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Little Tokyo Small Plates & Noodle Bar
A Carrollton restaurant puts karaoke in the spotlight
The very name Little Tokyo Small Plates & Noodle Bar implies that you'll have a few options for assembling meals at this new Japanese restaurant. "Small plates" references the many appetizers that make up the bulk of the menu, while the "noodle bar" aspect comes from huge bowls of ramen noodle soups or stir-fries of yaki soba and udon.
By Ian McNulty |
August 30, 2010
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Banana Blossom
A Gretna Thai restaurant accentuates the extras
Chefs schooled in Thai cuisine often grasp the way a little artistry can lift casual, everyday meals above expectations, and Jimmy Cho at Banana Blossom Thai Cafe in Gretna is no exception. His cooking embodies the vibrancy that makes Thai cuisine so crave-worthy — with a blend of spicy, sweet, sour, sharp and smooth, often all in one dish.
By Ian McNulty |
August 16, 2010
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Coulis
A fine-dining chef revises breakfast at a reborn Uptown classic
The Bluebird Cafe closed for good last spring, but the legacy of the popular Uptown diner lives on in countless renditions of huevos rancheros around town. The Bluebird helped popularize the Mexican breakfast classic during more than two decades in business — in the same way that Drago's sparked a wide-ranging craze for charbroiled oysters.
By Ian McNulty |
August 9, 2010
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Meson 923
An exceptional new restaurant Makes a Splash in the Warehouse District
One of the accurate stereotypes about New Orleans diners is that we're no sooner done with one meal before we begin discussing the next.
By Ian McNulty |
August 2, 2010
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Capdeville: Rock and Onion Rolls
A CBD tavern walks the line between restaurant and bar
Capdeville seems like the sort of place that should spend daytime hours in dark, boozy slumber before shaking it off and coming alive at night. Lighting is seductively dim and a rock music theme carries through the room.
By Ian McNulty |
July 12, 2010
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Cafe Hope
A Cafe Where mentoring is the main course
Courtney Theard's first day as a cook at a Gretna country club turned into an unanticipated trial by fire.
By Ian McNulty |
June 28, 2010
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Satsuma Cafe
You know regulars really treasure a restaurant when they protest a menu change. In the case of Satsuma Cafe, that change was to stop using kale early in June when local farmers growing the burly, vitamin-packed green switched to summer crops.
By Ian McNulty |
June 21, 2010
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Telamar
A Honduran restaurant with Central American soul
The stencil on the glass door at Restaurante Telamar reads "Soul Food Kitchen," and though that's a remnant of a short-lived past tenant for this unusual property, it still seems apt for the food offered today. Now though, instead of the red beans and gumbo of the former restaurant, it's plantains, puffy tortillas, thick crema and crisp cabbage slaw that exude the soul of Honduran country cooking here.
By Ian McNulty |
June 7, 2010
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Crab Trap
A lakefront shack showcases local seafood
Local seafood plays a role in many things besides recipes in Louisiana, and those relationships explain some of the deep dread we're feeling as the BP oil disaster imperils it.
By Ian McNulty |
June 1, 2010
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Dick & Jenny's
After a slew of changes, an Uptown bistro gets its groove back
Change may be inevitable, but it didn't seem likely at Dick & Jenny's, even after the restaurant's founders and namesakes Jennifer and Richard Benz sold the place in 2006. The buyers included a pair of former employees, Leigh and Will Peters, plus their friend Whiton Paine, all then in their late 20s.
By Ian McNulty |
May 24, 2010
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Tarka Restaurant: Currying Flavor
A new halal Pakistani restaurant expands south Asian dining options
News of an addition to the slim ranks of south Asian restaurants spreads quickly among curry heads, who typically arrive at the newly opened doors with strong expectations of naan bread, the iconic, heady flavor of garam masala and the succulence of tandoor-style meats.
By Ian McNulty |
May 17, 2010
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El Mesquite Grill
A sprawling new Gretna restaurant channels the glory days of Tex-Mex
The rise of taco trucks and taquerias after Hurricane Katrina jumpstarted New Orleans' education on authentic, casual Mexican eats. Locals reared on Cuco's and Pancho's Mexican Buffet suddenly had abundant new opportunities to learn the delicious truth about carnitas and lengua, pastor-style pork, tortas, blisteringly hot green salsa and "Mexican Coke" made with cane sugar instead of corn syrup.
By Ian McNulty |
May 3, 2010
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Taceaux Loceaux- Taco Trucks
Nighttime is the right time to find street food in New Orleans.
Some cities have developed robust street-food scenes, with everything from the native dishes of newly arrived immigrants to the drive-by cuisine of big-name chefs available from trucks and carts. In New Orleans, however, street food remains primarily an adjunct to drinking.
By Ian McNulty |
April 26, 2010
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Jazz Fest Cuisine
The Annual Music Festival Proves a Street Food Scene Is Wherever You Make It
New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival April 23-25, April 29-May 2
By Ian McNulty |
April 19, 2010
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Crescent Pie & Sausage
A new Banks Street beauty does the simple things well
What may seem gratifyingly simple and rustic to the end user often belies the demanding craft and unseen efforts that went into making it.
By Ian McNulty |
April 12, 2010
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La Petite Grocery
Fresh ideas and past glory mingle at An Uptown bistro
The realm between tradition and creative expression is reliably fertile territory for chefs to find inspiration. At La Petite Grocery, chef Justin Devillier works this area on more levels than most, balancing classic and innovative bistro cuisine and also the restaurant's own past and future.
By Ian McNulty |
March 29, 2010
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Tag's Meat Market & Deli
A Chalmette butcher thrives on overdoing it
Order the Papa Tag's burger and the person working the lunch counter at Tag's Meat Market & Deli might pause to ask if you're sure. Other customers may spy the thing cooking on the open griddle, ask what it could be, then shake their heads and chuckle when they hear the answer.
By Ian McNulty |
March 22, 2010
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American Sector
Chef John Besh salutes Americana
WHAT American Sector
By Ian McNulty |
March 15, 2010
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Neyow's Creole Cafe
A seasoned cook opens a Creole venture in Mid-City
When Neyow's Creole Cafe opened in November, it bore all the common marks of a brand-new restaurant, from fresh paint and fixtures to an empty bar waiting for liquor license approval. But even then there was a familiarity about the place that was as hard to miss as the hot sausage heating up its gumbo.
By Ian McNulty |
March 8, 2010
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Nolavore Catering Company
In the years before Hurricane Katrina, chef Anne Lloyd made a name for herself at Mango House, the Caribbean-inspired restaurant she opened Uptown in 2003. Mango House closed after the storm, but Lloyd recently launched Nolavore Catering Company (914-3161; www.nolavore.net), which specializes in delivering family meals.
August 30, 2010
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SNAP worth more at Crescent City Farmers Market
For the second year, the Crescent City Farmers Market (www.crescentcityfarmersmarket.org) is offering its MarketMatch program, which doubles the purchasing power of shoppers using the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (or SNAP, aka food stamps). When shoppers swipe their SNAP benefit cards at the market, they can get tokens valued at twice the charged amount to spend with market vendors.
August 30, 2010
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Three Muses
A long-empty building on a prime block of Frenchmen Street has become a combination bar, restaurant and music venue. The Three Muses (536 Frenchmen St., 298-8746; www.thethreemuses.com) was opened by partners Sophie Lee, Christopher Starnes and Dan Esses, the former chef at Marigny Brasserie.
August 23, 2010
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New Wine Bar: Oak
Oak (8118 Oak St., 302-1485), a new Uptown wine bar, has stylish, contemporary decor, an ambitious wine list, original cocktails and small plates like grilled octopus and fried goat cheese. Katie Winters and Shawn Haddad opened the bar along the resurgent Oak Street commercial district in a newly renovated storefront.
August 23, 2010
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Bud's Broiler 24/7
When new franchise operators reopened the original Bud's Broiler (500 City Park Ave., 486-2559; www.budsbroiler.com), they pledged to change as little as possible. But even the most protective fans of the 1950s-era burger joint will likely applaud one new change: The Mid-City location of Bud's is now open 24-hours a day.
August 16, 2010
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Surrey's the third
Greg Surrey opened a third incarnation of his popular cafe earlier this month, taking over the former Fuel Coffee House spot to create Surrey's Uptown (4807 Magazine St., 895-5757). The menu is similar to the original Surrey's Cafe & Juice Bar (1418 Magazine St., 524-3828; www.surreyscafeandjuicebar.com).
August 16, 2010
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Tartine
Cara Benson, former pastry chef at Muriel's Jackson Square, recently opened a casual French cafe called Tartine (7217 Perrier St., 866-4860; www.tartineneworleans.com). Hidden between the river and Audubon Park, Tartine serves breakfast and lunch with specialties like pate sandwiches on house-made baguette, salad Nicoise and baked eggs in brioche.
August 9, 2010
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COOLinary New Orleans
A diverse collection of restaurants around town offer prix fixe lunch and dinner menus through "COOLinary New Orleans," a promotion from the Convention and Visitors Bureau. COOLinary menus include three courses for $20 at lunch and $34 at dinner, and they are available through the end of September.
August 9, 2010
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Liberty's kitchen on School Lunch
The healthiness of school lunches have been increasingly scrutinized, and next week you can get a taste of one local group's response. Liberty's Kitchen (422 S. Broad St., 822-4011; www.libertyskitchen.org), the nonprofit cafe and culinary training program, is now providing food service to the New Orleans College Prep Charter School (3127 Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd.; www.nolacollegeprep.org) in Central City, and on Aug. 9, the public is invited to an open house and tasting at the school.
August 2, 2010
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Little Morocco
Hummus, falafel and kebabs are familiar items on the menu at Little Morocco (7457 St. Charles Ave., 301-9184), but this new Uptown restaurant also specializes in more specific northern African cuisine. Try a couscous dish redolent with spices, or a tagine, a hearty, dense stew with options like beef and artichokes or lamb with honey, plums and egg.
August 2, 2010
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2008 3° Pinot Noir
McMinnville, Oregon / $17-$22 Retail This biodynamic Pinot Noir from the family-owned Maysara vineyards was crafted by the proprietors' three daughters.
August 30, 2010
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2009 Cantina del Taburno Falanghina
Campania, Italy / $17 Retail
This crisp, refreshing medium-boded wine from southern Italy is produced primarily from indigenous white Falanghina grapes. It is one of many lesser-known Italian whites often more interesting than popular Pinot Grigios.
August 23, 2010
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2007 Domaine Beau Mistral Cotes du Rhone Villages Rasteau Selection Vieilles Vignes
Rhone Valley, France / $20-$25 Retail
Located 10 miles north of Chateauneuf du Pape, Rasteau has long produced high-quality wines expressing the Cotes du Rhone's distinct character. Grapes for this wine, sourced from vineyards 60 to 90 years old, are a blend of 45 percent Grenache, more than 50 percent Syrah and a small amount of Mourvedre.
August 16, 2010
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2008 Ique Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina / $10-$15 Retail
This Malbec is produced from old-vine grapes from the Enrique Foster estate 3,000 feet above sea level.
August 9, 2010
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2008 Aqua Pumpkin Pinot Noir
Santa Barbara County, California / $16-$22 Retail
With its cool ocean breezes and great growing conditions, California's Central Coast is producing increasingly better Pinot Noirs. This bottling is a second label from Kenneth Volk Vineyards, whose namesake vintner had great success as an owner/winemaker at Wild Horse before selling it seven years ago.
August 2, 2010
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2009 Regis Bouvier Marsannay Rose
Burgundy, France / $18-$24 Retail This delightful rosé produced in the Cotes du Nuit's furthermost appellation, Marsannay, is made from the region's only permitted red grape, Pinot Noir.
July 19, 2010
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2008 Barone Ricasoli Campo Ceni Toscana
Tuscany, Italy / $12-$17 Retail
The oldest family-owned winery in the world (dating back to 1141), Ricasoli has experienced both highs and lows, but the past 15 years have marked a return to prestigious status.
July 12, 2010
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2009 Altos Las Hormigas Malbec
Mendoza, Argentina / $12-$13 Retail The U.S. is the world's largest importer of Argentine Malbec, a red Bordeaux blending grapes that has come into its own in the South American nation.
July 6, 2010
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Wine Gifts & Accessories
The right accessories take a wine from sip-worthy to sublime
By Kat Stromquist and Missy Wilkinson |
May 17, 2010
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The time for fine box wine has come
Fine wine in a box? That may be the reaction of many skeptics, but for those under the impression that the latest consumer wine technology on the market is a screwtop closure or the Vinturi aerator, it may be time to drink outside the box.
By Brenda Maitland |
May 17, 2010
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Wine Reviews
Swing into summer with light, refreshing wines to accompany lighter meals, bar bites and party food. Following is an array of familiar and not-as-well-known varietals and regions to capture your fancy this summer.
By Brenda Maitland |
May 17, 2010
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Wine With Each Course
Bryan Burkey's Wine Institute of New Orleans brings professional wine education to the Crescent City
Bryan Burkey caught the wine bug relatively late in life. A 39-year-old New York City artist in 1997, Burkey was at Manhattan's March Restaurant for a birthday dinner with his wife, a wine enthusiast.
By Noah Bonaparte Pais |
May 18, 2009
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Italian Renaissance
Italy produces more wine than any country in the world, but many of
its grapes and wine styles are not well known here.
By Brenda Maitland |
May 18, 2009
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Creole Recall
The Lost Restaurants of 2005
I heard plenty about places like LeRuth's, Chez Helene, Kolb's and Buster Holmes when I first began exploring New Orleans restaurants. Never mind that they all had closed years before I moved here in 1999.
By Ian McNulty |
August 23, 2010
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