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MY
ROUSES
EVERYDAY
MAY | JUNE 2015
the
Culinary Influences
issue
T
he New Orleans Wine and Food
Experience is such a mouthful of a
name, at Rouses, we just say NOWFE.
NOWFE was just named a Top 10 Food
Festival in America (it’s #7). It’s my #1
Food Festival of the year. Pairing wine with
food in a New Orleans backdrop has got to
be one of the biggest no-brainers I’ve ever
heard. NOWFE has so many great events,
including wine seminars and auctions, so
much great food, and THE WINE! Over
1,000 selections. I’ve learned over years of
attending that the key to NOWFE is to
pace myself. I don’t want to eat too much
and become full, or drink too much and
become too tipsy, or else I may miss out on
something great.
Here’s what my calendar looks like
during NOWFE; these are the tastiest
appointments I have all year!
WEDNESDAY WINE DINNER
Wineries and local restaurants team up to
put on spectacular dinners pairing different
wines with different dishes. You’re able
to hear about the wine straight from the
vintners and the food straight from the chef.
I usually try to pick a dinner at a restaurant
or with a winery that I don’t know much
about — I’m all about expanding my palate.
THURSDAY ROYAL STREET
STROLL PRESENTED BY ROUSES
We talk about our Royal Street Stroll a lot,
but I’m going to put an extra note in here
because this is such a great event. If you’re
like me, and enjoy sampling food and wine
Meet
&
Eat
(really, who doesn’t?!), window shopping,
and strolling down one of the prettiest
streets in the French Quarter — parade-
style, led by the Krewe of Cork — this event
is a can’t-miss. Did I mention wine-themed
costumes are encouraged?
FRIDAY & SATURDAY
GRAND TASTING
I usually take off a day to get some work
done (groceries don’t just make themselves,
you know!), but I
have
to make it to the
Grand Tasting one day. This event is the
Big Kahuna of NOWFE. It’s a fabulous
Meet & Eat. Over 1,000 domestic and
international wines are poured, including
Clarksburg, Craggy Range, St. Francis,
Louis Jadot, Macon Village, J. Lohr, and
by
Ali Rouse Royster