Pints, Forks & Friends Field Notes

A chef friend of mine and Louisiana native, Johnny Schulze, put together a Cajun culinary trip exploring the fine cuisine New Orleans has to offer. Johnny got his start there and makes it a point to return regularly to keep up with the latest trends, techniques, and recipes. For me, it was a chance to cover this city through the eyes of a chef. The focus of the trip was attending the Emeril Lagasse Foundation’s “Boudin, Bourbon & Beer” event, featuring over 70 of the nation’s best chefs.

Since the Boudin, Bourbon & Beer event (2018) was right outside the Superdome, we decided to stay at Le Pavillon Hotel, situated in the heart of downtown New Orleans’ Central Business District. The accommodations were perfect for our schedule. The hotel originally opened its doors in 1907 as New Hotel Denechaud and eventually became Le Pavillon in the 1970s.

The weather was unseasonably cold for early November, and unfortunately, rain hit us at the “BBB” event the next evening. It didn’t deter us, though. We visited all the tents, sampling some of the best food we’ve ever had. As luck would have it, we were in the Abita Brewing tent when the rain started. We enjoyed their main brews – Amber, Purple Haze, and the Big Easy IPA. Regarding the food, some of our favorites were Mississippi BBQ, Oyster and Nduja Boudin, Bourbon Drunken Duck Boudin, and of course, the Bourbon Milkshakes.

Even though the weather cut our BBB evening short, we still ventured out into the French Quarter, exploring the famous Bourbon Street, admiring the art on Royal Street, and observing the diverse ways people express themselves. We used Google Maps to navigate the city and found some great activities on GetYourGuide, along with insights from local Uber drivers.

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