Living the NOLA life

In most of the cities I visit, I spend money on things like entertainment and sight seeing. In New Orleans (NOLA), however, it’s all about the food, baby! From traditional Cajun cuisine to Creole dishes that will have you begging for more, every dollar is worth it.

Dragos Vs. Neyow’s: Who does it better?

Creole and Cajun cuisine have rivaled each other for centuries. If you know anything about these styles of cooking, you know that Creole food uses tomatoes, while proper Cajun food does not.

Regardless of the ingredient list, both Creole and Cajun cuisine boast a variety of dishes that errupt in color and flavor. Things like fresh vegetables, smoked sausages and oh… did I forget to mention oysters?

Both Drago’s and Neyow’s, two restaurants in the heart of NOLA still maintain the cultural values associated with such powerful and highly respected cuisine. I visited both on my short trip down south and enjoyed different aspects of each.

The best part of dining at Neyow’s Creole Cafe was the smoked oysters! It was clear that these bad boys were fresh out of the ocean and ready to be pried open and placed into my drooling mouth. Unlike raw oysters, these oysters were cooked and served with spices, lemon and parmesan cheese.

Besides the oysters, we enjoyed the casual atmosphere of Neyow’s. As soon as you enter the building, you are greeted with views of the oyster grill, where little oyster shells are swallowed by gigantic flames. If you don’t enjoy the smell of fresh garlic and butter drizzled over seafood, make sure you keep eating at 7-11.

For our second course, I decided to indulge in a fresh pasta dish served with sausage, tomatoes and cheese.

Meanwhile, on the other side of town…

On the other side of town, we stepped into the world of Cajun cooking as we entered Drago’s. The restaurant Drago’s has been preparing Cajun food since 1993 and specializes in charbroiled oysters. We ordered pretty much the entire restaurant and left with a sense of warmth and joy that surrounds everyone who eats Cajun cooking.