Back

Four Seasons New Orleans Takes Culinary Adventures to New Heights with “Oysters Take Flight” Experience

Embark on a seaplane to Little Moon Oyster Ranch and uncover the delights of the Gulf Coast
February 14, 2024,
New Orleans, U.S.A.

Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans announces the launch of the Oysters Take Flight experience, elevating the Hotel’s already exceptional offerings and further enhancing its culinary gravitas. This new epicurean adventure combines the thrill of a scenic seaplane flight over New Orleans and the coastal marshland of Louisiana with an intimate exploration of oyster farming, followed by a dining experience at James Beard Award-winning Chef Donald Link’s Chemin à la Mer, the celebrated New Orleans chef’s latest dining concept.

“Our latest experience, Oysters Take Flight, offers an unparalleled educational adventure that combines our rich culinary heritage with our commitment to coastal sustainability,” Mali Carow, General Manager, Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, expresses. “There is a story behind everything we do. This all-sensory experience brings the purpose and intentionality behind Chemin à la Mer’s oyster bar into crisp focus.”

Available on Mondays and Tuesdays and bookable with a two-week advance notice, this unique experience begins with a morning departure in luxury transportation from the Hotel to the airbase. Guests will then board a provincial Cessna 206 and embark on a seaplane adventure that unveils the stunning landscapes from New Orleans to the mouth of the Mississippi, where the river meets the gulf. Arriving at Little Moon Oyster Ranch, guests will witness firsthand the intricacies of raising oysters from larvae to restaurant size, learning about coastal ecology and immersing themselves in a significant element of New Orleans culinary culture.

As guests deplane and board a working oyster boat, they will be greeted with a glass of champagne and a picnic-style spread of local dips, savoury snacks, and, of course, fresh from the Gulf oysters on the half shell. The heart of the experience lies in the hands-on exploration of oyster farming at Little Moon Oyster Ranch, operated by Ryan Anderson. Growing up on an oyster farm in Maryland, Anderson's passion for oysters led him to join the specialty oyster farmers in Louisiana. Little Moon Oyster Ranch employs "off-bottom" floating cages to cultivate more than 100,000 oysters, offering unique flavours of salty, sweet, and savoury. Guests will gain a deeper appreciation for sustainable seafood farming, and indulge in the extraordinary pleasure of tasting freshly shucked oysters straight from the water – a sensory delight like no other.

Oysters Take Flight will be a holistic, enriching journey that highlights the diverse wildlife, cultures, and heritage of the region. Guests will gain insights into coastal ecology, witness the unique coastal cultures, and understand crucial sustainability efforts to protect and preserve the Mississippi River delta. Upon returning to Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans, guests will end their adventure with a tasting menu at Donald Link’s ode to classic Gulf Coast dining, Chemin à la Mer.

Oysters Take Flight is available for guests of Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans and can be booked with a two-week advance notice. The experience is priced at USD 7,500 for a group of four. For more information on Four Seasons Hotel New Orleans or to make a reservation, visit click here or call 504 434 5100.