The first time I met Jacqueline “Jackie” Tabor she was serving as the sous chef at the impeccable, jewel-like Yo’Nashi, an omakase restaurant on Carondelet Street. As the restaurant did not have a printed menu on hand, at the end of the meal Jacki presented me with a highly detailed, beautifully illustrated, hand drawn version in a tiny origami envelope she had folded herself. Over a year later I remember this generous gesture with as much delight as I recall the sensational foods she prepared that night.
Jackie’s catering company, Simmer & Sear, recently started hosting a series of brasserie-style pop-ups under the name Here & Now with the goal of sharing a completely in-the-moment experience showcasing everything local, everything seasonal, from right here, right now. On the menu for next Tuesday’s dinner (5-8 p.m. at the Fourth Wall, 614 Gravier St.,) are top-notch foods from Covey Rise farm, Two Dogs farm, Pelican Produce, Becnel Nursery, Feliciana’s Best Dairy farm, and select ingredients from our neighbors in Texas, Tennessee, and Georgia. Live music will be provided by Cristina Kaminis and her trio.
Here’s the menu:
Pasta Salata – $9
Roasted Spigarello & Zephyr Squash
add Smoked Pecorino Romano – $1
Not Your Nonna’s Bruschetta – $12
Roasted corn, cucumber, green garlic, spring onion, herbs,
Louisiana Gulf shrimp, crostini
Carpaccio – $17
Teres Major, bronze fennel, caramelized carrot & spinach salsa verde
Blackberry Fennel Salad – $13
Mizuna, Arrowhead spinach, sorrel, bronze fennel, herbs, Becnel blackberries
Spring/Summer Collection – $32
Walden, Sequatchie Cove Creamery TN; Griffin, Sweet Grass Dairy GA;
Asher Blue, Sweet Grass Dairy GA
Warm home loaf, Ponchatoula Strawberry whipped butter, roasted vegetables, seasonal preserves, honey-cayenne pecans, crawfish boudin
Additional Here & Now pop-ups will take place on the third Tuesday of every month.
On Saturday afternoon Laurel Street Music will present Wendell Brunious and his band in a free concert from 3:00-5:30 p.m. The concert is happening on the porch in front of 6072 Laurel St. (right next to Patois restaurant). Chairs, kids, beverages, and dogs are welcome. Bring some money to tip the musicians or do it over a cash app.
Magazine Street Merchants’ Association’s Annual Champagne Stroll will make its return on Saturday from 5-9 p.m. More than100 businesses stretching the entire length of Magazine Street will be participating in the annual socializer, offering FREE sparkling wine, as well as special deals, promotional sales, live music, and art shows. Everything about this deal is FREE and open to all. Visit magazinestreet.com for a list of participating stores, shops, galleries, schools, and restaurants.
Dark Garden will offer free fittings with a master corset maker and participants can enter to win a hand-made champagne bottle corset koozie. NOLA Boards is hosting the grand opening of ‘The Honey Bar’ with samples of honey from around Louisiana at a brand new tasting bar. Parish Parlor is serving Champagne and Sorbet floats while supplies last. Vintage Green Review will have Live Jazz on the porch, gift card raffles, and gifts with purchase. For a complete list of participants and their offerings visit magazinestreet.com.
Seems like things are pretty much back to normal. I hope to see you out there over the next week. Ya’ll play nice.
