For our summer vacation this year we decided to visit beautiful Alabama and take in the turquoise water and white, powdery sand that is the Gulf coast! We spent a full week enjoying the sun, sand and relaxation by the sea.
There is definitely something to be said for just a beach chair, sand and the sounds of the ocean. Of course, the sounds of two toddlers and three school age kids are pretty good too!
We had all discussed visiting New Orleans while down South, so when the opportunity presented itself in the form of Mother Nature's volatility, we decided to make the 3 1/2 hour drive to the "Big Easy." After 13 people piled up in 2 vehicles (We all had a seat belts, don't worry!), we headed across the coast. The drive was beautiful and something to really take in. It was interesting and almost a bit emotional to see the remnants of hotels and establishments left from Hurricane Katrina and Rita. We decided to stop in Biloxi, MI at the Hard Rock Cafe and Casino. We left $20.00 in the positive due to a couple of good rounds at the craps table. ;-)
We finally arrived in New Orleans around 1:00. While there we enjoyed a stroll down Bourbon St., the sights and sounds of the city, the French Market and enjoyed true Louisiana cuisine. On the menu for dinner was a well known restaurant, The Gumbo Pot. The Gumbo Pot serves authentic New Orleans dishes including gumbo, jambalaya and red beans and rice! This "ain't no" Zatarain's commercial, no offense.
Jason had the Creole Combo which featured Louisiana jambalaya, shrimp creole and crawfish étouffée, and Audra had an appetizer of Boudin Balls and a side of jambalaya.
Boudin Balls are a Cajun favorite! It's essentially a deep fried batter stuffed with sausage and rice. Talk about savory. We had to try them! When in Rome, right?!
Speaking of Cajun favorites…Many have asked the question what is the difference between Cajun and Creole? Well, apparently it's pretty simple, Cajun cuisine uses tomatoes and Creole does not, according to Louisianan native and BBQ expert Jay Ducote. He goes on to say in his article for the Menuism BBQ Blog, that "an over-simplified way to describe the two cuisines is to deem Creole cuisine "city food" and Cajun cuisine "country food."' Jay explains in his article, that Cajun is a term for French colonists from the Acadia region of Canada, who were forcibly moved from their homes and ended up settling in the swamps of Louisiana. Creole describes settlers in French colonial New Orleans, LA. These were of French and Spanish upper-class. This term also refers to the native-born slaves of African descent and those who were freed. A French Creole has European ancestry and a Louisiana Creole is someone of mixed racial ancestry. Just as the people of Creole and Cajun descent were different so is the food. Creole food tends to feature more exotic ingredients from a wide mix of cultures and Cajun utilizes onion, celery and bell pepper to create dishes. Also, an interesting difference is in the roux. Creole roux is made with butter and flour and a Cajun roux is made with oil and flour. Now that you all know the difference, you can eat at any restaurant that deems itself authentic N'awlins style and be a bonafide food critic!
So, we ended our little road trip to New Orleans full of culture, new experiences and FOOD. It was definitely a city we will be visiting again! Does this make you want to search for an authentic New Orleans restaurant to try out? Or better yet does it make you want to visit the big city itself? We hope so!
Love and Cheat Days,
J & A
Source:
Ducote, Jay, Menuism BBQ Blog, "Cajun vs. Creole: What's The Difference? "http://www.huffingtonpost.com/Menuism/cajun-vs-creole_b_1447822.html
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