Tomorrow evening the historic Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall will be the site for a series of free live streamed music concerts to be presented virtually on the City of Mandeville’s and the Dew Drop’s Facebook pages. The series is a collaboration between the City of Mandeville and The Friends of the Dew Drop. Built in 1895, the Dew Drop Jazz and Social Hall, on Lamarque Street in Mandeville, is one of the oldest, unaltered rural jazz halls in the United States. Kicking off the virtual series will be the soulful sounds of singer John Boutté and his trio band, featuring the unique musical talents of pianist Oscar Rossignoli & bassist Nobu Ozaki. The series continues Feb. 5 with The LPO String Quintet. The final installation will be on February 12. Known for her incredible virtuosity and viral French Quarter videos, Doreen Ketchens, the Clarinet Queen of New Orleans, will perform with her family band. The concerts begin each night at 7 p.m. and will last approximately one hour.
In celebration of Black History Month James Beard Award-winning Chef Nina Compton will host a series of collaborative dinners every Thursday through the month of February at her flagship restaurant, Compere Lapin (in the Old. 77 Hotel, 535 Tchoupitoulas St, 504-599-2119). The month-long series is aimed to showcase the talents of some of the city’s black culinarians, as well as pay tribute to the amalgamation of cultures and cuisine that have contributed to America’s black culinary community. Each Thursday Compton will join forces with a guest chef to create a multi-course prix fix dinner. With prices starting at $60 per person (excluding tax and gratuity), guests can choose seatings at 6 or 8 p.m. Next Thursday, Feb. 4, will feature Ms. Linda Green, known internationally as the Ya-Ka-Mein Lady, a winner of the Food Network’s “Chopped.” That evening’s guests will enjoy an array of dishes from both chefs, including Ms. Green’s Crawfish Macaroni and Cheese and her famed Ya-Ka-Mein soup. The Feb. 4 dinner is priced at $60 per person (excluding tax and gratuity). Optional wine and cocktail pairings are available. Additional February collaborations will include Chef Biruk Alemayehu of Ethiopian restaurant Addis NOLA; Lisa “Queen Trini” Nelson of Queen Trini Trinidadian restaurant; and Eve Haydel of Dookie Chase restaurant, granddaughter of the legendary Leah Chase. Reservations for each dinner are required. Check the Compère Lapin website for full menus.
The legendary Antoine’s Restaurant (713 St Louis St., 504-581-4422) has launched a new Four Course Prix Fixe Mardi Gras Dinner Menu that includes Snails en Croute, Rabbit Rillettes, Veal Francese, and eve King Cake Baked Alaska. The prix-fixe menu is $54 per person, with a wine pairing offered for $35, available for dinner throughout the Carnival season (ending Feb. 16).
There are still some spots open for a Zoom baking class on Sunday at 3 p.m. with Master Baker Beth Biundo. The cost is $40 per person and participants will learn to make Moroccan pastilla, a chicken and phyllo pie participants can then serve for dinner that evening. Visit bethbiundosweets.com for reservations.
Be safe, be kind, and have some fun celebrating the city and the culture we love.