We’re all told time and time again from our doctors, nutritionists, trainers and other health gurus to keep our consumption of red meat to a minimum. But doesn’t everyone, even Miss Mary, like a little lamb once in a while? Though it is often tarred with the same brush as […]
A Peas Offering
For literally centuries, the field pea has been a Southern staple. Whether you’re familiar with Purple Hull, Old Timer, Turkey Craw or Rattlesnake, field peas have long played the role of subsistence food for both people and livestock all over the globe. In fact, archaeologists have discovered domesticated seeds for […]
Keep your eye on the (meat) ball!
Tender, meaty, earthy and filling … the meatball is as all American as apple pie and equally heart-warming. Like biscuits and gravy, fried chicken and grilled cheese sandwiches, comfort food is re-emerging onto our local food scene and the mighty meatball is no exception. This food nostalgia could be a […]
Meat (pie) of the matter
Believe it or not, but meat pies have been a dish that humankind has been enjoying since the ancient Egyptians first created one circa 9500 BC when bakers would incorporate nuts, honey and fruits into the bread dough they prepared for the pharohs. The Greeks would wrap meat in a […]
Full of bologna!
When I was about 8-years-old my father, the eternal prankster, told me that he had a harem of wives back in Iran. Naturally, I was in shock and told my best friend who told her mother and eventually it got back to my dad. While laughing uproariously, my dad called […]
Everything but the pumpkin
Crunchy, nutty and delicious, there’s so much more to pumpkin seeds or pepitas than a hasty handful snack. They’re a calorie-dense snack rich in mono-unsaturated fats to help lower cholesterol as well as high in magnesium, potassium,, zinc and iron. Pumpkin seeds, often called pepitas, are also an excellent source […]
What’s in my bag?
Aside from the costumes, face paint, running around the neighborhood with friends (and foes) under the cover of night and trying to fill your pillow case before schlepping it all back home, Halloween, for me, always hit its peak at the end. Exhausted and elated, with a little help from […]
8 Reasons Why New Orleans is Butt Over Brisket for Barbecue
Memphis, St. Louis, Austin, Kansas City, Decatur . . . these cities tend to spring to mind when talking about great barbecue, but over the past several years New Orleans has finally entered the smoke ring to prove our our bark is a far more pleasant bite than previously imagined. […]
Eggplant Envy
What is elongated, fleshy, goes by many different names, is chock full of bitter seeds and can be found in shades of purple? Why the eggplant, of course! What were you thinking? While “sexters” and Instagram might view this pervasive vegetable as something more salacious, food-lovers all over the world […]
The toast of New Orleans
Believe it or not, The Toast of New Orleans is actually the title of a 1950s musical starring Kathryn Grayson, Mario Lanza and David Niven. It’s about an uppity opera singer who meets and falls in love with a roguish Louisiana fisherman who happens to be a natural songbird. Seeing […]
Till you’re blue in the face
“It happens every time, they all become blueberries!” -Willy Wonka & the Chocolate Factory That horrific scene where Violet Beauregard plumps up like a ripe blueberry after chewing a rather special piece of gum devised by Willy Wonka will forever haunt me. I don’t even need to watch Willy Wonka […]
Always blown away at Boucherie
By now, I imagine I don’t have to tell anyone living within a 300 mile radius of New Orleans how good the eating is at Boucherie. Hell, I’m positive its reach is quite a bit further considering I no longer am surprised when out-of-towners seeking restaurant recommendations already have the […]