Pink Proverb: Baton Rouge Travel Journal
I recently traveled to the capital of Louisiana — Baton Rouge, the city where even a stranger is a friend. I can’t say that Baton Rouge was on my bucket list of cities to visit, but after going and experiencing everything the city has to offer I will definitely be planning a trip back.
I consider myself to be a Southern Belle, but living up north for so many years has baptized me in city mentality — no eye contact, speak only to people that you know (that are not crazy), and no small talk. Yet, I was automatically converted back to my southern ways once I boarded the plane to Baton Rouge. Lugging 3 bags of luggage, I didn’t have to lift a finger getting on or off the plane thanks to the southern gentlemen wanting to lend a hand. I was able to avoid small talk on the plane by going to sleep, oh but once we landed it was small talk central.
“So, what’s wrong with you? Why were you sleep the entire ride?” said an older black man that looked like a preacher and talked with a twang.
In my head, I said, “None of your business!!!” But, I smiled and said, “I was just a little tired.”
The truth is I really miss that type of human interaction, and feeling of community that expands beyond just people I know. It was great to be able to break away from the city norm. In short, I had an amazing time in the Rouge! The weather was great, the food was amazing, and hometown experience was what I needed to unwind for the hustle and bustle of being up north.
Here are some of my highlights:
1. Airport Treat
The Hartsfield Jackson Atlanta International Airport is expanding! It’s a mini mall, and there are so many new additions. They are building a 40/40 Club in the US Airways wing that amazed me, because there isn’t one in the city yet.
Layovers in Atlanta are the best thing now! I stopped by the +Pf Changs in terminal A for a quick meal in between my flight. I had the Spring salad with a Coconut Mojito, and a fortune cookie filled with good karma on top.
2. Evening Gala
I have the pleasure of attending the 100 Black Men of Baton Rouge‘s benefit gala with a lovely “gentleman caller” as my grandmother would say. It was a lovely night with live music, great food, and plenty of small talk at the L’auberge Casino.
3. Food
Did I eat?!? You know I ate! If I had the option, I would have stayed an extra 3 days just for the food. My inner fat kid was happy, and here are some of the highlights:
Bistro Byronz off government street for lunch. I wanted to try everything from the Pot Roast Creole to the Les Pork Chops with creole gravy, but the Chicken Avocado BLT with homemade Blu Cheese Potatoes Chips was everything and more!
My sweet tooth was satisfied with the artisan fruit tart from the L’auberge Casino that had a layer of white chocolate under the cream filling. We made a stop by Coffee Call to get 2 orders of Beignets. It was my first time eating a Beignet and now I am hooked!
The one thing I didn’t take a picture of I ate was the catfish and homemade bread pudding from Tony’s Seafood , because I ate it so fast. The absolute best bread pudding I have had in a long time! It literally took me to another place in my mind, which made me forget to take a picture of it…. That kind of good!!
4. Sites to See
I took a ride on the wild side while in Baton Rouge, and enjoyed the sites the +USS Kidd on the waterfront, +LSU Football‘s own “Mike the Tiger, and THE Southern University!!! (I had to give them a big shout out) The campus was beautiful and I really enjoyed myself at the basketball game. It was great to see so many people from the community show up to support the school.
