Need Recommendations : Visiting late-March/Early-April

[Bhickman]

Hey there. My family and I are planning a trip through a large swath of the south (Tennessee to Louisiana to Georgia to Tennessee and then back to Chicago) and I'm looking for recommendations on places to eat.

What I'm looking for is solid, small places to try the best the city has to offer. We aren't looking for posh, but real food of the city. We're the sort of people that would bristle at the notion of going to a national chain when visiting another city, so don't be shy.

Looking to try authentic gumbo, etouffee, po' boys, alligator, crawfish, pork, the whole bit.

Thanks in advance!

[Brawny]

Don't forget to fill us in after the trip!!!

[Bhickman]

Hey! Thanks to all of you for your suggestions! I wish I had had more time while in NOLA to try more. We didn't go anywhere we couldn't get into without casual clothes, so next time I'm bringing some fancier duds to go to Commander's Palace, Brigsten's, etc.

My favorite places in NOLA were ACME Oyster House (loved the oysters and the oyster/shrimp po' boy) and Cafe Du Monde. And the "Muff" at Central Grocery Co. was fantastic! My family and I shared that on a picnic bench at Oak Alley Plantation.

My wife's friend insisted we go to the Gumbo Shop and that was a disappointment for me and her, but our son loved the crawfish etouffee.

I didn't get to go to Parkways because of it being mostly po' boys and my son not liking his roast beef po' boy from Acme.

We also went to some Cheesecake Bistro our first night there because we were beat from the road and it was right near where we were staying.

I don't feel I took full advantage of my time, but insist I will be going back. I also am bummed that I missed an opportunity to interview Stephen from Cochon while down there, but I'll be conducting a phone interview with him soon.

Thanks again for the suggestions!

[Bhickman]

Just read an article in Gourmet (?) about Parkways Bakery & Tavern. Sounds like that's a real obvious one after reading the article.

[ddavis]

Brigtsen's. Period.

[Bhickman]

Brigtsen's looks great. Nice suggestion.

[nikinik]

Although The Joint puts out some pretty good BBQ...with this being New Orleans and since your trip includes Tennessee...I wouldn't waste stomach space in New Orleans eating BBQ.

[thecajunfoodie]

Could not have said it better myself nikinik. Don't forget about rural Alabama and Georgia for some killer BBQ too, but that is a different topic...

I think edible complex's choices are otherwise solid.

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www.thecajunfoodie.com

[Bhickman]

thanks! we just narrowed the trip down today to just include Memphis & New Orleans, with the bulk of the trip spent in New Orleans. I cannot wait.

[thecajunfoodie]

While we're talking Memphis, you've got to try Rendezvous and Interstate BarBQ for opposite, yet excellent, ends of the spectrum when it comes to ribs.

I could wait for a table for hours at Rendezvous with a cold beer and their sausage and cheese plate in hand.

Sorry for going out of state with the convo, but I couldn't contain myself...

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www.thecajunfoodie.com

[nikinik]

We're riding each others brain waves on this one...as I was going to suggest Rendezvous! Yum!

Also...it's VERY touristy...but stop in at the Kooky Canuck just to get a sight of the the Kookamonga buger. It's been on all of the "eat yourself sick" food challenges. And the food there is actually pretty good. And you can't beat $4 for a 33 oz. beer!

www.kookycanuck.com

[Bhickman]

cajunfoodie & kookycanuck - just looked over Rendezvous and that will definitely be in our plans. Thanks!

cajunfoodie - are you actually in New Orleans?

[thecajunfoodie]

I agree that Rendezvous is touristy but that is one place where I would wear a fanny pack, straw hat AND a Hawaiian shirt if I could get some ribs there.

BHickman- The primary authors on our blog live in New Orleans, Baton Rouge, Thibodaux and Opelousas.

As for our presence on chowhound and elsewhere, we all do a little of the posting, but I (Tommy) do a lot of the writing on both the blog (under my name) and elsewhere (as The Cajun Foodie) and I currently live in Opelousas. Also, I do a good bit of traveling throughout Louisiana and am lucky enough to pass through and eat in both small towns and our larger cities.

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www.thecajunfoodie.com

[coolfoodie]

Definitely have a fried oyster po'boy at Parkway Bakery (it's a pub, not a bakery) - the best! Try the gumbo at Orleans Grapevine. And anything/everything at Cochon.

[JazzyB]

Bozo's (21st St., Metairie) best oyster po boy. Central Grocery for a muff. for the return trip, Mr. B's (strictly for Gumbo Ya Ya and bar-b-que shrimp). Stick to the apps./sides at Cochon.

[Bhickman]

These are some great suggestions! Thanks!

Less than 2 weeks we'll be in Crescent City. I cannot wait. Just watched the new concert film by the Chicago rock band Wilco and they have some performances at Tipitina's. Would love to be able to see a show at that legendary venue while we're there.

[edible complex]

Cochon, Parkway Bakery, The Galley Seafood, Rivershack Tavern, Boucherie, Central Grocery, Liuzza's, Parasol's, Jack Dempsey's, The Joint

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Liuzza's By the Track
1518 N Lopez St, New Orleans, LA 70119

Cochon
930 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, LA 70130

Jack Dempsey's Restaurant
738 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117

Parkway Bakery & Tavern
538 Hagan Ave, New Orleans, LA 70119

Central Grocery Co
923 Decatur St, New Orleans, LA 70116

Galley Seafood Restaurant
2535 Metairie Rd, Metairie, LA 70001

Parasol's Restaurant
2533 Constance St, New Orleans, LA 70130

Rivershack Tavern
3449 River Rd, Jefferson, LA

The Joint
801 Poland Ave, New Orleans, LA 70117