The Best New Orleans Restaurants

Food is to New Orleans what wine is to France: the city is celebrated worldwide for its delicious albeit unwholesome cuisine. A plethora of restaurants exist at which to enjoy Creole and Cajun cooking. Picking the city’s best poses a challenge especially after eating one’s way to a larger dress size. But here are several standouts. Important caveat: few options exist for vegetarians. Always ask your server for non-meat options as that bowl of rice and beans invariably contains ham.

Café Fleur-de-Lis: Named after the symbol of New Orleans, Café Fleur-de-Lis is the place to get breakfast in the French Quarter. Guests wait in long lines to order from a delicious menu of local favorites including seafood omelets oozing with crawfish and shrimp, ham-filled muffaletta sandwiches and gut-busting “everything” hash browns. The last overflows with bacon, sausage, ham, cheese and country gravy and is immensely satisfying. Remember to wear elastic-waist pants.

Cochon: The name—the French word for pig— says it all. From fried boudin to Lousiana pulled pork, Cajun eatery Cochon has pork lovers covered. The boudin balls are served with stone ground mustard and pickled peppers that are the most lovingly made finger food in the history of mankind. The Lousiana cochon is a $22 plate of pulled pork that may not make intuitive sense—cheaper versions are almost as good— but chef Stephen Stryjewski’s attentiveness turns the dish into a white table cloth entrée good enough to name a restaurant after. But the real star of the dish is the cracklins. If Cochon wanted to, it could have an instant, multi-million dollar side business selling these lightly fried crispy pork rinds by the bag. Diners can take home slabs of bacon and pounds of andouille sausage at the restaurant’s butcher shop next door even if the cracklins aren’t for sale.

Emeril’s Delmonico: Emeril Lagasse is neither Creole nor Cajun but the famous chef cooks some of the most authentic examples of both. While his Emeril’s New Orleans gets most of the tourist dollars, Emeril’s Delmonico is his true homage to Creole cooking. Start with the marinated golden beets with homemade yogurt, pinenuts and date molasses. It’s a unique but flavorful combination and I wish I had ordered two servings of it. The crispy pork cheek is a menu standout. Kudos to Lagasse and chef de cuisine Spencer Minch. Served over rich, semi-spicy Creole dirty rice, it’s tender and succulent and probably the most delicious pork dish my companion has ever had. Steaks are dry-aged in house so make sure to order one and pair it with a Shiraz or Cabernet Sauvignon from the restaurant’s extensive wine list.

5 Fifty 5: A great restaurant at the Marriott hotel? Balderdash, you say! But it’s true. Utilizing fresh ingredients and local produce, executive chef Mark Quitney creates some of the tastiest charbroiled oysters and flavorful fried green tomatoes this side of the Mississippi. Don’t forget to try the lobster macaroni and cheese with a side of Abita beer-battered onion rings. Diet be damned!

Lil Dizzy’s Café: Soul food is a Southern staple and New Orleans has its fair share of soul food hangouts, the best of which is local favorite Lil Dizzy’s Café. Go on Sunday for the affordable brunch buffet. You’ll rub shoulders with diehard Saints fans and dine on a variety of authentic Southern food such as fried chicken, grits, hot sausage and some of the best gumbo around.

Mahony’s Po-Boy Shop: You can’t go to New Orleans and not indulge in a po’ boy. Mahony’s Po-Boy Shop deep in the Garden District has some of the best fried sandwiches in New Orleans. There’s the pot roast beef po’ boy and the fried chicken liver and creole slaw po’ boy. If you want something over the top try “The Peacemaker.” It’s a fried oyster po’ boy covered with bacon and cheddar cheese. If you’re not that adventurous, a classic catfish po’ boy is mouthwateringly delicious. Prices are a little steep for what is essentially New Orleans street food and service can be very spotty, but you won’t regret the long walk from the Quarter.

Café Fleur-de-Lis
307 Chartres Street
New Orleans, L.A. 70130
504/6551806

Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas Street
New Orleans, L.A. 70130
504/588-2123

Emeril’s Delmonico
1300 St. Charles Avenue
New Orleans, L.A. 70130
504/525-4937

5 Fifty 5
555 Canal Street
New Orleans, L.A. 70130
504/553-5638

Lil Dizzy’s Café
1500 Esplanade Avenue
New Orleans, L.A. 70116
504/569-8997

Mahony’s Po-Boy Shop
3454 Magazine Street
New Orleans, L.A. 70115
504/889-3374

This article was originally published on GoodLife Report and has been republished by Pursuitist by permission of GoodLife Report

The post The Best New Orleans Restaurants appeared first on Pursuitist.

from Pursuitist

The Best Things To Do In Palm Springs

Thanks to new hotels, restaurants and festivals, Palm Springs is experiencing a cyclical renaissances of sorts. Similar to swings in the stock market, Palm Springs has a way of falling out of grace for years at a time only to roar back into vogue.

It is currently enjoying a resurgence with the old guard giving way to millennials who, whether it be the draw of the Coachella Music Festival or the comfort of dry desert air, sunny skies and swank pool scenes, flock to Palm Springs like generations past. But it’s not just the L.A. crew getting in on the fun. In 2012, Virgin America began offering nonstop flights from Kennedy Airport to the two-runway Wexler-designed Palm Springs International Airport, making a trip to this desert oasis easier than ever.

So where should you hang your hat while in Palm Springs? While it’s certainly fun to get out and see the town, some places make it easy—if not preferable—to stay put in one location.

Parker Palm Springs

The Parker (sister hotel to Le Parker Meridien in New York) mixes casual, old school “Cali” with a bright, modern, yet minimalist facade. In addition to their signature restaurant, Mister Parker’s, the hotel houses Minibar, a retro cocktail lounge with light snacks, and Norma’s, an all-day diner. The centerpiece of the 13-acre property is the legendary pool. Towel claims start at the crack of dawn, so be sure to mark your chair early. A second, smaller salt-water pool is quieter and has an accompanying whirlpool. Adjacent to the pool is the Lemonade Stand where you can cool off and quench your thirst with a lemonade made from fresh SoCal lemons. And of course “adult beverage” lemonades are available as well. The parker also offers a 16,500-square-foot spa, lawn croquet, pétanque, golf and tennis.

If the afternoon libation leaves you wanting more in the relaxation department, head to the Palm Springs Yacht Club (PSYC). A yacht club in the middle of the desert you ask? While the spa — which is open to the public — offers some serious pampering, it’s the sort of luxury experience that doesn’t take itself too seriously.

Dining out in downtown Palm Springs certainly has it’s place, but The Parker happens to be home to Mister Parker’s—a classic in it’s own right that can easily persuade guests into staying put. Beyond the velvet curtain entrance is a dining area that is more gentleman’s club than restaurant, with dark-wood paneling, a mirrored ceiling, and seductive artwork that begs for oysters and a Martini. The modern French/continental cuisine fits the décor and overall vibe with dressed up favorites like braised wagyu short rib, pistachio-crusted rack of lamb and duck confit with truffled potatoes. The dark, velvety, Palm Springs-of-old feel that Mister Parker’s exudes is exactly what the doctor ordered after a long day in the sun.

Ace Hotel & Swim Club

The kitschy-meets-mod decor is unique and quirky, and serves a greater purpose than simply transporting you from the humdrum everyday; it also happens to care for our earth. Its sustainable elements include recycled materials, low VOC (low volatile organic chemical) paint and repurposed furniture.

The vintage feel doesn’t stop there. Unlike some hotels, rooms at the Ace are individual. Some feature outdoor patios, some fireplaces; some have record players and vinyl at the ready. Shampoo is from drugstore-esque brand Rudy’s Barbershop, and the minibars boast a delicious comfort food staple: cheesy popcorn. Add to these deliberately cozy elements Ace’s dog-friendly policy, and it’s easy to see this haven as a home away from home.

If you’re feeling sociable, leave your room and snuggle up at one of the hotel’s communal fireplaces or listen to live music at the Amigo Room Bar.

Have little ones in tow? Drop them off at the playroom on your way to bingo or take them with you to a crafting session where they can participate in interactive workshops including leatherwork, underwater photography and creative cookie making. Join in on sunrise yoga or watch them let loose at the skateboarding 101 class, then cap off a funfilled day by sitting under a starry sky and listening to stories.

Of course, the adults will want to indulge a bit; it is a vacation after all. That’s where the Feel Good Spa comes in, offering indulgent organic treatments and wellness classes that focus on areas such as aromatherapy and raw foods. Book a facial, a hot stone massage or a natural body mask brushing, and allow all your stresses to fade away.

Dinner at Ace leans a little more casual. Ace partnered with Jud Mongell and Ken Addington — the team behind Brooklyn’s Five Leaves and their own L.A. Chapter — to revitalize King’s Highway, the roadside diner at Ace Hotel & Swim Club. Formerly a Denny’s restaurant, Jud and Ken’s carefully cultivated menu focuses on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients, re-imagining desert fare to celebrate the bohemian spirit of the West. From a sage scramble egg sandwich at breakfast to mahi mahi fish tacos and buttermilk fried jidori chicken with habanero honey for lunch and dinner, the options will satisfy a variety of cravings.

This article was originally featured on GoodLife Report. Reprinted with permission.

The post The Best Things To Do In Palm Springs appeared first on Pursuitist.

from Pursuitist

Piaggio Gita Cargo Bot

Chefs Share 16 Dishes They Hate Making

Chefs share the dishes the dishes and ingredients they hate prepping and cooking.

from Fine Dining Lovers

Ramsay's Top 5 Shutdowns

Watch five of the best clips of Gordon Ramsay shutting down service in restaurants that really shouldn’t be serving food to diners.

from Fine Dining Lovers

I want a ranch holiday… what sort of ranch do I want?

The answer will depend, as always, as to who you are and what you would like from your holiday.  Ranches in both the US and  Canada are broadly split into four types which range from simple accommodation on working ranches to luxurious accommodation with spas and every wish catered for. The only common denominator is […]

I want a ranch holiday… what sort of ranch do I want? is a post from A Luxury Travel Blog

The post I want a ranch holiday… what sort of ranch do I want? appeared first on A Luxury Travel Blog.

from A Luxury Travel Blog

The Ten Commandments of Travel Blogging

We always see those oh-so-perfect colour co-ordinated Instagram feeds, the life of a travel blogger always seems so ideal. But things can sometimes go so horribly wrong…follow my ten commandments of travel blogging to avoid sticky situations…

1. Thou Shall Not Work with Animals or Children…

And if you do, never get in the way of them sneezing.

2. Thou Shall Keep a Firm Hold of Your Valuables

Or face the consequences…read about the time I *almost* lost my wedding ring whilst travelling First Class with British Airways.

3. Thou Shall Find the Right Travel Companion

I’d be in trouble if I didn’t say Mr S was my perfect travel companion, read my top tips for travelling as a couple to avoid unnecessary fall outs.

4. Thou Shall Travel to the Right Place and The Right time of Year
Avoid fog in San Francisco, the rainy season in the Caribbean and the crowds in Rome by checking out my guide of where to go, and when.

5. Thou Shall Always keep Spare Underwear in your Hand Luggage…
Read all about how I had to spend days wearing Mr S’s underpants after my luggage didn’t turn up.

6. Thou Shall Not Give in to FOMO

Never try and see so much that you end up feeling exhausted! Read my tips to avoid encountering the dreaded Fear of Missing Out!

7. Thou Shall Plan Meticulously to get the Best out of you Trip 
Read my tips on how to get your spreadsheets in order so you don’t end up missing out on the best a destination has to offer.

8. Thou Shall Read other Blog Posts to find the Best Things to Do
You know your favourite bloggers so check out what they did in order to avoid making mistakes… Read my favourite travel resources…

9. Thou Shall Always Get the Best Deals…but Never Compromise
Read my advice for travelling in luxury for less, whilst still staying in the best places.

10. Thou Shall Get Some Relaxation Time

Don’t kill yourself with creating content make sure you get some pool time! Here are my top hotel pools…
And my top private pools…

Those are my top tips for avoiding travel disaster! What are yours? 

An InLinkz Link-up

The post The Ten Commandments of Travel Blogging appeared first on SilverSpoon London.

from SilverSpoon London