New Orleans weekend trip

Sheila and I took a three day weekend trip to New Orleans. Only a six hour drive from Memphis, New Orleans is a place I always wanted to go to. It was too far to get to from the Midwest, but now only a stone's throw away from Memphis. I was excited to see some music, walk around, and of course have some really amazing food. First stop. Killer Po' Boys in Uptown New Orleans. Hidden off Bourbon street is an amazing hole in the wall Po' Boy shop. Read so many good things about this place online, I had to check it out. I got the grilled shrimp, fresh from the ocean. It's so fresh that it has market prices, so cool! It had amazing flavor and the shrimp added a nice crunch to the sweet sauce and carrots on the crispy bread. Really recommend this place.

For dessert, we ventured back into the heart of the French Quarter. We stopped at Tableau, a French Restaurant. We split a beer and had an amazing Creme Brulee. My first ever, it was better than expected. Crunchy and sweet with an amazing vanilla flavor, this dessert really satisfied my notorious sweet tooth. Check out the powdered sugar detailing!

After desert, we wanted to walk around in the magical French Quarter some more. We walked when we stumbled upon Pat O'Brians. There was a plaque in front, describing how it is the original place of the Hurricane, the popular drink. I had never had one before, and figured this was a good place to have my first! Sugary to a T, this drink was great. I wouldn't say I will have many in my day, but it was delicious on a hot day! They also come in a super big glass, which you can keep for a little extra. This place was touristy, but I really do like hitting a couple real touristy spots on any vacation. Some are worth all the hype.

I'm sure there will be many more times in New Orleans. There is so much to do (and eat!)

Memphis Barbecue

Moving to Memphis has been a religious experience when it comes to barbecue. Coming from Minneapolis, a hyper-aware city when it comes to eating healthy, it has been a breath of fresh air to experience so real southern barbecue. Barbecue in Memphis is a no-frills experience. People know that its good, and businesses don't have to work to hard to sugar coat the experience. The barbecue will speak for itself, trust me. Our first night in Memphis, we went to a legendary spot, Central BBQ. Counter style ordering, great beer on tap, and pick your own seating gave the restaurant a real relaxed feel. I went all out for this stop, as everything on the menu was new and unique to me. I got the bbq pork smothered in a sweet bbq sauce. It literally melted in my mouth! The sauce was a new experience as well. I am used to a tangy, bland sauce but this one was sweet with a touch of vinegar. Delicious! It came with a classic King's Hawaiian bun, a staple for sopping up any leftover sauce. Sides were mac and cheese as well as collard greens. Now I have only had collard greens one other time in my life, so I am no expert,but these were delicious. Soft and mushy with amazing ham flavor, they were a real compliment to the bbq. Not pictured is a Wiseacre Ananda beer. A local brew with great citrus and hops. One of the better IPA's I've had in a while. One of the other bbq spots I had to try was Rendezvous. This famous spot downtown is a must for any Memphis traveler or resident. Rendezvous is located in an alley. It almost feels like you are on a private guest list waiting to get in to taste some tasty ribs. We went to Rendezvous for a Memphis Grizzlies watch party. Rowdy fans, beer, and prizes were all part of the experience as we watched the Grizzlies play. I knew that Rendezvous was famous for their dry rub ribs. I had only had dry rub one other time, when I made my own rub. This rub at the restaurant was top notch. Sweet and spicy all at the same time. The meat stayed on the bone but when you take a bite, it comes off effortlessly. Well worth all of the hype. I can't wait to try more BBQ in this city.