Crossings . . . Tex-Mex restaurant Las Cruces has opened its brand new doors right behind the on-ramp from Airline Drive to Causeway in Metairie. Brought to you by the same folks behind Crescent City BBQ, the family-friendly spot hired local chef Chris Lusk to create a menu featuring dishes like creamy queso with roasted hatch chiles, smoked pork soft tacos, tortilla soup and jumbo, flour tortilla-wrapped burritos. Take the kiddos and have a Texas-style night out, either in their large dining room or outside on the patio, either way, don’t leave without a slice of their Tres Leches Bread Pudding for a Tex-Mex dessert NOLA-style.
2935 Airline Dr., Metairie, lascrucestexmex.com
Good luck! … Taj McMinn, a veteran cook in kitchens near and far, recently launched Red Panda NOLA, a Chinese/Japanese/Korean-inspired pop-up happening mostly at Mid-City cocktail dive Twelve Mile Limit. Embracing the general concept to “have fun and try things,” McMinn’s dishes include soft-boiled eggs marinated in gochujang, red curry and mirin; Thai-glazed crispy wings, spicy, Sichuan Dan Dan noodles, and cucumbers goma ae (a.k.a. sauce of roasted sesame seeds, soy sauce, sugar, sake and mirin).
@red.panda.nola
For those about to brunch . . . Because if it’s not in my backyard, it’s not close enough – locally born brunch bonanza Ruby Slipper recently opened its 23rd location (though only it’s 2nd in Metairie) on Veterans Boulevard near the Clearview City Center. The ribbon-cutting ceremony included check presentations to local organizations Second Harvest Food Bank, and The Roots of Music. “One thing we love even more than ‘that brunch life’ is lifting up our community through food and culture,” Ruby Slipper CEO Elizabeth McGee said. A restaurant that let’s the good times roll everyday with all-day “boozy brunches” serving award-winning Bloody Marys with white chocolate bread pudding pancakes and fried chicken sandwiches tossed in Mike’s Hot Honey Glaze.
4236 Veterans Blvd., rubybrunch.com
Drowning in a bigger cup . . . Warehouse District dessert/cocktail bar Drip Affogato has at last outgrown their tiny digs on Carondolet and have moved downtown to a much larger space on Camp Street, right next to Peter Mayer. It’s a great little place to get all of your vices in at once, because what’s better than coffee, ice cream and cocktails? At the moment, we can’t think of anything.
336 Camp St., @dripaffogatobar
There’s always a party . . . Industry veteran and Baton Rouge-native Micah Martello has branched out of his longtime, Louisiana Cajun food truck Fete au Fete StrEATery to open a fried chicken stall inside St. Roch Market. Dubbed Fried & True, the new addition to the new food hall (now owned by local Coast Roast coffee man Kevin Pedeaux) offers two and three piece, boneless fried chicken combos with sides like cold fried chicken salad (double your chicken!), cathead biscuits, and maque choux street corn. You can also get a Belgian-style waffle with two pieces of chicken, honey butter and bourbon-cane syrup whether it’s breakfast time or not.
2831 St. Claude Ave., strochmarket.com, @feteaufete
How does your garden grow? . . . Beloved local chef Alex Harrell (Angeline, Sylvain, Elysian Bar) was recently tapped to head the kitchen at The Gloriette, a French-inspired garden restaurant in Covington. The Southern Hotel launched the new restaurant back in Spring of 2022, renewing the space which formerly housed Oxlot 9. Dishes of note include a ratatouille tartinette with goat cheese, toasted jambon-beurre (baguette with ham and brie), moules frites and blue crab tagliatelle. Congratulations chef!
428 E. Boston St., Covington, thegloriette.com
*Article originally published in the December 2023 issue of Where Y’at Magazine
