Big Easy and Big Eating

Seafood Gumbo from Deanie's

Seafood, seafood, and seafood. Like Forrest Gump’s friend said, we’ve got jumbo shrimp, jumbalaya shrimp, barbeque shrimp, smothered shrimp….

I am not ashamed to say that I spent most of my time in New Orleans eating! I had several bowls of Gumbo and shrimp jumbalaya. The gumbo is based in a creamy roux base, filled with assorted seafood and white rice. Jumbalaya is less of a soup and is in a tomato base, filled with spicy shrimp. I also had blackened Mahi Mahi, soft shell crabs, broiled oysters stuffed with garlic and parmesean, and the spectacularly comforting crawfish etoufe. I had so many declious meals, but did not manage to try all of the special treats of the city. Shrimp Po’Boy – I’m coming back for you one day.

Another famous New Orleans treat is the Beignet, a flaky fried donut covered, no smothered, in powdered sugar. There were two famous beignet cafes, and you bet I sampled them both.

Also popular is their Café Au Lait, seasoned with chicory, for a rich, savory, dark roasted coffee.

No longer illegal in the US, we  went out for some specialty Absinthe cocktails. I had never had it before, but had heard stories of people hallucinating on the liquor due to its high alcohol content (mine was 134% Proof). Honestly, it was akin to drinking a few regular cocktails. Nothing special – and the liquorish flavor didn’t do it for me, but it was fun to try something new.