Traveling Gourmet: Dining in the Big Easy

Among the cool sounds of jazz floating down the streets of New Orleans, visitors will notice the hot spices and succulent flavors of Southern and Cajun cooking trailing not fair behind.

This August and September it's time to dine in the Big Easy as the New Orleans Convention Visitors Bureau has announced the line up for restaurants for the sixth annual "COOLinary New Orleans - Celebrating Dining in America's Most Delicious City." The promotion offers special three-course lunch menus for $20 or less and three-course dinner menus for $34 or less. This is Restaurant Week, Southern-style.

Participating restaurants include Antoine's Restaurant, Bayona, Bombay Club, Bourbon House Seafood, Brigtsen's Restaurant, Bubba Gump Shrimp Company, Cafe Amelie, Cafe Degas, Chef Duke's Cafe Giovanni, Crepes a la Carte, Desire Restaurant, Dickie Brennan's Steakhouse, House of Blues, Martinique Bistro, Mike's on the Avenue, Mr. B's Bistro, Mulate's Cajun Restaurant, Muriel's Jackson Square, Palace Cafe, Pascal's Manale, Rib Room, Royal Palm Restaurant, The Pelican Club and Tujague's Restaurant.

And as a little lagniappe (a little something extra) this summer, restaurants around the greater New Orleans area have joined together to present We Live to Eat Dinners. Taking place every Thursday in August, participating restaurants will prepare a priced-fix menu celebrating that in New Orleans, We Live to Eat. For more information on participating restaurants and pricing, visit www.welivetoeatnola.com.

Visit www.coolinaryneworleans.com.