This Mardi Gras, Crescent Connection restaurant is taking you straight to the party. Chef Iran Coleman has planned Crescent Connection’s first annual New Orleans bus tour, taking a group of Charleston folks to the Big Easy for either a three-day, two-night trip or a six-day, five-night trip. Both trips include bus transportation, hotel accommodations at the Holiday Inn two blocks from Canal Street and two blocks from the Super Dome, daily parades, and tours through the city as well as the areas most affected by Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. Not to mention, partygoers will dine in the best bars and restaurants around, as New Orleans native Coleman knows where to find the most delectable Cajun in the area. For an even better time, Coleman is offering an additional Chef’s tour package that includes exclusive trips to bars, party spots, and a trip to the Zulu Ball with live performances by Anita Baker and Lionel Richie.
Coleman put the trip together as a chance to enhance what his restaurant does on a day-to-day basis.
“I wanted people to have the opportunity to be a part of the New Orleans culture,” he says. “I want to take people where I go, and share the party New Orleans style.”
Both trips begin with an authentic New Orleans-style buffet at the Crescent Connection before departure. The spread consists of frog legs, alligator, gumbo, red beans and rice, jambalaya, chicken creole, and crawfish potato salad to get everyone ready for the coming week’s food. Coleman emphasizes that the road trip is not about taking everyone down there just to drop them off.
“This is a complete tour of New Orleans. I want to show everyone a good time, no matter if they’re there for the party or just the real element about what Mardi Gras is about.”
Crescent Connection has kept the trip affordable as well. The three-day trip, Feb. 14-16 costs $650 and the six-day trip, Feb. 10-16 costs $1,100. The Chef’s tour is an additional $200. Call to make reservations (843) 529-0777. Love Best of Charleston? Help the Charleston City Paper keep Best of Charleston going every year with a donation. Or sign up to become a member of the Charleston City Paper club.