One of my last wishes before Baby Hortenstine gets here in June was a dining escape to my favorite Creole- and French-rich city that brims with classic restaurants, antique shops and enchanting architecture. Pals Piper Wyatt, Suzanne Droese, Todd Fiscus and I entrenched ourselves at the Ritz-Carlton for a weekend of hitting a mile-long list of my beloved foodie establishments. Although I can’t divulge all that was said and seen on our epicurean adventure — it is New Orleans, after all — I will fill you in on my must-dos in the moody and magical Crescent City. Tear this out for your next trip:
Stay
The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans, 921 Canal St., 504.524.1331; ritzcarlton.com. Boasts one of the most peaceful courtyards in the city.
Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras St., 504.595.3300; loewshotels.com.
Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier St., 504.523.6000; windsorcourthotel.com.
Soniat House, 1133 Chartres St., 504.522.0570; soniathouse.com.
Dine
Galatoire’s, 209 Bourbon St., 504.525.2021; galatoires.com. Ask to sit at one of waiter Billy’s tables during Friday lunch, and start with the Galatoire’s Gouté and the potato souffé.
Clancy’s, 6100 Annunciation St., 504.895.1111. Don’t miss the fried oysters and brie.
Herbsaint, 701 Saint Charles Ave., 504.524.4114; herbsaint.com. The gumbo of the day here has yet to disappoint.
For down ‘n dirty po-boys and burgers, venture out of your comfort zone to Crabby Jack’s on Jefferson Highway, Mother’s on Poydras Street, Port of Call on Esplanade Avenue or Domilise’s Po-Boys on Annunciation Street.
Shop
Leontine Linens, 3806 Magazine St., 504.899.7833; leontinelinens.com. The home base of fine linens and even finer monograms from proprietress Jane Scott Hodges.
Nadine Blake, 1036 Royal St., 504.529.4913; nadineblake.com. We stocked up on Blake’s paper goods from local gal Alexa Pulitzer and even found a copy of PaperCity’s own interiors book, Domestic Art: Curated Interiors, tucked in her bookshelves.
Ann Koerner Antiques, 4021 Magazine St., 504.899.2664; annkoerner.com. A favorite haunt of Fiscus’ interior-designing partner Rob Dailey’s.
Tara Shaw, 1240 Camp St., 504.525.1131; tarashaw.com. French, Italian and Swedish antiques that are to the trade only.
Do
• Spend the afternoon on the front porch of The Columns Hotel in the upper Garden District drinking Sazeracs.
• Visit contemporary art galleries such as Søren Christensen and Heriad-Cimino Gallery, lining Julia Street in the Arts/Warehouse District.
• Sip on a Pimm’s Cup at Napoleon House, established in 1797 in the French Quarter.
• Wander through the Ogden Museum of Southern Art to see large-scale pieces by Texas’ David Bates.
• Drop in on all the antique and design shops you can handle on Magazine Street in Uptown.