New Orleans: A Study in Pairing Things Well
We took a trip to New Orleans in May for Mary Ila to speak at a conference. Just the two of us, as a pair.
New Orleans is a study in the opposites of poverty and deep wealth. Of pleasure and sin. The melting of cultures together to make a very unique one, unlike any other in the United States. This melding is in all places, but it is particularly acute in a place like the Crescent City.
From our visit emerged a key theme of the need to pair things well. There is so much in the city that brings different worlds together and teaches us about what makes places unique spaces.
Bringing the Outside In
First, New Orleans is a study in melding the outside with the inside. Hidden courtyards are tucked all over the place. Doors are wide open, diminishing the thresholds between the outside and inside world.
Restaurants open wide with french doors that are rarely shut
The courtyard at the Ritz Carlton New Orleans stands in the center of the building, surrounded on all four sides, but still lets plenty of light in. The decor reflects the colors of the city.
The courtyard tucked behind Brieux Carre Brewery pops with color
This courtyard tucked in with a home on the quieter end of Bourbon Street looks like a quiet oasis
This beautiful home across the street from Audubon Park highlights the narrow space between outside and in when windows and doors are one in the same.
On the opposite side of Audubon Park another home highlights how a room can be all windows. Both homes showcase how much value is brought to our private spaces when the community invests in public spaces. How much value is brought to these homes because their front yards are literally a park?
Contrasting Color
The colors of Mardi Gras linger all year. You can see the purple, green, and gold in the decor throughout the city, but the city also highlights how to pull in contrasting colors- especially in detailed craftsmanship- to make a lasting impression.
The trim work along houses in the French Quarter highlight how contrasting colors draw our eyes to the details.
Colors abound in this entryway of a house just off Bourbon Street
The pop of the contrasting red draws your eyes to this hotel’s exterior, making you wonder what is inside.
If you are looking for some guidance on how to use color in your indoor and outdoor spaces, the Summer 2023 edition of Magnolia Journal has a feature on “Pops of Color” by Rebecca Beckman that highlights how contrasting colors are complementary.
Food and Drink
The green and pink on this beer can is not only a study in contrasting colors, but also how pairing food and drink together in the right way leads to the best tastes.
At Peche, this Paradise Park lager pairs well with oysters from Lousiania and Alabama. We decided we liked the Alabama Admiral Oysters better, probably because they are harvested less than a mile from our home away from home, but also because the proximity of the oyster bed to the gulf makes them saltier. The saltiness paired better with this lager and Mary Ila’s French Chardonnay that was crisp and light.
Other great food and drink pairings were found at the Davenport Lounge at the Ritz Carlton and at two New Orleans icons, Commander’s Palace and Cafe Du Monde.
Classic Creole dish, Budain, pairs well with the Ritz’ very own Rose Champagne
Commander’s Palace puts on an excellent dining experience, partly because it offers wine pairing suggestions with every main dish.
There is no where on earth that pairs a fried pastry with powdered sugar better than Cafe Du Monde which can always be paired with a fresh cup of coffee.
