Louisiana Seafood Festival. Here is another fun celebration for the entire family.
The Festival:
The annual event is in June as part of three festivals in one weekend in the French Quarter called the Vieux To Do. The Seafood festival is on the grounds of the Old U.S. Mint, a property of the Louisiana State Museum. The Old Mint is located opposite the French Market, at 400 Esplanade Avenue. The Seafood Festival will feature some of the city’s top chefs demonstrating the preparation of their signature seafood dishes, and samples will be available to visitors on hand. Cookbooks and other merchandise will be on sale at booths on the grounds.
Chefs and Restaurants:
Some of the participating chefs are Tom Wolfe of Peristyle, Susan Spicer of Bayona, Duke LoCicero of Cafe Giovanni, Brian Landry of Galatoire's,Paul Prudhomme of K-Paul's, and many, many more. Special Seafood dinners will be available at participating restaurants.
Some Menus:
Antoine's will feature a dinner that begin with shrimp cakes, and move on to a green salad with crispy fried oysters,salmon with crawfish meuniere sauce, and dessert. Muriel's will feature Gulf Oyster Shooters Migonette, smoked speckled trout, and caviar hors d'oeuvres, followed by jumbo braised shrimp, pan roasted Creole crawfish cake, braised redfish in shrimp butter sauce, and a milk chocolate "bomb" for dessert. The Rib Room at the Omni Royal Orleans will serve yellowfin tuna with horseradish drizzle, Creole tomato and Gulf shrimp salad, pan seared wahoo with corn and crab risotto, and warm chocolate waffles with strawberry gelato. All courses at all restaurants are paired with appropriate wines.
Hotels:
The Omni, the Royal Sonesta, the Chateau Sonesta, and the Monteleone Hotels offer packages especially for the Festival. All are located in the French Quarter, in the heart of the action. Here are more deals.
Music:
The Seafood Festival is held in conjunction with the Cajun Zydeco Music Festival, produced by the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Foundation. Two stages will have performances throughout most of the Seafood Fest.
Dates and Times:
The Seafood Festival is held on a Friday, Saturday and Sunday in June. In 2008 the dates are June 13-15. On Friday outdoor festivities will be from 1:00 to 6:00 p..m.; Saturday and Sunday from 11:00-5. The restaurant dinners on Friday and Saturday begin at 7:00 p.m.
The New Orleans Seafood Festival
The Louisiana Seafood Festival is often confused with the New Orleans Seafood Festival which takes place in September on Fulton Street.
