Tender and juicy, gleefully falling apart with each successive bite, a good brisket is one of those meals that folks associate with comfort, home, tradition, nostalgia … and football. This relatively inexpensive cut of beef has rapidly become a staple that sports aficionados prize, where cooking methods and rubs are […]
Can I be frank?
When you’re a kid, hot dogs are pretty much an all-essential staple. Mom would cut up hot dogs and add them to our mac and cheese, canned baked beans or even Chef Boyardee’s SpaghettiOs. Lacking buns, we would wrap them in white bread with mayo and ketchup or roll them […]
Blue-Blooded Burgers
She curled her hair, spent an hour putting on make-up and chose to wear that dress you like so very much and wrapped herself in an aura of her most expensive perfume, the least you could do is take her out to a nice meal, never mind how badly your […]
Meanwhile we munch!
One of the biggest political issues sweeping the nation these days is the legalization or decriminalization of marijuana. It began in 1996 when California voters passed Proposition 215, which allowed for the medical use of marijuana. Today, 23 states, the District of Columbia and Guam all have enacted legislation that […]
Without ’em, we’re gone pecan!
Properly pronounced “puh-kahn,” this spectacularly delectable nut has long been a staple of Southern cuisine. Just one of these enduring trees from the hickory family can produce “fruit” for over 300 years and while Louisiana may not produce the most pecans in the country (though we’re in the top three), […]
A leaf of a (slightly) different color
In New Orleans, the month of March is full of special events and holidays. After weeks filled with carnival parades, the city is still raring to go with things like Super Sunday, the Tennessee Williams Literary Festival, Hogs for the Cause, the Buku Music + Art Project, St. Joseph’s Day […]
Shout out for Sandwiches
Whether it be a sloppy, 10-napkin-needing roast beef or an overstuffed, fully dressed fried shrimp, New Orleans has a well-deserved reputation for offering outstanding po-boys. Practically synonymous with the Crescent City, po-boys were born here and there’s nowhere in the world that can make French bread (mandatory for the perfect […]
Finding cash for doberge
Whether you pronounce it “doe-berj” or “dough-bash,” doberge cake is likely one of the most appreciated and desired, locally-invented dessert that’s perfect for almost any special occasion. A lot of outsiders, no matter how many times they’ve visited New Orleans, don’t even know about this many-layered, custard-filled wonder … and […]
A bone to pick
Easily one of the best television shows of all time, AMC’s The Walking Dead recently aired the first episode of what is likely to be a stellar fifth season. It seems folks can’t get enough of this gritty, well-written and well-produced show with an excellent cast and gruesome special effects. […]
Magical, marvelous muffins
“Be a muffin in a world of cupcakes.” -Unknown A friend of mine has a t-shirt that reads “Muffins are just ugly cupcakes.” Beneath the text is a prissy, pink cupcake sporting swirled icing and bright sprinkles sneering at a forlorn, brown muffin. While I found the quip (and the […]
Breakfast!
“One should not attend even the end of the world without a good breakfast.” -Robert A. Heinlein When I consider how breakfast has changed over the years, I’m reminded of a scene from the movie “Pleasantville.” For those unfamiliar with the film, the story is about a brother and sister […]
Where to dip your chip
Due to its overwhelming presence at football games, guacamole has become one of the most popular dips with Americans consuming millions of pounds of avocados during every season. I can’t help wondering if the ancient Aztecs, who first created guacamole sometime in the 16th century, carried around bowls of the […]