Last week I was in New Orleans for this years United States Personal Chef Association (USPCA) National Conference. It was a great experience and I met some wonderful people. I also, of course, ate some wonderful food.

On the first day, I was taken on a tour of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum. I was given a tour of not only the museum, but the history of New Orleans through a wonderful medium, alcohol. I was treated to a tasting class describing how the cocktail came to be and specifically the origins of three New Orleans beverage staples: The Sazerac, The Hurricane, and a wonderful coffee drink, the Café Brûlot Diabolique (The Devils Burnt Coffee).

I will be posting some photos of the museum this week as well as more descriptions of the restaurant experiences I encountered along the way. I also want to thank the USPCA, as well as all of the colleagues I was able to converse with and meet.