You Are My Sunshine

Well today has been packed full of more great food, education and making new friends. The day started out foggy and damp in Baton Rouge where we took a very quick trip to the new State Capital Building (we saw where the Louisiana House of Representatives and Senate meet) and then to the Louisiana State Museum for a great exhibit on Mardi Gras.

Lunch was hosted at the White Oak Plantation where world renowned Chef John Folse spoke on Louisiana and gave a cooking demonstration on King Cake (pictured to the right is the Pastry Chef, not John Folse and I must add that the cake tasted much different from the kind we had yesterday…much better in my opinion) and Queen’s Soup. The main course was a delicious crab cake. From there we went to tour Laura Plantation, which was a Creole sugar cane plantation, something I knew nothing about before today.

We arrived in New Orleans around 5pm for a quick break and then on to dinner at Palace Café (owned by the Brennan’s), yet another tremendous meal....I'm telling you, if I ate like this everyday I'd be 500 lbs by the end of 2009! Well my main entrée was Shrimp Tchefuncte – Creole seasoned Gulf shrimp sautéed with mushrooms and scallions, with a Creole meuniére sauce, served with Louisiana popcorn rice...mmmmmmmmmmm.

Once dinner ended, everyone was interested in taking a quick trip down Bourbon Street. The best way that I could describe the scene is a dirty version of downtown Vegas without the casinos. Not a place I would want to be walking around by myself at night, that’s for sure! But everyone enjoyed taking in the sights.

I have to mention that I am really enjoying getting to know each of the travel journalists. They have all traveled the world; they’re all so interesting and have so much to talk about.

Oh, and one of the many things I have learned today is that the song, “You Are My Sunshine” is the state song on Louisiana…how fun is that?!?!