New Orleans Seafood Festival - September 10 - September 12, 2010
Growing up in New Orleans gives you a unique perspective in life. Some in the ways you are thinking, but mostly in ways you haven’t imagined. True, most New Orleanians don’t realize that Mardi Gras is not a national holiday until they leave for college, and even fewer ever learn that directions in most places are given in north, south, east or west, instead of toward the lake, the river, downtown or uptown. But New Orleanians are also spoiled in a number of fantastic ways, for instance, we grow up with epic food and we have access to some of the country’s greatest festivals.
One of the biggest quirks that growing up in New Orleans instills in you is an intense desire to share all we are and all we have to offer with everyone and anyone we meet. I think this is the only reasonable explanation for the sheer number of free festivals that New Orleans plays host to every year. French Quarter Fest and Satchmo Fest are some of our better known free festivals, but in these, music is first and food a close second. Well in September, New Orleans’ great seafood gets its due with the New Orleans Seafood Festival.
This year, the Fourth Annual New Orleans Seafood Festival will take place on September 10-12, smack in the center of downtown across from the old city hall (Gallier Hall) in Lafayette Square, right on the streetcar line. The Seafood Festival features some great New Orleans restaurants, Galatoire’s (serving shrimp remoulade and shrimp po-boys), Drago’s (serving fleur de lis shrimp and their world famous charboiled oysters), Remoulade, Arnaud’s casual restaurant, (serving cajun shrimp eggrolls and crawfish pies), just to name a few. Each restaurant has promised some of their best seafood dishes, guaranteeing to delight festival-goers of all ages and palates.
Delicious food at last year's festival
Oh yeah, because it’s New Orleans, they’ll have some music to keep you moving at the Seafood Festival. You know, some real no-name acts like Kermit Ruffins , Rebirth Brass Band and Amanda Shaw. Top that off with the host of local artists hawking their wares and you’ve got the best of New Orleans in a single free weekend. As a native New Orleanian, I can’t think of a better way to share a taste of what we have to offer at a price that is right for everyone. And if you aren’t convinced yet, proceeds from the festival go to help the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation. Great food, great music, great art and helping charity, what more could you possibly ask for?
It is important to note that the vast majority of fishing areas in the gulf have been re-opened and that all seafood that has been tested has been found safe to eat, so dig in!
New Orleans Seafood Festival
500 St. Charles Ave.
Menus available here
Musical line up available here
September 10, 4 pm until
September 11 and 12, 11 am until
For more fun with food and drink in New Orleans, join us Just Off the Red Streetcar Line.
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