Post Haste Travel

New Orleans Culinary Tour

October 4 – 8, 2013

Friday, October 4, 2013

Arrive in New Orleans and check into your hotel.

Please arrive by 5 PM

Astor Crowne Plaza

739 Canal Street

A Licensed tour guide will accompany the group on the following short

walk from your hotel.

Welcome dinner at Palm Court Jazz Café 7:00PM

The musicians appearing at the Palm Court include some of the Legends of New Orleans Traditional Jazz who continue to play with equal vigor and enthusiasm in their seventies and eighties. We have a different jazz band performing every evening, each bringing their interpretation of true New Orleans style jazz. Records from the GHB family of labels are available and can be played on request. A magnificent collection of jazz photographs, by celebrated photographers, grace the old brick walls.

Menu

Soup

Creole Gumbo

Salad

Special Salad du Jour

Entrée

Chicken Creole with Rice*

Dessert

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce

Pecan Pie with Fresh Cream

Coffee

*Recipes provided upon request

Saturday, October 5, 2013

A Licensed tour guide will accompany the group on the following

Full day of transportation

Complimentary Breakfast available at The Astor Crowne Plaza

7:30 AM meet in front of the hotel for transportation pickup

Today’s tour begins at 8:00 AM

New Orleans City Tour

A licensed tour guide will escort the guests on a history tour of New Orleans. The tour will include the Garden District, where they built the large, elegant mansions exemplifying many styles, including Greek revival, Italianate and Queen Anne Victorians. They will go down St. Charles Avenue along the street car, passing two of the most prestigious colleges in New Orleans; Tulane University and Loyola University. They will also pass by Audubon Park, which is a 400-acre park located in uptown New Orleans between St. Charles Avenue and the Mississippi River, near Tulane University, built on the site of the 1884 World's Fair. City Park is another area your guests will enjoy during their tour. At 1,300 acres, is one of the largest urban parks in the country. The first parcel of land was acquired in 1854, making it one of the country’s oldest parks. This will be one of the stops that the guests will be able to disembark the transportation to use the restroom, grab a coffee ice cream or just enjoy the beauty of the park. Another hop off location will be an above ground cemetery known as “The City of the Dead”. Your guests will enjoy a history of New Orleans including the first settlers, religion, culture, and of course, Mardi Gras. Stop along the way in the Lower Ninth Ward that was devastated by Hurricane Katrina and see the rebuilding that has taken place. Pass the levee that broke, Brad Pitt's “Make it Right Foundation” and Fat's Domino's Home.

Cemetery Tour

A visit to St. Louis Cemetery #1, New Orleans oldest “City of the Dead”. Explore the cemetery and visit the tomb of Voodoo Queen, Marie Laveau. Step back in time with this historically accurate and educational tour.

Tour and Visit Houma’s House Plantation

With lunch

Houmas House Plantation and Gardens is so much more than just a tour of a grand antebellum estate. Experience the southern splendor of "The Sugar Palace" when you step into 16 rooms filled with period antiques and Louisiana artwork. Enjoy 38 lush acres of gardens, ponds and a majestic live oak alley. Enjoy the breeze off the Mississippi and navigate through the shadows of ancient oaks.

Whether you're being guided through the mansion with its artwork, artifacts and antiques or discovering the beauty of the immaculate gardens and grounds, you will quickly understand that a visit to Houmas House Plantation and Gardens is a unique experience.

Lunch Menu at Café Burnside

On the grounds of the plantation

Rosemary Chicken Breast

Served with garlic smashed potatoes, buttered baby carrots and tomato buerre blanc

Louisiana Seafood Pasta

Penne Pasta tossed in Creole tomato cream sauce

Luncheons include Bread and Butter, Iced Tea or Soft Drink

and Cheesecake. Gratuities and Taxes are included.

Tour and Visit Mardi Gras World

You know this is going to be a fun tour as soon as you arrive. Colorful Mardi Gras props, like a gigantic jovial jester, fiercely realistic alligators, and a gorgeously exciting Marilyn Monroe with skirt flying greet one and all at this amazing fantasy factory. You will even view the most awesome floats ever built for carnival - the Orpheus 140-foot triple-tandem sea monster "Leviathan" and the 240-foot quintuple-tandem "Captain Eddie's S.S. Endymion," with tens of thousands of fiber optic lights. After a brief introduction by a knowledgeable guide and a spirited video about the history of Mardi Gras and the company, you can dress up in authentic, ornate carnival costumes. Visitors tap into their imaginations, as the ladies don sequined headdresses, gowns, and the gentlemen wear regal coats of armor, imagine yourself as a noble king or queen of the ball!

Mardi Gras Mask Making

Guests will have the opportunity to create Mardi Gras Mask they can take home. Each guest will be provided with one plastic mast, feathers, rhinestones, ribbon and all materials need to create their one-of-kind mask.

Return to your hotel for a brief rest and time to prepare for dinner.

Dinner at Mulate’s Cajun Restaurant

Live Cajun Dance Music

7:00 PM

For Starters

Choose one

House Salad, with your choice of one of our homemade dressings

Cup of either Zydeco Gumbo

or Seafood Gumbo

Entrees

Choose one

Our Specialty of the House, Catfish Mulate’s,

Seasoned grilled catfish fillet, lightly floured and grilled to perfection, topped with crawfish etouffee, served with jambalaya, sautéed vegetables and twice baked potato

Fried Shrimp, butterflied and fried to perfection and served with jambalaya and french fries

Grilled Chicken Breast, a plump seasoned chicken breast served atop jambalaya and sautéed vegetables

For Dessert

Our Famous Homemade Bread Pudding with Butter Rum Sauce

Soft Drinks, Iced Tea, and Coffee Included

Sunday, October 6, 2013

Meet in the Lobby of the Astor Crown Plaza at 9:45 AM

A Licensed tour guide will accompany the group on the following

French Quarter Walking Tour 10:00 AM- 12 Noon

A licensed tour guide will guide the guests on a history tour of New Orleans French Quarter. Explore the storied streets of the Vieux Carre where legend and documented history converge. From the dynamic Mississippi River to the serene courtyards, experience the Vieux Carre with the city's best guide. Discover everything from the outrageous colonial history to Creole culture, from piracy to architectural masterpieces. Just of few of the stops along the way: French Market, Jean Lafitte Blacksmith Shop, Jackson Square, and Saint Louis Cathedral.

Court of Two Sisters Jazz Brunch Buffet- 12 Noon

JAZZ BRUNCH BUFFET

Soup Du Jour

Turtle Soup au Sherry

Waiter Service or Egg Station

Eggs and Omelets made to order, any style

Our House Specialty

Seafood Orleans and Shrimp Creole Omelet

Classic Eggs Benedict

Seafood Station

Unlimited Fresh Boiled Shrimp and Crawfish (when available)

Accompanied by Remoulade and Cocktail Sauces

Specialty Salads

A unique selection of Louisiana salads including: Zesty Cajun Pasta,

Creamy Crawfish Pasta, Chicken Salad, Chicken Curry Salad

An assortment of domestic and imported cheeses

Some of our Hot Entrée Offerings

Fresh Gulf Shrimp in Spicy Etouffee,

Duck à l’ orange,

Oysters Bienville,

Creole Jambalaya and a local favorite

Veal Grillades and Gravy with Corn Grits

Breakfast items available

Bacon and Sausage

From our Bakery

Homemade Buttermilk Biscuits

Desserts & Fresh Fruits

A vast variety of fresh cakes, pies and sweets baked daily on premises including

Mardi Gras King Cake,

Southern Pecan Pie,

Bananas Foster,

Bread Pudding with Whiskey Sauce,

Home Churned French Vanilla Ice Cream

with your choice of Praline Sauce or Chocolate Sauce;

plus an assortment of local and exotic fruit and fruit salads

Beverages

Coffee, café au lait, tea, and juice included

****Afternoon and evening free to explore****

Monday, October 7, 2013

A Licensed tour guide will accompany the group on the following

Short walking distance from the hotel

Brunch - Hands-on Cooking Class-10:30 AM

New Orleans School of Cooking

524 St. Louis Street

French Quarter

You’ll do more than just watch and eat- after all, you’re the chef! You will be cutting, chopping, and sautéing a full, 4 course meal. After the hard work is done, you will dine on what you have created. These classes are not limited to “foodies;” a great time will be shared by all!

Guests may select any four items to prepare from the menu below:

Choose 1 Appetizer

Shrimp Remoulade

Stuffed Mushrooms

New Orleans BBQ Shrimp

Oyster Rockefeller

Choose 1 Soup

Chicken & Andouille Sausage Gumbo

Shrimp & Artichoke Soup

Corn & Crab Bisque

Shrimp Bisque

Choose 1 Entrée

Crawfish Etouffee

Chicken Etouffee

Chicken & Cajun Smoked Sausage Jambalaya

Shrimp Creole

Chicken Creole

Choose 1 Dessert

Traditional Bread Pudding

Sweet Mini Pecan Pies

Bananas Foster Crepes

Transportation will be provided for the next two tours

Tour and Visit the Old New Orleans Rum Distillery

The Old New Orleans Rum Distillery, close to the French Quarter, offers an intimate, detailed look at the distillation process from beginning to end. The tour tells the story of a unique company and it’s survival after Hurricane Katrina. All of the tours begin with an Old New Orleans Rum cocktail and conclude with tasting of all 4 products. Become a connoisseur as you experience the subtle flavors of our distinctive rums.

Southern Food and Beverage Museum

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum is a nonprofit living history organization dedicated to the discovery, understanding and celebration of the food, drink and the related culture of the South. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum celebrates, interprets, investigates, entertains and preserves. A collaboration between many, the Museum allows food lovers of all stripes – Southerners and non-Southerners, locals and tourists, academics and food industry insiders — to pull up their chairs and dig into the food and drink of the South. And although we are based in New Orleans, we are bringing our message about the entire South to the world through exhibits, collection of oral histories and videos, and other research.

Enjoy Beignets and Café Au Lait at Café Du Monde in the Historic French Market

Located in the Historic New Orleans French Market, the Original Cafe Du Monde Coffee Stand was established in 1862. Beignets were brought to Louisiana by the Acadians. These were fried fritters, sometimes filled with fruit. Today, the beignet is a square piece of dough, fried and covered with powdered sugar. They are served in orders of three. Wash your beignets down with a delicious cup of Café Au Lait.

The perfect way to start off any day.

Return back to the hotel and freshen up for your final night in the Big Easy.

The following is walking distance from the hotel.

New Orleans Jazz Club

Includes one drink per person

One of Bourbon Street's oldest live Jazz clubs is dedicated to the preservation of "America's classical music". Jazz is one of North America's oldest and most celebrated musical genres, traced back to the 20th century. This legendary spot is where many of the most notable Jazz musicians (Harry Connick, Jr) served their apprenticeships. It is one of only two Jazz clubs still existing on Bourbon Street. Tourists and locals flock to this famous club expecting to be entertained by nonstop authentic jazz...and are never disappointed!

Enjoy Farewell Dinner at Arnaud’s

In the Jazz Bistro

8:30 PM

Appetizer

Turtle Soup

Entree

Petit Filet Charlemond

Grilled five-ounce filet in a rich Mushroom Sauce,

Topped with Béarnaise Sauce

Gulf Fish Amandine

Sautéed fillet topped with sliced almonds and Lemon Butter Sauce

Sides

Asparagus & Brabant Potatoes

Dessert

Chocolate Devastation

A velvety blend of imported dark chocolates

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

Check out of the hotel and depart New Orleans

Cost Per Person

Hotel upgrades available and listed below

$1652.40 per Person – Single Occupancy

$1219.20 per Person – Double Occupancy

Upgrade to the Hotel Monteleone

214 Royal Street

$597.60 – Single

$298.00 – Double

Upgrade to the Ritz Carlton

921 Canal Street

$1092.00 – Single

$574.20 - Double

Included:

Taxes and gratuity

All tours and meals included in the itinerary

Transportation where noted

Not Included:

Airfare to and from New Orleans

Transfers to and from Airport

Breakfasts daily unless noted

Items of a personal nature

Alcoholic beverages unless otherwise noted

Gratuity for any tour guide service

Deposit of $350 per person due by June 14^th, 2013

Final payment due in full by August 14, 2013

Travel Insurance is recommended

Please contact:

Candace Andreozzi

Post Haste Travel

(Office) 954-966-7690

(Cell) 561-306-6798

Candace@posthastetravel.com

Ethiopia is best described as a vast land of contrast, beauty, and extremes. The images and scenes of the people, in many cases, are highly distorted. The country is not barren, dusty or a land with starving people.
Several years ago I toured the historical Northern route, with my group viewing the splendid, carved, rock-hewn churches, ceremonies ,the many obelisks and the fascinating stories of their origin. Also we learned of the passage and return to the homeland of Ethiopia. We visited UNESCO sites, castles, ancients churches and ruins with many tales of the building of a dynasty. It was my great pleasure to sail on Lake Tana and the Blue Nile. It is there I became aware of the developing tourist market for the southern portion of Ethiopia. The Rift Valley lakes and masses of bird and marine life, as well as wildlife in the National Parks bordering Kenya.
This is the portion of Africa often portrayed through elaborate photography of colorful people, customs, and practices in expedition and nature magazines.
I recently had the opportunity to return and visit the Omo Valley Region with its popular ethnic treasures, and the place where 50% of the ethnic groups reside. We started from Addis Ababa, and descended via comfortable 4X4 wheel vehicle with a skilled driver and professional English –speaking guide into the region. Along the way we passed through small towns and stopped to visit along the highway villages, meeting people, families and visiting the homes belonging to the Konso people, with their beautiful and most effective terracing agricultural practices and elaborate farms; the Mursi people with their barbarian lifestyle (it is as if time has stood still for hundreds of years). True preservation of the culture! We were then on to visit and shop at the Markets with the colorful Hammer people (body painting and ceremonies) and then to the Karo people (similar to the Hammer people with the body painting, but with adornments from brass, cattle hides and skins, beads or shells.) Many are semi-nomadic. The men and boys work the cattle and farms, the women maintain the homes, fields, and children. Everyone has a job or task to perform (from the time they can walk). This world of Ethiopia is in general a world where African traditions are genuine and demonstrated in the daily traditions of folk music, dress, rituals, and way of life. I have observed many of the traditional practices by African descendents from rural USA and the Americas; through West, East and sections of South and Southern Africa. Whether in Jamaica, Brazil, Aboriginal country of Australia, the Tiwi Islands, some things have survived the long journey from “the Motherland”. In additional to the tremendous cultural beauty, the landscape of the Rift Valley and Omo Valley region is a nature lover’s paradise, off the beaten path. The beautiful Lakes, from blood red to clear waters, hold a mystique and mystery that I must return to explore. The area boasts of some of the largest crocodiles in the world, and numerous Hippos (whom I heard but time did not permit me to witness this aspect on my journey, that is for the next visit).
Accommodations at the Wenney Eco-lodge were comfortable, clean and ecologically minded, (although hot water). I had the opportunity to stay in the bungalow occupied by the President of the Ethiopia – I liked it too! This lodge was hand built by the owner for the purpose of sustainable tourism – using local resources and people . Great stop on the shores of Lake Langano, reportedly bilharzias-free, allowing swimming. There are excellent opportunities for forest exploration, which I would like to do soon.

Our next stop was at Swaynes Hotel constructed in the Dorze , elephant style, currently the best in the region (HOT WATER). The most spectacular feature other than the design to me was the location; on a hill overlooking glorious views of Lake Abaya and Lake Chamo. Here we visited the Dorze village known for its elephant motif built homes, dancing children, beautiful hand woven cotton scarves and Aki (a local home brew) served with bread, fresh honey from the comb and chili sauce. Whew! It was all HOT! My tight schedule again did not afford my cruise on the Lake.

We left for the lower valley and even hotter climate to Evangadi Lodge where we had access to visit several of the local tribes (Hammer,Karos and Mursi) and markets of the area. Unfortunately we were not able to witness a bull-jumping ceremony (marriage proposal) – but the markets were quite a treat.
A bit of caution. Every picture you snap may costs you 2 – 5 Birr. Thankfully, our guide was able to negotiate most of this for us. The markets are an opportunity to not only sell wares, and the harvest, but a social event for the three tribes to meet and interact, court and look for new spouse. It is quite a show of traditional dress, adornments, and “profiling”. It is also becoming known (to the locals) that the tourist are now coming for pictures, so there are the stagers – which I could easily identify. However, it was fun for all.

En route to a visit to the villages, located much off the beaten path, I saw some of the most interesting termite mound formations – having traveled most of Africa this was amazing to me (elephants, giraffes – almost works of art!).

Village life was much like most of rural Africa. Huts from mud and or cow dung, or bamboo shoots ,sticks, banana trees and leaves all with thatched roofs. Near town, the use of tin roofs was spotted on some of the mud huts. Various tribes have elaborate symbols identifying the front.
On the highway – cattle is King. The definition of “traffic jam" is herds of cattle and goats as they travel to and from water at river beds. There was never a dull moment during the trip.
The most challenging part of the experience was the “pit or bush stops” between towns Even this was better than some of the bathroom stops. Just like on safari, only few bushes!. Ladies get plenty of knee bending exercise (smile). Be Prepared!

The trip was everything I had anticipated and most of what I wish to see! It is for the adventurer and explorer traveler. A photographer’s paradise and a cultural enthusiast’s dream. A pure delight for one who has done it all and seekers of a new experience and cultural enlightening!

Please see my website www.ebonyheritagetravel for itinerary and pictures.

Travel Consultant
Ebony Heritage Travel
Master Kenya Authorized Travel Specialist
South African Fundi Destination Specialist
Botswana Specialist
Southern Africa Spa Specialist
www.ebonyheritagetravel.com
Direct Line 954-484-5773

Grace's Daily Travel Blog

Thursday, April 4, 2013

Candace Andreozzi and Post Haste Travel 4 Day Culinary Tour of New Orleans