At the famous Drago’s Restaurant, family matriarch Klara Cvitanovich continues to honor the oyster empire launched by her husband over half a century ago. Several times a week, Klara Cvitanovich still spends her evenings greeting diners, welcoming them like long lost family to their flagship restaurant on N. Arnoult Road […]
A Different Kind of Dog
Delightfully novel ways of enjoying our favorite frankfurter in and around New Orleans. Regardless of their offal ingredients, it’s hard to deny the delicious nostalgia of a great hot dog. Just seeing an image of a frank slapped between it’s signature split bun decorated with zig-zags of mustard and (sorry […]
Pop-Up Appeal
Proof that paper plates and plastic cutlery can be counted as and integral part of a romantic night out! Thanks to aggressive marketing campaigns and endless propaganda, February is officially and commercially realized as the month of romance. Not only are we to single out the 14th as a day […]
When I Stroke the [James] Beards Thusly
Perhaps I am getting more curmudgeonly in my advanced years, but awards and award shows often elicit a big ol’ yawn. Like any popularity contest, it always comes down to who you know . . . and who knows you. That’s not to say the hard-working folks nominated for these […]
Cakewalk
It’s easy to blurt out a list of my favorite king cakes. They’re the ones that inevitably pop into my mind every year before twelfth night, and the ones I have to promptly dismiss in the name of what’s new and cool and hip (do people still use those words?). […]
Your Table is (Always) Ready: Moveable Feast
The second most important thing the pandemic taught us is if food is prepared, managed and packaged well, take-out can be pretty damn awesome (the first is how to properly wear a mask, but I’m not going to get on that particular soapbox). When push came to shove, restaurants and […]
2023 NOLA Restaurant Bucket List
I looked at last year’s New Year’s post and was encouraged to do another restaurant to-do list. Why, you ask (are you asking)? Well, I didn’t complete last year’s list, not even by half, and I’m hoping a repeat will keep me honest and help me keep in mind those […]
Falafel Fan
Crispy on the outside, soft and savory on the inside – served with a side of tahini or wrapped in pita to be devoured with bright, fresh veggies – falafel is one of those rare foods that are equally satisfying, healthful and indulgent all at the same time. It’s a […]
A Matter of Time: Pho Kim Loan
There is so much great pho over here on the Westbank, we’re practically swimming in it, but pity the poor slob who needs a bowl after 6pm . . . even on the weekends! Do they have a thing against late-ish night diners? Do we smell funny? My theory is […]
Breaking Bread: John Gendusa Bakery
Loafing around with French bread from John Gendusa’s, a century-old New Orleans bakery in Gentilly. Lovers of local culinary history all know the oft-told origin story of New Orleans’ famed po-boy. As the legend goes, restaurateurs Benny and Clovis Martin (a.k.a. the “Martin Bros.”) created the inexpensive meal to feed […]