2026 The Creole Connection: Gumbo and Beyond in New Orleans
Overview
Available languages
6 hours
Mobile ticket
New Orleans’ food, like the city itself, is impossible to compare. On this six-hour tour, we explore the roots of Creole cuisine through neighborhood restaurants, food shops, and the people who keep these traditions alive. We begin in the city’s oldest food marketplace with coffee and a praline-stuffed beignet, then continue with New Orleans-style iced coffee, Gulf oysters or boudin, and a wedge of muffaletta. Through streets lined with Creole cottages, we head into the Marigny for alligator meatballs, passing landmarks tied to rock ’n’ roll, R&B, and Tremé’s African American history. Lunch is at Lil Dizzy’s, known for its gumbo, followed by seafood by the pound, such as crawfish in season, and a drink at a local neighborhood bar. Along the way, we meet community members who bring Creole history to life through food, ending with something sweet — a praline or snoball — and perhaps, in true New Orleans style, a parade or downpour.
Additional Info
Infants and small children can ride in a pram or stroller
Service animals allowed
Public transportation options are available nearby
Suitable for all physical fitness levels
What To Expect
This stop includes several well-known Creole elements such as the praline and the beignet.
Has roots in the Italian immigration era, and part of New Orleans corner store history
Options
Gumbo and Beyond in New Orleans
What‘s Included
Bottled water
Snacks
Lunch
Cancellation Policy
For a full refund, cancel at least 24 hours before the scheduled departure time.
Reviews
8 reviews
Total reviews and rating from Viator & Tripadvisor
Highly recommend this tour
LivesInNewJersey,Jun 17, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We highly recommend this experience! We spent an extraordinary day with Kelly. She is a wonderful and knowledgeable guide, explaining the history of where we were and what we were seeing and eating. She grew up in the area, lives nearby and has family in the neighborhoods we went to. NOLA is Kelly’s hometown…she knows everyone and everyone knows her! We started at the French Market with praline stuffed beignets, still warm! We learned about the history of that area going back to the indigenous peoples, the French and the Spanish. We continued on with iced drinks and slow walking through the area with Kelly highlighting the history and cultural heritage. She thoroughly answered questions. She is also a terrific storyteller and, as a culture bearer, gave us much background of the traditions of African American and Creole experience in New Orleans. She shared some of her own life story, with her musician father and mother; her father also produced records, including early hits of Little Richard and Sam Cooke. A big tip is to come hungry! Kelly took us to fabulous local bars and restaurants where the food was truly delicious. We are always interested in discovering food made with love, and each spot Kelly took us to was that. We always had a seat, Kelly called ahead of time, and she asked what we would like, offering suggestions that were spot on! We probably would never have found these places on our own and intend to return to them! Overall, this was an incredible day of food, culture, and history. We will definitely use Culinary Backstreets tours in other cities and countries when we can, given our very positive experience today.
This is the real deal if you want to experience the flavors of New Orleans with a local
NevadaHighdesert,Jun 11, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Our Culinary Backstreets tour "Roots of a Creole Kitchen: Gumbo and Beyond in New Orleans" was well worth the time and money, not least because of our wonderful guide Kelly. We spent a great deal of time in the neighborhood where she is from (and still lives) and more than once I had someone at one of the stops say to me, “if you’re with Kelly, you’re family here.” The walking was easy and there was so much to learn on every block. We worked our way from the French Market along the river and through parts of the French Quarter we’d passed by without really seeing. We then worked our way into Treme which was the heart of our experience. Kelly was great at connecting place to story, and we even saw the few blocks surrounding our hotel very differently after the tour. Bring an appetite! The food (and beverages) are plentiful along the way, and it was all inclusive. Kelly would suggest certain things to try but always read our preferences before ordering (and paying) for us. We got to try things we never even would have known to order. We were so lucky that we got her to ourselves on the tour, and we managed to hit places when they weren’t crowded so we always managed to find a seat. This is not a culinary tour that is going to put you into fine dining places that show up in food guides. These are neighborhood joints and because Kelly is a true local, you get to meet the proprietors, bartenders and staff that made our day so enjoyable. Along the way, Kelly helped shape the experience by explaining the importance of the places we were visiting and suggesting other spots we passed for future exploration. Her own family connections to New Orleans are deep and fascinating. Her father was a well-respected musician and record producer that worked with some of the giants of R&B, jazz, and rock and roll (think Little Richard, Quincy Jones, and Sam Cooke!) Because there is no set route or fixed itinerary, our tour felt bespoke and designed for our own tastes and experiences. I can’t recommend this one-of-a-kind exploration of the neighborhoods of New Orleans enough.
Highlight of our first NOLA Trip
Curious62362437786,Jun 10, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kelly curated a delicious culinary experience through neighborhood restaurants and bars. We tried a wide variety of food from praline beignets to boudin, fried green beans to fried chicken, gumbo to muffaletta. But this wasn't just about the food--delicious as it was--it felt like a personal tour of the neighborhood, learning the stories behind what we were seeing as we went. She was greeted so warmly by everyone that we felt like we were regulars instead of tourists--we even joked that we'd just tell people we were with her for the rest of the trip! I have never done a food tour before, and I would highly recommend it, even for those of us with smaller appetites. The experience was a highlight of the trip. Thank you Kelly for sharing your neighborhood with us!
Great food in NOLA!
paigenicole628,May 24, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We had a fantastic tour of New Orleans thanks to Kelly! All of the stops felt authentic and like hidden gems, with great food and friendly service. There was no shortage of food and drink, and all of it was amazing! She gave us so many great stories and recommendations for the rest our trip, so we know the rest of our time in New Orleans will be better for it! Rain or shine, this food tour with Kelly was the highlight of our trip!
Amazing local food experience- come hungry!
Navigator785487,Apr 22, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kelly was amazing! Felt like a local. Kelly was the best hostess. All restaurants were so yummy. Definitely recommend.
Book with Kelly!!
mrsburkej,Apr 7, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00Kelly was a fantastic guide for our culinary adventure through New Orleans. She was a wealth of knowledge on the food, neighborhood and music too! She took us to so many great little gems that we would never had discovered on our own. Everything we ate or drank was delicious and we can’t wait for our next time in NOLA.
Ohhhh, that fried chicken! And more.....
PHD215,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We (two couples) joined another couple for a 6 hour walking tour spanning the Quarter, Marigny and Treme. Matt, our guide, provided a wealth of knowledge, including food, culture, history, geography and architecture along the way. We began with the best frozen Irish I've ever had and ended with a superb cocktail experience. The visit were well spaced, the walking was easy and we enjoyed the best of local delights including po'boys, muffulettas, alligator in crawfish sauce, red beans and rice, and likely the best fried chicken and gumbo that we've ever tasted. As longtime visitors to the city, Matt introduced us to new spots that will stay on our future lists. We've been longtime CB fans across the globe and can only say 'CB, you've done it again!' And thanks, Matt, for the Porgy recommendation. We visited the next day and were eurphoric about the crawfish and bbq'ed shrimp. Well done!
Ohhhh, that fried chicken!!! and more.....
pameladZ7928EQ,Apr 5, 2026
- Review from Tripadvisor
5.00We four, (two couples) joined another couple and embarked on a 6 hour walking tour of New Orleans, spanning the Quarter, Marigny and Treme. Matt, our guide, provided a wealth of knowledge on food, culture, geography and history. The visits were spaced well and delivered a variety of food experiences. We began with the best frozen Irish I've ever had and ended with a fabulous cocktail experience. In between we enjoyed the best of local cuisine, including po'boys, muffulettas, alligator in crawfish sauce and (the highlight) the best fried chicken our group had ever eaten. As folks who had been to NOLA many times, we definitely saw a side of the city that we wouldn't otherwise have experienced and many of those spots will remain our lists for future visits. Thanks to Matt for recommending Porgy's where we enjoyed amazing crawfish and bbq'ed shrimp. As longtime CB fans in many locations, we can only say "you've done it again!".
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