Christmas in New Orleans: 5 Delicious Food Experiences to Try
If you are planning Christmas in New Orleans, make food part of the trip. New Orleans is known for dishes like gumbo, po-boys, pralines, and other local favorites. But with so many places to eat, choosing where to start can be hard.
A Tastebud Tours food tour takes the guesswork out of it. You can try several local dishes, explore the French Quarter, and hear the stories behind the food. It is a simple way to get a real taste of the city, especially if this is your first visit.
So, which food tour should you choose? Here are five Tastebud Tours experiences to consider this Christmas.
5 Food Tours to Try This Christmas in New Orleans
Christmas is a great time to explore New Orleans through its food. Tastebud Tours offers several ways to taste local dishes and learn their stories.
1. Start Christmas in New Orleans With Classic Local Flavors
Signature Tastes of New Orleans du Jour is a great first choice. It is also Tastebud Tours’ most popular food tour. The tour lasts three hours. It takes you through the French Quarter and Jackson Square. You visit different eateries along the way.
Expect classic New Orleans food. Think po-boys, gumbo, pralines, and Cajun favorites. The food is included in the ticket price. That makes this tour easy for first-time visitors. You get several tastes in one trip. You also learn the stories behind them.
Pick this tour if you want:
- Classic New Orleans dishes
- A French Quarter walk
- Several food stops
- Local history with your meal
2. Taste Your Way Through the French Quarter
Want to see the French Quarter while you eat? Try Signature Flavors of the French Quarter Bon Appétit.
This is a three-hour walking food tour. It takes you to tasting spots across the historic French Quarter. All food tastings are included. Your guide also shares local stories. You get fun facts about the area too. So the tour is not just about food.
That is a big plus during Christmas. The French Quarter gives you plenty to see. Why not enjoy it with a plate in hand? The tour may include stops such as Tujague’s and New Orleans Creole Cookery. You may also visit Laura’s Pralines and other local food spots. Stops can change by tour date.
This tour is a good fit if you want:
- Food and sightseeing together
- A French Quarter experience
- Classic local dishes
- A relaxed walking tour
3. Sit Down and Enjoy Tastebud Table
Not keen on walking for three hours? There is another option.
Tastebud Table is a two-hour culinary experience. It takes place in a private, air-conditioned dining space. Here, you sit down and enjoy your food. A licensed instructor shares the history behind each dish.
The sample lunch menu includes gumbo, jambalaya, shrimp po-boy, red beans and rice, and bread pudding. The dinner menu includes gumbo, chargrilled oysters, shrimp Creole, jambalaya, and bread pudding. Recipes are also provided, which means you can try making some dishes at home later.
Tastebud Table works well if you want:
- A seated food experience
- A slower pace
- Classic New Orleans dishes
- Food stories from a local expert
4. Make Seafood the Star of Your Christmas Trip
Seafood lovers should look at The Original New Orleans Seafood and History Food Tour.
This tour also lasts three hours. It takes you through the city while focusing on local seafood. Your guide adds the history behind the dishes and places you visit.
The sample stops are packed with flavor. You may try a shrimp po-boy and chargrilled oysters. Seafood gumbo and shrimp remoulade are also on the list. The tour can also include shrimp Creole, blackened redfish, and a praline. That is a lot of seafood in one afternoon, so come hungry.
Choose this tour if seafood is your priority.
- Shrimp po-boy
- Chargrilled oysters
- Seafood gumbo
- Shrimp Creole
- Blackened redfish
5. Turn Dinner Into a Sunset Food Tour
Want your food tour to lead into the evening? Try the New Orleans’ Sunset Food and History Tour.
The tour starts at 3 p.m. and lasts three hours. It is a walking tour through the French Quarter. All food is included in the ticket price. It works like a progressive dinner. You move from one food stop to the next. Along the way, your guide shares stories about New Orleans food and history.
The listed stops include Court of Two Sisters, Laura’s Pralines, New Orleans Creole Cookery, and Oceana Grill. Menu items can vary. This is a smart pick if your mornings are busy. Spend the day exploring, and then let the food tour take you into the evening.
Choose this tour if you want:
- A later food experience
- A progressive dinner
- French Quarter history
- Several local food stops
Which Tastebud Tour Should You Book?
It really comes down to what you want to eat. Want a little bit of everything? Choose Signature Tastes of New Orleans du Jour. Want to focus on the French Quarter? Go with Signature Flavors of the French Quarter.
Love seafood? The seafood tour is the obvious pick. Prefer to sit down? Tastebud Table keeps things easy. Want a later experience? The Sunset Food and History Tour fits the bill.
Here is the quick choice:
- First visit: Signature Tastes of New Orleans du Jour
- French Quarter: Signature Flavors of the French Quarter
- Seafood: Original New Orleans Seafood and History Food Tour
- Seated experience: Tastebud Table
- Evening food tour: Sunset Food and History Tour
You can browse Tastebud Tours’ New Orleans food tours and choose the experience that best fits your Christmas plans. Most of the walking tours last about three hours. Food is included in the tour price. So, is New Orleans good to visit for Christmas? For food lovers, yes. There is plenty to taste, and a guided tour takes the guesswork out of it.
This Christmas, instead of asking where to eat first, why not let a local guide show you?