United States of Hot Sauce: Frank’s, Tapatio, and Tabasco

United States of Hot Sauce: Frank’s, Tapatio, and Tabasco

Two regional food things surprised me on the trip: beer and hot sauce. Beer is much more regionally varied than the Bud Light commercials suggest — try getting Kokanee in South Carolina … or Yuengling in Yosemite … or Dixie anywhere outside New Orleans. Same with hot sauces. 

Well, at least the Crawfish were good.

Well, at least the Crawfish were good.

The trip into Texas was rough. We’d just left paradise, Florida’s Forgotten Coast, and had a great time in New Orleans (minus a little snafu in Alabama). The road through Louisiana’s bayou was fun. We even got to ride a ferry. We passed through the “Cajun Riviera” 

When It All Goes Wrong

When It All Goes Wrong

I’m sitting on a bed in a disgusting motel room — the most disgusting motel room I’ve ever been in in my life, and I’ve been in my fair share of cheap motels. I’m crying. I feel a little better when I realize that I 

It’s a Shotgun Marriage in New Orleans

It’s a Shotgun Marriage in New Orleans

A shotgun house, I mean. Or a double shotgun, if you are so inclined. Now, I don’t want to share my bedroom wall with anyone ever again (short version of a long story: I will always hate Norah Jones thanks to 434 W. Wellington #607, Chicago) 

Avoiding Death and STDs on Bourbon Street

Avoiding Death and STDs on Bourbon Street

Bourbon Street, the flagship street of New Orleans, is pretty disgusting. Firstly, it smells like a mix of vomit, spilled drinks, sweat, and rat diarrhea (caused by eating too many cockroaches, I imagine). Then there are the strip clubs. Bourbon Street has the highest concentration of strip 

The Best Beer in New Orleans

The Best Beer in New Orleans

We had some beers in New Orleans. They were yummy. Try these if you see them in your local beer store: Perfect Tin Amber Ale Lisa’s favorite brew, Fat Tire Amber, is also an amber ale, and Tin Roof’s went down just as deliciously. Comes in cans, 

Doing the Tourist Thing: Cafe du Monde in New Orleans

Doing the Tourist Thing: Cafe du Monde in New Orleans

Sometimes you just have to do that tourist thing. Like, when you’re in New Orleans, you’ve GOT to go to Café du Monde, THE Café du Monde, the one in the French Quarter. Here’s why you have to go: The Original Café Du Monde Coffee Stand 

The Battle of the Po’ Boy

The Battle of the Po’ Boy

As is often the case, I can’t say it better than some random person has already said it on Wikipedia: If you ask any New Orleanian where to get the best po’ boy in the city, chances are that you will get a different answer 

A Quick Tour of New Orleans

A Quick Tour of New Orleans

Looking back, I feel like there’s a ton of stuff we missed in New Orleans. That’s partially because it’s so big and overwhelming — there’s only so much you can take in if you’re visiting for just two days. Ideally you could visit for a