The New Orleans I Never Knew I Could Experience

Our charbroiled oysters with butter, parmesan, and garlic. Wow.

New Orleans! Holy craig where do I even start!? An adventure that I knew would be awesome but didn't know it could be better then I imagined! 

I am so blessed to have gone on this spring break trip. It all started with my sister-in-law….literally my little sister of my heart (God is so good) told me that we had to go on an adventure together for her last spring break before she graduated from college! I didn't think she was serious but our conversations concerning our travels became more frequent and before I knew it I was pressing the "confirm" button on Delta Airlines.com to book our tickets to fly to New Orleans! 
For me there weren't a lot of other options besides visiting Louisiana. You see, I have a number of fantastical friends that live throughout the country but one of my best buddies, whom I refer lovingly to as Little Anna, was one of the only ones I had left to visit! It had been five years since she had moved down south and I knew that if I didn't go I would miss out on a major adventure. Kasie is my ULTIMATE adventure buddy and was easily talked into when I told her how awesome my buddy was, how we'd have a free place to stay, and how fun it was going to be. But holy cannoli batman I COMPLETELY underestimated the awesomeness of this trip. 

I love food. Hence, this blog. I had no idea that this would be the food adventure unlike any other I had ever had before. The first evening began with dinner at one of my buddy's good friend's places. Here we began our food adventure with STRONG "white russians" and classic roast beef po-boys with french bread that had a nice sharp crust ;) We learned that in New Orleans if you wanted something with all the fixins on it you needed to say "dressed". And so began our culinary journey. 

Everything was incredibly tasty on this flavor journey. Whether it was our Community Hazelnut flavored coffee in the morning as we got ready together for our daily adventures or the filet mignon steak we had at Irene's on the night of my birthday celebration. It was all one beautiful memory after another. 

My filet mignon from New Orlean's famous restaurant, Irene's. First time I've ordered from the specials menu ;)

Man, I love food but the memories surrounding the delicious food fed my soul in a way that the most insanely delicious southern smoked giant shrimp never could. From the moment we landed I felt like I was home. Little Anna took every opportunity to love on us and treat us like we were family. Every friend she introduced us to showed us a kind of hospitality I had never before experienced. From spending time with us to treating us to an awesome hole in the wall gourmet hot dog to teaching us how to eat that giant shrimp or a tiny crawfish. I don't think I'll ever have another trip where I get to connect so fantastically with my surroundings. Every experience/adventure was all the more richer because of the people that were experiencing it with us. It didn't matter if I was having a $35 plate of shrimp at a place so fancy they tied your bibs on for you or if I was ordering my own combo of crazy italian sausage and olives with mustard from an open air hot dog joint. It was above and beyond absolutely and completely the people that made this trip what it was:

An unforgettably delicious experience from beginning to end. 

Our very own crawfish boil! One of Little Anna's friends named, Debbie made this happen because she knew it was at the top of my list of things to do on the trip. See the hospitality??!

My favorite meal. We were going to eat oysters but plans changed and we ended up at Dat Dogs. My Italian sausage with an olive tapenade, onions, pepperoncini, and lotsa mustard. ::SIGH:: so good.

Ms. Margie, another one of Little Anna's fantastic friends thought it wasn't right of us to leave town without first trying smoked shrimp. Best I will ever have in my life I'm sure. I mad a crazy mess!!!