New Orleans Trip 2016: Where the good eats happened!

New Orleans is one of my favorite cities to visit. If you are a regular reader of my blog, you may have seen my NOLA Top 10 List & a few extra tips post. This trip, Alex & I went exploring with the help of the 2016 New Orleans Official Visitors Guide & the wonderful support of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau. I have quite a bit to share, but lets start with one of the greatest things about NOLA…the food. All opinions are my own & are very much shared by my traveling companion- my husband Alex.

The Best Creme Brûlée Ever. Tableau Restaurant, NOLA

Gilled Gulf Fish @ Tableau Restaurant, NOLA

Tableau

This restaurant is a MUST! Everything about it was perfect. The ambiance, the staff (our waiter- Keith- gave us the best recommendations!), and the food were just wonderful. What really sparked my interest is when I was reading the menu and I came across the EAT FIT NOLA approved dishes which is an initiative that highlights the smart choices on the menu for those of us who are being mindful of healthy eating and healthy options while dining out. Alex and I tried the Truffled Crab Fingers for an appetizer. Alex had the Roasted Duck Breast: Blackberry gastrique, Creole mustard reduction, arugula & local blackberry salad, baguette and I had the Gilled Gulf Fish:Tamarind glazed, local summer vegetable ragout, spicy chilies, mirliton slaw. These were all good, but let me tell you something. Keith suggested we try the Vanilla Bean Creme Brûlée and I will not lie- IT WAS THE BEST I HAVE EVER HAD. Well done Tableau & thank you for the memorable dining experience!

Summer Veggies: Banana Peppers & Caprice Kabobs

It is summer veggie time and I am always on the lookout on ways to use the delicious fruits and vegetables I get from the Lowes Foods Carolina Crate and from my very own garden (which is doing quite nicely). This week I made some caprice kabobs with cherry tomatoes, cucumber, basil, and mozzarella. My kids seem to really enjoy anything with basil and tomatoes, so these were a good treat for them. And for me. I used bamboo skewers, but I might look into getting some skewers that I can use over & over again. If you have any that you would suggest, please let me know by leaving a comment. I did kick them up a notch by adding some tangerine infused balsamic vinaigrette that I had on hand from The Crushed Olive. Delicious! My next quest was finding something to do with all of my banana peppers...