Aside from cooking, my other great passion is to travel! As you would have read last year, I went to London. This year’s Food Safari was to the East Coast of The USA.
The idea behind this is for me to learn more, gain inspiration, collect ideas and eat! That’s what I do and that’s what I love!
First stop was the incredible city of New Orleans – hot and steamy, beads and jazz, magnolia trees, swamps and plantations, it was an invigorating 4 days of eating, walking and seeing the sights. I attended a cooking class at the New Orleans School of cooking, after which I can now say I can cook up Gumbo’s, Jambalays, the Famous Bananas Foster and Pralines! Bayou Blends of spices and File Powders were purchased imediately to return to Londolozi so we can create similar delicacies. Thanks to the generosity of some Londolozi Guests, I was able to get a reservation at Commanders Palace, where I tried the taste of Turtle Soup… an interesting moment! This time of year is Soft Shelled Crab season of which I of course dined on. They are famous for their Creole Bread Pudding, very delicious! The owners of Commanders Palace were so happy to have a South African Chef visiting, they insisted I eat just about the whole menu!
Best place to learn traditional New Orleans cooking!
Crispy Lake Pontchartrain Soft Shelled Crab with South Georgia sweet Corn Pudding & a Yellow Tomato Courtbouillon broth – washed down with a glass of 2008 Joseph Drouhin Meursault Burgundy – delicious!
Creole Bread Pudding with Whiskey sauce – amazing!
For the first time in my career I tasted the World Famous Oysters Rockefeller, in fact I was the 4 056 682 person to have it at Antoines. One of the oldest restaurants in New Orleans, and the founder of this dish, they hold this recipe under lock and key!
World Famous Oysters Rockefeller
The history of New Orleans is pretty special and the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina has nearly been cleared. If you love great food, awesome Jazz, spectacular people and history – put it on your bucket list and go!
Next Stop was Chicago! A city close to my heart as I used to live there. Since then I have become a chef and food has become my life, so you can imagine the excitement of seeing what they had to offer. The main excitement and inspiration in Chicago came from the incredible Food Markets. Unbelievable choice and packaging with aisle after aisle of anything you could imagine for whatever dietary requirement you have. Having been a Rotary Exchange student in Chicago in 1994, I also returned to the Rotary Club of Chicago Heights where I shared with the rotarians my love for Londolozi!
Markets, markets, markets!!
Then came the city with my Culinary highlights – BOSTON! Now that is an entire post of its own…keep your eyes peeled to the blog for next weeks food safari update!
Now to put to test what I’ve seen and learnt! Hopefully I can put the Bayou Blends of spices and File Powders that were bought to good use this week in the kitchen!
Look forward to seeing you all soon.
Written and photographed by Anna Ridgewell
Yummy! 😉
Great blog Anna! Interesting to hear that Boston is a culinary highlight. I have heard great things about the food in Boston, so must definitely give it a try. The food markets you visited look wonderful!
Thanks Shelley! Boston is definitely up there with some of the greatest Food Capitals in the World, so have a look next week!
WOW! WOW! WOW!
Hi Anna,
I have been to New Orleans but that was in a previous, non foodie life. I am sure that Karin has already made the necessary notes on the “bucket list”
We will be in Boston towards the middle of October and then at Londos late in November and we look forward to the real McCoy in Boston and then comparing their fare to what I am sure will be excellent reproductions. See you then. Ian
Thank you Ian!
You & Karin will love New Orleans, please let me know when you are going and what your plans are in time, so i may give you a detailed list of suggestions!
Look out for next week’s Boston Blog, and try make some reservations! My mouth is still watering from the one place!
Enjoy your family time with Duncs!
Anna, you are one lucky lady! Sounds & looks like you had one “heck of a culinary experience”! Look forward to the next “episode”
Thank you Wendy! Don’t forget to look out for next weeks!
I love NOLA almost as much as I love Londolozi! Antoine’s is awesome
An amazing place it is! i am planning a two week trip there again soon, so i can try out some more of their great delights! Antoine’s is indeed an institution!
Just back from Boston where my son is a chef…..lobster, lobster, lobster. Looking forward to what you are going to do at Londo in November.
Lobster absolutely! but many more great restaurants! Enjoy next week!
Hi Anna:
Greetings for. Boston. We were at Londolozi in January and would have loved to have returned the hospitality! Can’t wait to hear of your adventures in our great city. Looking forward to a return in 2014!
Thank you Scott!
We will definitely be able to meet up again in Boston, as it was not my last visit by any means! Enjoy next week’s blog and let me know what you think about what i did! It definitely was the culinary highlight!
Hi Anna
Glad you enyoyed your trip. Lovies
Thank you Jorina!
It was indeed the trip of a lifetime! Hope to see you soon
Thanks for reviews of New Orleans and Chicago, but being from Boston, I look forward to hearing about WHICH venues you visited. We also wish we had known about your visit; the North Shore and the Cape, the Berkshires and Southie all have wonderful dining experiences! And to all the above from Boston, you are going to LOVE Londolozi!!! They can do it all!! 🙂
Thank you Geri, i am so glad you have enjoyed the blog, remember to have a look next week where all will be revealed about my Boston moments!
Looks like an incredible trip with some incredible food! Well done, rich
Thanks Rich!
Oh my goodness – I get so excited reading about your travel and food safari!! Next best thing to actually being there. Travel is truly the “spice” of life – thank you for sharing all the wonderful details of your travel/food adventure.
Thank you Debs! you are absolutely right that Travel is the “spice” of life and in the cities i visited, they also truly believe that!
Anna, my wife and I are from NOLA, I wish that the Londolozi staff would have put you in touch with us. We were guests at Londolozi in April/May and would have enjoyed repaying some hospitality. Glad to hear that you had a great time here in our great city. Kathlyn and Beau Bethune.
Dear Beau
Don’t worry, i am already planning my next NOLA visit, so will be sure to be in touch. Stay on the blog and see next week’s updates AND in the upcoming weeks, there will be posts on my NOLA cooking here at Londolozi!
Thank you for your comments!
Anna – all sounds quite delicious and such an exciting trip of contrasts. Look forward to tasting some of your exciting new Creole recipes next time we meet – another culinary addition to the Londolozi experience. A fantastic “foodie” safari indeed. Lucky you!
Great news update Anna. Weve just docked from our cruise in th baltic — tooo much food too often, so it will be a few weeks of min for us.
NO looks brilliant – im sure we’ll get there on day
Lotsa luv
M
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