Where Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift should eat gumbo in LA | Taylor Swift

Travis Kelce committed what New Orleans considers the ultimate sin.

The Kansas City Chiefs tight end criticized our food, specifically focusing on jambalaya and gumbo.

On a recent episode of their “New Heights” podcast, the picky eater told his brother, Jason Kelce, that he wasn’t a fan of “rice and water” and described jambalaya as “watery,” adding that he doesn’t like ” rice and water’. pooey” colored food.

I think Killa Trav mixed up gumbo and jambalaya, and many in Louisiana think the darker the roux, the better the pot of gumbo.

With Taylor Swift bringing her Eras Tour to New Orleans, I want to give Travis Kelce the chance to redeem himself and try the best jambalaya and gumbo the city has to offer. After all, Taylor has eaten at several restaurants here and even had a birthday cake made at Bywater Bakery.

I asked Times-Picayune food writer Ian McNulty where he thought the New Orleans power couple should go for gumbo.

Ian’s suggestions for gumbo

For gumbo, start at Li’l Dizzy’s Cafe (1500 Esplanade Ave.), a Creole classic in the Treme with a roux I crave. It’s all wrapped up to take with him so he can have it delivered if he doesn’t want all the prying eyes to see him eat his own words.

Go all over the neighborhood for a white tablecloth setting Dooky Chase’s restaurant (2301 Orleans Avenue). Just don’t do what Barack Obama did during his 2008 campaign when he added hot sauce to his gumbo before tasting it, prompting a rebuke from the late chef Leah Chase.

Then there’s seafood gumbo, and that side Peche Seafood Grill (800 Magazine St.) is the best, with oysters and shrimp infused with the essence of crab and the flavor of bayou country.

For a more country style, try the version on Gris-Gris (1800 Magazine St.), where the deep dark roux shimmers with layered spices.

Ian’s suggestions for jambalaya

It’s harder to find credible jambalaya in restaurants, and for the real deal, just come by my Endymion party during Carnival and I’ll serve you my version (or go to chef Donald Link, whose recipe from his “Real Cajun” cookbook is the loose basis for mine anyway).

But for restaurants I’ll send you to first Clesi’s Seafood (4323 Bienville St.) in Mid-City for the real chicken and sausage jambalaya plate or, what could be training wheels for the palate, the jambalaya cheese fries, which are exactly what they sound like.

The version is out in the French Quarter Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House (512 Bienville St.) gets a fresh pop of shrimp between the chicken and andouille.