I love spending as much time as possible at the beach all summer long, but autumn will forever reign supreme as my favorite season. Long walks in Uptown and through the Garden District, porch sits and flinging open the windows at every available opportunity, as well as switching the floral candles out in favor of woodsy and spicy scents mark the seasonal shift. At New Orleans Homes & Lifestyles, we celebrate the season by honoring the people in the design community who are at the top of their game with our annual Design Masters feature (page 74) and party. Join us for the party at Messina’s at the Terminal on Sept. 6 from 6 to 8 p.m. for hors d’oeuvres, drinks and live music, we shine a spotlight on New Orleans’ top designers, builders, architects, interior decorators and other home-related professionals.
If you are looking for eye candy, proceed directly to page 51 for a look at our New Build of the Year. This modern stunner overlooks Lake Pontchartrain with a design inspired by oceanfront houses in California’s Malibu hills. A steel and glass marvel that celebrates an industrial aesthetic and functionality, this house is all about the architecture. Modern and industrial isn’t for everyone however, so if warm and eclectic are more your speed, the home on page 65 in “Mix Modern,” will set your heart aflutter. This circa-1862 raised cottage in the Garden District is perfect for entertaining and is a prime example of restoration and preservation.
Before you settle in with this issue, whip up a batch of Mexican hot chocolate using my (adapted) recipe in “Last Indulgence” on page 104. I can’t think of a better way to usher in cooler temperatures, pumpkin patches and the fruits and foliage of the season. Cheers to fall!
Editor’s Pick
Cajun cookin’
Award-winning chef at Toups’ Meatery and Toups South and fan favorite on Bravo’s “Top Chef,” Isaac Toups’ new book is being released in October. “Chasing the Gator: Isaac Toups and the New Cajun Cooking,” was co-written by journalist Jennifer V. Cole, former editor at Southern Living, and features striking images by Denny Culbert (who frequently shoots for New Orleans Homes & Lifestyle magazine’s sister publications). The book offers fresh takes on Cajun classics, such as chicken and andouille gumbo and crawfish (including Toups’ mix tape playlist to listen to while you do the boil), as well as a tutorial on how to butcher a hog (boucherie) and loads of tips and Cajun wisdom and humor. The language is as bold and spicy as the recipes, so if f-bombs aren’t your thing, this might not be your cookbook. Everyone else, enjoy the ride through the Cajun prairies, swamps, bayous, marshes and rivers with Toups as your tour guide and the fruits of the region to fortify your belly and delight your taste buds. Be sure to check out “Gatherings,” on page 30, to see (and try) the recipe Toups shared with us.
