A New Orleans weekend trip, from food to jazz

New Orleans is the perfect weekend getaway, a city that can rise to whatever your occasion, be it a romantic tryst, partying with pals or a chance to delve into a culture unlike any other in America. As famous for its food as its music, New Orleans (say noo-OR-lenz to blend in with the locals) is heaven for foodies, a hotbed of traditional Creole French fare and creative chefs using Gulf seafood and local ingredients in innovative ways. If you're serious about food, plan to nosh multiple times a day while you're in this town, which has come so far since Hurricane Katrina, eight years ago this month.

After this weekend, don't be surprised if you come back to New Orleans sooner than you'd think. With its celebration of big flavors, homegrown jazz and general excess, this is a town with a siren song that's hard to resist.