Everything in New Orleans is a Good Idea

Everything in New Orleans is a good idea

I got a new sticker that I put on my motor scooter's leg shield.  It has a quote from Bob Dylan, of all people.  When fellow Orleanians see it, they say, "That's true.  Everything here is a good idea."

Sign in Rouses front window

I usually shop at Canseco's or Terranova's when I'm picking up groceries, but, sometimes, I'll go to North Carrolton Avenue to Rouses, which is a big local supermarket chain.  I wouldn't say that every boil starts at Rouses, but they do have an extensive seafood selection and a wide selection of spices blended to local tastes by local firms.  They make "local" a virtue.  We don't boil our own crawfish.  It's much easier to walk five minutes in either direction from our house to either Broadview Seafood or Orleans Seafood.  They both do a better, and less messy, job than I can.

Zatarain's is a local company.  Their HQ is located across the river in the City of Gretna.  Every time I drive by their warehouse, I sneeze.  The air over there is spicy.  The firm is actually now owned by McCormick & Company (NYSE: MCK) but they still maintain a local presence, which is always nice.  If you're from Maryland, McCormick also owns Old Bay Seasoning, what you folks use to boil crabs.  Zatarain's Crawfish, Shrimp and Crab Boil is spicier and less bay-ey to my palate.

Everything in Louisiana is spicier.

One thing that I like about Rouses is that they really are dedicated to local firms, farms and suppliers.

Sign in Rouses produce department

When I'm shopping for produce in Rouses, I look up at a sign that hangs over the yams and I think about how Frau Schmitt and I have  some values in common with the Rouse family.  No, it isn't low prices.  We also believe in locals supporting locals.

We try to serve as much local food at breakfast as we possibly can. That's why I'm out on my motor scooter every morning before any of our guests are awake.  It's to pick up freshly baked bread and pastries. It's why Frau Schmitt goes to the farmers' markets a few times a week, to pick up what's fresh and in season.  It's why we stop by Terranova's to pick up sausages, at the Big Fisherman to pick up crab cakes or crawfish boudin, it's why we go to Cardozza's in Kenner for crawfish pie, and why we go to Norma's on Bienville Street for chicken empanadas.  We want our guests to get a taste of the various New Orleans neighborhoods.  Also, those are the places that have the best gossip.

It's why we get our bread pudding from the Pudding Lady.

The Puddin' Lady

Also, like Rouses, we believe in offering the best price for our services----every day.  

I'm well aware that we are not the least expensive lodging option in New Orleans.  For that you'll have to go to St. Vincent's Guest House.  I stayed there for a month before we moved to the city.  For the price, there is nothing to complain about, though the reviews are accurate.

We aren't the most expensive lodging option, either.  We try to offer good value for what we charge.  Even during Jazz Fest, when we necessarily raise our prices far above normal because the festival is a ten-minute walk from our house (and supply-and-demand and all), we try to provide a lot of extra lagniappe to make your stay memorably enjoyable. We want you to feel like you got your money's worth.

A cloud over Rouses Supermarket

Every day in New Orleans is a good day.  Every day in New Orleans is full of surprises.  Every day in New Orleans contains the ingredients from which good memories are made.  Every day in New Orleans is like nowhere else in the world.  When you stay in New Orleans, you can live like a local.  You can stay at La Belle Esplanade.

For the rest of this month, astronauts stay free.  Contact us beforehand for details.

À votre santé,
La Belle Esplanade bed and breakfast.