New Orleans Gears Up For All-Star Game With Cajun Menu

New Orleans will be playing host to the NBA's All-Star Game Weekend, one of the biggest basketball events of the year which will include the rookie game, the slam dunk contest, the All-Star Game itself, and of course: a menu full of New Orleans style Cajun food for basketball and guests to enjoy created by chef Lenny Martinsen.

"This is a city of championships, and we've played host to a number of big sporting events but I think the food is one of the main reasons why people keep coming back," said Steve Trotter, regional vice president for Center Plate, the hospitality provider for the weekend.

The actual game is Sunday night, but the action kicks off tonight, and the Smoothie King Center will play host to 18,000 screaming — and hungry— fans where the menu items are available throughout the stadium during the whole weekend. Guests can nosh on dishes like the Zatarain's chicken and sausage jambalaya with smoked Andouille sausage, BBQ shrimp and grits and turtle soup; a New Orleans favorite dish, and creole nachos with shrimp and crawfish in a queso sauce. Most of the ingredients like the shrimp and grits are locally-sourced. Fans with a bit more of a sweet tooth will enjoy the Bananas Foster cheesecake for dessert.