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I was a little obsessed with these pickles before I even moved here from reading about them on my fave NOLA food blog Blackened Out. But now that I’m HERE, I’m TRULY in love with these green spears of patriotism.

Chef John Besh runs the restaurant American Sector which is part of the museum but admission is not required. The pickles are free but I’ve noticed on my repeat visits they aren’t automatically brought to your table, so don’t be shy and ask for them as soon as you’re handed your menu! They are very tangy pickles with an initial heavy bread and butter taste but I’ve noticed that with every bite I pick up a different subtle taste which keeps me happily munching away. Also, they change slightly in flavor every time I’ve visited, which tells me that are made fresh on a very regular basis.

The menu is great and I try and order something different every time I visit, but my favorite dish (besides the amazing corndog) is the garlic honey glazed chicken wings because they come with a trio of pickled veggies. Pickled squash, watermelon and radish is pictured below. The radish was underwhelming (but I’m not really a fan), the squash was delicious (I’m not usually a fan) but the watermelon was magical. It was still very sweet but had a spice and tang to it that I loved. I ordered the wings and had no idea they would come with so many pickles on the side-perfect!

I’m lucky that I have a job just down the street and a friend that works at the Museum, so it’s a quick and luxurious lunch spot for me. Everything I’ve had is amazing right down to the hotdog. But what’s really special about this place is that every trip I’ve made there has had an emotional impact on me. To be seated next to a WWII Veteran who gently cuts his wife’s food for her or to snap a photo of a Veteran and his wife at the next table for them to remember their trip here makes me feel so grateful. So if you see me a little teary-eyed at American Sector it could be the pickles, or the corndog or the spicy wings, but it’s not.

Thanks to everyone who has served and a big salute to those serving now.