I have known the fabulous and talented photographer Cheryl Gerber since we were both very green young journalists. We once joked that it must have been a kindergarten teacher who first pulled us together, pointed at me and commanded "You,…
To know Mosca's – an old, white clapboard Mafioso hangout of a restaurant with real-deal Italian food – is to know you will shout "Mama Mia" for mercy while sweating pure olive oil, safe in knowing you and your…
Twelfth Night is celebrated annually on Jan. 5. It is the last day of the Twelve Days of Christmas and is the traditional end of the Christmas season. It is also known as Epiphany Eve as it is followed…
How fortuitous for me! Cozy, super-chic Luvi (5236 Tchoupitoulas St., 504-605-3340, luvirestaurant.com) is located right around the corner from my house. The diminutive Asian restaurant is offering early dinner seatings at 6 and 8 p.m., at either a table…
Whether you are seeking time out in a festive holiday atmosphere or a means of entertaining guests without bringing the fa-la-la to your own kitchen a bevy of New Orleans restaurants have you covered for the next week of…
Every year I am faced with sending gifts to members of my extended family in Sweden. I makes no sense to me to buy mass produced items made in China then ship then to my relatives across the pond,…
New Orleanians of a certain age may recall when local "happy" hours came in three basic forms with slight variations thereof: Sure-bet barf-inducing three-for-one well brand specials at The Boot, Friar Tucks, Hillary's, and Shanahan's; the Friday evening "Sippin' into…
A slew of local restaurants have recently upped the lunch game allowing for exciting, diverse dining options often at value-driven prices. Check them out. Marjie's Grill (320 S Broad Ave, 603.2234, marjiesgrill.com) offers a unique take on the meat-and-three…
It has happened again only this year it happened much earlier and with greater ferocity than ever before: The weather went from months of unrelenting big-dog-breathing-on-you- heat to a few blissful days of brilliant skies, cool breezes and low…
The Link Stryjewski Foundation’s dinner series continues tonight at 7 p.m. at Calcasieu (930 Tchoupitoulas St.) with the theme, “European Vacation.” The fundraiser features a four-course dinner with wine pairings inspired by a recent trip to Europe by chefs de…
For Halloween fun, this evening guests are invited to Nolé Cuisine de las Americas (2001 St. Charles Ave., 593-9955, nolerestaurant.com) in costume for a trick or treat experience – a surprise from the kitchen…
Have you ever wanted to know how to make the best tortilla? Tonight Chef Will Alevar will reveal his family tradition. You’ve probably eaten his family’s tortillas at several restaurants around town, but now is your chance to learn…
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…
A dream of five years comes true for me this evening. For the past five years I have served as the Director of Culinary Programming for the Southern Food & Beverage Museum (SoFab) in Central City. In this capacity I…
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…
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…
It's still hot outside. Take shelter on Saturday in one of our city's many fantastic, often world-class museums when you and a guest can get in for free compliments of Smithsonian magazine and its annual Museum Day. Participating museums…
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…
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…
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…
On Friday the NOLA Downtown Music and Arts Festival kicks off its end-of-summer treat that will run through Saturday. The FREE event features pop-up shops, food trucks, musicals performances and more. Head to Duncan Plaza, 343 Loyola Ave., to…
I am devastated by the recent loss of My Happy Girl, a beautiful, wise Shepherd mix who adopted my family on June 21,2005, when she was a young adult dog. Happy was the Alpha and the eldest in our…
An enthusiastic cook at heart, as August rolls around I want nothing to do with the heat boiling in my kitchen. These days I am prone to skipping meals altogether or I might just pick them up at Made…
Today kicks off the doldrums of August, the heat sucks and, yes, we are collectively sick to death of it. That said, a slew of dining and cultural deals also kick off today and run through the rest of…
On Saturday the Crescent City Cafe (3900 St. Charles Ave., crescentcitycafe.com) will host its annual Me + 3 Brunch Fundraiser. A $20 donation will cover your brunch plus 3 meals for future Cafe guests, most of whom are homeless.…
Happy Birthday to me! By the time you read this I will be celebrating is Asheville, North Carolina with my best bud, Cyndi. If I were here to celebrate a few cool things are on my radar. Last week…
EDIT NOTE: Due to impending weather, Bellegarde has postponed their retail opening! (7/11/19, 11:50 a.m) I avoid bread because I prefer carbs that come in a glass, Chateau Neuf du Pape being my fave of the sort. That said,…
Happy Independence Day, Everyone! If I had to plan my final menu fried chicken would be the entree. In the past few years I have made a concerted effort to limit my intake of meat but I cannot resist…
The Best Place to be with your dog this weekend? A taco pop-up. Avo Taco, with roots in Miami and New York will take over the kitchen at Port of Orleans Brewing Company (4124 Tchoupitoulas St.,) this weekend (Friday-Sunday).…
We all make mistakes and sometimes we benefit from others' mishaps. Such is the case with a Big Easy Bucha (4040 Euphrosine St., bigeasybucha.com) sale ending today at 4 p.m. when shoppers can grab up overruns and mislabeled (OOPS)…
