Instead of our typical trip to Vegas to celebrate our delayed Anniversary, Mother Dear gave us the chance to explore a long dreamed of locale, NOLA. We had an almost perfect trip and New Orleans is all it’s purported to be. All of the downsides to any large city exist, but are clearly outmatched by the upsides. And then there is the food, my GOD, the food. We ate ourselves stupid, and regretted it a couple of times immediately afterward. But looking back, I wouldn’t have skipped anything.

It was our first trip, so it was a touristy trip. We tried the things you see on tv over and over instead of trying to find hidden gems. Especially shocking was how good SO MANY of the classics turned out to be. Only twice was I disappointed, and by disappointed I mean the place was only good. Much more often I was surprised by how much better the place was than expected, a rare treat repeated and repeated in the Crescent City. If you are from our neck of the wood, or anywhere else than NOLA, it is a completely different world, and one worth experiencing for multitudinous reasons. Vegas is a different world but it is a calculated and manufactured experience, New Orleans has evolved in a storied and historic manner into what it is, you can feel it everywhere you go. Nothing like it.      True Dat.
 

 
 


Leah's Pralines
 New Orleans, Louisiana        Date of Visit  12/16/15         
  http://www.leahspralines.com/

There are multiple praline shops on every block in the French Quarter. Word has it the only place to get them fresh is either the New Orleans School of Cooking or Leah’s. On the way from the parking spot to Brennan’s I walk past Leah’s as they are packaging before opening and stopped in on the way back.
 



 


 
 

We were imagining something akin to peanut brittle…nope. Sub I think almonds or pecans for nuts and make them about 3X sweeter than brittle. We got a couple types: the flatter and crispier “traditional” and the smaller soft. We both preferred the traditional to the play dough like texture of the soft but found them all so sweet you have to share them, maybe that’s not a bad thing.

I also picked up a couple bags of pecans, one orange flavored and the other rum. Much better for me…the nut to sugar ratio makes them savorier while still incredibly sweet. They are both tasty, I think the rum noses out in front but mixing them is even better. Glad we had another taste of the city but I will stick to the po’ boys, bread puddings, seafood, cocktails, bananas, Italian sandwiches, debris, etc.
 

 
 
A Mixture Of Way Sweet Treats To Go
 

The Traditional Is On The Right
 
 
 


Theses Were A Little More Manageable
 


With Hopping Flavor Additions
 

 
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  C C C B D+ C  
        Frosted Nuts Soft Praline    
 
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