February
25 is National Chili Day! It's chilly outside and what better way to keep warm
than with a nice bowl of chili, or even some chili fries? According to WebMD, hot chili peppers burn calories and
speed up metabolism, so no worries about gaining a few pounds! The chili craze isn't too well spread in New Orleans, unless you
know where to look. Here are some local gems that have the best chili around the
city.
Buffa's Bar and Restaurant
One
of the places you need to stop at is Buffa's, which is open every day from 11 a.m.
to 11 p.m. As a recommendation, order the chorizo bean chili cup or bowl. You
can also have an order of the chili cheese fries if you're looking for a
perfect side to your main dish. 1001 Esplanade Ave., 504-949-0038, buffasrestaurant.com
The Camellia Grill
A
truly classic New Orleans gem. If you haven't been to Camellia Grill yet, it is
a must see for breakfast, lunch, or dinner. The grill's special chili omelette
will start your day off just right. If you're looking for a small filler up and
a good side dish, then the perfect chili cheese fries will get the job done. 626
S. Carrollton Ave., 504-309-2679, camelliagrillnola.com
Central City BBQ
Stop
at Central City BBQ if want your go-to side dishes to include chili. Have the amazing
brisket chili cheese fries, served with green onion and sour cream, or enjoy
your meal with a warm brisket chili cup as a side. Open from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
on weekdays and to 9 p.m. on weekends, make sure to arrive between 3 p.m. and 6
p.m. to enjoy Central City BBQ's happy hours! 1201 S. Rampart St.,
504-558-4276, centralcitybbq.com
Cochon
Butcher
Explore exquisite tastes, with a kick of chili, at Cochon Butcher, which is open from 11 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Tuesdays to Sundays. Make a meal out of the black-eyed pea chili with cornbread, the fried alligator with chili garlic mayo, the wood fired oysters with chili garlic butter, or the chili dusted pork cracklins. Or you can order them all and share them at your table, if you find yourself amongst other chili-lovers. 930 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-588-7675, cochonbutcher.com
Dat Dog
Another
New Orleans classic, Dat Dog is famous for its "jazz improvisation in a bun." Order
any flavor of sausage and top it with any choice of 30 toppings for no extra charge.
For this National Chili Day, jazz up your dat dog with chili or side it with
chili cheese fries or tots. Dat Dog has locations on 5030 Freret St. for folks
uptown, 601 Frenchmen St. for those downtown, and 3336 Magazine St. for those
in between. Multiple Locations, datdog.com
