Fat Tuesday

New Orleans, Louisiana It’s Fat Tuesday! For the faithful, it is one last day of feast before the fast for Lent. In New Orleans, it is the final day of Carnival season celebrations that began 12 days after Christmas. K.O., daughter Margaret and I were actually in New Orleans when Carnival season started on January 6…

New Orleans in Our Hearts

New Orleans, Louisiana Ten years ago today, K.O. and I, along with our three adult children, watched images on television of New Orleans after Katrina hit. We were still in shock really. Just the day before on August 28, we escaped on the last flight out of Louis Armstrong New Orleans International Airport before it…

30 Reasons to Love New Orleans, Including Fried Chicken

New Orleans, Louisiana MAPPING THE DAY Ahhhh New Orleans . . . these are the reasons we love to visit: LOCAL STORY K.O. and I started viewing cooking shows on “TV Food Network” in 1993.  The original lineup for the network included Emeril Lagasse, David Rosengarten and Jacques Pépin.  In the network’s infancy, the shows offered less…

Can You Top This New Orleans-Style BBQ Shrimp?

Laguna Hills, California MAPPING THE DAY New Orleans is one of our favorite travel and dining destinations.  There is nothing like fresh gulf shrimp.  On our many trips there, we have ordered shrimp boiled, fried, sauced, Po Boy sandwiched and sautéed.  It is sweet, firm and fresh-tasting. Nearly 15 years ago, KO and I lived…