You can be in the running for a $100 gift card from American Express, simply by telling me about your favorite restaurants in the New Orleans area!
Over the past 2 weeks, you’ve been helping me plan a long weekend get away, courtesy of American Express. First, the consensus was to send me to New Orleans. Then you guided me with some places to stay. And NOW, you can help me eat!
So, with the 150,000 points that have been added to my AmEx card, I’m flying to Cajun country (50,000 points for the flight). Because I couldn’t resist the chance to stay in the heart of Cajun country where I could easily venture to zydeco and Cajun performances, I decided to stay at at the Old Castillo Bed and Breakfast in Lafayette (55,000 points).
And now, because a girl’s gotta eat, I need a few suggestions for meals! And guess what, you might be rewarded for helping me!
Just leave leave a comment with your ideas about places to eat in the New Orleans area and you’ll be entered to win a $100 gift card from AmEx.
We’ve got about 45,000 points to work with on the food front and here are my thoughts around meals:
- Though I’m mostly a vegetarian and sometimes a vegan, I will allow some seafood into my diet when I travel.
- Meals don’t have to be Michelin-rated. I love local specialties, roadside stands and anything that will help me meet the locals.
- I’ll likely have a rental car and I don’t mind driving well outside the city of New Orleans or Lafaytte for something authentic and interesting!
- Please check the Pay with Points site to see if your suggested restaurant is actually available.
I can purchase a $100 OpenTable gift card for 12,500 AmEx points. A couple of these cards will give me the chance to enjoy some incredible meals. Here are a few restaurants that struck me:
- Jacmel Inn – Louisiana Contemporary Cuisine in Hammond, LA
- Dante’s Kitchen – Wide range of Louisiana cooking in New Orleans
- Burnadette’s Restaurant – Fine French and Cajun cuisines in Burnside
Have a different idea on how I can use my AmEx points? Check out these restaurants on the OpenTable site and then let me know what you think!
You can also check out the American Express Membership Rewards site. Heads up that this is a bit more limiting in terms of options meaning there are fewer restaurants listed and many are chains.
*****
Once you’ve come up with a good recommendation for restaurants or you like one of the options I’ve mentioned above, leave a comment and tell me where to eat. It’s that easy. You’re then in the running for the $100 gift card from American Express!
Rules – In order to qualify for the the $100 gift card from American Express, an email must be entered for each comment so that we may contact you. Only one email/person per week, please. You may, however, enter each week for the 3 weeks for a total of 3 tries at winning. Multiple entries in the same week will be disqualified.
Each week’s contest will be closed at the end of the 7th day of that week’s post. Dates are July 11, July 18 and July 25 at 23:59 PST. (This means you cannot go back and enter your suggestion for Week 1 if you discover the contest during Week 3.)
A random winner, based on all 3 week’s comments, will be chosen on July 27th.
Winner must reply within 3 days of being notified, otherwise, a new winner will be chosen.
OK, tell me where to eat…
Travel Well,
Beth
Melissa says
If I were you I’d go to Dante’s and order up the Local Farm Vegetable Plate! As a fellow vegetarian I think it sounds like a great pick!
Camels & Chocolate says
Ooooh I did my bachelorette party in NOLA last year, and while most might go for Bourbon Street, I went for EATING. My favorite finds were Stella for dinner and Stanley for brunch. I would make a special trip back for the bananas foster French toast, yummmmm.
Beth Whitman says
Melissa – good tip on Dante’s. Thanks!
Camels & Chocolate – SO glad that I’m not the only one who wants to go there to each (and not drink). OMG bananas foster French toast!?
stasia w. says
A down and dirty shrimp or catfish po-boy at Mothers. Or for amazing atmosphere try the Jazz Brunch at The Court of Two Sisters.
Jaime says
My favorites from when I was there in May include “Eat” on 900 Dumaine St (the fig and bleu cheese torte was divine), “Mother’s” on 401 Poydras at Tchoupitoulas, and K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen on 416 Chartres St, where the menu is different every day based on the ingredients available. The Gumbo Shop was also tasty, but I don’t think the menu was very vegetarian-friendly. (Neither was Mother’s, come to think of it, but I walked out of there holding my belly and groaning ecstatically all the way back to my hotel.)
Beth Whitman says
Stasia and Jaime! I forgot about Mother’s. I love that place!
And great additional suggestions, Jaime!
Lo says
Try The Gumbo Shops’s gumbo z’herbe…delicious and meat free! Bon Ton Cafe has some excellent seafood dishes. Safe travels!
Lauren says
it is not especially veg-friendly, but there are a few dishes sans meat. http://www.cochonrestaurant.com/ is one of the most delicious restaurants in LA. yum!!!
Beth Whitman says
Fantastic veggie option. THANKS!
Beth Whitman says
Ooooh. One of the best? I’ll put it on the list!
Brian says
Hi, we’re vegans and we had no trouble find great spots to dine while we were in NOLA. I agree with the others on Dante’s Kitchen in the garden district and the Gumbo Shop in the quarter. For a nice upscale dinner try out Bayona or August, they catered to us but also had standard vegetarian options and the food is amazing. If you’re looking for breakfast check out Slim Goodies diner on Magazine St. In the garden district. You can check out our reviews here: //tinyurl.com/3hf3397
Amber Smith says
I’m so glad you chose New Orleans, I can’t wait to see your posts about it. As for food I would go crazy for Emeril’s restaurants out there. NOLA for sure and it would be awesome to visit Commander’s Palace where he replaced Paul Prudomme. Go for the crawfish dishes there as they will be the best of the best. Mmmm, enjoy!!
Beth Whitman says
I will not be able to get there fast enough. I LOVE all of these ideas!
Laura D. says
For authentic Spanish food in a beautiful old building on the Mississippi, be sure to go to Galvez Restaurant, in the French Market District, the Beet Salad was delish! i know you don’t eat meat,but the filet on the Surf and Turf was indeed one of the best steaks I have ever had. I enjoyed the Bouillabaise, and overabundant stew of seafood!
The Crescent City Brewhouse is the perfect place to get fresh shucked local oysters and a pint of some local brew, sit at the bar and you can watch the shucker open your oysters while you enjoy a nice cold one. I have eaten a lot of oysters in my life and the first time I had a Louisianna oyster, I was Pleasantly surprised, they are quite a thick and meaty variety, rich and fulfilling! As a rule of thumb though, it is not recommended to eat southern oysters in months that do not contain an “R”, these being the hottest months of the year when the water is warmest and bacteria counts are highest.
You must go to the Cafe du Monde and get beignets and coffee or milk; it is quite a simple, unique cafe with an extremely limited menu…the line can be long at different times of the day, usually it moves along pretty good though. It’s always a good time for fried dough with sugar!!!
For a traditional, gourmet, dining experience in an old restaurant in the French Quarter you must go to Muriel’s; the food and service are superior, the Tuna Carpacio just melts in your mouth and the Puppy Drum was a nice local fish entree,it was crusted with pecans. After living in so. FL for so long, I really enjoy the old buildings that New Orlean’s is made of.
Beth Whitman says
I wonder how many beignets I can eat in one long weekend!
Sharon says
For lunch, grab one of their famous burgers at Port of Call on Esplanade. They’re a must-stop for me.
Bevin says
Head over to The Italian Barrel and have a glass of wine and have the porcini and truffle ravioli and fall in love with life. It’s a tiny little place, easy to overlook, but super delicious with a fantastic staff. You’ll love it.
Beth Whitman says
You had me at truffle ravioli but I love your comment about falling in love with life. It MUST be special!
Jessica says
Go to the Green Goddess. Outstanding, right in the French Quarter, but on a tiny side-street/alley that’s actually pretty quiet.