Sac Foodies

In anticipation of my culinary adventure to New Orleans, I created a checklist of foods that I must experience in my five days here. The list includes:

1. Savoring a cup of chicory coffee

2. Noshing on a hot, finger-licking beignet

3. Cracking open and eating some Cajun crawfish (bonus points for sucking the head)

4. Enjoying either gumbo or jambalaya

5. Sipping a sweet, refreshing hurricane

I’m proud to say that not only did I accomplish all my gastronomical goals, I did so with vigor. It did help that the International Association of Culinary Professionals conference’s opening night reception offered opportunities to sample most of this delicious, authentic New Orleans cuisine. And yes, I did suck the crawfish head!

After indulging in beignets with chicory coffee (as good as anticipated!), gumbo, jambalaya and crawfish, Kris and I headed over to Pat O’Brien’s to sample their world-famous hurricanes. Sitting out on the patio of this iconic institution, we recounted all the amazing foods we tried on the first day of the conference and reveled in the significance of this historic foodie city that has been through so much these past few years.

By Kim Bedwell