Kevin Belton’s “New Orleans Celebrations” gives readers a taste of festive cooking in the chef’s third cookbook. Belton, with co-author Rhonda Findley, focuses on festival food and celebration whether recipes inspired by parade-route handhelds, New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival favorites or household Cajun classics. The recipes are introduced with anecdotes from Belton’s childhood and experiences at the many festivals in the area. Eye-catching photographs by Eugenia Uhl (disclosure: The photographer is a frequent contributor to this magazine) will make you want to get straight to the kitchen or the nearest festival immediately. — Compiled by Alice Phillips
Winning Design
In March, the American Institute of Architects New Orleans hosted its 2019 Design Awards. Works of engineers, designers, landscape architects, contractors and others were recognized for excellence. Among the winners were Albert Architecture, which was awarded the Historic Preservation, Restoration and Adaptive Reuse Merit Award and studioWTA with the Residential Honor Award. Visit the AIA New Orleans website for a full list of winners. aianeworleans.org
High Praise
The Hotel Peter & Paul was recently named one of the “World’s Best New Hotels” by Travel + Leisure. The property that housed a former church, schoolhouse, rectory and convent is a joint project between New Orleans resident Nathalie Jordi and interior design firm ASH NYC, with restoration and conversion by New Orleans architcture firm studioWTA. The hotel’s 71 guest rooms and carefully preserved original details like stained-glass windows and marble fireplaces, placed it among 75 other hotels around the world. The Elysian Bar has also fast become a favorite on best bar lists throughout the country and for locals as well. travelandleisure.com
Special Screenings
The 2019 Architecture & Design Film Festival: New Orleans is June 20-23 at the New Orleans Contemporary Arts Center. The festival, presented by the Louisiana Architecture Foundation, celebrates the creative spirit of architecture and design in the Crescent City. Documentary films, panel discussions and other curated events present opportunities to engage and entertain those interested in architecture and design. louisianaarchitecture.org
