There is just something so special and sweet about little coffee shops and bakeries. I just can't resist when I pass by one. That was the case with Envie.

I went for a frappe cafe au lait, which was just SO good.

And, I was able to (barely) resist all these goodies!

It's brunch time! The Ruby Slipper Cafe is well-known to be one of the best spots to down eggs benedict in the area, so we lined up bright and early to get our seat - and there was already a line 15 minutes prior to opening!

The Ruby Slipper Cafe is an award-winning cafe famous for our breakfast, brunch & lunch offerings. We bring New Orleans flair to southern breakfast standards, brunch classics and fresh lunch dishes. We were founded in New Orleans, Louisiana in 2008. From there we have grown to 10 locations! Six in New Orleans, one in Baton Rouge, La. and three stretching along cities on the Gulf Coast including, Mobile, Orange Beach and Pensacola Fl.

First things first: cocktails. I ordered a "Ruby Slipper," which is a mimosa with OJ and pomegranate. 

I didn't get a ton of pomegranate in mine - but what a concept! I'd like pomegranate in every drink of mine for the rest of time, thanks.

Next up came the hard part: Choosing which benedicts I wanted.

Fortunately, they have a genius option called "The Peacemaker," where you can mix and match two signature benedicts.

I ended up ordering two of their best-sellers:

EGGS COCHON
Slow-cooked, apple-braised pork debris served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs, finished with hollandaise

CHICKEN ST. CHARLES Fried chicken breast served over a buttermilk biscuit, topped with two poached eggs, finished with a pork tasso cream sauce


You truly can't go wrong with either. Both fabulous.

Have you ever had a hurricane drink? You know, the drink in the signature glass with rum, fruit juice and syrup or grenadine?



That was started at a bar called Pat O'Brien's during World War II in New Orleans. And it is a signature drink of the city.

The most popular drink with visitors to the French Quarter may just be the sweet red Hurricane, served with a big old cherry and a juicy orange slice. This local libation was created with rum at Pat O’Brien’s bar during World War II when whiskey was hard to come by. The name for the drink came from the glass it’s served in that resembles a hurricane lamp. A perfect place to sip a Hurricane is still in Pat O’s legendary courtyard, overlooking the flaming fountain. You can find them elsewhere around the city as well, and most bartenders will be happy to mix you one. Also try the frozen varieties at drive-thru daiquiri stands and in the French Market. (Source)

Kaitlynn and I had to try one for ourselves, so I sipped on the very strong drink outside on the patio and people-watched for a good bit - one of my favorite hobbies. I love getting to try a classic while having live entertainment!

The one place you have to visit in New Orleans is Cafe du Monde. I don't really know why, but it's the most famous spot in the city, and I don't think my trip would have been complete without it.

The Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862 in the New Orleans French Market. The Cafe is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It closes only on Christmas Day and on the day an occasional Hurricane passes too close to New Orleans.
The Original Cafe Du Monde is a traditional coffee shop. Its menu consists of dark roasted Coffee and Chicory, Beignets, White and Chocolate Milk, and fresh squeezed Orange Juice. The coffee is served Black or Au Lait. Au Lait means that it is mixed half and half with hot milk. Beignets are square French -style doughnuts, lavishly covered with powdered sugar. In 1988 Iced Coffee was introduced to the cafe. Soft drinks also made their debut that year.

It's clear they are well trained to turn over tables as quickly as possible, as the whole experience was rushed even though there wasn't a line at 11 p.m.

We were seated and ordered cafe au lait and beignets. It came out very quickly afterward.

The coffee was good and bold. The beignets were good - but I'll be honest, it's not my typical dessert. So I enjoyed it for what it was and got the experience, but pralines are more my jam.

Have you been?

It's a bit odd, but one of the first recommendations I received when I told folks I was traveling to New Orleans was "Try Willie Mae's fried chicken!"

New Orleans is not typically the place I would associate with fried chicken, but I trusted the recommendations and put it on my "must visit" list.

My Uber driver to get there was entertaining and called out to the police officer outside to make sure I got a seat inside right away because it was raining. Laughing, the police offer nodded and escorted me to a table - no wait!

Willie Mae’s Scotch House was established in 1957 as a bar in New Orleans’ Historic Treme neighborhood. After a year, the bar was moved to its current location, which consisted of a bar, a barbershop and beauty salon in the front. In the early 1970’s, the beauty salon closed, which brought on the demand for a restaurant from Willie Mae’s bar customers. The aromas of Mississippi and Louisiana cuisine emanating from the kitchen filled the air and brought on constant demand for delicious food. Their demand was met and the rest is history. In 2005, Ms. Willie Mae Seaton was honored with the prestigious James Beard Award for “America’s Classic Restaurant for the Southern Region.”

Willie Mae's is laidback, but it's clear they take what they do very seriously. I ordered the fried chicken (white meat) with sides of macaroni & cheese and peas.


And, wow, people weren't lying. It's fried chicken, done very well. Crispy chicken, moist meat - and tasty sides to top it all off!