Go ahead, throw your beads to strangers in elaborate costumes and experience the tradition of the Mardi Gras festivities on Bourbon Street.  The original idea was to toss the color of the beads to the person who exhibited the color’s meaning (purple – justice, gold – power and green – faith). Pretty sure that idea is long gone and anyone who is festive enough can get a string of plastic beads tossed at them.

New Orleans is considered one of Americas food meccas.  Here are some tradition foods you may want to try when visiting “N’Awlins”.

• Alligator – You may need to be a little adventurous to try this dish. The swamps and the menus are full of alligator.  Antoine’s serves this dish in a variety of ways.
• Bread pudding – If you like bread pudding, the place to go is Commander’s Palace. It is served with a side of warm whiskey cream.
• Beignets – Probably one of the most popular (and sweetest) New Orleans foods. It is fried square pieces of dough covered with powdered sugar.  Café Du Monde has been serving this dish in New Orleans since 1862. http://www.cafedumonde.com/
• Crawfish – If you are willing to get a little dirty, and you want to eat crawfish New Orleans style, head to Big Fisherman Seafood in the Garden District. There you will be able to get a bag of boiled crawfish.
• Gumbo – This is a typical southern Louisiana dish. The chicken Andouille gumbo is a local’s favorite and it can be found at the Gumbo Shop. It has chicken, sausage, and okra.
• Jambalaya – This is a rice dish which may include seafood, chicken, sausage, onions, tomatoes, peppers, and more. The Crescent Pie and Sausage Co. restaurant was showcased on the Food Network for their “Bad Bart’s Black Jambalaya.”
• Po’Boy – These are sandwiches found at Parkway Bakery & Tavern.  Legend has it that in 1929 there was a streetcar conductor strike.  Two brothers made sandwiches for these conductors asking, “What are we going to feed these poor boys?”

Between the costumes, the sounds and the smell of the spicey cajun and creole cuisine, you may experience sensory overload. Make sure to take some pics and videos and attach to some VideoDrops.  It is the perfect way to remember your time in The Big Easy!