One of the oldest cities in the US, New Orleans is a wonderful place for tourists to explore. Because it was first established as the capital of the French colony in Louisiana, their culture is mixed with French and other European elements, mostly seen in their architecture and people's way of living.
Now, New Orleans is famous for being the location for the esteemed Mardi Gras festival. But aside from that, did you know that New Orleans is also a good spot for foodies and food travelers? Here are some of their food specialties you should not miss:
Chargrilled Oysters. In the southern states of the US, eating raw oysters are common in every cuisine, but New Orleans made a twist by chargrilling it over open flame, and adding it with their special mixture of breadcrumbs, herbs, cheese, and melted butter. Drago's in Fat City, New Orleans is where this dish originated. So make sure you do a stopover when you decide to travel in the city.
Soufflé Potatoes. In Arnaud's, a famous restaurant in New Orleans that still offers traditional French Creole Menu, this dish is found. It's hard to get a taste of this sumptuous dish anywhere else in the US, because these perfectly good, air-puffed, pillowy fried potatoes are inherently NOLAn. Partner it with a French 75 or Brandy Custa, and it will be very hard for you to leave the restaurant.
Po' Boys. Another New Orleans specialty, Po' Boys were first invented in 1929 to feed the streetcar workers striking in the city. This dish is made by layering seafood such as crispy shrimp or gravy-dripping roasted meat onto an untoasted French Bread, dressed with greens with pickles and mayonnaise. Now, Po' Boys joints are found in almost every corner of the city, but the one restaurant that stands out is Johnny's Po' Boys, a family-owned food joint that's been serving delectable Po' Boys since the 1950's.
Turtle Bolognese. Yep, you heard it right. Instead of beef, NOLAns prefer their Bolognese cooked with turtle, a dish perfected by Chef Justin Devillier. If you want to try something exotic but still wants to have your taste buds dance with delight then this is the dish for you. Cooked with al dente pasta, bucatini, sherry, parsley, and fried soft-boiled egg, you wouldn't notice that you're actually eating a turtle! This dish can be bought in La Petite Grocery (Uptown).
Beignets. When it comes to pastry, this is New Orleans' signature dish. Traditionally eaten during breakfast, a beignet is fried dough with yeast, and dusted with powdered sugar on top. It's not that special, but it's part of the NOLAn history. It was first brought into the city by French Immigrants who became the first European settlers in the city. It tastes just like a doughnut, but more compact and bite-sized. It is also best partnered with coffee.
This article is copyrighted by Travelers Today, the travel news leader
