Make Mine the Special

Across the restaurant industry and its customer base, there seems to be several schools of thought surrounding specials. Where do they come from? Is it always a deal? What makes them so special? There are all kinds of reasons a certain dish might be designated as a special. Some restaurants […]

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A Fiery Finale: Café Brûlot

A hallmark of a bygone era, table side preparation and presentation of Café Brûlot perseveres in New Orleans’ old line restaurants. It’s a blustery, winter evening, but on the inside of Antoine’s French doors, you’re rosy-cheeked and cozy. Leaning back after indulging in a veritable feast of crisp, soufflé potatoes […]

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On the Side: Cornbread

Exploring cornbread in New Orleans, arguably one of the most Southern of sides. Perfect with a spicy bowl of chili or crisp, fried catfish and collard greens, cornbread is that ubiquitous Southern side that always seems to be taken for granted, but is missed when its not there. By and […]

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Hop[p]in’ Good Eats

We’re bubbling over with breweries! From taprooms to microbreweries and brewpubs, at last New Orleans has it all. Though swillin’ brews – and other boozy beverages – may be one our city’s favorite pastimes, enjoying good food frequently competes for the top slot. As one might expect, many breweries are […]

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Make Mine Medium Rare

That’s just how I like it! Long, long ago I hopped on a plane with my mom and went to Paris. We were accompanied by a couple friends — or friends of the family that had been friends so long they were family — Mimi and her daughter Arezoo. You […]

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Flustered by Custard

Creamy, cool, smooth, and, eggy, custard is often (but not always) sweet, and sadly ephemeral as its undeniable deliciousness will quickly vanish from your plate. There aren’t enough words in the English language to describe the ethereal, yet luscious sensory experience that is custard. Whether it be a deep fried […]

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Behind the Scenes at Bayona

While James Beard-award winning chef Susan Spicer is the face of her famous French Quarter restaurant, her chef de cuisine Christiane Engeran keeps the fires burning. The first time she met Chef Susan Spicer, Christiane “Christy” Engeran was poly-sci student at Southeastern Louisiana University working at one of Hammond’s few […]

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Birthday Bummer

Every year on my birthday, I typically dine out at some spectacular local restaurant and I share my experiences with you. After my birthday on Sunday, some folks asked where I dined this year, and I am hesitant to share, because it wasn’t great. It wasn’t the worst dining experience […]

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