For the first time in its 24-year history, Red Fish Grill is now offering a seafood-forward weekend brunch (offered Friday, Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.). Expect two hours of bottomless brunch cocktails for $25, specialty brunch cocktails, menu items by executive chef Chris Vazquez (like flash-fried BBQ oysters, Croque Madame, and blueberry and lavender pancakes) and music by Joe Krown (Saturday and Sunday from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m.) The restaurant also is offering a Black & Gold Blitz Brunch every Sunday noon home game, beginning Oct. 3, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. It features a two-course meal for $25. 115 Bourbon St., 598-1200, redfishgrill.com.
Meanwhile, Larder Gourmet Market + Eatery also just started serving Sunday Brunch from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. with breakfast items and weekly specials. Menu items include everything from chocolate hazelnut croissant French toast to a roast pork and white cheddar grits bowl. Brunch is available for dine-in or take-out service. Cocktails include sangria, seasonal mimosas and Bloody Marys with all of the fixings. 3005 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 766-6763, lardergourmetmarket.com.
The Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFAB) is inviting guests to enjoy Brunch Month this October. The weekly series of three-course brunch pop-ups ($60 per person) will be hosted by some of New Orleans’ most renowned chefs and personalities. Taking place at the Louisiana Kitchen and Gallery at SoFAB, the lineup includes Drag Brunch hosted by Poppy Tooker, with dishes by Chef Jason Goodenough (Oct. 2), Filipino Kamyan Brunch, featuring Cristina Quackenbush (Oct. 16), Barrow’s Beyond Catfish, featuring the team from Barrow’s Catfish (Oct. 23) and Halloween Boheme Brunch, with Colleen Allerton and Camille Staub of Luncheon (Oct. 30). 1504 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 569-0405, southernfood.org.
Java Spot
The newly opened Virgin Hotels New Orleans is home to a new coffee shop, the Funny Library Coffee Shop, located on the hotel’s first level. While it features dark wood and feels like a classic library, it is anything but. Eclectic furnishings and playful elements, like mixed patterns and bright colors, jazz up the space. The communal workspace also features an assortment of games and funny books curated from local book shops. In addition to coffee by La Colombe, Funny Library Coffee Shop offers a selection of pastries and light bites. 550 Baronne St., virginhotels.com/new-orleans.
Dinner Series
Chef Meg & Company: A Commander’s Palace Dinner Series Benefitting the New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute features dinner at Commander‘s Palace with a welcome cocktail, a collaborative five-course tasting menu with wine pairings and a coupe de milieu cocktail. Each dinner features a distinguished New Orleans chef, and current students and alums from the Turning Tables organization. Two dates still remain through the fall (Oct. 20 with Frank Brigtsen and Dec. 7 with Edgar “Dooky” Chase IV). Proceeds from the dinner benefit NOCHI, a nonprofit at the forefront of culinary and hospitality co-founded by Commander’s co-proprietor Ti Martin. 1403 Washington Ave., 899-8221, commanderspalace.com.
Culinary Show
Alton Brown, the popular host on the Food Network, created a new form of entertainment – the live culinary variety show – with his “Edible Inevitable Tour” and “Eat Your Science,” which played in more than 200 cities. Now, he is bringing “Beyond the Eats” to New Orleans with a show at the Saenger Theatre Oct. 31 at 4 p.m. Fans can expect a mixture of cooking, comedy, music and science. 1111 Canal St., altonbrownlive.com.
Dining for a Cause
One of the Northshore’s most popular culinary events, “Men Who Cook,” takes place this year Nov. 7 from 4-7 p.m. The gala partners local celebrity cooks with top local restaurants in a competition to see who can craft the best dish, and who can raise the most money for the Children’s Advocacy Center – Hope House to fight child sexual abuse and trafficking. The event also includes complimentary wine and beer, the opportunity to win prizes and entertainment by Tyler Kinchen & The Right Pieces. The gala will be preceded by a full month of dine-in promotions at top local restaurants across the north shore. Tickets are $70 each or $125 per couple. 601 N. Jefferson Ave., Covington, cachopehouse.org/events.
