Putting the “New” back into New Orleans
“Let the good times roll”

It's the oldest trick in the world. Take a sluggish selling product, slap the words “NEW” and “IMPROVED” on it and sales go up. After visiting the site of America's worst ever natural disaster, New Orleans, I'm here to tell you it's better than ever. Billions of dollars have been invested in this historic city and has given it new life. This southern coastal city is vibrant, exciting and full of some of the best eatin' you will ever find. You can't walk a block without tapping your leg and finding a smile on your face as music surrounds you... it snaps, crackles and pops out of every store, restaurant and bar you pass. Turn a corner in the French quarter and you're likely to find a 7 piece washboard band playing zydeco jazz, 4 dancers trying to “one up” each other, playing to a standing room only crowd. All this and the price of admission is whatever size tip you want to put into a crusty old hat.

Already a hefty 200 pound guy, I came to the conclusion that if I lived in New Orleans I would weigh 300 lbs. After 2 days of some of the best gumbo, BBQ shrimp, jambalaya, char-grilled oysters, craw fish, blackened red fish, po-boy sandwiches, breakfast biegnets,pralines, pecan pie and all those cajun spice-creole sauces I decided to visit the city's top Cajun cooking class. The “Cooking Cajun Cooking School and Cafe”, located on the top floor of the Riverwalk Marketplace overlooking the Mississippi River is a can't miss event. You'll eat, learn & laugh with Chef Saundra Green and the rest of the Cookin' Cajun Family. The comedy team/cooking duo of Saundra & Corinne will make you feel like you're visiting your favorite aunt's home as she and her sister give you nuggets of wisdom and share family secrets with you, and all the while, you're surrounded by the sights and smells of your favorite foods as they come to life. Oh, and I almost forgot, the best part of the show is that at the end, all that great food is served for lunch!

Another one of a kind event is the New Orleans premier swamp tour of Honey Island. The owners have assembled the most knowledgeable tour guides; they not only take you down the swamp canals but into the “bayou swamp” itself. You'll see alligators and learn about the swamp. Jason, our tour guide, actually fed an alligator. He even had me hold an alligator. Yes it was only one and a half foot long and yes it's mouth was held shut with a rubber band. But hey, I've got pictures. The swamp area was not harmed by the hurricane. The truth of the matter is that it was helped by the storm. You see when the rivers and wet lands are flooded it actually brings life fulfilling nutrients to the area, so it's more alive than ever.

Mike Fridge, owner of Cajun Encounters Tours, has a vast knowledge of New Orleans. His company offers city/cemetery tours, plantation tours, and tours of the French Quarter & Garden District. I took Mike's offer to take the Oak Alley Plantation tour. It is famous for a spectacular quarter mile tunnel of 28 oak trees over 250 years old. This beautiful plantation, located on the historic River Road, was built in 1839 and faces the Mississippi River. The plantation is on the top of everyone's list of historic Louisiana sites. Mike's fleet of vans all have special suspensions to make everyone's ride more enjoyable!

To try to explain the New Orleans night life would take a book, not an article. However, having said that, there is one club I enjoyed so much I found myself there 2 of my 3 nights. The Club 300 Jazz Bistro featuring “The Rose of New Orleans” Mary Jane Ewing is where world-class performances and an incredible dining experience are the order of the day! I tell everyone it's easy to find, but man is it hard the leave. Make sure to book in advance. Let the good times roll!

Mark Hicks
Owner/Director of Fun!
Captain Jack's Santa Barbara Tours
(805) 564-1819