Since the 1930’s,  summer in New Orleans has a special and unique tradition. If you think of a Snowball as just being ice, color and flavoring you have been deprived. Those lucky enough to spend part or all of their summertime in this area will find the flavors go beyond the usual blue and red flavor. The southern version of this summertime treat is much more dynamic an experience. Today we are going to tell you why.

Firstly, the flavors! Southern sweets live up to their name with this delicious treat. Some flavors you can expect can include bananas foster, roasted marshmallow, wedding cake, Georgia peach, honeydew melon and orchid cream vanilla.  That is just a smathering of the multitude of flavors available. With the variety of flavors and combination of the summer heat you are sure to find a different flavored delight on a daily basis.

Secondly, don’t forget the toppings! The southern Snowball does not stand alone on only its finely shaved ice and flavor. In order to truly experience this one of a kind treat you will find a multitude of topping choices. Toppings of sweetened condensed milk, marshmallow fluff, whipped cream, sprinkles or caramel, as well as the option for a creamy center of ice cream or yogurt stuffed inside is the norm.

If you can’t make it to New Orleans to get this delicious treat you can also make it at home yourself. Visit the foodnetwork at http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/paula-deen/southern-snowballs-recipe/index.html for a great Southern Snowball recipe. If you coming through town give us a call and we’ll take you to the finest Snowball spots around town!

The 29^th Annual French Quarter Festival is running from April 12^th through the 15^th and is something you don’t want to miss. It features 21 musical stages throughout the historic Vieux Carré and New Orleans cuisine from nearly 60 food and drink booths. Did you know it is the largest free music festival in the south? Originally the French Quarter Festival was first created in 1984 as a way to bring residents back to the area after the World’s Fair and extensive sidewalk repairs in the French Quarter. It has since then turned to an amazing and unforgettable yearly event that residents and vistors alike plan ahead to attend. Considering the crowd here are some travel tips to make your day more enjoyable.

• Car Service. Limo Livery can pick you up and take you back safely so you can concentrate on having a great time!

• Shuttles. The Second Line Shuttle will run Friday through Sunday from the Central Business District (park and ride from O’Keefe, between Poydras and Canal). Vehicle parking in the area of the shuttle  is $10 all-day parking in area garages and lots.

• Buses. There will be a free round-trip shuttle on air-conditioned Hotard busses.  Prior to Festival weekend, stop by any Capital One Bank to pick up your free Q-Pass for priority shuttle boarding and discounts on official festival merchandise.

• Other Transportation. If you don’t want to drive and park the Streetcar or local RTA busses ( http://www.norta.com) and The Ferry ( http://www.dotd.la.gov/ferry)  is a alternate mode of transportation.

• Look ahead at the schedule and plan out your festival visit so that you can give yourself enough travel time. Visit http://www.fqfi.org/frenchquarterfest/fqfi_music.html for a list of performers and more. On twenty of its music stages, only Louisiana artists are featured (the festival hosts one ‘International Stage’ where traditional jazz bands from all over the world perform.) Attendees will get a true and authentic New Orleans experience!

• In partnership with Applitite, the French Quarter Festival iPhone App is back, along with a new DROID App. This free app sponsored by f Capital One Bank will allow fans to receive up to the minute announcements, downloadable music schedules, complete menus, special events, merchandise updates, shuttle information and unique offers to enhance their festival experience. The application will be available for download in March, prior to French Quarter Festival.

This is the time of year in New Orleans that food festivals are a second (or a first depending on how much of a foodie you are) to music festivals. An upcoming festival that you don’t want to miss if you will be in New Orleans at the end of March is the 4rth Annual New Orleans Roadfood Festival It starts on March 23^rd. So you may be asking yourself  what Roadfood is? It is “great regional meals along highways, in small towns and in city neighborhoods” according to http://www.neworleansroadfoodfestival.com/ Bring your appetite if your attending the festival, because you will be sampling over 50 legendary eats from around the country. There are several main events that are a part of this festival.

Street Festival

On Saturday, March 24 – 11 AM to 7 PM and Sunday, March 25 – 11 AM to 6 PM the French Market will be home to 6 blocks of Roadfood cooks from New Orleans, Lousiana and across America. Everyone has a unique specialty item. You will be able to taste to your hearts desire and portions are sized and priced to allow you to taste non-stop.  Come expecting the aroma of regional eats real Texas pit barbecue to Pecan Pie to artisan boudin sausage made by Cajun country’s most beloved butchers.

The Kickoff Party

Also called “Behind the scenes with the “Splendid Table.” Join Lynne Rossetto Kasper, Roadfood creators Jane & Michael Stern, and a host of notable chefs for an unforgettable evening. On Friday, March 23 – 6:30 PM to 9 PM at the Grand Ballroom of the Royal Sonesta Hotel, 300 Bourbon Street for a $60 ticket there will be “open-bar cocktails and a presentation of Big Easy hors d’oeuvres for all. Guests have the opportunity to meet & greet Poppy Tooker, host of public radio’s “Louisiana Eats!” and Lynne Rossetto Kasper, host of “The Splendid Table.” Lynne and “Splendid Table” producer, Sally Swift, will be signing their book How To Eat Weekends, Doug Sohn of Hot Doug’s will be receiving the Blue Plate award, and Jane & Michael Stern will be signing the newest edition of their book Roadfood.” Tickets are limited, you can order them directly from Roadfood.com

Beignet Eating Contest

On Sunday, March 25 – 1 PM to 1:30 PM the French Market is host to the ultimate French Quarter eating competition! The delicious blend of fritters and powdered sugar that Beignet’s have may be too much to consume in the contest, but there will be plenty around for the bystanders as well. The New Orleans Fire Department will field a team of its top eaters to determine which of them can eat the most beignets in the least amount of time. The winning team takes home the World Champion Beignet Eating Belt. And this year, for the first time, the contest will feature an open competition for all who have the appetite and courage to compete in the Beignet Big League.

Now that Mardi Gras has come and gone it’s time for a St. Patrick’s Day party! It’s another excuse to have a party that lasts all week to those enjoying the New Orleans lifestyle. It’s also time for some more parades.

In fact, there are at least 6 different parades to choose from. Visit http://www.stpatricksdayneworleans.com/paradeinfo.html for more information on the parades. Keep in mind, if you think Mardi Gras throws were awesome, St. Patrick’s Day floats and trucks will now be throwing everything from cabbages, carrots, onions, and perhaps potatoes! Beads and flowers are in the mix as well, just not as colorful as a vegetable heading your way. If you are on the party prowl it is another reason to have what seems like a big street party depending where you are, especially on the parade routes.  Dressing up is also all the rage if you’re attending, and many a leprechaun can be seen adorning the sidewalks.

Here is a quick list of the planned parades for 2012:

Sunday, March 11, 2012: St. Patrick’s Day Parade on Metairie Rd. – 12 Noon

Thursday, March 15, 2012: Parasol’s Block Party 10 a.m. – 8 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, 2012: Irish Channel Parade – 1 p.m.

Saturday, March 17, 2012: Tracey’s St. Paddy’s Day Party – 11 a.m. til

Saturday, March 17, 2012: Downtown Irish Club Parade – 6:00 p.m.

Sunday, March 18, 2012: Louisiana Irish-Italian Parade (Metairie) – 12 Noon

You can’t go to New Orleans and not get drawn in by the flavors that surround you. Don’t know where to start?

Let us tell you more about the Southern Food and Beverage Museum.  Saveur Magazine named them one of the five great museums devoted to food in May of 2011! It is a “nonprofit living history organization dedicated to the discovery, understanding and celebration of the food, drink and the related culture of the South” according to their website, and boy do they live up to their mission.

There are number of visiting and permanent exhibits. There are several exhibits opening that you don’t want to miss. “IlluminEATing” is a photography exhibition by Meredith Beau that gives us a peek behind the closed doors of people’s refrigerators, providing a window into the structure, economics, ethnicity and health of the family. “Lena Richard: Pioneer in Food TV” is an exhibit curated by Ashley Young, PhD candidate in the Department of History at Duke University. Richard is best known for her cookbook New Orleans Cook Book published by Houghton Mifflin in 1940, and her twice-weekly cooking show on WDSU-TV in 1949-1950 called “Lena Richard’s New Orleans Cook Book.” Both open on March 10, 2012 at 4 PM and is free and open to the public.

Another exciting permanent exhibit opening on Sunday, March 25 at 2 PM (free and open to the public) is the “Then and Now:  The Story of Coffee in Brazil and New Orleans:  18th Century – Present” exhibit. Were you aware that New Orleans is a major coffee port in the US and the largest consumer of coffee per capita?  If your there for the opening there will be samples, so come on down!  Some of the other permanent exhibits include “Louisiana Eats! Laissez Faire – Savoir Fare”, “Tout de Sweet: All About Sugar”, “A Table at Galatoire’s” and “Acadian to Cajun: From Migration to Commercialization” to name a few.

If you can’t get to the museum itself there are a number of “on-line” exhibits as well. These include “Southern Beers”, “Treme’s Cooking” and “Restaurant Restorative.” According to their website “New Orleans is home to some of the oldest restaurants in the United States, several of which are run by descendants of the original owners, now serving the descendants of the original patrons.” No wonder the food is so delectable!

If you’re not hungry enough yet visit http://southernfood.org/sofab/?p=5232 for some great recipes on Jambalaya, Grits and Baby Cabbage Salad.

To see more information about this delicious location visit http://southernfood.org/ and get started on your southern food experience today!

Of course, give us a call to get you to and from some of the best eats in New Orleans!