People often ask me for recommendations for the places I've been - here are some I'm asked about the most
New Orleans
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If it's a 1st visit - take a carriage ride tour through the french quarter - it's worth it
in the quarter pop into the Historic New Orleans Collection - 533 Royal - nice quick little "museum" the permanent collection is a great history of NOLA and they usually have interesting rotating exhibits http://www.hnoc.org
Kitchen Witch cookbooks - 631 Toulouse St, - For anyone who likes to cook –this is a great little shop!! In addition to local and new cookbooks, it is a treasure trove of old cookbooks! UPDATE - the book store relocated to 1452 N Broad St http://kwcookbooks.com
Hansens Sno Bliz – 4801 Tchoupitoulas St - New Orleans version of water ice (but not exactly the same) open seasonally http://www.snobliz.com
Tee Eva’s pie shop - 5201 Magazine St – this is a walk up and take out hand pies http://www.tee-evapralines.com
The French Market – big open air market food and souvenirs
Magazine Street – Garden District – lots of great shops and bars/restaurants
Fun things to do with kids (or without):
City Park – just a nice park area and storybook land
Audobon Zoo – and Audobon Park – the "Fly" is the levee behind the zoo – Christmas eve they have the bonfires lit up – the Fly is a fun place with things happening – you may find crawfish boils (in season) happening, be friendly and you may get invited to join!
Audobon Aquarium
Mardi Gras World – Ferry ride to Algiers Point – not my favorite but the kids may like it, it houses all the big floats from the parades
World War II museum - 945 Magazine St,
Children’s Museum - 420 Julia St
The Quarter Stitch - 629 Chartres St - if you knit or do needlepoint, this shop is fabulous!! http://www.quarterstitch.com/
for breakfast - there are lots of good "big" breakfast buffets –
Court of Two Sisters - 613 Royal St - has the requisite Jazz brunch which is very good and needs to be done http://www.courtoftwosisters.com/
Brennans – 417 Royal - for a long time this was synonomous with breakfast (Breakfast at Brennan’s was a given) but it was closed while the family members fought over who owned it – it has re-opened (but I haven't been yet) http://www.brennansneworleans.com/
but for good breakfast without all the hoopla -
Cafe Beignet - the one on Royal St next to the police station - this is my favorite - sit in the courtyard and enjoy the morning in the Quarter http://www.cafebeignet.com/
The Old Coffee Pot - 714 St. Peter http://www.theoldcoffeepot.com/
Cafe Amelie - 912 Royal St – lovely courtyard but the inside is also nice (you can also have dinner here) http://www.cafeamelie.com/
Atchafalaya – 901 Louisiana Ave (this is uptown) – great food and a bloody mary bar! http://www.atchafalayarestaurant.com/
for lunch - you must try the Gumbo Shop - 630 St Peter http://www.gumboshop.com/
Green Goddess - 307 Exchange Place – in the Quarter http://www.greengoddessrestaurant.com/
Domilise’s Po-Boys – 5240 Annunciations St – (uptown) http://www.domilisespoboys.com/
Camelia Grill – 626 S Carrollton Ave – closest thing to a diner you’ll find but so much better - "Word" recently passed away but ask anyone there to tell you about him
Cafe Reconcile - 1631 Oretha C Haley Blvd - this is John Besh's project - he brings in teens and twenty something's and teaches them the restaurant business - it's good food and a good cause http://cafereconcile.org/
Some great dinner choices:
If you are going to try one of Emeril's restaurants, I suggest Nola 534 St Louis St- even more than Emeril's (which is right across the street from where I lived but also great) emerilsrestaurants.com/nola-restaurant
Borgne 601 Loyola (not in the quarter but close - in the CBD) -
August 301 Tchoupitoulas - both of these are John Besh restaurants - these are my favorite of his www.chefjohnbesh.com/restaurants/
Bayona 430 Dauphine - Susan Spicer restaurant - if you watched Treme she is the food & restaurant consultant for the show www.bayona.com/
Cochon 930 Tchoupitoulas - clearly focused on the pig - great authentic cajun food www.cochonrestaurant.com/
Mulate's - 201 Julia St - good choice for lunch also but at dinner they have live Cajun music mulates.com/
Tableau – 616 St Peter St – this is right at Jackson Square - it is a Dickie Brennan restaurant (the Brennan’s are the first family of New Orleans restaurants) try to request balcony dining - www.tableaufrenchquarter.com/ this is attached to La Petite Theater - while you're there, read the history www.lepetittheatre.com/
Tujaque’s – 823 Decatur St – One of the oldest restaurants in New Orleans – a classic! www.tujaguesrestaurant.com/
Irene's 539 St Phillips - great Italian food - sounds funny to do in NOLA but really good! (no website) (Irene used to be married to Tommy of Tommy's cuisine - 746 Tchoupitoulas St - also great but if I had to pick a side...... www.tommysneworleans.com/
Everyone says Acme Oyster House 724 Iberville St - which is the classic place that everyone goes to www.acmeoyster.com/ – but the line can be tremendous – just across the street is Felix’s Oysters 739 Iberville St – I think the oysters are better and the wait is not as long www.felixs.com/
Pascal’s Manale – 1838 Napoleon Ave. – (uptown) BBQ shrimp ! which is not actually bbq’d but trust me you want to try this! pascalsmanale.com/
Upperline – 1413 Upperline Rd (uptown) classic www.upperline.com/
two other places that I highly recommend but they are cab rides are Dooky Chase restaurant 2301 Orleans - Miss Leah is the best!! Ask for Omar to be your server www.dookychaserestaurant.com/
Willie Mae's Scotch House - 2401 St Ann - the best fried chicken ever!! www.williemaesnola.com/
Also, find a big plate of crawfish anywhere!! (in season)Here are a FEW places:
Deanie’s Seafood – 881 Iberville St www.deanies.com/
Frankie & Johnny’s – 321 Arabella ST (Uptown) frankieandjohnnys.net/
Make sure you get to Frenchmen St for good music - there is also a cute outdoor art market set up there at night
If you can get there on a Friday night go to Snug Harbor - 626 Frenchmen - have dinner there first then go to the back room to hear Ellis Marsalis play - even if you can't do a Friday night I recommend going - good food and always good music www.snugjazz.com/
Take a cab to Bacchanal in the Marigny section - 600 Poland Ave - you go in pick out wine - then pick out some cheese and pay the $5 for them to make you up a cheese plate - sit out back - you can order food out back too - they have live music and great food - this is a neighborhood place not a tourist place - you will LOVE it!! (this place is cash only) www.bacchanalwine.com/#about-marquee
Quebec City
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Le Petite Chateau - this is the crepe place (and more) next to the Fairmount hotel www.petitchateau.ca/
Bistro Sous le Fort - in Lower Town - we LOVE this place www.bistrosouslefort.com/en/
Le Lapin Saute - the Rabbit place also in Lower Town - must do! www.lapinsaute.com/english/home/?_page=english/home/&lang=EN
Le Cochon Dingue - for breakfast - also in lower town www.cochondingue.com/
Aux Anciens Canadiens - this is up the street from the Fairmount - Will Loved this place especially the Red Deer steak! www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/
Musee de la civilisation - museum in lower town - has good history of Quebec and other rotating exhibits - fulfills the "museum requirement" of any trip www.mcq.org/en
Marche du view port - this is the "farmers market" - it is a good walk all the way down by the river but fun - a good place to get some picnic foods and trying ice wine! www.marchevieuxport.com/
Montmorency falls - this is a drive but if you can do it it is a nice outing
Les Délices de l'Érable / Canadian Maple Delights this is a shop in upper town www.deliceserableetcie.com/
Bistro Sous le Fort - in Lower Town - we LOVE this place www.bistrosouslefort.com/en/
Le Lapin Saute - the Rabbit place also in Lower Town - must do! www.lapinsaute.com/english/home/?_page=english/home/&lang=EN
Le Cochon Dingue - for breakfast - also in lower town www.cochondingue.com/
Aux Anciens Canadiens - this is up the street from the Fairmount - Will Loved this place especially the Red Deer steak! www.auxancienscanadiens.qc.ca/
Musee de la civilisation - museum in lower town - has good history of Quebec and other rotating exhibits - fulfills the "museum requirement" of any trip www.mcq.org/en
Marche du view port - this is the "farmers market" - it is a good walk all the way down by the river but fun - a good place to get some picnic foods and trying ice wine! www.marchevieuxport.com/
Montmorency falls - this is a drive but if you can do it it is a nice outing
Les Délices de l'Érable / Canadian Maple Delights this is a shop in upper town www.deliceserableetcie.com/
Montreal |
I definitely prefer Old Town and love our hotel Auberge Du View Port - 97 Rue de la Commune E - adorable boutique hotel aubergeduvieuxport.com/home/
There is an outdoor market area in Old Town -we have not been there in the summer but it's supposed to be nice (in the winter they have firepits and frozen maple taffy stands here)
La Banquise – Poutine - MANY different varieties – you’ll wait in line but it's fun- 994 rue Rachel est labanquise.com/en/
Chez Suzette Crepes & Fondues - 3, St-Paul street E - this is right behind the hotel chezsuzette.ca/
Ming Tao Xuan The – Tea house Steve and I really like this place and it’s a nice “down time” place- 451 Rue Saint Sulpice mingtaoxuan.com/index.html
Schwartz’s – corned beef – again, you’ll wait in line but it’s a must do- 3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard www.schwartzsdeli.com/
St Viateur bagels - 263 Rue Saint Viateur O - apparently Montreal bagels are a "thing" and this is the place to have them www.stviateurbagel.com/
Bonaparte Restaurant - 443 Saint Francois Xavier - we ate here for Christmas dinner and it was very nice www.restaurantbonaparte.com/en/
Montreal museum of archaeology and history - fulfills the “museum” requirement and it’s an actual archaeological site below the museum section - 350 Place Royal www.pacmusee.qc.ca/en/home
There is an outdoor market area in Old Town -we have not been there in the summer but it's supposed to be nice (in the winter they have firepits and frozen maple taffy stands here)
La Banquise – Poutine - MANY different varieties – you’ll wait in line but it's fun- 994 rue Rachel est labanquise.com/en/
Chez Suzette Crepes & Fondues - 3, St-Paul street E - this is right behind the hotel chezsuzette.ca/
Ming Tao Xuan The – Tea house Steve and I really like this place and it’s a nice “down time” place- 451 Rue Saint Sulpice mingtaoxuan.com/index.html
Schwartz’s – corned beef – again, you’ll wait in line but it’s a must do- 3895 Saint-Laurent Boulevard www.schwartzsdeli.com/
St Viateur bagels - 263 Rue Saint Viateur O - apparently Montreal bagels are a "thing" and this is the place to have them www.stviateurbagel.com/
Bonaparte Restaurant - 443 Saint Francois Xavier - we ate here for Christmas dinner and it was very nice www.restaurantbonaparte.com/en/
Montreal museum of archaeology and history - fulfills the “museum” requirement and it’s an actual archaeological site below the museum section - 350 Place Royal www.pacmusee.qc.ca/en/home
Down the shore |
Gilchrist - Great breakfast spot on the bay in Gardener's Basin - Try the Blueberry Pancakes - no, really, TRY THE BLUEBERRY PANCAKES!!
The Breakfast Shop - also known as Around Back - because it is "around back" of Smitty's
Smitty's - The Clam Bar - the big question here is red or white - and we are not talking wine - it's all about the clam chowder - If you time it right, you can do breakfast "Around Back" and then do the turn around for clam chowder for lunch
Dino's - The tuna sub is "famous" here but Steve's favorite "shore" cheesesteak is here - Oh and see if you can find the picture of 20something Bonnie on the wall
Florida Cold Cuts - there is usually a wait for your hoagie and often you can't get through on the phone to order but walk over say hello to Vern and come back to pick up if necessary - we like the Italian
Kelsey & Kim's - 201 Melrose Ave Atlantic City - they have 2 locations but this is where we go - get everything! but especially the fried chicken...oh and the catfish is great....oh the cornbread!!...the desserts are supposed to be fabulous too, but we've never been able to make it to dessert www.kelseysac.com/
The Breakfast Shop - also known as Around Back - because it is "around back" of Smitty's
Smitty's - The Clam Bar - the big question here is red or white - and we are not talking wine - it's all about the clam chowder - If you time it right, you can do breakfast "Around Back" and then do the turn around for clam chowder for lunch
Dino's - The tuna sub is "famous" here but Steve's favorite "shore" cheesesteak is here - Oh and see if you can find the picture of 20something Bonnie on the wall
Florida Cold Cuts - there is usually a wait for your hoagie and often you can't get through on the phone to order but walk over say hello to Vern and come back to pick up if necessary - we like the Italian
Kelsey & Kim's - 201 Melrose Ave Atlantic City - they have 2 locations but this is where we go - get everything! but especially the fried chicken...oh and the catfish is great....oh the cornbread!!...the desserts are supposed to be fabulous too, but we've never been able to make it to dessert www.kelseysac.com/
Charleston, SC |
Charleston City Market – 188 Meeting St – some “upscale” souvenir shops and some “chotchkes”
Restaurants –
no particular meal
Lewis BBQ – 464 N Nassau st lewisbarbecue.com/
Bertha’s Kitchen – 2332 Meeting St – only open M-F – try the Okra soup
Martha Lou’s kitchen - 1068 Morrison Dr – good Low Country soul food marthalouskitchen.com/
Kaminsky’s dessert bar – 78 N Market St www.kaminskys.com/home
Queology – 32 N Market St. www.queology.com/
Scott’s BBQ – Hemingway SC – 2734 Hemingway Hwy – we didn’t get here – it’s a drive but is supposed to be a great “hole in the wall” BBQ place thescottsbbq.com/
Breakfast
Toast – 155 Meeting St – excellent shrimp and grits and desserts www.toastofcharleston.com/
Hominy Grill – 207 Rutledge Ave hominygrill.com/
Dinner
82 Queen – 82 Queen St - definitely try the she crab soup! This is Steve’s top recommendation www.82queen.com/
Poogan’s Porch – 72 Queen St. www.poogansporch.com/
Husk –76 Queen St - Sean Brock is a James Beard Award winning chef – huskrestaurant.com/home/
The Ordinary – 544 King St – this is a spinoff of F.I.G. – 232 meeting st – both are good eattheordinary.com/
Drinks
Pearlz Oyster Bar – 153 E Bay St – we sat at the bar here but it is a restaurant also www.pearlzoysterbar.com/home
Gin Joint – 182 E Bay St – highly recommend – you pick from 3 “descriptors” and they create a drink for you theginjoint.com/
Henry’s Rooftop Deck henryshousecharleston.com/the_rooftop.html
Husk Bar huskrestaurant.com/about/bar/
Side trips
Sullivan’s Island - Isle of Palms - Folly Beach – these are drivable to do from Charleston and back in a day – all 3 are interesting beach towns – Sullivans is a little quieter and residential, Isle of Palms is more “resorty” and Folly is more “artsy”
Obstinate Daughter – 2063 Middle St (Sullivan’s) – geechie fries – low country boil www.theobstinatedaughter.com/
Charleston Tea Plantation - 6617 Maybank Hwy - Wadmalaw Island,SC – this is a drive and if you’re there during growing season probably more interesting than when we were there – we were on the road and this was a fun stop but not necessarily a destination point www.charlestonteaplantation.com/
Carolina Cider Co – 81 Charleston Hwy Yemassee, SC fun roadside shop – they have lots of great cider flavors and jams etc. We stopped here on our way to Beaufort www.carolinaciderco.com/
Beaufort SC – what a great town – it is where the Big Chill was filmed but that is not the main draw – it has a nice old southern coastal town feel
Cuthbert House Inn – B&B – 1203 Bay st – we stayed here and would stay again www.cuthberthouseinn.com/
Saltus River Grill – 802 Bay St www.saltusrivergrill.com/
Restaurants –
no particular meal
Lewis BBQ – 464 N Nassau st lewisbarbecue.com/
Bertha’s Kitchen – 2332 Meeting St – only open M-F – try the Okra soup
Martha Lou’s kitchen - 1068 Morrison Dr – good Low Country soul food marthalouskitchen.com/
Kaminsky’s dessert bar – 78 N Market St www.kaminskys.com/home
Queology – 32 N Market St. www.queology.com/
Scott’s BBQ – Hemingway SC – 2734 Hemingway Hwy – we didn’t get here – it’s a drive but is supposed to be a great “hole in the wall” BBQ place thescottsbbq.com/
Breakfast
Toast – 155 Meeting St – excellent shrimp and grits and desserts www.toastofcharleston.com/
Hominy Grill – 207 Rutledge Ave hominygrill.com/
Dinner
82 Queen – 82 Queen St - definitely try the she crab soup! This is Steve’s top recommendation www.82queen.com/
Poogan’s Porch – 72 Queen St. www.poogansporch.com/
Husk –76 Queen St - Sean Brock is a James Beard Award winning chef – huskrestaurant.com/home/
The Ordinary – 544 King St – this is a spinoff of F.I.G. – 232 meeting st – both are good eattheordinary.com/
Drinks
Pearlz Oyster Bar – 153 E Bay St – we sat at the bar here but it is a restaurant also www.pearlzoysterbar.com/home
Gin Joint – 182 E Bay St – highly recommend – you pick from 3 “descriptors” and they create a drink for you theginjoint.com/
Henry’s Rooftop Deck henryshousecharleston.com/the_rooftop.html
Husk Bar huskrestaurant.com/about/bar/
Side trips
Sullivan’s Island - Isle of Palms - Folly Beach – these are drivable to do from Charleston and back in a day – all 3 are interesting beach towns – Sullivans is a little quieter and residential, Isle of Palms is more “resorty” and Folly is more “artsy”
Obstinate Daughter – 2063 Middle St (Sullivan’s) – geechie fries – low country boil www.theobstinatedaughter.com/
Charleston Tea Plantation - 6617 Maybank Hwy - Wadmalaw Island,SC – this is a drive and if you’re there during growing season probably more interesting than when we were there – we were on the road and this was a fun stop but not necessarily a destination point www.charlestonteaplantation.com/
Carolina Cider Co – 81 Charleston Hwy Yemassee, SC fun roadside shop – they have lots of great cider flavors and jams etc. We stopped here on our way to Beaufort www.carolinaciderco.com/
Beaufort SC – what a great town – it is where the Big Chill was filmed but that is not the main draw – it has a nice old southern coastal town feel
Cuthbert House Inn – B&B – 1203 Bay st – we stayed here and would stay again www.cuthberthouseinn.com/
Saltus River Grill – 802 Bay St www.saltusrivergrill.com/