I was 27 the first time I set foot in New Orleans. As a native Nebraskan living in Salt Lake City, the romance, mystique, and magic of Anne Rice’s New Orleans beckoned. I was deep into Ms. Rice’s vampire and witch lore that painted a picture of a city worlds away from my everyday life. My first trip was for Halloween, and NOLA did not disappoint. Fast forward 30 years, and I still get giddy at the thought of returning. That is why when the Society of American Military Engineers (SAME) holds their annual Small Business Conference (SBC) there, I am the first to book my flights!

As time has marched on, the NOLA attractions that appealed to me in my youth have evolved; no more Bourbon Street madness for me, but I still find NOLA magical. I now look to the incredible culinary scene and music culture the city offers. Below are some of my favorites that have come to the fore in the last couple years.

Where to eat

Close to the SAME SBC venue, the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center in the Warehouse District, are two of my all-time favorite places to eat: Cochon and Cochon Butcher. Cochon is Cajun at its finest. It’s open for lunch and dinner for you to get your fix of the best of the local cuisine. Cochon Butcher, located right next door, offers a wide variety of quality sandwiches, from the traditional NOLA muffuletta to an upgraded, delicious Cubano. All the cured meats and sausages are made in-house with locally sourced ingredients, a difference you can definitely taste.

Keeping to the Warehouse District outside of the convention center, another favorite is Meril, Emeril Lagasse’s less formal restaurant in the area. I do not get past the snacks and small plates menu here. There is not one I haven’t tried nor one I do not like. Try the Pineapple Upside-Down Cornbread with Bacon Marmalade. You can thank me later…

For a more traditional feel, head into the Garden District and visit Commander’s Palace. It is a tried-and-true icon. With its trademark teal blue awnings, it is hard to miss. Don’t arrive in your street clothes, though: they keep to the genteel formalism of Southern culture, and business attire is required to dine here!

For local fresh seafood, go uptown to Superior Seafood. At an earlier conference, the Scout team devoured the raw oyster starter here. The fish is fresh, and the ambiance is quintessential Southern charm.

Besides our favorites, we also look forward to trying something new. I have my eye on Turkey and the Wolf, a 2019 Food & Wine Most Important Restaurant of the Decade. From the same restaurant group, and highly recommended by our resident NOLA partners at Row 10, comes Hungry Eyes, a retro 80s -themed restaurant featuring “food that pairs well with drinking.” It was named one of the best restaurants of 2024 by Bon Appetit. For more ideas, Eater New Orleans is always up to speed on the latest and greatest!

Where to see live music

Every local will tell you to skip Bourbon Street and head right to Frenchman Street, and I concur. I am looking forward to catching a set by Amber and the Sweet Potatoes at the Spotted Cat. Amber’s powerhouse voice belting out swing and jazz tunes is truly amazing get-up-and-dance music. Other clubs to catch some quality jazz on Frenchman Street are The Maison and DBA New Orleans.

Where to see Scout

Please come visit Ryan, Melanie, Ray, Jane, and me in Booth 340! And while you probably will not see us out on Bourbon Street downing Hurricanes, you might catch us with a sophisticated Old Fashioned in hand at a hip, quiet restaurant on a storied NOLA side street.