Oak Alley Plantation (and a Mint Julep stand!)

 Hi Ya’ll, Aimee here. Your unofficial, official Oak Alley Plantation tour guide.

Oak Alley Plantation, referred to as “The Grand Dame of River Road” is located in Vacherie, Louisiana. I always mistake that it’s “on the way to New Orleans” but I’m directionally challenged. I will say that it’s about an hour’s drive for me in Baton Rouge.

It’s probably one of my favorites for a couple reasons that I’m about to share with you.

For starters, the alley of Oak trees.

There is something really magical about such large trees with such impressive stories.

Don’t you wish they could speak?

I’m pretty sure their stories would be quite interesting.

Additionally, Oak Alley has a Mint Julep stand.

Yes, they sell lemonade too but can we just pause for a moment and reflect on the sheer joy of obtaining  a Mint Julep from a Mint Julep stand?

After your trip to the Mint Julep stand, you can stroll through the reconstructed slave quarters on your way to the restaurant and gift shop.

I really don’t like typing “slave quarters” but calling them the “helpers quarters” sort of just skirts over the issue of what they were called.

Oak Alley has the purchase prices listed in a separate history marker and it made me cry on the entire walk to the restaurant.

It’s amazing how far we’ve come, but embarrassing that at one point in history a human being could purchase a mother and her children for less than $800.

It broke my heart for that mother and her children.

A woman I will never know, or have no connection to.

But whose innocent children were part of a package deal.

Sigh.

It was going to take some serious good food to cheer up my depressed mood.

Oak Alley Restaurant did not disappoint.

We had the Louisiana Crawfish Cake for an appetizer.

Here’s the menu description:

Louisiana Crawfish Tails, Creole Seasonings, Sweet Potatoes, Herbs & Spices, formed in a cake, grilled in a cast iron skillet, and topped with Cajun Cream.

Oh. My. Dear. Goodness.

Note to self: You need a baby sized skillet like that.

I had the Shrimp Gumbo for lunch and ate it too fast to photograph.

Hate when that happens.

I did break long enough to snap a picture of my new best friend.

The Creole Cream Cheese Cheesecake with Praline Topping.

Ya’ll. You should just go visit for the cheesecake & mint juleps.

It alone is worth the drive.

I’ve put it on my to do list to try to recreate.

I mean, I do put praline topping on just about anything anyway.

I hope you’ve enjoyed my little saunter through Oak Alley.

See ya at the next one.