The food and beverage team behind St. Roch Market, Auction House Market and Market Supper Club have started a new local food-delivery service called Parcel. This is no regular meal delivery service though. Instead, Parcel delivers meals to your doorstep prepared by a variety of local chefs. Simply purchase a subscription to a preset number of meals for delivery each week; customize each week’s selections from a revolving menu; and choose any add-ons you may want (options include curated board games, activities for kids, cocktail kits and wine pairings).
Meals are delivered refrigerated in insulated recyclable bags, so they can be consumed throughout the week as desired. Each meal is designed to be heated in less than 10 minutes with instructions provided by the chefs. While weekly options include dishes from the aforementioned food halls—covering a spectrum of cuisines from Italian to Japanese—guest collaborators from across the industry also will be announced. Kids meals also are in development.
Parcel.strochmarket.com.
Spice Blends
Chef Isaac Toups, owner of Toups Meatery and author of “Chasing the Gator – Isaac Toups & the New Cajun Cooking” is offering a new brand of spices just in time for the holidays. Made in partnership with Spiceology, the custom spices make great stocking stuffers for the foodies on your list. Available individually or in bundles, spice options include Heatwave burger seasoning, Fryclone fry seasoning, Thunderdust all-purpose Cajun seasoning and Louisiana Lightning Cajun seafood seasoning.
Spiceology.com/pages/isaac-toups.
Taco Joint
The much-anticipated Mexican street food restaurant El Cucuy opened in September after being delayed by the pandemic. Located in the Irish Channel, the restaurant offers a bevy of antojitos (little cravings). In addition to tasty tacos, El Cucuy offers tortas filled with carne asada, pollo asada, trompo al pastor or nopales (cactus); a shrimp cocktail; grilled corn on the cob; and duros (fried flour chicharrones with Cotija cheese, lime, salt and hot sauce). The outdoor patio and touchless payment system make for a safe dining experience.
3507 Tchoupitoulas St., 897-5395, ElCucuyNola.com.
Thai Street Food
Opening earlier this year, Long Chim Nola is an Uptown fast-casual restaurant offering street foods from different regions of Thailand. With a menu that is both approachable to those new to the cuisine, as well as familiar to those who have grown up loving these dishes, Long Chim Nola stays true to the origins of each dish. Sourcing organic and local produce whenever possible, the restaurant offers lots of vegetarian-friendly options. And because the focus is on fresh ingredients, the menu changes seasonally throughout the year.
4113 Magazine St., 982-0046, LongChimNola.com.
Urban Hideaway
Sidecar Patio & Oyster Bar is a new restaurant and bar located adjacent to the Rusty Nail in the Warehouse District. It has a second-floor patio and sprawling courtyard under twinkling lights that are simply perfect for enjoying the cooler weather—all while practicing social distancing, of course. The menu features fresh seafood (including a lovely selection of oysters and a fan-favorite tuna tartare); bright salads; fries with all kinds of toppings (lump crabmeat, sautéed mushrooms and artichokes, anyone?); specialty sandwiches and burgers; and sub-tropical cocktails. Stop by for happy hour, dinner or late-night bites, and enjoy a low-key al fresco experience. The restaurant also accepts same-day reservations.
1114 Constance St., 381-5079, SideCarNola.com.
