While there are definitely a few spots around town that serve excellent boiled crawfish (Bevi Seafood, Clesi’s, Big Fisherman, Seither’s, etc.) some of the best and most memorable boils are typically had at a friend and/or family’s backyard. While important, the crawfish itself isn’t necessarily a marker for a successful […]
A modern, whimsical Parisian brasserie in the French Quarter
With lots of help from local design firm Farouki Farouki, chef and restaurateur Justin Devillier and his wife and partner Mia launch their third restaurant Justine on Chartres Street in the Vieux Carré. On the ground floor of the mixed-use, May & Ellis apartment building (formerly the Hurwitz Mintz building) […]
Sweet Springtime
With Easter just around the corner, I can’t help but think of sweets. I don’t know about you, but when I was little my bright yellow basket (which is still sitting in my Mom’s closet) was overflowing with jelly bean-filled plastic eggs, fluffy yellow Peeps, malted milk chocolate Easter eggs […]
Oh omelet! Or omelette?
No matter how you spell it, an omelet is indubitably an eggs-cellent creation. Aside from my mom’s less-than-beautiful but always delicious jack cheese and tomato versions, I’ll never forget my first restaurant omelet. It was from a hot, new breakfast spot in downtown San Mateo that was soon known for […]
A Deep South Nightclub with West Coast Flair
The Fillmore New Orleans, a new live music venue on the second floor of Harrah’s Casino, features design elements that effortlessly blend San Francisco’s historic psychedelic 60s with the cultural archetypes of New Orleans. Hundreds of fans queued up in front of the old-fashioned theater marquee on Canal Street last […]
From Fine Art to the Culinary Arts
What was briefly the Louisiana ArtWorks building has become the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute, a world-class brainery dedicated to one of the city’s finest virtues. Early last month, classes began for the first full-time students of the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute now located on the corner […]
Beloved Bivalve
Though most will be planning a special outing with their significant others this Valentines Day, I’ll be bucking the trend with a day-long ode to oysters. You may be telling yourself “She’s probably single or maybe just doesn’t play into that annual greeting card holiday,” but nothing could be further […]
Such stuff as dreams are made on . . .
A small, used furniture store in Mid-City could be just what you’re looking for when decorating the house of your dreams, especially on a budget. Located on the corner of Toulouse and N. Pierce Street, House Stuff is an unassuming shop, formerly a neighborhood grocery store, that’s been selling used […]
Burger Resolve
There’s a commercial that airs quite often on local radio where a couple of guys are talking about where they want to go for lunch and one of them, in a thick New Orleans accent, says “I want a big, juicy mouth-watering burgah and I want it now!” Though he […]
A Spiritual Space: Hotel Peter & Paul
Long vacant, a historic church and its surrounding buildings on the corner of Burgundy and Mandeville streets in the Marigny has been renovated into a stunning 71-guest room boutique hotel. Over 150 years ago, Irish-born architect Henry Howard designed the Sts. Peter and Paul Catholic Church and the accompanying rectory […]
A Market Re-imagined: Il Mercato
A historic, Spanish colonial-style building in the Lower Garden District is transformed by Joel Catering into an exquisite event space. Located on a wedge-shaped piece of land bordered by Magazine Street, St. Mary Street and Sophie Wright Place, Il Mercato functions as an elegant venue for weddings and other events. […]
Pub Grub
There once was a time when bar food was simpler fare, think beer nuts, pretzels and, if you were lucky, some freshly microwaved popcorn. Though you can still find spots that offer those old-school, blessedly-free treats, pub grub has elevated considerably since the “good old days,” you just have to […]