A Sicilian specialty since the 1900s, the muffaletta is one heck of a sandwich, filled with ham, mortadella, salami, mozzarella, provolone, and olive salad. It’s perfect for sharing, maybe during a picnic in Woldenberg Park.

Get It From: Napoleon House or Central Grocery

Think of a blown-up French fry, and you might be close to imagining soufflé potatoes. The super-thin potatoes are puffed with air and paired with béarnaise sauce for dipping.

Get Them From: Arnaud's or Galatoire's

Invented at Brennan's but offered at many restaurants, it's a dessert to savor. Bananas Foster is known for its dramatic tableside preparation, which includes bananas set ablaze by rum in a fiery burst known as flambé.

Get it From: Brennan's

Pronounced Prah-leens (none of that pray-leen talk around here), this confection is a Southern sweet made from sugar, milk, and pecans. They also make an excellent souvenir, and are often packaged in single-serving bags or gift boxes to make them easier to bring home to share.

Get them from: Loretta's Authentic Pralines in the French Market 

This humble Acadian staple combines seasoned ground pork with cooked rice and Cajun spices, creating a uniquely textured, soul-warming filling that's stuffed in natural casings and best eaten while still steaming hot.

Get it From: Cochon or Cochon Butcher

New Orleans-style barbecue shrimp is as messy as it is delicious, and that’s a good thing. French bread is a necessary accompaniment to the buttery, peppery sauce on this dish. The barbecue shrimp originated at this unassuming Uptown gem, where you can also get your raw oyster fix.

Where to Get It: Pascal's Manale

Turtle soup is a classic New Orleans delicacy that showcases the city's refined Creole culinary traditions. This rich, mahogany-colored soup features tender turtle meat in a deeply flavored roux-based broth, typically finished with sherry and hard-boiled eggs, creating an elegant and distinctive taste that represents old-world New Orleans dining at its finest.

Where to Get It: Commander's Palace

Perhaps one of the most delicious ways to cool off, the snowball is a favorite treat in New Orleans from early spring through late fall, just don't call it a snow cone. Flavors vary from stand to stand, but you can expect fluffy shaved ice soaked in syrups that range from traditional (strawberry, chocolate, and wedding cake) to the more adventurous (think satsuma, watermelon-jalapeno, and cream of bananas foster).

Get it From: Hansen's Sno-Bliz

Savory cheesecake might not be new, but one made with shrimp and alligator sausage? Now you know you're in New Orleans. Perfect for sharing, this iconic appetizer is decadently spicy. 

Where to Get It: Jacques-Imo's

Whether thin-fried and extra crispy or served in plumper filets atop a po-boy or as part of a fried seafood platter, fried catfish is a staple of New Orleans seafood.

Where to Get It: High Hat Café

Red beans and rice is New Orleans' most beloved Monday tradition (although you can get it any day of the week), a hearty Creole comfort dish that transforms humble ingredients into something magical. Slow-simmered kidney beans with the "holy trinity" and smoky andouille create a rich stew served over rice.

Where to Get It: Dooky Chase's

Perfectly spiced and typically served by the pound with potatoes, sausage, and corn, boiled crawfish is a rite of passage for anyone visiting New Orleans during crawfish season (which typically peaks between February and May). Try it in a restaurant, or grab some to go with a frozen daiquiri for the perfect Louisiana picnic.

Where to Get It: Clesi's

Starting with a dark roux and featuring any combination of chicken, andouille sausage, seafood, or okra, gumbo is a must-try dish packed with tons of flavor.

Where to Get It: Liuzza's by the Track or Li'l Dizzy's

While not technically native to New Orleans, is it any surprise that you can find some of the best iterations of this decadent Southern specialty all over the city? No matter where you go, one bite into the crispy skin will leave your mouth watering for more.

Where to Get It: McHardy's Chicken & Fixins

New Orleans has a ton of James Beard Award Winning chefs and restaurants, so it may be ambitious to say you want to try them all. But if you’re planning on working your way through the list, expect a truly delicious journey.

Historically, Réveillon dinners were multi-course, extravagant meals served after Christmas Eve mass. Today, many of the city’s best restaurants celebrate the holiday season with special prix fixe menus all December long. You can find detailed menus and participating restaurants beginning in early October on Holiday.NewOrleans.com.

Looking to expand your own cooking skills and bring a little New Orleans back with you? Try out cooking classes at one of our many fantastic cooking schools. Your friends and family will be forever grateful.