New Orleans is renowned for its delicious Cajun and Creole food fare, both of which feature spice-rich dishes. For those who don’t want to spend money on a restaurant meal but still want to experience some delicious heat, Pepper Palace (835 Decatur Street) is a must. Featuring over 1,000 hot sauces, you’ll be immersed in a hot sauce heaven. Best of all, they have an expansive tasting bar where you can sample hot sauces, salsas, dips, seasonings, butters, jams and more — completely free of charge. Above is Pepper Palace’s tasting bar in New Orleans.
Visiting the Pepper Palace, you’ll also have the chance to sample the Hottest Sauce in the Universe: The 2nd Dimension. To do this you’ll need to be over 18 years of age and sign a waiver. This is not for the faint of heart. Expect pain, crying, sweating and sheer agony. That being said, if you do complete the mission you’ll get your name in their Book of Fame!
After visiting the Pepper Palace, you can continue your complimentary exploration of New Orleans spice by visiting the French Market and sampling the seasonings and spices laid out for sampling.
Jessica Festa is the editor of the travel sites Jessie on a Journey (http://jessieonajourney.com) and Epicure & Culture (http://epicureandculture.com). Along with blogging at We Blog The World, her byline has appeared in publications like Huffington Post, Gadling, Fodor’s, Travel + Escape, Matador, Viator, The Culture-Ist and many others. After getting her BA/MA in Communication from the State University of New York at Albany, she realized she wasn’t really to stop backpacking and made travel her full time job. Some of her most memorable experiences include studying abroad in Sydney, teaching English in Thailand, doing orphanage work in Ghana, hiking her way through South America and traveling solo through Europe. She has a passion for backpacking, adventure, hiking, wine and getting off the beaten path.
