share my cappuccino, or whining from two little humans. (This was an exclusively a Daddy and Mommy trip only. Bless my sister-in-law for keeping the children while we were away.) We visited a different coffee shop each day as follows: Cherry Coffee Roasters, Mammoth Espresso, and Revelator Coffee Company. And talk and read we did. Our time at coffee shops was probably the highlight of our trip. There’s just something about a coffee shop that makes us feel so contented.
3. Visit/see a plantation. We drove past 3 or 4 right along the Mississippi River but opted out of touring the homes or the grounds of any. Unfortunately the entrance fees were somewhat of a deterrent. Maybe another time. That didn’t stop me from snapping a few pictures from the gates out in front though. Oak Alley and Evergreen were especially eye catching.
It was not our purposeful intent to be in New Orleans for Mardi Gras, but we just so happened to be there the week before the parades and festivities reach their peak. So we did get to see parts of a parade, the throwing of beads, and some amazing marching bands. I had no idea Mardi Gras is celebrated in New Orleans from January 6 (Epiphany) all the way up to Fat Tuesday, which is the day before Ash Wednesday. It’s a big deal down there.
Thus we enter another year of happily married life. With all of its challenges and good times combined. The memories we’ve made over the years, especially traveling together, have been the best. I’m already wondering what city we shall explore next year. Suggestions?
Ordinary & Beyond 