Best Foodie Tour in New Orleans + Cafe Du Monde Secrets from a Local

Our fabulous tour guide Elizabeth in front of Saint Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square during our foodie walking tour in the French Quarter.

On our first full day in New Orleans, our Destination Kitchen walking foodie tour of the French Quarter was the best part. Here is where we stopped along our tour:

Praline Cookies
We ate the most delicious praline cookies made of shortbread called Odi's Praline in a Cookie, and sipped chicory coffee.

Dane and his gumbo and muffaletta in the French Market.

French Market
We walked by Cafe Du Monde, but it was too busy for the whole group to stop and enjoy, so we headed to the French Market for gumbo and a muffaletta sandwich and some shopping. The gumbo was spicy and the sandwich was yummy, served cold, not hot.

As Elizabeth lovingly called this statue of Joan Arc - Joanie on a pony. She hangs out right by the French Market.

New Orleans History
Our tour guide Elizabeth stopped us periodically along the sidewalk to share tips and history of New Orleans. She described the Vieux Carre's historic preservation guidelines that has maintained the charm of the Mediterranean- and French-style buildings.

Pimms Cup
We enjoyed a beef po boy sandwich and refreshing cucumber mint cocktail called a Pimms Cup at the second-oldest bar in New Orleans, Tujague's.

A bartender preparing the Pimm's Cup cocktails at Tujague's, the second-oldest bar in New Orleans.

Praline
The pralines kept flowing when we got to taste another one at the Southern Candymakers. This one was so buttery and rich. Elizabeth said she likes to buy one or two and wrap them up for her purse for a snack later.

Macaroons
Our final stop was Sucre for gelato, macaroons and a bit of chocolate. This cute little sweet shop had a fun, French atmosphere.

A bite of chocolate and a strawberry macaroon for each of us at Sucre by Jackson Square.

Major kudos to Elizabeth and Destination Kitchen for cooking up such a delicious tour for us. We walked for about three hours and ate so many delicious things. This tour is not for folks who can't be on their feet for a couple of hours and it is for 21+.

Biggest disappointment of the day
I had read about this Backstage Pass to meet penguins at the Audubon Nature Institute in New Orleans. Dane and I walked over to go meet them and we learned you have to make a reservation AND it's $150 per person (including tax). We said no thanks and walked away.

After walking the riverfront and NOT seeing the penguins, we enjoyed pool time at the hotel and made a dinner decision. What THE BOOK called the best pizza in the city was at Domenica couple of blocks from the hotel, so away we went.

We did actually get to witness a second line right before our tour started! Look at this guy's brilliant costume!

Domenica
OK, the hostess was the rudest we encountered during our trip, but our waitress was lovely and the atmosphere and meal were memorable. We scored a window table where we watched the street traffic during our dinner. Darling Husband had a beer and the Smoked Pork pizza. I had a cocktail and the Calabrese pizza. It wasn't too spicy. The crust was rustic and delicious.

Domenica's had the most delicious, rustic pizza right in the Business District.

Bourbon Street
After dinner, Darling Husband wanted to walk Bourbon Street and I obliged him. Honestly, I'm OK never walking Bourbon Street again. It was a Friday at 8 p.m. and had loud music, pushy club promoters trying to coax women inside their businesses, drunk, stumbling people and at one point I legitimately thought I was going to get puked on.

Order a little black decaf coffee with your order of beignets at Cafe Du Monde. I especially liked them dunked right in the coffee.

Cafe Du Monde
Tour guide Elizabeth said the biggest mistake made at Cafe Du Monde is people wait in line for a table. Don't. Just walk in, locate an open table and sit down. The wait staff members are actually contractors. They come by, clean off the table and take your order. They buy the beignets from Cafe Du Monde and then charge you. The prices are listed so there's no funny business and honestly you would never know. Darling Husband and I enjoyed three beignets paired with a cup of decaf black coffee for me and a decaf cafe au lait for him.

I didn't get any powdered sugar on my black shirt. I may have on my skirt, but it was white so I couldn't tell!

Our waiter was fabulous in terms of service and I tipped him generously. He brought us two Cafe Du Monde paper hats that now adorn a shelf in our living room. Oh and don't wear black pants or skirt. I saw a couple ladies walk out with laps covered in powdered sugar. I wore a white lace skirt (similar).

Verdict: Do not miss: Foodie tour, Domenica pizza and Cafe Du Monde. Skip: $150 penguins and Bourbon Street.

I loved how these shutters were all crooked. The imperfect nature was refreshing.

Don't you wish you lived here?

Hotel selfie!

Check out the jasmine blooming on this garden gate in the French Quarter.

Darling Husband indulged in the little cup of gelato on our tour at Sucre.

We stopped in Saint Louis Cathedral. WOW. No detail was spared.