NEW ORLEANS

Stepping out of New Orleans’s Louis Armstrong International Airport, the first thing you notice is the oppressive humidity that almost always hangs low over the city like a wet towel. But once you figure out how to navigate the complicated task of breathing in, like, half air and half water, you begin in to notice something else.

Especially in the heart of the city, everything and everyone is bouncing to a beat, whether you can hear it or not. A lot of the time you can. Walking down a street, you’ll hear the sound of saxophones ricocheting off the walls of an alleyway. Just as you're about to cross the street, a jazz band 20 people deep parades enthusiastically down the sidewalk, blocking your path for a good five minutes, at least. Other times, you parade past a blues or jazz band that may get together and play on a certain street corner every Saturday morning.

However, sometimes you can’t hear the beat, but you can taste it. Wait in line for a beignet at Café Du Monde and you’ll see what I mean. Apron-and-hat clad servers spin and dance through the perpetually packed tables, dishing out plates of beignets heaped with powdered sugar. Café Du Monde dances to free-form jazz.

Then, there’s Camellia Grill. Camellia Grill is like one of those parades I mentioned earlier. Loud, proud, and usually pretty good. When I visited New Orleans with my health-conscious mother, our waiter offered her a milkshake. She said no, but accepted a small sample. When our server asked if she wanted more, she again declined, but was met with a “yes you do,” and was poured more. Well known, always busy, and always lovingly obnoxious, Camellia Grill is always hoping to a beat.

Of course, New Orleans has plenty of other food, music, and attractions, but through this video, you’ll be able to visit both Café Du Monde and Camellia Grill and get, well, a taste of what they’re like.