Last year, after dropping my son and a friend of his at camp, the rest of us drove on to New Orleans.

We breakfasted on french donuts and Cafe au Lait both mornings we were in the Big Easy – at Cafe Beignet, on Royal Street, and Cafe Du Monde on Decatur.

We loved the morning we spent walking around the Audubon Zoo.

– the entertaining Orangutan

and lunch was found at Mothers Restaurant, which opened its doors in 1938 and has been serving incredible food ever since.

– Mothers Restaurant

We then had an absolutely incredible dining experience at Restaurant R’evolution, on Bienville Street, in the heart of the legendary French Quarter. We sat in the gorgeous bar area, and after reading the menu, ordered a French R’evolution cocktail to start. This fabulous mixture of Armagnac, Ratafia de Champagne, grapefruit, raspberries and mint, was “handcrafted in the spirit of the seven nations that came to Louisiana and created the unique food and cocktail culture”.

We spent another morning on a fascinating guided walking tour of St Louis Cemetery #1. Because New Orleans is built on a swamp, all graves are aboveground.

We completed our visit with a delightfully memorable lunch at Mr. B’s Bistro, one of our favorite spots in this wonderful city. With a focus on Creole cuisine and utilizing fresh regional products, we have never been disappointed.