Luvi Reconsidered
I was enamored of Luvi, the restaurant Chef Hao Gong opened on Tchoupitoulas Street a few years ago, but I wasn’t entirely sure it would survive. The place is not exactly on the beaten path and I had my…
Restaurants
The Best Places to Drink and Dine Outdoors This Weekend
Unlike the hours-long little teaser that dropped us into the 70s a few weeks ago, a bonafied days-long cool front offering evening lows in the 60s and daily highs in the 70s has settled upon our sweaty city. The…
Boucherie Still Has It
I was, for a time, as regular a customer of Boucherie as anyone. I think I ate there at least twice a month for a few years. I loved the place and I love the folks behind it. I…
Just Sip Back, and Relax
There is no doubt we are enjoying the fall/football season. It’s the time of year when groups get together and pass a good time. Often, cocktails are involved and who doesn’t love a great drink? There are so many…
Ruby Slipper Café Celebrates Fall with Mid-City Festival
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Mid-City Fall Festival celebrates the New Orleans neighborhood where the first restaurant in the multi-location group opened in 2008. WHEN: Saturday, Oct. 19, 9 a.m.–1 p.m. WHERE: Ruby Slipper Café’s flagship location – 315 S.…
Jack Rose and Stein's Deli to Host Festive Midnight Brunch, Oct. 18
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Mark your calendars for the ultimate, not-to-be-missed brunch event of the year taking place Friday, Oct. 18 at Jack Rose. For one night only, the bustling eatery located inside the Pontchartrain Hotel is partnering with Stein’s…
The Spanish Main
New Orleans should have more Spanish restaurants. New Orleans was a Spanish town before the French arrived to change the street names and – to their credit – give us the civilian legal system. France obviously had an impact…
The Best Healthful Dining Options to Launch You Into Autumn
Despite the unwelcome hanging around of the heat, the holiday season is launching into full swing next month and bringing with it a host of rich foods and opportunities for over-indulgence. In an attempt to hedge my bets against…
Galatoire’s celebrates National Coffee Day with Café Brûlot
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – National Coffee Day is Sunday, Sept. 29 and Galatoire’s is fired up – literally. Since opening on Bourbon Street more than 114 years ago, the fine dining establishment has been preserved with little change. Galatoire’s is…
Fresh Pasta at Bellegarde October 1!
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – October is National Pasta Month! Beginning Tuesday, Oct. 1, Bellegarde Bakery will offer freshly made pasta in a variety of shapes from its retail store. Bellegarde’s pasta is made with 100 percent freshly stone…
The Best Reasons to Visit Historic Gretna
I recently spent some time exploring historic Gretna, a fascinating, somewhat mysterious city on the West Bank (technically east of New Orleans but that's another story). Like Uptown New Orleans, where I live, Old Gretna is loaded with historic…
New Pop-Up at St. Roch - Chef Kelseay Dukae Introduces Kinoko
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Chef Kelseay Dukae of vegan-forward sushi concept Kinoko will begin a three-week residency at St. Roch Market in T2’s space. Kinoko will open Thursdays through Sundays from 11 a.m. to close, starting Sept. 26 and…
Dickie Brennan & Co. DAOU Wine Dinner and Steak Out Against Breast Cancer
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – From the West Paso Robles region of California's Central Coast, Daou's inky, silky cabernets have won over fans and scored high with the critics. Join Master Sommelier Fred Dame for a special dinner (Oct. 10)…
Zea Rotisserie & Bar Announces Saints Game Day Brunch and Transportation
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Zea Rotisserie & Bar located at 5080 Pontchartrain Blvd. New Orleans, LA 70118, announced its exclusive game day special:Dine, Dome, Delivered which offers a three-course meal and transportation to and from the Mercedes-Benz Superdome…
Scot Craig Has Taken Over As Head Chef At Bienvenue, On Hickory
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Chef Scot Craig, known through New Orleans for his bustling neighborhood restaurants (Katie’s in Mid City at 3701 Iberville St. and Francesca at 515 Harrison Ave.) has taken the helm of Bienvenue, On Hickory,…
Chic Eats
There is no lack of culinary excitement around New Orleans. Each day a new restaurant is popping up offering new and tasty things for all to enjoy. Whether you’re out with your gal pals, looking for a hotspot for…
Top Ten Lists
Bon Appétit magazine has released its annual list of the 10 best new restaurants in the country, and there is a New Orleans restaurant on the list. It is the Elysian Bar, and I want to make very certain that…
Le Pavillon Hotel Offers New Saints Game Specials
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Saint Season is in full swing and Le Pavillon Hotel is pleased to welcome the devoted fans of New Orleans to its signature restaurant, Bijoux, every game day to chow down on gold-dusted chicken wings while indulging at…
Barrauda Adds Seasonal Menu Items and New "Deluxe Nacho Hour" Happy Hour
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Barracuda will be adding some new seasonal items to the menu, launching a new happy hour dubbed "Deluxe Nacho Hour" and introducing a lunch combo perfect for your every day cravings! The $5 "Deluxe Nacho…
A Few of the Best Places to Watch the Saints Crush the Rams on Sunday
After that nail-biting, hair-raising experience the Saints treated us to on Monday night we could all use a bit of soothing as we head into the next go-round on Sunday when the Saints pay a visit to Los Angeles…
New Sunday Brunch at Le Pavillon Hotel's Bijoux Restaurant
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Le Pavillon Hotel’s signature restaurant, Bijoux, will once again offer Sunday Brunch every Sunday from 9 a.m.-1 p.m. Under the leadership of award-wining Executive Chef Derek McKenna and centered around a Czechoslovakian crystal chandelier, the…
James Beard Foundation to Visit New Orleans with 2019-20 Taste America Series Presented by Capital One
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – On Oct. 1, New Orleans will welcome the James Beard Foundation’s Taste America presented by Capital One for a pop up dinner as part of the larger national tour, which brings delicious food and…
Hotel Chloe Announces Todd Pulsinelli As Executive Chef
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – LeBLANC + SMITH, the New Orleans-based hospitality group, is pleased to announce the hiring of Todd Pulsinelli as executive chef of Hotel Chloe. In this role, he will oversee the…
Cooking for Particular Diets
I have gone through my life as a very thin fellow. I have what the medical profession calls a “nervous stomach,” which without going into a great detail means that I don’t gain a lot of weight despite what I…
Saturday In The Quarter
The seventh annual Downriver Festival kicks off at 10 a.m. at the New Orleans Jazz Museum (400 Esplanade Ave., 568.2564, nolajazzmuseum.org). Celebrating the cultural, economic, environmental and inspirational impacts and contributions of the Mississippi River to our fair city…
Gris-Gris Announces New Sunday Brunch
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Gris-Gris is excited to launch its NEW Sunday Brunch Menu this Sunday! The menu will be available from 11 a.m. – 5 p.m. and feature new menu items including: Blueberry Bourbon Pain Perdu. Chicken…
Windsor Court Celebrates Southern Decadence With LGBTQ-Inspired Themed Tea
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – Join the Windsor Court for LGBTea, a spirited affair celebrating diversity and community. Guests will enjoy a decadent afternoon of bottomless mimosas and Bloody Mary cocktails, as well as the finest teas and teatime treats.…
Of Drag Queens and the New Orleans Saints
Remember the drag queen moment I mentioned last week? Well, that moment is definitely continuing as we close in on Labor Day and Southern Decadence weekend in our fair city. On Saturday from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. the…
Celebrate National Bourbon Month All September Long At Jack Rose & Bayou Bar
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – In celebration of National Bourbon Heritage Month (September 1 – 30, 2019), Jack Rose and Bayou Bar at the Pontchartrain Hotel in New Orleans are featuring their new Private Select barrels of Maker’s Mark,…
September Culinary Happenings Around The City
NEW ORLEANS (press release) – A few restaurants around the city prepare for September with culinary happenings. COMPÈRE LAPIN INTRODUCES ISLAND HOP THEMED DINNER SERIES Compère Lapin is inviting diners to embark on a culinary tour through the Caribbean…
Haute Plates
A weekly blog on the New Orleans fine dining scene
about
Robert D. Peyton was born at Ochsner Hospital and, apart from four years in Tennessee for college and three years in Baton Rouge for law school, has lived in New Orleans his entire life. He is a strong believer in the importance of food to our local culture and in the importance of our local food culture, generally. He has practiced law since 1994, and began writing about food on his website, www.appetites.us, in 1999. He mainly wrote about partying that year, obviously.
In 2006, New Orleans Magazine named Appetites the best food blog in New Orleans. The choice was made relatively easy due to the fact that Appetites was, at the time, the only food blog in New Orleans.
He began writing the Restaurant Insider column for New Orleans Magazine in 2007 and has been published in St. Charles Avenue, Louisiana Life and New Orleans Homes and Lifestyles magazines. He is the only person he knows personally who has been interviewed in GQ magazine, albeit for calling Alan Richman a nasty name. He is not proud of that, incidentally. (Yes, he is.)
Robert’s maternal grandmother is responsible for his love of good food, and he has never since had fried chicken or homemade biscuits as good as hers. He developed his curiosity about restaurant cooking in part from the venerable PBS cooking show "Great Chefs" and has an extensive collection of cookbooks, many of which do not require coloring, and some of which have not been defaced.
Robert lives in Mid-City with his wife Eve and their three children, and is fond of receiving comments and emails. Please humor him.
