This is the story of a French outpost and how it “matured” into the city we love today. New Orleans is a cultural gateway where Africans, both enslaved and free, and Indians shared their customs with Europeans. They came together in a thriving port city melting pot and, over time, created a distinct New Orleans cultural identity.

Your escort will meet you in the hotel lobby and walk you to the New Orleans School of Cooking, located in a renovated molasses warehouse.  Learn how to cook four New Orleans’ classic dishes while learning its history and culinary evolution an entertaining and interactive two hour cooking demonstration.  .

Then we set off on a walking tour where you’ll spend the afternoon in historic bars and stunning spaces learning the stories behind classic cocktails like the Sazerac, America’s first cocktail, born in New Orleans in 1838. In a city that fosters creativity and breathes inspiration, it's no wonder that the craft cocktail scene began early in New Orleans! In fact, the word "cocktail" and America’s first cocktail, the Sazerac, were both born here.

Because we cherish our shared history as well as each heritage that contributes to this mélange,  we pride ourselves on patronizing locally owned establishments in the hopes that our traditions continue. In the words of James Beard, “Food is our common ground.”