I am providing you with more than three options, since it's possible
that reservations may be difficult to make at this late date. You've
certainly picked a wonderful city in which to have your Christmas
dinner! In fact, there is a bit of history attached to holiday meals
in New Orleans. An old New Orleans dining custom is the Réveillon, a
Creole Chistmas tradition which has been revived in recent times:
"Traditionally, le Réveillon, or 'the awakening,' was the morning
feast following midnight Mass on Christmas Eve. Popular with Creole
families in the mid-1800s, it is now much a part of our restaurant
scene. Réveillon was and still is something special to New Orleanians.
In the early days, most Catholics recognized Christmas Eve as a day of
fasting and abstinence. Following midnight Mass, everyone was hungry
and ready to celebrate with a Réveillon feast...
The Réveillon name has re-emerged in New Orleans, although its current
manifestation is a bit different. Réveillon runs on a different
schedule than the original version. During December, it?s served as
prix fixe dinners at restaurants throughout the New Orleans area. A
typical Réveillon menu is a complete dinner of four to six courses,
chosen with the season in mind. Typical menu highlights are roasted
duck and other game birds, as well as beef, soups, meat pies, and many
unusual desserts. Local chefs tailor their individual styles to the
traditions of Christmas, and most menus offer choices in some or all
of the courses."
The restaurants listed below which display the code 'CDR' offer a
special Christmas Day Réveillon menu; the others are (according to my
sources) also open on Christmas day, serving their regular menus, as
listed in the links below:
THE BESH STEAKHOUSE
At Harrah's New Orleans Casino
Canal Street at the River
December 1- 31 (CER, CDR, NYE, NYD)
504-553-6000
New Orleans Online: Reveillon Menus / The Besh Steakhouse
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/christmas/revmenus.html#BESH
BOMBAY CLUB
At the Prince Conti Hotel
830 Conti
December 1 -- 25 (CER, CDR, NYE, NYD)
504-586-0972
www.thebombayclub.com
New Orleans Online: Reveillon Menus / Bombay Club
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/christmas/revmenus.html#BOMBAYCLUB
BOURBON HOUSE
144 Bourbon
December 1-31 (CE, CD, NYE, NYD)
504-522-0111
www.bourbonhouse.com
New Orleans Online: Reveillon Menus / Bourbon House
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/christmas/revmenus.html#BOURBONHOUSE
HUNT ROOM GRILL
At the Hotel Monteleone
214 Royal
December 1 -- 25 (CER, CDR, NYE, NYD)
504-523-3341
New Orleans Online: Reveillon Menus / Hunt Room Grill
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/christmas/revmenus.html#HUNTROOMGRILL
If a lavish buffet with a huge selection sounds appealing, I have a
good suggestion. According to a friend who used to work in a rival New
Orleans hotel, The Ritz-Carlton's Christmas brunch is legendary:
"Christmas Day Brunch
December 25, 2003
Rate: Adults - $52.00; Children - $22.00 (under 12)
Gather together this Christmas Day at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orlean to
enjoy the city's most celebrated holiday brunch in an atmosphere of
seasonal festivity. From the forty-foot Christmas tree in the hotel's
courtyard to the holiday decorations that festoon the rest of the
hotel, you will find joy in all kinds of 'Christmas Cheer' this
special time of year!
To book your table, contact Stacy Coleman in Restaurant Reservations
at The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans at (504) 524-1331 extension 13200."
Rtiz-Carlton: Packages & Experiences
http://www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_orleans/packages/dining/christmas+day+brunch.asp
In case you're looking for some other holiday events in New Orleans,
this page has a nice list. Of particular interest to you might be the
Chefs' Holiday Cooking Demonstrations, from December 1st through the
23rd:
Christmas New Orleans Style: 2003 Events Schedule
http://www.christmasneworleans.com/events.html
Here is a schedule for the cooking demonstrations:
New Orleans Online: Christmas Cooking
http://www.neworleansonline.com/neworleans/christmas/xmascooking.html
Here you'll find a good-sized list of French Quarter events for
Christmas Day, including many restaurants:
French Quarter Festival: OPEN CHRISTMAS DAY ATTRACTIONS & RESTAURANTS
http://www.frenchquarterfestivals.org/openchristmas.html
Google search strategy:
Google Web Search: "new orleans" + "restaurants" + "christmas day" + 2003
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22new+orleans%22+%22restaurants%22+%22christmas+day%22+2003
Google Web Search: "new orleans" + "christmas dinner" + "2003"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=%22new+orleans%22+%22christmas+dinner
Google Web Search: "reveillon" + "new orleans' + "christmas day"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=reveillon+%22new+orleans%22+%22christmas+day
Google Web Search: "réveillon" + "new orleans' + "christmas day"
://www.google.com/search?hl=en&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&q=réveillon+%22new+orleans%22+%22christmas+day
I hope this information will be useful in helping you to choose a
dining establishment that will be très bon for you and your companion
on Christmas Day. If anything is unclear, or if a link doesn't
function, please request clarification; I'll gladly offer further
assistance before you rate my answer.
Best wishes and bon appétit!
pinkfreud |
