NEW ORLEANS -- THE JOURNEY

Most of Day One of our "New Orleans or Bust" tour was spent getting there.  Mr. FOG was awakened early in the morning by his cat, so he decided to leave Asheville early and met up with his Lordship at the Atlanta Airport.  It was a full and a fairly uneventful flight to New Orleans.  The limo driver, originally from Nicaragua, had some good restaurant suggestions.  As our budget allows, Mr. Fog will check these places out and pass on our favorites.

The host hotel is the Westin, which on the southwest corner of the French Quarter, and has great views of the Mississippi as it makes a turn.  We got a high floor room with panoramic views of the river, Algiers, and the French Quarter.  Mr. FOG loves to look out on the river especially in the early moring hours and see the ship and barge traffic.

FOG has been to New Orleans many times mostly on business.  Decades ago he was here during the King Tut exhibit and stayed at the Hilton also on the river.  It always has been a fun city.  Last being here about three years ago, the city seems to be coming back.

Dinner was at an old standby, the Acme.  Mr. FOG has always liked the Oyster Po Boys there, but it was the charbroiled Oysters that stole the show.  We got a dozen charbroiled oysters and split a shrimp/oyster Po Boy.  Acme's Po Boy was not as good as last time, but the charbroiled oysters were excellent.  Prepared a bit like escargot, they were very tasty.  Served with French bread, using the bread to get the butter sauce is almost as tasty as the oysters.  Here is the recipe from Drago’s, a restaurant recommended by our driver for trying charbroiled oyster.   

http://easteuropeanfood.about.com/od/appetizersbeverages/r/charbroiledoysters.htm

Tired with the time change and travel, the duo settled in early for the night.  Tomorrow the Laird has to work and the Butler has places to go and things to do.  Perhaps beignets and café au lait for breakfast??