Following Emeril's New Orleans Journey

Dine at the destinations that made this celebrity chef famous.

Chef Emeril Lagasse

Chef Emeril Lagasse's Louisiana career started at Commander's Palace.

There are chefs, and there is Emeril. The man known by his trademark catchphrase “BAM!” is a New Orleans original, a chef who has introduced Creole cuisine to millions worldwide. You have seen him on television. You have seen his name-brand products in grocery stores. If you’re an astronaut, you have eaten his meals while flying aboard the International Space Station. No one, it seems, can escape Lagasse’s remarkable charm.

Every chef has to start somewhere, right? Lagasse was raised in New England, but got his first long-term gig in New Orleans. He has stayed here, too, leaving a trail of culinary destinations across the city. Here are a few worth visiting.

Commander’s Palace

After graduating from culinary school in 1978, Lagasse spent four years shuttling between restaurants in France, New York, Boston and Philadelphia. But New Orleans, and specifically Commander’s Palace, would become his home. He spent eight years there, perfecting his technique at the famous old-line Creole restaurant.

Today you can try some of the same classic dishes that Lagasse first learned to cook. Stop in for jazz brunch before exploring nearby Magazine Street’s six miles of shops and cafés.  Another quintessential New Orleans experience is visiting one of the famed “cities of the dead”—at Lafayette Cemetery No. 1, you can embark on a guided or self-guided tour of the mausoleums.

Emeril’s

In 1990, Lagasse threw his hat in the ring with this namesake restaurant, located in an old pharmacy building in the Warehouse district. At Emeril’s you will find examples of the chef’s “new New Orleans” approach to fine dining, which brings new elements into old-school Louisiana cuisine. Try the andouille-crusted drum with Cajun sausage, fresh fish and locally sourced vegetables.

Meril

Located in the Warehouse District, Meril (named after Emeril's daughter) is the chef's most casual restaurant. Opened in 2016, the restaurant features a signature open style kitchen and an array of dishes inspired by Lagasse's years of experience, travels abroad and the food he cookes at home. Plan a visit to enjoy everything from local classics like gumbo, deviled eggs and barbecued shrimp, to Korean chicken wings, wood-fired flatbreads, and fresh pastas. Or simply order up a fun cocktail or local beer from the fabulous bar area. Lagasse brings his expertise and distinguished hospitality to Meril, creating a deliciously spirited dining experience. 

 

Since you’re already in the neighborhood, set out to discover some of New Orleans’ top destinations on foot. Among them are The National WWII Museum, the Ogden Museum of Southern Art and the ever-popular Louisiana Children’s Museum. Shoppers rave about The Outlet Collection at Riverwalk, a renovated shopper’s paradise overlooking the riverfront.