By: Marcia Abramson
He was heading to the ultra-deluxe Windsor Court Hotel while I was heading for the lovely Hotel Monteleone in the French Quarter. There is still time this year to join in the celebration of the bicentennial of the purchase of the Louisiana Territory in 1803 in addition to all the other goodies in New Orleans. I have always been fascinated by the history of New Orleans and how it came to become part of the most important land deals in American history. It was just about two hundred years ago that the United States consummated a deal with France that doubled the size of America. Originally, Thomas Jefferson had his eye solely on New Orleans when he approached Napoleon Bonaparte to discuss purchasing it. Napoleon overwhelmed Jefferson by offering him a deal that included the entire Louisiana Territory. Napoleon reasoned that if he sold off only New Orleans, he would be unable to control or defend the whole territory. Thus, more than 800,000 square miles of land came under American domain for a paltry four cents an acre. It is believed that Jefferson felt he was getting a good deal, but did not realize how sweet it was with the inclusion of New Orleans.For centuries, New Orleans has been a great tourist Mecca for Americans as well as Europeans. Its heritage combines French, Spanish, African and many other European and Caribbean influences. This has resulted in some of the best food, music, dance, writing and art in America. In fact "La Nouvelle Orleans" was founded in 1718 and was ruled first by France and then by Spain for nearly 100 years. It was the only U.S. city in which French was the predominant language for more than one century.One result is jazz, a pastiche of rhythms, instruments, and styles -African, European, Native American and Caribbean. Another is Creole and Cajun cooking, a blend of Old World tastes with New World ingredients and sensibilities. There was nothing more interesting to me than to think of voodoo that was once widely practiced in New Orleans, to be rich in both mystery and power and blended with African and Caribbean religions with some Roman Catholicism of the French.I found New Orleans to be a real hip city with wonderful jazz on just about every corner in the French section and the primitive, rustic setting at Preservation Hall for great Dixieland jazz listening. I also enjoyed hopping on the oldest continuously running streetcar (trolley) in America. Residents of New Orleans say, "Only a place this old can make you feel so young," and I am in total agreement. Also in New Orleans, indulgence is a virtue, and nowhere can you be more virtuous than when savoring the unique regional cuisine of this city, according to the locals.A visit to New Orleans must start with breakfast at the Caf Du Monde for Beignets (square doughnuts-no-hole-sprinkled with powdered sugar) and caf au lait. That is half-coffee (dark roasted chicory coffee) and half hot milk. Your food ecstasy can continue with Gumbo, a soup made with a thick roux, usually served with rice. There are an endless number of different types of Gumbo, including seafood, sausage, chicken, okra or greens. I particularly like Jambalaya, another rice dish made with tomato and every conceivable combination of beef, chicken, pork, sausage, crawfish and shrimp.Then there are the Muffuletta-large sandwiches made on Italian bread with deli meats, provolone and tangy olive-salad dressing. And of course, there are the Po-Boy - a French bread sandwich with anything your heart may desire on it, including fried oyster or shrimp, hot roast beef with gravy, ham and cheese, and meatballs. You can have it dressed with lettuce, tomato and mayonnaise.For more sumptuous meals, I found Brennan's. Emerils, Arnaud's and the acclaimed Restaurant August.Another reminder for me and other tourists was to leave my watch at home, because time in New Orleans is not measured in hours or days, but in meals. Therefore, a menu is your best measurement of the time.There is also no better place in my judgment for the kiddies at Christmas time than the events planned especially for them with parades for just about every occasion. The adults are also guaranteed loads of fun and good times.
Copyright © by Marcia AbramsonE-mail: mascribe@aol.com
