By Karen Brem, Marketing Director, Historic Mardi Gras Inn
COMING SOON!!!
Well butter my biscuits and pour me a pinot—because the most delicious event of the summer is headed our way, and you better come hungry. I’m Karen Brem, your loyal food-and-fun-loving Marketing Director at the fabulously refreshed Historic Mardi Gras Inn, and I’m here to give you the juicy details on the New Orleans Wine & Food Experience (NOWFE) 2025, happening June 11–15, 2025 at the Contemporary Arts Center, located at 900 Camp St. #4C1, right here in the Big Easy.
Let me be the first to say: this isn’t just any food and wine festival. No ma’am. No sir. No “just browsing.” This is a five-day bacchanalia of flavor, finesse, and full-on foodie fabulousness. Think gourmet bites, award-winning wines, live demos, intimate conversations with the chefs and winemakers actually behind the magic—and best of all, every indulgent sip and bite goes toward doing a little good. That’s right: NOWFE supports local food banks, culinary education, and other charitable efforts, so your hedonism has a halo. Eat, drink, and do good? Oh yes, we’re doing all three—and probably twice.
From bubbles and bites to brunches and blind tastings, NOWFE is a rolling buffet of opportunities to nibble, nosh, and network with fellow food freaks and beverage buffs. Wanna know what inspired that duck confit with a cherry reduction and sweet potato waffle crisp? Ask the chef! Curious what vineyard a particular vintage was born in? Chat with the winemaker as they pour it right into your eager little glass. This event is as interactive as it is indulgent—and darling, you will leave smarter, fuller, and slightly tipsy.
Now, let’s talk logistics—and by that, I mean where you should be laying your head down between bites and bubbles. That would be right here with us at the Historic Mardi Gras Inn, thank you very much. Our charming little inn is LGBTQ+ owned and operated, and honey, we just finished a total glow-up. I’m talkin’ fresh renovations, new energy, and the same warm, welcoming staff that’s been making guests feel fabulous for years.
We’re perched just one block from the French Quarter, which means you can stroll your full belly back after all the day’s flavor adventures and dive headfirst into the deliciously naughty nightlife the Quarter is famous for. And yes, we’re talking drag shows, burlesque, jazz bars, voodoo cocktails, and people who dress like Mardi Gras is every damn day. (Because here, it kind of is.)
There’s also a streetcar stop just a two-minute walk from our front door—because in this city, you ride in style and you arrive tipsy, elegantly.
Our promise? Just clean, affordable accommodations and a team of absolute sweethearts dedicated to making your stay cozy, colorful, and full of good vibes. That’s it. No frills we can’t deliver—but we do come with a ton of heart, sass, and local flavor. And baby, that counts for a lot more than a mint on your pillow.
So here’s your call to action: book a long weekend with us at the Historic Mardi Gras Inn, pack your loosest-fitting clothes (because elastic waistbands are your friend), and prepare to live your best gluttonous, wine-sipping, jazz-humming life.
Whether you’re a cabernet queen, a foodie freak, or just someone who gets a little emotional around truffle oil, NOWFE 2025 is calling your name. And I promise you—this is one New Orleans experience you don’t want to sleep on (though you will want a good place to sleep after it… we got you).
Grab your tickets. Grab your appetite. And for heaven’s sake, grab a room at our inn before they’re all gobbled up. FOR MORE INFORMATION ON ACCOMMODATIONS JUST CALL US DIRECTLY AT 504.949.5815 OR 1.800.209.9408. YOU CAN ALSO VISIT US ONLINE AT historicmardigrasinn.com.
See y’all in June—and remember, sip happens, but you might as well do it somewhere fabulous.
Cheers,
Karen Brem
Marketing Director, Historic Mardi Gras Inn
(Fabulously LGBTQ+ owned, one block from the French Quarter, and ready to host your most delicious weekend yet)