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 the month. For this we can be grateful. If we can be well fed and watered as well as inspired that is worth something.
Now in its 15th year, Coolinary New Orleans features numerous restaurants throughout the metro New Orleans area offering dining specials – prix-fixe brunches, lunches and dinners – throughout the month. Enjoy two-course lunches for $20 or less, and three-course dinners and brunches for $39 or less.
Apolline (4729 Magazine St.,894-8881, apollinerestaurant.com) my favorite neighborhood restaurant is offering a special Coolinary dinner menu for $39 (price does not include a beverage, tax or gratuity, menu not offered on Mondays):
First Course
choice of
Fresh Berry Salad
fresh berries, mixed greens, goat cheese, candied pecans, strawberry vinaigrette
Tomato Gazpacho
garnished with pickled scallions
Second Course
choice of
Cold Smoked Duck Breast
glazed with black garlic molasses over baby bok choi, crimini mushrooms and pickled peaches
Bloody Mary Risotto
risotto infused with our housemade bloody mary mix, jumbo Gulf shrimp, Louisiana crawfish, pickled okra
Third Course
choice of
White Chocolate Pot de Crème
topped with caramel crisps
Seasonal Sorbet
by Creole Creamery
The restaurant is also offering an additional 15th Anniversary special: Select Bottles of Wine for $20, Sunday – Thursday only throughout August.
The ever gracious Bayona (430 Dauphine St., 525-4455, bayona.com) is also in on the act with a Coolinary dinner menu for $39 (price does not include a beverage, tax or gratuity, menu not offered on Sundays):
First Course
choice of
Seared Tuna
with avocado, cucumber, Serrano chili, tomato concasse, preserved lemon,
grilled scallion vinaigrette
Celery Salad
with dates, herb-candied almonds, Castelvetrano olives, and Parmigiano
Duck Rillette
with fig compote, mustard, housemade pickles and crostini
Second Course
choice of
Gulf Fish
with Thai shrimp dumpling with mustard cabbage, bok choy,
and spicy lemongrass broth
Smoky Pork Butt
with grilled okra, maque choux, and peach BBQ sauce
Grilled NY Strip +$10
with eggplant Romesco, garlic potatoes, grilled peppers, salsa verde, and Bordelaise
Spinach-Ricotta Gnocchi
with mushrooms, tomato, and summer squash
Third Course
choice of
Pavlova
with lemon curd and blueberries
Fudge Pie
with coconut whipped cream and praline sauce
House-made Ice Cream
Sorbet
Cute and colorful, Hippie Kitchen (3741 Jefferson Hwy., Jefferson, 444-4113, hknola.com) is rolling out an all-inclusive $21 bargain brunch (price does not include tax or gratuity):
First Course
choice of
Hibiscus Cooler
hibiscus, garden mint, fresh lime juice, soda
Mimosa
bubbles, freshly squeezed orange juice
Ginger Kombucha
garden ginger infused
Hippie Mary
Bolden vodka, tomato juice, spicy hippie mix, veggie spears
Cold Brew Coffee
12-hour house brew
The Dude Abides
Bolden vodka, house cold brew, sweetened condensed milk
Second Course
Daily breakfast muffin
and choice of
River Road Breakfast
2 Happy Hen eggs over medium, Bonnecaze farms grits, bacon, house made biscuit or English muffin, butter and jam
Super Rolls (V, GF.)
avocado, local sweet potato, quinoa, kale, micro greens, Sriracha, rice paper wrap, peanut dipping sauce
Huevos Rancheros (GF.)
fried Happy Hen eggs, pulled pork , black beans, smokey red sauce, local corn tortillas, queso fresco
Third Course
choice of
Seasonal Fruit (V, GF.)
fresh from the crescent city farmers market
Blueberry Pancake
fluffy pancake with local blueberries, cane syrup
Fruit Cobbler
seasonal fruit, baked with crumble topping
Chia Pudding (V, GF.)
chia seeds, coconut milk, house made mango preserves
These menus are just teasers! For a full list of participating restaurants and their menus visit coolinaryneworleans.com.
Not to be outdone, the Northshore’s Tammany Taste of Summer kicks off today, also with specials and prix fixe brunch, lunch and dinner deals through the end of the month. Prices for two- and three-course prix fixe meals are in the $20-30 range. Many of St. Tammany Parish’s best restaurants are offering prix fixe menus at reduced prices for brunch, lunch and dinner, including Del Porto, Annadele’s, Palmetto’s, Café Lynn, Dakota, The Wine Garden, Gallagher’s, Oxlot 9, Hambone, LOLA and more. Participating restaurants, their menus and pricing, as well as a calendar of events can be viewed at TammanyTaste.com. Visitors wanting to spend a night or two on the Northshore can book a room directly from the site. Area hotels are participating by offering discounted rates for the promotion in August.
August is also Museum Month! Now through the end of August museum members have the opportunity to visit all participating institutions, FREE OF CHARGE, using their current membership. The program, a collaboration between museums of all sizes across the greater New Orleans area and includes The National WWII Museum, New Orleans Museum of Art, Ogden Museum of Southern Art, Contemporary Arts Center, The Historic New Orleans Collection, Ashe Cultural Arts Center, Audubon Butterfly Garden & Insectarium, Old Ursuline Convent Museum, Longue Vue House and Gardens, Beauregard-Keyes House, Hermann-Grima House, Southern Food & Beverage Museum, New Orleans Pharmacy Museum, Confederate Memorial Hall Museum, Newcomb Art Museum/Woldenberg Art Center, Â New Orleans Jazz Museum, New Canal Lighthouse, and Gallier House. Visit neworleans.com/museum-month for more information.
This weekend also sees the return of Satchmo Summerfest. Daily admission to the New Orleans Jazz Museum at the Mint (400 Esplanade Ave., 522-5730), Ground Zero for the festival, is $6 per person. The annual event celebrates the life, music and legacy of native son Louis Armstrong with an abundance of food, music, lectures and specials events. Visit satchmosummerfest.org for more information.
Have a great weekend, everyone. Use it to celebrate the people and the community you love.
