New Orleans Magazine June 2016

JUNE 2016

WYES-TV PRESENTS THE SERIES PREMIERE OF ENDEAVOUR

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june 2016 / VOLUME 50 / NUMBER 9 Editor-in-Chief Errol Laborde Managing Editor Morgan Packard Art Director Tiffani Reding Amedeo Contributing Editor Liz Scott Monaghan Food Edit­or Dale Curry Dining Edit­or Jay Forman Wine and Spirits Edit­or Tim McNally Restaurant Reporter Robert Peyton Home Editor Bonnie Warren web Editor Kelly Massicot Staff Writer Melanie Warner Spencer Interns Lani Griffiths and Starlight Williams Vice President of Sales Colleen Monaghan SALES MANAGER Kate Sanders (504) 830-7216 / Kate@MyNewOrleans.com Senior Account Executives Jonée Daigle Ferrand, Lisa Picone Love Account Executives Claire Cummings, Jessica Marasco

Production Manager Staci McCarty Senior Production Designer Ali Sullivan Production Designers Monique DiPietro traffic MANAGER Jessica DeBold Chief Executive Officer Todd Matherne President Alan Campell Executive VICE PRESIDENT Errol Laborde DIRECTOR OF MARKETING AND EVENTS Cheryl Lemoine Event Coordinator Margaret Strahan Distribution Manager John Holzer Administrative Assistant Denise Dean Subscriptions Manager Sara Kelemencky SUBSCRIPTIONS Assistant Mallary Matherne WYES DIAL 12 STAFF (504) 486-5511 Executive Editor Beth Arroyo Utterback Managing Editor Aislinn Hinyup Associate Editor Robin Cooper Art Director Jenny Hronek NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE Printed in USA A Publication of Renaissance Publishing 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123 Metairie, LA 70005 Subscriptions: (504) 830-7231

MyNewOrleans.com

New Orleans Magazine (ISSN 0897 8174) is published monthly by Renaissance Publishing, LLC., 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005; (504) 828-1380.

Subscription rates: one year $19.95; Mexico, South America and Canada $48; Europe, Asia and Australia $75. An associate subscription to New Orleans Magazine is available by a contribution of $40 or more to WYES-TV/Channel 12, $10.00 of which is used to offset the cost of publication. Also available electronically, on CD-ROM and on-line. Periodicals postage paid at Metairie, LA, and additional entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to New Orleans Magazine, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright 2016 New Orleans Magazine. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark New Orleans and New Orleans Magazine are registered. New Orleans Magazine is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope.

The opinions expressed in New Orleans Magazine are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the view of the magazine managers or owners.

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contents

56 FEATURES

IN EVERY ISSUE

ON THE COVER

56

Best new Restaurants

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INSIDE

Our annual search for what’s hot in the kitchens

By Jay Forman, Tim McNally and Robert Peyton

“Restaurants: A lifecycle”

66

Top Dentists

Our annual drill of selecting the area’s best Profiles by Kimberley Singletary

Our annual Best New Restaurants issue showcases five of the top recently opened restaurants, along with discussions on the third wave of local coffee and restaurant outposts and expansions. Learn where our editorial staff and food writers can’t stop eating, starting on pg. 56.

18 speaking out

Editorial, plus a Mike Luckovich cartoon 20

JULIA STREET Questions and answers about our city

135 Try This

Sector6 Extreme Air Sports

136 STREETCAR

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“Mrs. Drake Days”

Photographed by Eugenia Uhl

contents

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86

THE BEAT

LOCAL COLOR

THE MENU

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40

me again

84

table talk

Entertainment calendar

“Looking for Myself ...”

“Riverbend Brunches”

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MARQUEE

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MODINE’S NEW ORLEANS

86 restaurant insider

John Nicklow, President, University of New Orleans

“Talking the Walk”

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Biz

44

Joie d’Eve

News From the Kitchens:

Catahoula Hotel, Chris’ Specialty

Meats & Bienvenue Bar & Grill

“Sad for My Friend”

“Ship Shape”

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IN TUNE

“What’s Hot in June”

48

Read & Spin

PERSONA

30

education

“‘Hope’ In a Different Language”

32

HEALTHBEAT

“Inflammation Information”

34

Crime Fighting

“The Gray Metal Badge”

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CHRONICLES

“Writers’ Beginnings”

A look at the latest albums and books

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JAZZ LIFE

“‘It’s Raining So Hard’”

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HOME

“Balcony Vieux” from David Franco’s Pontalba apartment

88

Food

“Green Peace: Salads for the season”

90

LAST CALL

The Andromeda

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DINING GUIDE

DIAL 12 D1 Love television dramas? Sunday nights in June are not to missed! On Sun., June 19 at 7 p.m., the British sitcom”Vicious” will return to PBS for one final hurrah after its two-season run. Then, following at 8 p.m., Shaun Evans returns for a third season of the popular series Masterpiece: Mystery! “Endeavour, Season 3.” The 10-part new PBS series, “The Tunnel,” will make its U.S. debut at 9:30 p.m. For all program details, visit wyes.org.

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inside

Restaurants A Lifecycle

O

ur cover story is about the year’s Best New Restaurants. The topic reminds me that there are also those restaurants that are at the other side of the story, the ones that shut down over the last 12 months.

There are many reasons why businesses close, not all having to do with their quality. There are life issues – money, family, work fatigue, competition, too many parking ticket writers in the neighborhood. My purpose here isn’t to figure out why, but just to remember.

Much heralded when it opened in April 2014 was Milkfish, which specialized in Filipino cuisine. I remember its first night. We happened to be driving by, noticed the lights were on and decided to help a neighborhood restaurant get its start. It didn’t need us. The place was packed. I wondered how a restaurant only a few hours old could draw such a crowd. A staffer explained: The business had been operating as a pop-up in an Uptown bar. It had attracted many Facebook fans that apparently gave thumbs up to what they were served. On this night they were obviously well liked.

Offering a Filipino spin on fish and pork dishes with tangy sauce and finger-sized eggrolls Milkfish, which is the native name for an indigenous Pacific white fish, certainly had unique fare. Where else could you get spam fried rice and lechol kewal (deep fried pork belly)?

Chef and Owner Cristina Quakenbush has been quoted saying that the reason the restaurant closed was that old bugaboo: the rent was too high. Now Milkfish still exists, but instead is popping up at different locations including, on some weekends, at the new Broad Theater. (The Milkfish website gives other locations.)

One night I was at the theater, where I munched on a Filipino-style zesty rice dish during the movie. Right outside two people from Quakenbush’s family were selling crawfish from an ice chest – a mini pop-up I guess. They said the restaurant would open again, but until then they’ll keep on showing up around town.

Perhaps they’ll pop up as another Best New Restaurant.

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on the web

Wanted:

Your suggestions, please Top Female Achievers

Each year we present a class of local Top Female Achievers – women who provide inspiration through not only their accomplishments, but also through their deeds and advice.

We need you to tell us about those women who, year after year, are doing good works and for whom, as far as we know, the best is yet to come. Visit MyNewOrleans.com/ NominateTFA and tell us who you think should be acknowledged as a Top Female Achiever.

New Orleans Magazine is on the web, are you?

Follow New Orleans Magazine on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter and Pinterest for all of the latest in New Orleans cuisine, music and more.

Make sure to sign up for the daily MyNewOrleans.com newsletter, too. Be the first to read our blogs, get the 411 on top events around the city and see the features and columns from all seven of our publications all in one place.

Follow us:

Facebook: Facebook.com/NewOrleansMagazine Twitter: @NewOrleansMag Instagram: @NewOrleansMag

People to Watch

We define People to Watch as those who are doing something new and interesting in our community – whether they’re new faces or known faces moving in a new direction. Each year we highlight more than 30 selectees whose stories you should be aware of, since they’re likely to be part of our city’s future.

Do you know someone we should include? If so, go to MyNewOrleans. com/NominatePTW and let us know who and why!

Pinterest: Pinterest.com/NewOrleansMag Sign up for our newsletters at MyNewOrleans.com/Newsletter

Openings for “Cool Jobs” Do you know someone who has the type of job that not only makes the rest of us jealous, but that most of us might not even know exists?

We’re looking for the coolest jobs in New Orleans. Do you know someone who gets to play with toys, taste chocolate or drink beer all day? Do you know someone whose job is even cooler than that?

Go to MyNewOrleans.com/NominateCoolJob and fill out the form so this October we can highlight the most enviable gigs in New Orleans!

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meet our sales team Kate Sanders Sales Manager (504) 830-7216 Kate@myneworleans.com

Jonee Daigle-Ferrand Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7257 Jonee@myneworleans.com

Lisa Picone Love Senior Account Executive (504) 830-7263 Lisa@myneworleans.com

Jessica Marasco Account Executive (504) 830-7220 JessicaM@myneworleans.com

claire cummings Account Executive (504) 830-7250 Claire@myneworleans.com

Colleen Monaghan Vice President of Sales (504) 830-7215 Colleen@myneworleans.com

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SPEAKING OUT

THE MONUMENTS CONTROVERSY A NEW IDEA

H

eaven knows there are bigger issues facing our community, but the monuments controversy is creating tension where it did not exist. We do not question the sincerity of Mayor Mitch Landrieu for, in effect, mandating that four Civil War-related monuments should be removed. We do argue, however, that the reaction and strong feeling shows that the issue runs deeper than anyone might have imagined. This is not as much about race as it is about perceived government intrusion. Some people see the monuments as symbols of slavery (though Robert E. Lee was opposed to it and General Beauregard would later in his career advocate integrated schools and public places); others see them as part of the backdrop to the city’s history.

For that reason, we urge that the current ordinance calling for the monuments’ removal be shelved. (The ordinance is based on a shaky verbal premise anyway. The monuments may be controversial, but they are not “nuisances” as the ordinance describes them.)

Instead, a Blue Ribbon committee should be created and given a year to develop a comprehensive monuments plan which will ultimately

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have to be approved by the council and mayor.

Truth is, there was no genuine debate about the monuments before the council vote was taken.

What goes on at council hearings is less about intellectual discourse and more resembling mud wrestling.

Blue Ribbon committees can work effectively, as was seen in the 1992 Carnival desegregation ordinance crisis, which was far testier than the monuments issue has ever been. Working with City Hall, the biracial committee developed a compromise ordinance that has worked successfully.

Much of the effort to save the monuments has been steered by a nonprofit group, the Monumental Task Committee, Inc. The group has worked to care for and protect all of the city’s monuments.

We concur with its four points about the current controversy: • It (the task force) does not support the removal of any city monuments, especially those that have graced the city’s landscape for over a century.

• It does not consider any of the city’s monuments to be “nuisances.”

• It encourages the installation of new monuments to forgotten heroes or historic events.

• It supports the installation of interpretive plaques to aid in the ongoing discussion that puts monuments in a more current context.

To the question of racial imbalance among local monuments, a task force member suggests that the

answer should be not to take away existing monuments, but to add new ones.

One idea is to erect a monument at the Desaix Boulevard traffic circle near the Fair Grounds, perhaps to Allen Toussaint or as a tribute to Mardi Gras Indians or Louis Armstrong. Standing near to the Fair Grounds, the statue would point the way to the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival.

Something all of those represented by monuments have in common is that they all stood for a cause.

Right or wrong, they had a voice to be heard. It is in the tradition of citizenship to speak out. Though six of the seven council members voted to remove the monuments, we sensed they were not happy with the issue. Polls show their near unanimous vote certainly did not match the beliefs of the city at large. There needs to be an orderly process where more analysis can be done, more voices heard. We are not talking about just screaming to the TV cameras or claiming racial discrimination and oppression, but developing a plan that is fair to our history. With the coming of the city’s Tricentennial the task is even more worthy.

If the day comes that the monuments are removed there will be international media attention, especially as the best known of the landmarks, the Lee statue, is taken away. Some will see the action as a victory for political correctness; others will see it as the reaction of a city that failed to grasp the complexity of its history. n

AN ORIGINAL ©MIKE LUCKOVICH CARTOON FOR NEW ORLEANS MAGAZINE

myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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JULIA STREET /

WITH POYDRAS THE PARROT

TH E PUR S UIT TO AN S W E R E T E RNAL Q U E S TION S

in the park. Do you happen to know anything about this intriguing little building?

I have wondered about it for years and I’m hoping you may be able to tell be something about its purpose and history.

Thank you, Rachel Hemming New Orleans

Dear Julia, When I was little, my grandmother and I would often go to City Park to feed the ducks and ride the pedal boats behind the casino. Around the place where we’d rent the boats, there was a little roped-off bridge that led to an island containing a little red brick structure. My grandmother told me it looked like a dovecote, but I never saw doves

Things have changed a bit since your childhood.

The boat rental dock has changed location and the bridge leading to the island behind the casino is no longer closed to pedestrians.

Felix J. Dreyfous, then vice president of City Park’s board of commissioners, donated the structure in 1928. His son, architect F. Julius Dreyfous, designed the building. Officially known as The Columbier de Carol, it honors Dreyfous’ first granddaughter, Carol Vera Dreyfous, who was said to have been quite fond of pigeons.

The Columbier de Carol resembles a plantation dovecote and was built to house homing pigeons; it replaced an earlier pigeonniere. According to New

Orleans States’ coverage of Dreyfous’ donation, the residents were to be “Belgian and high-class pigeons,” but less upscale birds appear to have taken their place. During a recent trip to see the Columbier de Carol, I saw no such “high-class” birds in residence – just a few common pigeons and a big mama goose who had built a nest on the floor.

In 2005, members of the Dreyfous family made possible the restoration of The Columbier de Carol.

Dear Julia, Shortly after graduation from L. E. Rabouin Jr. & Sr. Vocational High School in 1958, I commenced active duty in the Navy.

I believe it was in the previous year that I attended a party at the residence of Virginia Richmond on Richmond Place.

Virginia appeared somewhere in the debutante scene (1956-’57) and was a very sweet gal.

Now, my memory gets rather fuzzy but I believe that her family owned the Richmond Drug Store, which

Win a restaurant gift certificate

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Here is a chance to eat, drink and have your curiosity satiated all at once. Send Julia a question. If we use it, you’ll be eligible for a monthly drawing for a tour and Creole breakfast for two at Degas House or a Jazz Brunch for two at The Court of Two Sisters. To take part, send your question to: Julia Street, c/o New Orleans Magazine, 110 Veterans Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 or email: Errol@MyNewOrleans.com. This month’s winners are: William C. Bradshaw, Apple Valley, CA; and Jan Gardner, Slidell.

JUNE 2016 / myneworleans.com

cheryl gerber photograph

I believe no longer exists.

Are you able to provide any clarifications on the relationship of the Richmond Drug Store, Virginia Richmond and Richmond Place?

After these many years – over half a century – I’m unable to separate what may be factual and what may be merely coincidental.

Anything you can provide would be very helpful and very much appreciated.

I enjoy your columns, and from all appearances it seems that a good many readers also enjoy them.

William C. Bradshaw Apple Valley, CA Your memory is better than you claim. You have the basic facts straight.

Virginia Richmond lived at No. 3 Richmond Place and was a debutante in the 1960’61 season. Her parents were John Randolph Richmond Sr., who died when Virginia was very young, and Thelma Warrene Walsdorf.

Her late father was the pharmacist who ran the Richmond Drug Store at 5944 Freret St. He was also involved in real estate and was connected to the Richmond Building at State and Freret streets.

The family’s residence on a street which bears their surname appears to have been coincidental. The residential park that extends from Loyola Street to Freret Street was named for Marie Richmond Favrot, a native of Savannah, Georgia and the wife of attorney Henri Louis Favrot.

In 1911, Architect Robert Spencer Soule built for Martin H. Manion No. 3 Richmond Place, the house that would later become Virginia Richmond’s childhood home.

Walter S. Stern later acquired the property, living there for

about 30 years before the Richmonds moved there in the 1940s.

Dear Julia, Many years ago, when I was a student at St. Dominic’s Catholic School, I would walk home down Harrison Avenue toward Canal Boulevard. Just past the school was a strip of businesses, one of which was a tiny space called Drago’s (pronounced Drai-goes) Bar and Grill. I remember it vividly because one of my friends would stick her head in occasionally to tell her dad hello – but that’s another story! It wasn’t much more than a small bar and two or three tables.

I moved away, and years later I began hearing about this fabulous new restaurant called Drago’s (pronounced Drah-goes). Are these two businesses one and the same?

And why might the pronunciation have changed? I’d like to think that they’re related, and that Drago’s is just one more example of the American Dream coming true.

Jan Gardner Slidell Yes, the restaurants have a family connection.

The first Drago’s, located at 789 Harrison Ave., was operated by Drago Batinich and his wife Gloria Cvitanovich.

The original location opened in mid-1952 at 837 Harrison Ave., which had been Benny’s Restaurant. By ’61, Drago’s relocated just up the street at 789 Harrison Ave., where it remained about 10 years.

For a while, Gloria’s brother, Drago Cvitanovich was employed in his brother-in-law’s Harrison Avenue restaurant there before striking out, in ’69, to establish his own place at 3232 N. Arnoult St., in Metairie. n myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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the beat MARQUEE / PERSONA / BIZ / EDUCATION / HEALTH / CRIME FIGHTING / CHRONICLES

persona pg. 26

“New Orleans is such a different kind of destination – it’s one kind of destination for every journey. It is so much to so many different people. ...

It’s an environment that’s conducive to recruitment and what we want to do.” – John Nicklow, President of University of New Orleans

greg miles PHOTOGRAPH

THE BEAT / MARQUEE

OUR TOP PICKS FOR june EVENTS

BY LAUREN LABORDE

Watch What Happens Live

Essential Viewing

Music and Lyrics

Anderson Cooper and Andy Cohen might at first seem like opposites, but anyone who’s seen the CNN anchor in a giggle fit knows he has a silly side, and Cohen asks the tough questions of his network’s “Real Housewives.”

Anderson, who provided emotional coverage of Hurricane Katrina for his show “Anderson Cooper 360,” and Cohen, Bravo executive producer and host of the nightly boozesoaked talk show “Watch What Happens Live,” are longtime friends, and they’ll host an “intimate evening” at the Sanger on June 24. The event, in which the two will interview each other and take questions from the audience, promises to be an “interactive look behind the scenes of pop culture and world events.” Information, SaengerNOLA.com

His performance at this year’s Grammy’s made everyone else’s look like a dress rehearsal in comparison. Kendrick Lamar stole the show and that year in music with his politically charged magnum opus To Pimp a Butterfly.

He headlines Essence Fest (June 20-July 3) along with Mariah Carey and Maxwell in the Superdome.

Information, Essence.com/festival

With new artistic director Michael McKelvey at the helm, the 2016 season of Tulane Summer Lyric fittingly has a theme of adventure and exploration. This year’s season includes the biblical Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (June 16-19), the funny flapper musical Thoroughly Modern Millie (July 7-10) and The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn-based Big River (July 28-31).

Information, SummerLyric.tulane.edu

CALENDAR through June 9. Wicked, Saenger Theatre. Information, SaengerNOLA.com

June 11. Fleur de Tease, One Eyed Jacks. Information, OneEyedJacks.net

June 2 and 9. Jazz in the Park, Armstrong Park. Information, pufap.org

June 12. Weezer and Panic! At The Disco in concert, Champions Square. Information, Champions-Square.com

June 4-5. New Orleans Oyster Festival, Woldenberg Park. Information, NewOrleansOysterFestival.org June 1-19. Southern Rep Theater presents Colossal, UNO Performing Arts Center – Robert E. Nims Theatre. Information, SouthernRep.com

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June 11-12. Creole Tomato Festival, French Market.

Information, FrenchMarket.org June 13. WWE Raw, Smoothie King Center.

SPOTLIGHT

Writing’s on the Wall Ogden’s summer exhibition and fundraiser highlights the people’s art form

I

t is an unusual thing to feature at a fancy museum gala: graffiti. But Ogden Museum of Southern Art is doing exactly that with this year’s Magnolia Ball (June 11), which celebrates the museum’s exhibition, “Top Mob: A History of New Orleans Graffiti” (June 6-Nov. 6). The show centers on the New Orleans graffiti krewe Top Mob, exploring graffiti’s role in drawing attention to urban blight and gentrification. Guest curators Gabriel Alexander and Nicole Hershey talk about the exhibition.

What are some things people should look out for in this show?

Nicole Hershey: It is remarkable because it’s the first of its kind in

New Orleans. Never before has a retrospective of an entire krewe been on display in a museum context. In addition to a collaborative exterior mural on the side wall of the Ogden, the exhibition will also feature a narrative photographic timeline showcasing the evolution of style within Top Mob, as well as various other writers from the region as it relates to New Orleans. Each krewe member will have their own “hall of fame” piece inside the museum containing work representative of their personal style.

Gabriel Alexander: In addition to all of the local artists, we have artists coming from Atlanta, Los Angeles and New York, all of whom got their start here in New Orleans.

What makes NOLA graffiti distinctive? GA: Top Mob

was established in 1984. In the ’80s, New York graffiti and the film Style Wars made a big impression, and in the early ‘90s Los Angeles style was a major influence.

The classic NOLA style is legible letterforms that flow together with a funky ease. A similar style can be recognized throughout the Southeast, especially in Atlanta and Miami.

What got you interested in graffiti? NH: I’ve always

enjoyed street art but never knew how to ‘read’ graffiti.

In 2014, I was involved with ExhibitBE, where I met many writers whose tags I saw around the city. Once I started to understand the code, I was privy to a dialogue that surrounds us but is foreign to most. Because it can happen anywhere, anytime and get covered at a moment’s notice, there’s a certain excitement and urgency about graffiti that doesn’t exist in many visual art forms.

Graffiti is still misunderstood by most people. What does it mean to you? GA:

Graffiti by its nature is socially rebellious and the message is in the act itself.

People wonder why or how the artists go to such lengths just to write their ‘name,’ while keeping their identities mostly anonymous. It is in a sense one of the most free forms of visual expression because it doesn’t have boundaries or require permission. Graffiti adds color to the landscape, bringing attention to urban blight, and plays a part in the gentrification of metropolitan neighborhoods. It’s an outlet for voices and talent that might otherwise go unheard and unseen.

For more information on “Top Mob” and the Magnolia Ball, visit OgdenMuseum.org. n

Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com

Information, JazzAndHeritage.org

June 14. Selena Gomez and DNCE in concert, Smoothie King Center.

Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com

June 19. R. Kelly in concert, Smoothie King Center.

Information, SmoothieKingCenter.com

June 17. An Evening With Bianca Del Rio, Joy Theater.

Information, TheJoyTheater.com

June 25. Whoopi Goldberg, Saenger Theatre. Information, SaengerNOLA.com

June 17-19. New Orleans Pride Festival, various locations.

Information, PrideNewOrleans.com

July 4. Go 4th On the River, Riverfront. Information, Go4thOnTheRiver.com

June 18-19. Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, Armstrong Park.

cheryl gerber PHOTOGRAPH

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THE BEAT / PERSONA

scene of the state’s other public universities, it’s rigorous and affordable – and in the face of crushing student debt and a tough economy, UNO could be positioned to be the modern, streamlined university.

Q: What about UNO appealed to you? The

opportunity for growth, the opportunity for partnership with the industry and community members here and others outside the region, and the opportunity to grow our research enterprises I think are unmatched, really, when I was looking at institutions – and I was looking at other institutions and positions at a variety of places. In addition, the culture, the food – it’s New Orleans. It’s just a fantastic place to be. Everyone’s so welcoming. How do you say no to an opportunity like this?

Q: What needs to happen to get UNO to

John Nicklow President, University of New Orleans

BY LAUREN LABORDE

I

t is obvious John Nicklow isn’t afraid of a challenge. After serving a brief stint as provost of the University of New Orleans (before that he was vice president of academic affairs), he was named president of the university in March. It was a controversial pick; with enrollment falling and state budget

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cuts looming large, many thought a CEO type would be better for the job.

But as a former civil engineer for the federal government, Nicklow is a problem solver, and he’s hoping to boost UNO’s reputation as a research institution and bolster enrollment. While UNO doesn’t have the Greek life or football

be a great research institution? We need to increase our enrollment. That’s just the highest priority. What we need to do is let more people know, outside this region in particular but also in the region, what a great asset this is. It’s a high quality, rigorous education, and when you come here you get a job – a good job. Our programs are nationally known, world-renowned in many cases. A lot of folks in New Orleans don’t know that. It was interesting to me; I came from Illinois, and I knew the University of New Orleans and a number of its programs. We need to get that message out. I don’t think enough (people) across the country realize we’re here, that we’re better than ever and there’s potential here. And then (we need to) diversify our enrollment portfolio to include out of state as well as local learners, adult learners and online learners.

My first three, four weeks as president I’ve been meeting with a lot of community and business leaders. They’re willing to work with us. We have great internship opportunities for us, they’re willing to support us financially and otherwise.

Q: Why higher education? You were a civil engineer before this. I missed teaching, I

greg miles PHOTOGRAPH

Occupation: President, University of New Orleans Age: 46 Family: Wife, Stacy; son, Ethan; dog, Sienna Favorite movie: Anything by Mel Brooks Favorite book: Leading Change by John Kotter, all Tom Clancy books Favorite TV show: “Big Bang Theory” Favorite New Orleans restaurant: Katie’s Favorite vacation spot: The Outer Banks, North Carolina

missed research and learning at a research level. And to be honest with you, I got a little bored. I wanted to do more.

That’s when I finished my Ph.D. and entered academia.

I spent 17 years at Southern Illinois University; I started as an assistant professor and worked my way up. Every time I got ready to leave I had another opportunity. I ended up as Provost.

Q: What were the chal-

lenges and goals you faced there? Challenges, goals – they’re the same thing. They point to the same thing. Enrollment was on a decade-long slide. Research funding was on a slide. We weren’t fundraising enough or partnering with community enough. Kind of sounds familiar.

At the end, we had the two largest freshmen classes in 20 years, and an 8 point increase in retention. It takes a couple of years to turn total enrollment around, but we did that and saw the first increase in total enrollment in about a decade.

New Orleans is such a different kind of destination – it’s one kind of destination for every journey. It is so much to so many different people. And

I don’t know many institutions that sit on a lakefront and have this wonderful view.

It’s an environment that’s conducive to recruitment and what we want to do.

Q: What’s the future of

higher education? People are more concerned about debt and the job market.

We really live in interesting times. I guess to put in context: One is, very seldom do you see economic growth of a region without education, especially higher education. So I think that’s a great opportunity for an investment – over and over it shows return on the investment. We could also talk about during the recession, obviously unemployment rate skyrocketed, but it was lowest for those with degrees. Based on exit surveys from our Fall 2015 graduates, about 80 percent of our graduates either had a job lined up, were enrolled in graduate school or had entered military service upon graduation from UNO. If I’m an investor, that’s a pretty good rate of return.

We have increasing student debt across the county, but this is why institutions like UNO remain really affordable.

With or without TOPs, we’re still one of the most affordable options for quality education.

True confession I lived on a Navajo reservation for about three, three-and-a-half months as a grad student. It was really eye-opening … they even tried to teach me to wrestle a steer.

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THE BEAT / BIZ

Ship Shape Port remains an economic powerhouse

By Kathy Finn

A

t a time when technology and other “new economy” jobs continue to expand and garner business headlines for helping to diversify local commerce, a nod to a more traditional industry may be in order.

For decades before New Orleans began to gain respect as nurturer of young entrepreneurial talent, the oil and gas industry, tourism and maritime commerce were the primary drivers of local economic activity.

Today, that three-legged economic stool continues to support tens of thousands of local jobs, even as growth in “sexier” sectors, such as video game development and film production, make news.

Of the city’s trio of traditional industries, maritime commerce is the one that tends to grab the least attention. But the fact is, cargo moving through the area via the Mississippi River and a host of linked transportation modes remains a powerful driver of business growth.

The Port of New Orleans is the modern-era successor to commercial encampments that early

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explorers built on the lower Mississippi River.

The river commerce they started formed the cornerstone for development of a city called La Nouvelle Orleans, and today New Orleans’ maritime legacy lives on in cargo trade that ranges from grain and rubber to oil and petrochemicals.

Figures compiled by the University of New Orleans show that foreign-trade cargo through the Port of New Orleans jumped 27 percent in 2014, the most recent year for which complete figures are available.

Both imports and exports grew by doubledigit percentages in that period, with exports climbing 38 percent.

While the local port has set many records in terms of total tons of cargo moving across its docks, most of that tonnage in decades past derived from bulk cargoes such as grain and petroleum, which filled ships but, because of automated loading processes, didn’t necessarily generate many jobs for cargo handlers.

As the port shifted its focus to goods carried in the boxcar-like containers that have come to

predominate in modern cargo transportation, both jobs and revenue have grown.

Last year, for the first time in its history, the port handled more than a halfmillion containers, which moved between ships, trains and trucks for transportation to and from the interior of the country and ports around the globe.

The New Orleans port in 2015 set a 14-year high in cargo volume, and Port President Gary LaGrange cited banana imports, and paper and chemical exports as sources of growth.

Concern arose in recent months as to future cargo growth when the Chiquita Brands company, which two years ago returned its banana trade to local docks after a decades-long absence, began making noises about relocating its cargohandling again. At press time, port officials were still trying to ascertain the intentions of the company, which was acquired by a Brazilian business last year.

Meanwhile, the port hopes to continue tapping into the global trend toward increased container cargo and larger ships that can carry thousands more of the big steel boxes than ever before.

Because the containers are easily off loaded from ship to trucks and rail carriers for fast movement to their end users, a huge variety of goods

cheryl gerber photo

LaGrange to sign off in 2017 A leader in New Orleans maritime commerce business has announced plans to sail into the sunset next year. Port of New Orleans President and CEO Gary LaGrange, who has held that position for the past 15 years, will retire in April 2017.

Coming to the port after heading up the Port of Baton Rouge, LaGrange led the local operations through the crucial rebuilding period after Hurricane Katrina.

The port’s board of directors announced that Brandy Christian, who now is chief operating officer, will succeed LaGrange.

– ranging from food and clothing to washing machines and even automobiles – can move with surprising speed between far-flung destinations.

In New Orleans, this trend has led to the development of a new cargo-handling complex called the Mississippi River Intermodal Terminal.

With a rail yard crisscrossed by a few thousand feet of track and featuring rubber-tired gantry cranes that lift and move the heavy containers from one carrier to another, the terminal was designed for the future, as it’s equipped to handle five times as much cargo as the port is currently handling.

A four-acre concrete marshalling yard allows ample space for trucks and equipment to move around the site.

“The new terminal will facilitate the movement of marine and rail cargo, stimulate

international commerce and enhance safety,” LaGrange said in dedicating the facility earlier this year.

He says the terminal also brought the port increased storage capacity, with nearly 400 “parking” slots, each of which can accommodate loaded containers stacked five high.

By replacing an older rail yard with one that shifted the tracks away from the waterfront, the port opened marshalling space that will enhance the planned expansion of the Napoleon Avenue Container Terminal, which is the port’s flagship cargohandling complex.

In addition to setting local records in container cargo, the port has recently reached new heights in passenger transportation. Local cruise ship terminals handled more than 1 million passengers in 2015, marking the fifth consecutive year of breaking records.

The figures “illustrate how popular the port and the city of New Orleans are with cruise passengers throughout the nation,” LaGrange says.

Miami-based Carnival Cruise Line boosted its local capacity by a third in April when the Carnival Triumph replaced an older ship and joined the Carnival Dream in offering four- and five-day cruises from New Orleans.

Other carriers with New Orleans-based itineraries include Norwegian Cruise Line, American Queen Steamboat Company and American Cruise Line, which has added a third riverboat to its homeported fleet in the city.

The Port of New Orleans ranks sixth among U.S. cruise ports, with industry spending in Louisiana totaling $400 million and supporting more than 8,000 jobs, according to research by Cruise Lines International Association. n

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THE BEAT / EDUCATION

“Hope” in a Different Language Living the Esperanza experience

by Dawn Wilson

T

wo dozen kindergarten students studied on mini-sized laptops at Esperanza Charter School the school day before LEAP testing started in April, oblivious to the rigors of the testing to come.

They greeted visitors with the heart-melting smiles of the innocent and continued with their late afternoon treat of interacting with reading- and math-focused computer programs. As per state requirements, the education materials that typically decorate walls and bulletin boards in schoolrooms everywhere were hidden from view by heavy paper. Put up in advance of the next Monday’s testing, the paper prevents any accidental or intentional hints of answers for LEAP questions. The individual scores for all grades influence everything from teacher and principal job security to overall school survival.

Most of the children who played reading and

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math games at Esperanza that April day had more in common than high stakes testing. The majority of them are of Hispanic origin, some born in the United States, some recent immigrants from violent and poverty prone Central American countries. For its enrollment of 518, Esperanza has the large percentage of Hispanic elementary public school students in the city, at 67 percent, says Mickey Landry, executive director of the Choice Foundation, Esperanza’s charter operator.

Each year the school must jump the LEAP hurdle along with all public schools, an even tougher challenge for a school with a majority of non-native speakers. “Hope,” esperanza in English, is an apt name for a school that has spent its entire incarnation educating some of the least prepared students.

Frequently, new enrollees come to the classroom speaking no English. Some have

never been inside a school.

This school year, two students with no schooling, fourth and a fifth graders in age, showed up in August, says Nicole Saulny, head of school.

“They had never seen a pencil,” Saulny says.

For most, learning to speak English poses little problem, naturally hot-wired as children are for learning. With the help of seven English as a second language teachers, by spring of each academic year the youngest ones are conversing. By the next year, Saulny says, they can read English.

But writing – that’s a different story.

And with the introduction of tougher curriculum standards that focus on writing skills, LEAP tests are double trouble for non-native speakers. Even math requires writing skills.

“It’s very difficult to take non-native speakers,” Saulny says, “and have them do well on a test.” cheryl gerber photo

The state gives a school a year to work with such students before their LEAP scores are counted toward School Performance Scores, Saulny says. But an extra year isn’t enough time to prepare them for the tests, which are aligned with Common Core standards. She says it takes five to seven years to become fluent with new tests.

In 2014, when Central American violence and crop failure sent unaccompanied children fleeing to the United States, New Orleans experienced a large influx of immigrant children. Federal law requires public schools to take all children without question.

As a result, the Hispanic enrollment at Esperanza, already well known in the city’s Latino population, increased.

Now the Hispanic enrollment is 37 percent higher than 2010, when the school’s charter was reassigned to the Choice Foundation, Landry says. At the time of the turnover the school was “failing” by state standards, and its 30 percent Hispanic enrollment scared off any competition to acquire its charter, he says.

Landry and his team proved up to the challenge. Esperanza was the Choice Foundation’s first “turnaround” school.

Despite the language barriers, by 2013-’14, the once “failing” school had earned a B letter grade, Louisiana Department of Education figures show.

Then the immigrant wave hit. By 2014-’15, the school’s state grade fell to a C, considered average, but not bad considering the situation. Not only did the school have more non-native speakers, it was the first year schools were measured on tougher standards for each grade level.

Students who don’t speak English when they enroll are assigned to the “newcomer” classroom, which is taught by

Margarita Rueb, a bilingual teacher whose father immigrated to the United States from Chile.

On Earth Day, April 22, Rueb taught the newcomers a lesson on the effects of pollution. The lesson included learning new vocabulary words such as environment, pollution and harm. Rueb wrote the English words on the board with the Spanish translation underneath them.

Many teachers and staff have backgrounds that have prepared them to meet the difficulties that immigrant children face. The school’s social worker Annette Allison, for example, grew up in South Texas, close to the Mexican border.

Now she counsels immigrant children, many of whom are working out cultural and relationship adjustment issues. Often they’re adjusting to a parent who has been absent in their lives for years.

Others suffer from post-traumatic stress stemming from events that happened during their transit from countries such as Honduras, El Salvador and Guatemala.

“Some bad things happened to them,” Allison says.

One child refused to eat Goldfish, a snack Allison says she often hands out to her charges, because it was a reminder of a holding facility that had distributed the same snack.

“There are these little triggers that take them back to that moment when they were alone and abandoned,” she says.

Allison counsels the parents as well as the children to help work out such traumas.

She also holds group sessions with children with similar problems. Because they feel safe at school, many dread summer and regular holidays, she says.

“I think our kids feel really loved,” Allison says. “We treat them like our own.” n

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THE BEAT / HEALTHBEAT

Inflammation information

I

nflammation affects everyone. Whether you have an autoimmune disease or are affected in other ways such as dental issues, heart disease or ADD/ADHD, inflammation is a part of your life. Many have heard of inflammation reducing or anti-inflammatory diets but don’t have a true grasp of inflammation and its causes and effects. I live with an autoimmune disease rooted in ineffective chronic inflammation, and I don’t even have a full knowledge of what I’m dealing with every day. Time Magazine’s health department defines inflammation as, “the body’s response to outside threats like stress, infection or toxic chemicals. When the immune system senses one of these dangers, it responds by activating proteins meant to protect cells and tissues.”

Normally, inflammation is a good thing in our bodies (like when it’s working to fight a fever or sore throat) as part of our body’s immune response to help us heal. However, if immune cells overreact we could be in an uncomfortable situation. While research on anti-inflammatory diets is still being conducted, it’s widely suggested that what we put (and don’t put) into our bodies affects the “bad” inflammation. Making sure to consume a fair share of fruits, veggies and omega-3s is usually at the core of all suggestions – and the main fare found in a Mediterranean diet (stay tuned next month for my update on my foray into a Mediterranean diet) – as well as staying away from things such as sugar and processed foods. The Mediterranean diet, as well as Dr. Weil’s anti-inflammatory diet, are both consistently ranked high for U.S. News & World Report’s Best Diet Rankings for their nutrition and anti-inflammatory properties.

The Arthritis Foundation provides a lot of help when it comes to dietary restrictions. They have supplied a list of things to avoid when it comes to inflammation: Sugar, saturated fats, trans fats, omega-6 fatty acids, refined carbohydrates, MSG (mono-sodium glutamate), gluten, casein, aspartame and alcohol.

On the opposite end, Health.com points out a few key foods that are thought to help combat inflammation: Fatty fish, whole grains, dark leafy greens, nuts, ginger, turmeric, garlic, onions and olive oil.

– Kelly Massicot

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33

THE BEAT / CRIME FIGHTING

The Gray Metal Badge Perspectives from a prison guard family

By Allen Johnson Jr.

R

etired Louisiana corrections officer Stan A. Miller leans on the doorframe of his modest home, a do-able commute to the state maximum-security prison for men at Angola.

Inside his wife, Kathren Miller, who worked as a security officer at Angola for nine years, is recovering from her latest chemotherapy treatment for her cancer. Their 18-year-old son Joshua, a bright, cheerful young man with muscular dystrophy, has sequestered himself in his room Outside, Mr. Miller listens to a visitor’s questions about his brother, Angola corrections officer Brent Miller, a 23-year-old newlywed murdered by inmates more than four decades ago.

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On the morning of April 17, 1972, prisoners armed with homemade knives ambushed Officer Miller as he sat drinking coffee with an inmate in a prison dormitory.

Prison staff found his lifeless body on the floor. A coroner counted 32 stab wounds.

Four inmates were implicated in Miller’s murder.

Three have since died, including one exonerated by another prison officer’s alibi.

Today, 44 years later, the criminal case against the last of his brother’s accused killers is coming to a final, ragged end. +++ Hours earlier – over the furious objections of the Miller family – the only surviving inmate-suspect, now 69, pleaded “no contest” to a lesser charge of manslaughter, part of a plea deal with prosecutors that precludes his third trial for the murder. With the accused killer’s release after 45 years in prison and decades of “solitary confinement” in a 6-by-9-foot disciplinary cell, the international media attention to Brent Miller’s murder will soon be gone.

What will endure is a family’s powerful need to have a loved one’s life defined not by the cruelty of his death, but by the promise of his life.

Stan Miller excuses himself, steps inside the house and returns with a framed picture of his brother.

“Brent was a people person,” he says proudly, cradling his brother’s photograph in his left hand. “He

was loved by all.” The blackand-white photograph from the late 1960s shows Brent Miller as a handsome, standout wide receiver for the West Feliciana Parish high football team at St. Francisville. In the picture, he’s running. His eyes follow the ball into his large outstretched hands. In the background stands an old two-pole goal post.

Like all of Huey and Jewel Miller’s seven children, Brent Miller was born at Lallie Kemp hospital at Independence and grew up around thousands of convicts serving time for murder, rape and robbery at the Louisiana State Penitentiary at Angola. +++ In 1955, Huey Lee Miller Sr. took a job as an agri-business supervisor, overseeing row crops, hogs, cattle, horses and a cannery on the 18,000-acre prison.

The Miller family lived on a hill overlooking Angola, above the warden’s house.

They then moved to “the B-Line,” a special neighborhood built for families of Angola employees on the prison grounds. “Brent was one of seven children, six boys and my sister (Wanda), who can fight like a man,” Stan Miller says.

Brent Miller and his siblings attended Tunica Elementary school about four miles from Angola’s front gate. He excelled at football at St. Francisville, playing wide receiver for the parish’s only high school.

“They say he was one of

the fastest white men you’d ever seen,” Stan Miller smiles.

Brent Miller transferred to Centerville High at Woodville, Mississippi, for his senior year.

He earned a football scholarship to the University of Texas. His grades were no match for his football play, and he returned to rural West Feliciana Parish.

Like other rural parishes in remote parts of Louisiana, a state prison was one of the places where a young man could get a job. A gray, metal Department of Corrections badge, the kind Brent Miller and other Angola security officers wore 44 years ago, hangs from a corner of the picture frame.

“When we had Brent’s funeral, we had numerous amounts of flowers from the families of inmates at Angola. He was popular. There was a lot of respect for Brent among the inmate population.”

A recent state Attorney General’s investigative report on Miller’s murder acknowledged racial tensions in the prison the year of his murder, and the probe focused on two inmatesuspects who co-founded the Angola chapter of the Black Panther Party. “During this time, there was well-documented hostility between militant inmates and corrections staff,” stated the report.

After Brent Miller’s murder, Stan Miller says he and other family members who worked at the prison remained professional. “We never held the race card against any of the black inmates at Angola because of this situation. You can’t. You have to be professional.”

Professionalism can be a thin buffer against grief.

“My older brother, Huey Lee Miller Sr., was a corrections officer at Angola at the time.

He transferred to Dixon Correctional Institute about a year after Brent died.”

Heartbroken, their father,

Huey Miller Sr. left Angola in 1975.

Stan Miller said his years as a security officer at the prison became more difficult after Brent Miller’s death.

“I see the hills we hunted in. For 20 years, it was a constant reminder to me. I will never forget when I had to go to Tunica Elementary to break the news to my little brother and sister.” Stan Miller says he doesn’t go back to Angola often, though he still has relatives among the 1,700 employees who work at the prison housing as many as 5,000 inmates.

Darkness falls, he invites a visitor into the house and continues.

Not long ago, he says, he was stopped and challenged at the front gate to the prison by an officer who didn’t know him or his family.

It is odd to call a prison “home,” he says, “We used to say, ‘It’s the only home you can’t go back to.’”

His stepson, Joshua, recalls returning to Angola’s “B-line” neighborhood late at night and seeing the guard tower and bright white lights at the front gate. “I’d say – ‘Home, sweet, home!’”

Today, now that his brother’s homicide case is finally closed, a visitor asks Stan Miller how he and his family will go on. “Day for day, with prayer – lots of prayer,” he says.

“There’s power in prayer,” says Joshua, whose unused wheelchair sits folded against a wall of the living room.

“Prayer and laughter.” +++ State officials re-named Angola’s “Camp J Road” as “Brent Miller Road” to honor the slain officer. The road runs from an inmate medical center past Pt. Lookout Cemetery, the final resting place for inmates who die at Angola. n

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THE BEAT / Chronicles

Writers’ Beginnings The power of the (high school) press

BY CAROLYN KOLB

T

his March, Loyola University hosted the annual Tom Bell Silver Scribe competition for area high school newspapers, begun in 1975 by the late journalism professor.

Many New Orleans high school students who write for a high school publication are getting an early start on a career.

New Orleans has always produced a bumper crop of writers – admittedly, some of whom never published in high school. Author Tom Sancton was a student at Ben Franklin when “we were still in the old courthouse on Carrollton Avenue – and we didn’t have a school paper.”

Novelist and playwright Sheila Bosworth notes that the Academy of the Sacred Heart had no newspaper when she was a student.

Some students went straight to mainstream media. Nick Lemann, a staff writer at the The New Yorker and former Dean of Columbia University’s School of Journalism, says, “I published my first magazine article in April 1972, when I was a

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senior at Country Day, in the late lamented Vieux Carré Courier. It was a long report on all the private schools in New Orleans. … That definitely changed my life: There has never been a moment since then when I wasn’t actively at work on a magazine article. Including right now.”

Lemann’s sister, novelist Nancy Lemann recounted an early piece in Country Day’s Eh! La Bas newspaper “about watching the kindergartners walk across campus and conjuring a perhaps far-fetched and somewhat elaborate comparison of them to tiny drunkards … I felt that my grandmother didn’t approve of it – which is perhaps quite understandable.”

That fanciful description might predict Nancy Lemann’s adult writing, including novels Malaise and The Fiery Pantheon. However, Robert Peyton, Haute Plates blogger and Restaurant Reporter for New Orleans Magazine, got his high school writing experience with a humor column in The Halo newspaper at St. Martin’s.

Charles Ferguson, former editor

of The Times-Picayune, wrote for the Silver and Blue newspaper while at Fortier, as did fellow student John Kennedy Toole, author of A Confederacy of Dunces.

Ferguson, who also did some sports reporting for The Times-Picayune, admits, “I guess my greatest journalistic coup was that, when I was a sophomore, our Civics class went to Washington to see President Dwight Eisenhower inaugurated.

I asked the New Orleans Item if they wanted me to cover it. They said they already had a reporter, but if I wanted to do some articles they would run them, and they did!”

Back in 1915, Newman student Alfred Adair Watters (a career Marine and briefly police superintendent of New Orleans) was sports editor of The Pioneer, which began as a general school publication. It is now Newman’s literary magazine, possibly the oldest in the country.

Newman’s newspaper, The Greenie, began in 1954 when some seniors, including Tom Lewis, decided the school needed a paper. Lewis’s son, author Michael Lewis, is a Newman alum but did not write for The Greenie Angus Lind, longtime columnist at The TimesPicayune and now a columnist at The Tulanian, began by writing about sports at Newman for The Greenie (and admits to a “total love of newspapers and journalism as a teenager”).

Not all high school writers stick to journalism.

Michael Edward Saulny, retired in Georgia after an insurance career, was 1964 editor of the St. Augustine High School newspaper. According to Saulny, the school thought he needed some extracurricular activities. “I wasn’t an athlete, and you can’t just up and decide you want to be in the band. So, I did the newspaper.”

Later at St. Augustine, Dean Baquet, now Executive Editor of The New York Times, “would shut himself in his room to write tales of drug kingpins for the fiction section of the newspaper” according to his brother Terry Baquet (of The Times-Picayune) in a 2005 story in The Los Angeles Times. Both Baquets would win Pulitzer prizes for journalism: Terry for Katrina coverage and Dean for an exposé series in Chicago.

Sometimes it just takes time: Sacred Heart had a literary magazine when student Patricia Murret attended, but only after changing careers did she go into journalism; she’s now Loyola University’s Associate Director of Public Affairs. New Orleanian Becky Friedman “wrote a little bit” for Eh! La Bas at Country Day, but after working for a large consulting firm she took up freelance journalism last year.

“You plant the seed, and later on you figure out how to make it work,” she says. “It’s been great. I can’t complain.” n cheryl gerber photograph

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LOCAL COLOR ME AGAIN / MODINE GUNCH / JOIE D’EVE / in tune / READ+SPIN / JAZZ LIFE / HOME

in tune pg. 46

The month starts with Outer Spaces at Siberia on June 1. The Baltimore-based indie rock ensemble released their new LP A Shedding Snake, May 27; this show will be a great chance to see some of the new material.

Micah E.Wood photograph

LOCAL COLOR / ME AGAIN

Looking fOr Myself…

And Discovering It

BY CHRIS ROSE

T

he past few years have been terrifying for me with regards as to how to make a living, feed my family and, in general, survive here in New Orleans.

Maybe you’ve heard, or more likely seen on the Internet, that journalism, particularly print journalism – the kind that’s not on the Internet, but in your actual hands – is a dying art.

Because of the Internet.

Weird when you think about it: It’s the only instance I know of where the messenger killed the message. It is like living inside of an Escher print, walking up a set of stairs only to find yourself in the basement. Or, more precisely, living inside of an Escher print that you saw on the Internet, not in actual print.

Damn you, Al Gore!

But thank God for New Orleans Magazine, my last steady refuge to practice the art that I’ve spent my entire adult life refining, honing and generally working real hard at to inform, entertain and, in the rarest of cases, enlighten. Because a hard lesson I learned over the past several years has been that I actually don’t

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possess any marketable skills other than writing.

This is a subject I addressed at great length in the December 2015 issue of this magazine, so I won’t delve deep into it here, but my curse is that my father – an educator by craft and passion – made sure I knew how to spell carburetor, but not what it does or how to fix one.

Hell, I don’t even know what a carburetor looks like.

And so I scramble along, trying to figure out how to stay alive, survive and maybe even thrive again one day.

With an admittedly limited skill set.

Now, if New Orleans Magazine published every day – or heck, even every week – then maybe I could make a full time living out of writing again in this city. (Or if they paid me, oh, say, $4,000 or $5,000 for each monthly column, then everything would be peachy.)

But they don’t, obviously.

(But I should obligingly note that, by today’s standards, this is actually a fair and abiding publication, dispensing a fair wage for fair hard work.) But it’s only once a month. And I need to buy groceries four times a month.

And so I’ve tossed and turned and ranted and raved and wondered: What the hell am I going to do with my life?

As we all know, that’s a question better suited for a 20-year-old, maybe even a 30-year-old in our era of stunted maturity, but at age 55, it can be a hell of scary notion.

And then, one day, I realized something. There IS another thing I know how to do!

How it evaded me for so long, I have no idea. Because it’s something my friends, family, colleagues, coworkers, bartenders, neighbors, grocery store cashiers, postal carriers and anyone else within my general vicinity can identify within minutes: I can talk. A lot. And for a long time.

And that’s how I recently became an officially licensed tour guide for the City of New Orleans, Safety and Permits department No. 16LTG03867, expiration date: 0513-2018. (This is kind of off point, but the photo on my ID is much better than the one on my driver’s license.)

And so I have a job. A real job. Sort of. An almost full time job – for the first time since I quit waiting tables back in November 2014.

And my job now is to talk.

A lot. For a long time. And get paid for it. And that’s either the most astounding or absurd notion I’ve ever known, or perhaps both.

Why didn’t somebody tell me about this years ago?

At press time, I have literally just begun this new venture, this new … calling.

I have no idea if I’ll be any good at it or if I can actually make a good living at it, but I do know this: I’ll bet by next month I’ll have a lot of interesting stories to tell about this most intriguing – and ubiquitous – New Orleans occupation.

And here’s the cool thing about that: I’ll get to write it.

Right here in this magazine.

Writing for a living about talking for a living.

Life can truly be a wonder to behold. n

jason raish illustration

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LOCAL COLOR / MODINE’S NEW ORLEANS

Talking the Walk How to take 10,000 steps a day

BY MODINE GUNCH

M

y sister-in-law Gloriosa says she walks more than 10,000 steps a day.

She got a Fitbit, which keeps track.

Her mother, Ms. Larda, ain’t impressed.

“Used to be, you wanted to save steps,” Ms. Larda says. “You were supposed to arrange your kitchen in a triangle: stove, sink, fridge – everything within reach. Plus, put your washer and dryer right off the kitchen; no trotting outside to no clothesline. You could be a manatee and get everything done.

“So we all got fat. And now they sell us Fitbitch,” she says, “Fitbit,” says Gloriosa. “It gives you motivation. Now I actually walk more than Modine.”

“No,” I say. “You don’t.”

Being a French Quarter tour guide, I walk for a living, and I’m kind of proud of that.

“Oh, yes, Modine, probably by several thousand steps,” Gloriosa says. And then she smirks.

Now, I love my sister-in-law, but she’s very competitive, and that smirk of hers drives me right up the wall.

“No,” I say again. “You. Don’t.” We are all sitting around eating crawfish in Ms. Larda’s backyard, and all of a sudden everybody gets quiet.

“Let’s prove it,” she says. And before I can say I ain’t got no Fitbit, my gentleman friend Lust announces I can use the one I gave him for Christmas that he ain’t got around to opening yet.

So, we’re on.

Next morning, I buckle Lust’s Fitbit on my wrist. It is a big, black, manly version, not like Gloriosa’s dainty pink one. I program it to “challenge.” And not that it makes any difference, but I realize I can’t lie, because the Fitbit automat-

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ically rats you out to your exercise “friend.”

That day I stomp all over the Quarter and through St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery, and up the stairs to the levee, twice. Fitbit records 8,231 steps and one staircase; Gloriosa somehow racks up 15,763 steps and three staircases.

The next day is no better. I get obsessed. When I charge it at night, I place it next to my bed and put it on when I get up to potty. Every step counts.

Then, come to find out, this Fitbit only gives me credit for steps if I also swing my arm. But when I lead a tour, I don’t swing my arm, I wave it around and point out the sights – not just the historical ones either, if you know what I mean.

Then I get the brilliant idea to strap it on my ankle. Next day I’m walking along, jabbering to my tour about the House of Voodoo, not looking where I’m going, and I step into a deep puddle.

The Fitbit is on the other ankle, but I got to hop to the curb with one foot up like I’m playing hopscotch. Some old lady sees this, thinks I’m wearing an ankle monitor and complains to City Hall about the criminal element leading tours here.

So I put it back on my wrist. The next day, Gloriosa is 5,000 steps ahead of me and she posts me a message “Nyah, nyah, nyah.”

Pride goeth before a fall. That is in the Bible.

It so happens my daughter Gladiola is a counselor at the day camp where Gloriosa’s kids go. She notices Gloriosa’s little boy, Proteus, is running a lot of races. And he’s wearing a dainty pink wristband. So she asks him about it. Yep, he’s getting paid.

I stew about it all night. Next morning, still mad, I drive across the Causeway bridge for lunch with my friend Awlette on the Northshore. When I get back, I stop at a gas station and glance at this Fitbit I have taken maybe 200 steps all day – and it has me down for 3,231 steps and 13 staircases.

I call Awlette, and she says it’s a known fact.

If the shocks in your car ain’t too good, Fitbit registers a step every time you bump across one of the expansion joints on the Causeway bridge.

She don’t know why it gives me credit for stairs, except maybe because New Orleans is below sea level and the Northshore ain’t.

I turn right around and drive back to the Northshore, and drive back again. And again. I don’t stop until I am up to 20,000 steps, 26 staircases and am out of gas.

I send Gloriosa a message: “Nyah, nyah, double nyah.”

Fitbitch. n LORI OSIECKI ILLUSTRATION

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LOCAL COLOR / JOIE D’EVE

Sad for My Friend Guest column by Ruby Crawford

BY EVE CRAWFORD PEYTON

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hen my mom picked me up from a sleepover a few Sundays ago, she told me she had some sad news.

She told me that my friend Lisa’s dad had been killed. It was sad, but it wasn’t like it was someone in my family. It was sadness for someone else.

Lisa was my first friend that I made at my new school. She was super-nice to me and she still is.

I really, really wish this hadn’t have happened to her. I have sent

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her a card and done everything I can think of, but I know it doesn’t help, and I feel like I have a stone in my stomach that won’t digest.

At first, I had no clue who Lisa’s dad was. I never met him. But then my mom told me that he was a Saints player named Will Smith.

I didn’t know he played football, but I know Lisa loved him very much. I am sad for her that he got killed by a gun.

I asked my mom if I could use her column to talk about guns.

When they started our country, they said that guns could be used to hunt to get food for your family or protect your family, but not to kill others for no reason. Guns didn’t used to be like this, so they allowed them, but now they have gotten a whole lot worse and they’re made just to kill people. This is America. We like our freedom. But we shouldn’t spend our freedom on killing people. I don’t think we’ll ever agree on this even in 1,000 years, and if we do I’ll be very surprised.

I wanted to do this to spread the word. I didn’t know how to tell people that I felt sad for Lisa or to get my sad feelings out, and writing about it was the only thing I could think of, so my mom agreed to help me and put it here for everyone to see.

There have been lots of great inventions that can be dangerous. Guns are great for hunting and getting food for your family, but they’re horrible because they can kill people. Cars are another great invention to get people other places quickly, but they’re dangerous too and there are a lot of car accidents. They can get hurt or even be killed. If people have cars or guns, they need to be careful. But even people with driver’s licenses can make big mistakes. Guns are something people can have to protect their family, but they also can shoot people, sometimes even when they didn’t mean to. I don’t know what the answer is, but it makes me sad that Lisa’s dad was killed by a gun.

That’s all I have to say for now. Lisa, if you’re reading this, I’m very sorry. I hope you come back to school soon because you’re awesome.

Ruby Crawford is 9 years old and in third grade. She likes science, Netflix and fashion. n

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Excerpted from Eve Crawford Peyton’s blog, Joie d’Eve, which appears each Friday on MyNewOrleans.com.

jane sanders ILLUSTRATION

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LOCAL COLOR / IN TUNE

The Sheepdogs

Bonnaroo Begins For much of the music world, June means one thing: Bonnaroo. This year the festival is celebrating its 15th birthday with performances from Pearl Jam, Dead and Company, LCD Soundsystem, HAIM, Ween, CHVRCHES, Death Cab for Cutie and more. Bonnaroo has set the tone for what the next generation of American music festivals will look like. If you can’t make it there in person, keep an eye on our website for my daily updates and photos.

What’s Hot in June Indie bands come to town BY mike griffith

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s the summer heats up, the New Orleans music scene begins to cool off a bit as bands head for cooler climates. Often during the summers, we get a nice selection of smaller independent acts that come through town to bridge the gaps between festival appearances. The month starts with Outer Spaces at Siberia on June 1. The Baltimore-based indie rock ensemble released their new LP A Shedding Snake, May 27; this show will be a great chance to see some of the new material. On the 5th, folk punk troubadour Frank Turner will be at the Joy Theater with Gogol Bordello. Canadian blues rockers The Sheepdogs will take the stage at Gasa Gasa the next night (June 6). The Sheepdogs have a fun retro sound that’s definitely tinged with the trappings of 1970s guitar rock. Fans of the Radiators will find a lot to love here.

Multi-instrumental guitarist Buckethead will be playing House of Blues

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on June 8. The enigmatic Brian Patrick Carroll delivers his virtuosic performances in a white mask and bucket hat.

Carroll has just released over 250 studio records, including the most recent Pike #226. Just a couple of nights later on the 11th, St. Lucia will be playing the Civic Theater with Kind. The electropop performer released his second studio record Matter in January. Expect an evening of catch hooks and soaring vocals. In the same vein, the Shreveport based Hydrogen Child will be doing their shimmer-pop thing at Gasa Gasa on the 13th.

On the rock side of things, the Memphis-based group The Dirty Streets will play Siberia June 11. This relatively young band is getting great reviews for their brand of southern garage rock.

Definitely check out their latest record White Horse.

If you’re looking for something a little smoother, Domo Genesis will be at the

Hi-Ho Lounge June 12. The Los Angelesbased rapper is a member of the excellent Odd Future collective. His new record Genesis was released in March and is easily one of the most fun records I’ve heard all year.

Brooklyn based singer-songwriter Steve Gunn (formerly of Kurt Vile’s band) will be at Gasa Gasa June 13. Gunn has an excellent feel to his music. It is comfortable and challenging all at once. Expect to get caught up in the stories that are woven into his lyrics.

Along the same lines, indie folk ensemble Lord Huron will be at the House of Blues on the 17th. This group has really grown into their sound over the past year and emerged as a force on stage.

Finally, Lake Street Dive will be at Tipitina’s June 21. This Boston-based indie folk group impressed me at Hangout Fest last year. I cannot wait to see what they’re able to do in a club setting. It is a great month to see some up-and-coming acts, so get out there and check in on the new sounds.

Note: Dates are subject to change. Playlist of mentioned bands available at: bit.ly/ InTune6-16 n

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To contact Mike about music news, upcoming performances and recordings, email Mike@MyNewOrleans.com or contact him through Twitter @Minima.

Vanessa Heins photograph

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LOCAL COLOR / READ+SPIN

ENTERTAINING: Julia Reed’s South: Spirited Entertaining and High-Style Fun All Year Long, by author, Garden & Gun and Elle Décor contributing editor and James Beard Foundation nominee Julia Reed, is a gorgeously packaged, 224-page tome, with 150 envy- and hungerinducing photos by photographer Paul Costello. Reed and Costello, both based in New Orleans, take readers from a sandbar picnic in Mississippi and citrus-laden Christmas “cocktail supper” (a term Reed credits to her mother) in New Orleans to a formal dinner for a “Visiting Dignitary” (or those who are “Very Dear,” she writes) and a lovely spring luncheon al fresco.

The stories are keenly knitted with a journalist’s attention to color, detail, history, fact and conciseness and center on parties for 11 different seasonal occasions. “It’s more entertaining to me as a writer to add in things that are interesting,” says Reed. “I wanted to show a little more about what the places mean. I wanted to show a sense of place. It’s not just about me.

It’s more about a generosity of spirit and having fun. We basically went on an extended road trip.” Reed sets the scene, offers up the menu, recipes, cocktail and wine pairings, as well as notes on everything from table settings to playlists. The recipe list is comprehensive and includes appetizers and desserts, simple Southern staples, as well as Creole favorites such as shrimp rémoulade and more elevated cuisine, including a delectable roasted boneless leg of lamb with herbs. The stellar source list at the end will become your go-to for finding everything from stationery and linens to tableware and food items in New Orleans and beyond.

JAZZ: A fixture at the Spotted Cat on Frenchman and on the heels of a hot set at the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, Panorama Jazz Band released its Best of the Good in May. The album’s 14 tracks are select songs from the band’s innovative “Good Music For You” club, available on its website, PanoramaJazzBand.com. For $3 a month, subscribers receive a new Panorama track at the first of each month.

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by Melanie Warner Spencer Please send submissions for consideration, attention: Melanie Spencer, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005.

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LOCAL COLOR / JAZZ LIFE

“It’s raining so hard” Music to survive a deluge

BY JASON BERRY

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ith the foreknowledge of June’s hard heat bearing down, I write on a gray day several weeks earlier with rain in mind – lots of rain, El Nino’s revenge in the booming thunderstorms unloosed across the southern parishes which made the last Jazz Fest weekend a mud fest out of which stand epiphanies, dry and sweet.

On the second Friday of the festival, with the task of interviewing John Boutté in the pavilion at the Heritage stage, I reached the talent tent with minutes to spare and sat in wonder at Boutté’s falsetto embracing “Southern Nights,” the Allen Toussaint composition.

He sang it with guitarist Todd Duke, just the two of them, strings and his magic voice wafting along like a cloudless day. Toussaint the performer slowly grew into his memory-of-boyhood song after Glen Campbell made it a country pop hit. In later years Allen warmed to the lyrics – “Free as a breeze/ Not to mention the trees/

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Whistling tunes that you know and love so” – leaning to improvisational stories about the old Creole country folk his parents took him as a boy to visit upriver, inspiring the simple beauty of the song lines.

Boutté finished with a wistful look, murmuring, “I never sang that song before. Not sure why.” In the swoon of a moment, I suggested he and Todd do it as part of the question-and-answer for our set. He nodded. When he sang it again, the applause was contagious.

Boutté Does Toussaint would make a great CD ...

That weekend, driving through sunlight pools between the deluge, between the downfall, I played the new CD Comeback Children by Aurora Nealand and The Royal Roses. This is about the hottest band in town today, playing Monday nights at the Maison on Frenchmen Street. Nealand’s ranging performance as a singer and instrumentalist is caught in a lush romance with music of the 1920s and

’30s. Her version of “Flee As A Bird,” a song rarely heard outside of churches or the more traditional jazz funerals, is worth the price of the ticket.

The second cut on Comeback Children is a swinging version of the spiritual, “Joshua Fit the Battle of Jericho” with so much heart as to ignite dancing even by people who usually watch other people’s feet. Across 17 cuts, Nealand leads an 11-piece orchestra, alternating between soprano saxophone, clarinet, piano and vocals. The album includes a spirited French dancehall song, “Toploulou,” with the band in a backup chorus.

Nealand’s romance with the music of Sidney Bechet is impressive for the tenacity, and talent, it takes to play the New Orleans master, as she and the band did in a 2010 live recording. Le Grand Bechet (as the French called him) played soprano sax and clarinet with equal parts poetry and fire. Little known beyond jazz circles when he decamped from New York to Paris in 1950, he became such a celebrity as to receive a state funeral in ’59.

Nealand’s “Petite Fleur” on The Royal Roses: A Tribute to Sidney Bechet has the pining for one’s “little flower of love,” all of a piece with Tom McDermott’s piano. The song summons to mind George Lewis’s “Burgundy Street Blues” in the clarinetist’s fusion of sorrow and sweetness, love and loss.

Michael White had a different take on “‘Tite Fleur” in a mid-April set with visiting Cuban pianist Ernán López-Nussa at the Prime Example on N. Broad Street. White played the melody like a cat creeping toward its desire and López-Nussa, in understated syncopations, kept feeding the cat space for an improvisational swirl.

To see artists like Nealand, White, Boutté and López-Nussa at top form, imbuing the old songs with fresh silver, is to realize how this blue city, an oasis in a beef-red state, regenerates itself through music. As Nealand and White rework the language of New Orleans-Style, the traditional idiom, Boutté’s first-blush intoning of Toussaint’s autobiographical song follows the bridge to rhythmand-blues.

All this natural wealth, and no nationally syndicated TV program on New Orleans music. n

LOCAL COLOR / HOME

Balcony Vieux A Worldly Experience from this Pontalba Apartment

BY BONNIE WARREN PHOTOGRAPHED BY CHERYL GERBER

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avid Franco sits on his third floor balcony in the historic Upper Pontalba Apartments and waxes poetically about his good fortune to live in such a beautiful setting overlooking Jackson Square. “The French Quarter is a very fascinating place, and I’ve always wanted to live here,” he says. “Every day I’m surrounded by rich history, culture, architecture, music, food and everything that makes New Orleans such a special and unique city. I feel truly privileged to live in this historic building that has so many charming features I enjoy, from the red iron balcony to the spiral staircase,” he continues. “I love waking up in the morning to the ringing of the church bells of St. Louis Cathedral and the evening air that’s often filled with the soulful melodies of street musicians.”

Franco was born Singapore to a mother from Houma who had a medical degree from Louisiana State University, and a father from Maracaibo, Venezuela, who was a petroleum engineer. His parents met when his father immigrated to Louisiana to work in the oil industry. It isn’t surprising that David has a unique appreciation of his historic apartment, since he grew up in such diverse parts of the world, including Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emerges (UAE) and London, England. “Being exposed to vastly different cultures at a young age certainly influenced and shaped my love for

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history and architecture,” he says.

He graduated from Louisiana State University with a bachelor’s degree in political science and obtained a law degree from Loyola University. Later he obtained a master’s degree in maritime law from the University of Cape Town. While in South Africa, he also traveled to Namibia, Botswana, Zimbabwe, Zambia and Mozambique. He also lived in Montreal, Canada, for one year doing legal research and brief writing.

Today, David practices law in New Orleans for The Dugan Law Firm, where his work involves pharmaceutical and environmental class action litigation.

“I moved into my apartment in early 2012, after being on a waiting list for

Facing page: Baton Rouge interior designer Ty Larkins created a dramatic design for the windowless interior living room.

Top: The guest bedroom doubles as an art studio for Meredith, with her easel neatly tucked in the corner of the room. Bottom, left: The statue of Andrew Jackson in the center of Jackson Square is viewed from the balcony.

Bottom, right: David Franco and Meredith Dirner

over four years,” he says. “It was my good fortune to be offered a place in the middle of the block where I’m able to enjoy everything surrounding most of Jackson Square. For lagniappe, I even have a view of the Mississippi River, and I love to hear the fog horn from traffic

on the water.”

David selected Ty Larkins, a talented Baton Rouge interior designer, to help him with the apartment.

“After meeting with Ty, I immediately knew I could collaborate with him and build a level of trust to help

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Facing page: Top: The master bedroom opens onto the balcony by way of the large walk-through windows. Bottom, left: Simple furnishings in the guest bedroom include a white secretary and metal bed. Bottom right: Architectural drawings were selected to be displayed over the table and pair of benches on one side of the fireplace.

Top: Two large windows fill the study with light from the courtyard; simple furnishings of comfortable chairs and side tables with lamps add a masculine feel; a handsome metal light fixture hangs from the ceiling, while a pair of shelves provides space for David to display treasures from his travels and family heirlooms.

create the home I wanted,” David says. “He is not only creatively talented in his work and approach to design, but I also appreciated the open dialogue we had as he tested my own creative limits, which ultimately forced me to step outside my comfort zone in terms of how I envisioned my apartment to look in the end.”

Ty agrees that the collaboration was a success. “The space is architecturally stunning with 12-foot ceilings and historic character throughout,” he says. “We worked together to create different moods for the different spaces, and the special challenge was the living room, a totally inside room with a lack of natural light.” Ty’s genius approach was to paint the walls a dark shade of a gray-brown, called Iron Mountain by Benjamin

Moore, to create a moody, masculine feel.

Identical front bedrooms and bathrooms received an envelope of a light cream color, while the study on the opposite side of the living room is a natural light-filled space with two large windows overlooking the open core of the building. “I keep my mementoes from my travels and treasures from my father, who passed away in 2012, in the study,” David says.

In 2015, Meredith Dirner, David’s fiancée, moved from Laguna Beach, California. An event planner with Accent Event Productions, Meredith is completely charmed by the unique apartment.

“I love the activity and charm of the French Quarter and, like David, I enjoy spending time on our balcony while taking in the sights and sounds of Jackson Square,” she says. “It is always pleasant to open the heavy shutters on the tall walk-through windows facing the balcony and greet a new day. On weekends David and I will relax and take our time having our morning coffee or enjoying a glass of wine in the evenings. We both love relaxing at times and then immersing ourselves in the festivities at others. This apartment comes together to provide a remarkable and unparalleled combination of solitude, celebration and rich history that you cannot find anywhere else.”

David finds great pleasure in sharing his special apartment with Meredith. “It has added a wonderful dimension to this perfect setting to have Meredith here with me,” he says. “We share the love of New Orleans and this apartment with great joy.” n myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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Our annual search for what’s hot in the kitchens

It used to be that keeping up with new restaurant openings was a fairly simple matter – the process was steady but slow enough that there was time to sift through who was doing what and the concept to expect. Now the industry is a blur. Some new restaurants have opened where others once stood; others have positioned themselves in a neighborhoods such as Freret, South Market, Marigny, Mid-City and Oretha Castle Haley that have taken a big bounce and are quite popular. Here are out picks of the best of the latest crop as selected by our food writers and editorial staff. Try them out, but do it quickly – there are others on the way.

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photographed by eugenia uhl

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Kenton’s Coming Down the River

Background The historic ties between Maysville, Kentucky, a small port on the Ohio River, and New Orleans are strong. Maysville is a major port for the shipment of Bourbon down river. Our town has historically been the main destination. Maysville was founded

by Simon Kenton, a frontiersman in 1775. And now we can begin the story of New Orleans Magazine’s Best New Restaurant of the Year.

Kenton’s was created by Sean Josephs and his wife, Mani Dawes. Josephs’ restaurant in New York City is called Maysville, and Bourbon is a centerpiece of what’s served at the bar.

Dawes also has Tia Pol in New York, a tapas destination. She is from New Orleans and grew up just a few blocks from Kenton’s location.

Like many New Orleans ladies, she was ready to return home after making a name for herself in the town where if you can make it there, you can make it anywhere.

Food The chef at Maysville is Kyle Knall, who’s also executive chef at Kenton’s. The native of Birmingham, Alabama, was also a contributor to the success of Danny Meyer’s empire in New York City, notably at Gramercy Tavern The cuisine is unmistakably Southern with heavy New Orleans influences. The restaurant’s smoker is kept active since just about everything on the menu is smoked, grilled or charred.

Some favorites include Slow-Smoked Trout, Grilled Pompano, Braised and Grilled Pork, Brown Butter Glazed Drum and the Grilled Butcher’s Steak. The sides are exciting and the appetizers, including mousse, pâté, tartare and raw styles, present fresh ingredients prepared creatively.

Ambiance Kenton’s boasts one of the most stunning interiors of any new restaurant in years. The drinks bar is a great place to “hang.”

The oyster bar has become a local favorite.

In the evening, the restaurant’s lighting is elegant. During the day, the large windows allow the light to stream through. Outdoor seating is available, but this is one place where being comfortably inside makes some sense.

– Tim McNally

5757 Magazine St. | 891-1177 | KentonsRestaurant.com | lunch Mondays-Fridays, dinner daily, brunch weekends

CAVAN Making A Statement

Background The decision was made to operate a brand-new restaurant using an old and proven New Orleans model.

Cavan opened in a building constructed in 1881, and that’s a fine way to make a statement about tradition.

LeBlanc + Smith, operators of Sylvain, Meauxbar and Barrel Proof, purchased the Cockerton home on Magazine Street, refurbished the property and named the new restaurant after the county in Ireland where owner Robert LeBlanc’s maternal family called home before coming to New Orleans generations ago.

LeBlanc notes, “These people taught me to enjoy life at the dinner table, and the message extended to the importance of family and community. Those lessons set the tone for the entire project.

“The scars of the old home added to the feeling we wanted to bring to this effort,” LeBlanc continues. “It didn’t hurt that we simply fell in love with the place and fully respected its bones.”

Food With the rash of new restaurants arriving on the New Orleans dining scene, it’s interesting that a group of young entrepreneurs would want to establish their version of an old New Orleans neighborhood tavern and dining emporium.

Featured items on the menu are peel-andeat shrimp, oyster toast and a succulent roasted pork chop surrounded by roasted sweet potato fingerlings, grilled green onions and a side of pepper jelly.

Ben Thibodeaux, involved in the project since before the restaurant’s opening, is the Executive Chef. There is a daily gumbo not to be missed, fried oyster Caesar, seared Gulf fish as well as a whole fish.

The 24-ounce bone-in ribeye is enough for two diners, and Cavan even offers one of the best burgers in town.

3607 Magazine St. | 509-7655 | CavanNola.com | dinner daily

Ambiance “We wanted to be a pure New Orleans neighborhood place,” LeBlanc says. “Prices have been kept low not just on the menu but on the wine and drinks list as well. Cavan was always meant to be a place for locals to find the familiar done as well as anyone ever has.”

LeBlanc has an image of locals coming by to sit at the bar, reading the paper, enjoying a cocktail or a glass of wine and just visiting with friends. It is meant to be very old New Orleans.

– Tim McNally

Josephine Estelle Southern Influence With an italian Touch

Background When the Ace Hotel on Carondelet Street in the CBD opened in March, it gave New Orleans a trifecta of new hospitality offerings: A stunning boutique hotel, an outpost of Portland’s Stumptown Coffee and the ambitious new restaurant Josephine Estelle.

Chefs Andy Ticer and Michael Hudman hail from Memphis, where they built a James Beard-nominated reputation with their popular Hog & Hominy and Porcellino’s Craft Butcher restaurants.

Named after the chefs’ young daughters, Josephine Estelle deftly collects southern influences and layers them upon a canvas of rustic Italian cuisine. The resulting osteria is both novel and comforting at the same time.

Food The menu’s strengths lie in its small plates and pastas. A dish of Snapper Crudo is a case in point. Whereas crudo preparations typically feature a lot of acidity to pair with the principal raw ingredient, Ticer’s version jukes the other way. Here the flavor profile puts forward brown butter and toasted hazelnuts – an earthy, nutty combination that’s unctuous and pleasantly unexpected. The slight but necessary top notes come from Meyer lemon – another nice touch.

From the pasta side, consider the Gemelli, whose spiraled edges collect basil and butter to complement spring vegetables. Wines lean heavily Italian but are augmented with a collection of French options. Be sure to save room for dessert, including a complex Chocolate Semifreddo garnished with herbaceous licoriceinfused Strega, strawberries and fennel.

Ambiance Ace Hotel, based out of Portland Oregon, did a terrific job in restoring the historic Art Deco building. Center columns featuring crowns of elegant plaster rise to support the soaring ceilings limned with low-wattage accent lights. The dining room – which could get loud considering the high ceilings, windows and tile floor – is softened with rows of padded banquettes and glass dividers, which mitigate this effect. The rear of the room offers views into the spacious kitchen. A brunch service is offered, and Josephine Estelle handles all food service operations at the hotel, including the menu for their rooftop bar Alto.

Reservations are recommended.

– Jay Forman

600 Carondelet St. | 930-3070 | JosephineEstelle.com | breakfast, brunch, lunch and dinner daily

The Standard Spanning the Cultural Range

Background It seems that the old saw, “You can never go back home,” just isn’t true. At least that’s not the way Alison “Alie” Wild sees it.

“I grew up in the Uptown neighborhood and it’s always been home, even when I wandered to other places to build a business. But in the back of my mind, this was the place I wanted to be.”

Wild and her partner, Lana Banks, have operated Across the Street, a casual Mexican restaurant in Atlanta, for years. They also opened, almost geographically true but actually next door to the restaurant, The Market Across the Street, a neighborhood grocery.

Yet for Wild, the tug of home was constantly present.

When she saw a great location for her New Orleans restaurant on Magazine Street, which had previously been home to a series of short-lived restaurants, she knew this was the spot. The result: The Standard.

Food The Standard is a restaurant that brings Wild fully back to her parents and grandparents. They created in their home first-rate versions of classic Cajun, Creole and American dishes. “Everyone in my family was a terrific cook. They all took great care in making certain what they created was authentic and the best it could be. Really, they inspired me,” Wild readily admits.

That would explain the cultural range of dishes on the menu. Goat Cheese Enchiladas reside alongside Crab Cakes and happily coexist with Eggs Benedict.

Wild likes to note that the goal is “real food for real people.” The Standard fills a “Three Bears” niche in the neighborhood: not too high, not too low, but just right for frequent casual dining.

4206 Magazine St. | 509-7306 | lunch and dinner Tuesdays-Sundays

Ambiance One of the guiding lights at The Standard is Pam, the standard poodle who is no longer with us, but her spirit, which was strong and energetic, is still very much here. And there are three standard poodles in the family now to fill her void. A fitting expansion of love for the “children” and for New Orleans.

– Tim McNally

Tana at Treo pub dining refined

Background Chef Michael Gulotta came to my attention as the chef de cuisine at August, chef John Besh’s flagship and one of the best fine-dining restaurants in the city. When Gulotta decided to leave August and open a semi-casual Vietnamese restaurant, I was excited because I wanted to see what he could do with a cuisine I love. MoPho was and remains a remarkable success, for which Gulotta has received deserved recognition both locally and nationally.

Treo is a small gastro-pub on Tulane avenue, owned

by Paula and Stephen Patterson, natives of Ireland, whose bar, Finn McCool’s, is a wonderful, welcoming spot on Banks Street. Devastated after Hurricane Katrina, the Pattersons were able to rebuild Finn’s with help from their patrons. It is the sort of success story that serves as an example of resilience in the face of seemingly insurmountable obstacles.

Food I was doubly excited when I heard chef Gulotta would open Tana at Treo, focusing on Italian food. The small menu fits the relatively small dining space; highlights on my visits have been charred broccoli with kumquats, Marcona almonds, chiles and anchovies and corn Flour Garganelli with grilled octopus, boudin noir ragu and mint. Gulotta combines ingredients in thoughtful ways at both of his restaurants, and the food at Tana isn’t an afterthought to the drinks.

Ambiance Treo has a more sophisticated feel than Finn’s; there’s a patio and an art gallery, and original works are on display in the bar. Seating is mainly at the bar or a number of high tables running the length of the narrow space.

There is an excellent craft cocktail program and a good selection of beers and wines by the glass.

– Robert Peyton

3835 Tulane Ave. | 304-4878 | TreoNola.com/plates | dinner Tuesdays-Saturdays

Coffee Culture Catching the Third Wave

French Truck Café French Truck Coffee has rolled Uptown with the opening of its new café. The cheery cottage on the corner of Cadiz Street is hard to miss – bright yellow and trimmed in blue – and its tastefully contemporary interior is softened with custom wood cabinetry and grey tile.

Particularly striking are a pair of towering glass Ojis. “These Japanese contraptions slow drip the water over a 12 hour period,” owner Geoff Meeker explains. “This yields a much lighter, fruitier version of iced coffee than the more traditional immersion extractions.

We use them for our single origin beans so we can highlight their distinct characteristics.”

While the coffee menu mirrors that of his original location on Magazine Street, the new location offers a full breakfast and lunch menu as well as a liquor license. Look for light dinner and beer and wine pairings to further round out the menu this summer.

Stumptown Arguably the granddaddy of the Third Wave Coffee movement, it was big news for local bean lovers when the Oregonbased roaster announced plans to open inside the new Ace Hotel. In considering their Big Easy location, Stumptown VP Matt Lounsbury entered this market with a particular focus. “New Orleans pretty much put iced coffee on the map, and for this store we wanted to do something special,” Lounsbury says. The result was a seven-head tap system that dispenses a nitrogenized version of their signature espresso blend Hairbender. Pulled into the custom Belgium glassware, the aesthetic is reminiscent of Guinness on tap. The cold brew serves as the foundation for a terrific bar menu, including the Endless Summer – a caffeinated take on a mint julep. For pour-over fans, their Mod Bar allows for individual cups of every single roast they offer, a first for any Stumptown location.

Cherry Espresso Bar In 2006 Lauren Fink worked at a coffee shop in Portland that used Stumptown beans. “It was my first introduction to specialty coffee and it rocked my world,” Fink says. “It’s all I’ve wanted to do ever since.”

After moving to New Orleans, she launched Cherry, a micro-café inside of Stein’s Deli. It proved popular, and with the help of a small business loan she opened Cherry Espresso Bar in March. Nestled on the corner of Laurel and Upperline streets, Cherry is adjacent to Wisner Playground, making it the quintessential neighborhood coffee shop.

Fink uses a multi-roaster program, sourcing beans from all over the country.

RoseLine from Portland features prominently in the mix, with Duchess Rose Blend being a particular favorite of hers. “It is 50 percent washed Ethiopian and 50 percent washed Kenyan,” Fink says. “It has a lot of flavor, is really fruit-forward, and is relatively light as well but with a creamy mouthfeel.”

– Jay Forman

4536 Dryades St. | 702-1900 FrenchTruckCoffee.com

600 Carondelet St. | 900-1180 StumptownCoffee.com

4877 Laurel St. | 875-3699

Bayou Wine Garden

Magasin Kitchen

Growing the Business Outposts & Expansions

In the restaurant industry, expansion is often the key to success. Many restaurants fail in the first year, but for those who get it right, expanding means the opportunity to serve more diners, and of course that’s how restaurants stay in business. For some, expanding is a way to keep talented people on the team; more than one chef has told me that the impetus for opening a new restaurant was, in part, to give a talented young cook a place to develop and grow.

St. James Cheese Company has opened a shop in the Warehouse District, at 641 Tchoupitoulas St., featuring a smaller but still excellent selection of cheeses and charcuterie, but a larger number of salads and sandwiches. As always, expert advice from the cheesemongers behind the counter, and check the website for special offerings and happy hour specials. They’re open Monday through Thursday from 11 to 7, and until 9 on Friday and Saturday.

Phone: 304-1485. StJamesCheese.com.

Magasin Kitchen is the second Vietnamese restaurant from Kim Nguyen and has a similar menu to her first, with the addition of home-style dishes such as congee, a savory rice porridge. Magasin Kitchen is located in the Paramount building at 611 O’Keefe Ave. and is open 11 a.m.-9 p.m. during the week, until 10 p.m. on Saturday and from noon to 4 p.m. on Sunday. Call 561-5677 or visit MagasinCafe. com for more.

When the folks who run Bayou Beer Garden decided to expand, they didn’t go far. Bayou Wine Garden is physically connected to the bar and grill that faces S. Jefferson Davis Parkway by a gateway in each location’s rear patio. Wine replaces beer in the “taps,” and the menu features house-made charcuterie and small plates.

Bayou Wine Garden is located at 315 N. Rendon St.; check BayouWineGarden.com or call 826-2925 for details. They open for lunch seven days a week at 11 a.m., and

the kitchen keeps going until midnight during the week and until around 1 a.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Very few restaurants can boast the success that Cochon Butcher has had since chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski opened it a few years ago.

Featuring sandwiches, small plates and the charcuterie that Link, Stryjewski and their team had been making for Cochon and other Link Group restaurants, Butcher has expanded into the space next door to serve ever-expanding crowds looking for great food, drinks, and maybe a few pounds of sausage for dinner. The concept has proved so popular that a second location has recently opened in Nashville, Tennessee. Here in New Orleans, Butcher is located at 930 Tchoupitoulas St. and the phone number is 588-7675; see more at CochonButcher.com.

– Robert Peyton

TOP DENTISTs

Our annual drill of selecting the area’s best Going to the dentist’s office isn’t always a happy thought, but at least it’s good to know that the dentist is respected among peers. Here is our latest list using the peer review process. While we are sure that there are some worthy practitioners who have not yet received the recognition they deserve, we’re confident

Selection Process: This statement was provided by topDentists, the Augusta, Georgia-based research company, about its methodology: “If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?”

This is the question we’ve asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be.

Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results.

The nomination pool of dentists consists of all dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate.

Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents

that those listed here are among the best.

This list is excerpted from the 2016 topDentists™ list, a database that includes listings for more than 160 dentists and specialists in the New Orleans area. This list was based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers.

are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peers' work when evaluating the other nominees.

Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area. Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors.

Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received, status in various dental academies (Academy of General Dentistry, American Academy of Periodontology, etc.) can play a factor in our decision.

Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions

to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board.

Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.

Of course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it’s true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

The complete database is available at USAtopDentists.com. For more information call (706) 364-0853, write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903, email info@usatopdentists.com or visit USAtopDentists.com.

Endodontics

Covington Allen Sawyer Sawyer Endodontics 216 W. 21st Ave. (985) 327-7354 Kenner David Joseph Toca 2301 Williams Blvd., Suite B 466-3353 Mandeville Charles O. Roy Northshore Endodontics 1510 W. Causeway Approach, Suite C (985) 674-0060 Metairie Dominick J. Alongi Northlake Endodontics & Microsurgery 3621 Ridgelake Drive, Suite 301 832-2433 Bryan Paul Bohning Bohning Endodontics 4051 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 312 888-4034 Garrett B. Morris Endodontic Specialists 4520 Clearview Parkway 885-0177 Lauren S. Vedros Northlake Endodontics & Microsurgery 3621 Ridgelake Drive, Suite 301 832-2433 New Orleans George H. Arch Jr. Uptown Endodontics and Implantology 2633 Napoleon Ave., Suite 701 895-1100 Lisa P. Germain Uptown Endodontics and Implantology 2633 Napoleon Ave., Suite 701 895-1100 Slidell Scott E. Bonson Endodontic Associates 190 Cross Gates Blvd.

(985) 649-4881 Arthur W. Dickerson II Endodontic Associates 190 Cross Gates Blvd.

(985) 649-4881 J. Jared Harmon Lakeshore Endodontics 102 Village St., Suite B (985) 643-4600

General Dentistry

Belle Chasse Stuart J. Guey Jr. 8951 Highway 23

394-6200 Charles Haydel 8635 Highway 23 394-7456 Covington Mary A. Beilman 426 S. Tyler St. (985) 893-5138 Edward P. Burvant Jr. Burvant Family Dentistry 601 W. 18th Ave. (985) 892-2403 Shannon Doyle More Smiles Dental 7007 Highway 190 (985) 809-7645 Kathleen G. Engel 522 E. Rutland St. (985) 893-2270 Cosmetic services offered James A. Moreau Jr. More Smiles Dental 7007 Highway 190 (985) 809-7645 R. Glen Spell Family Dental Center 79132 Highway 40 (985) 893-3900 Gretna Brian D. Connell Connell Dental Care 137 Bellemeade Blvd.

533-4105 Cosmetic services offered Damon Joel DiMarco DiMarco Dental 309 Gretna Blvd.

366-5611 Cosmetic services offered James Nelson Bluebonnet Dental Care 400 Lapalco Blvd., Suite B 392-4384 Peter M. Tufton Tufton Family Dentistry 654 Terry Parkway 362-5270 Hammond Bryan P. Daigle 1502 Martens Drive (985) 345-4242 Eugene R. Graff Jr. Louisiana Dental Center Hammond 800 C M Fagan Drive, Suite A (985) 345-5888 Sue C. LeBlanc Hammond Family Dentistry 1007 W. Thomas St., Suite E (985) 345-8602 Jill Truxillo Beautiful Smiles

20204 US Highway 190 E. (985) 662-5550

834-6504 Cosmetic services offered

Jefferson Charles Marion Jouandot Jefferson Dental Care 3809 Jefferson Highway 833-2211

Myrna Luz Collado-Torres 3330 Kingman St., Suite 6 888-2092

Kenner James D. Roethele Roethele Dental Esthetics 283 W. Esplanade Ave. 461-0500 Cosmetic services offered Madisonville Charles B. Foy Jr. 400 Pine St. (985) 845-8042 Cosmetic services offered

Joseph John Collura Jr. 3939 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 104 837-9800 Cosmetic services offered George T. Comeaux Jr. 2620 Metairie Road 834-2180 Stan P. Cowley III Cowley Dental Care 3237 Metairie Road 831-4895

Melissa Hernandez Pellegrini Pellegrini Family Dentistry 198 Highway 21 (985) 845-2992

Stan P. Cowley Jr. Cowley Dental Care 3237 Metairie Road 831-4895

Mandeville Martha Anne Carr 224 W. Causeway Approach (985) 727-0047

TrĂŠ J. DeFelice DeFelice Dental 1900 N. Causeway Blvd.

833-4300

Glen J. Corcoran 3701 Highway 59, Suite E (985) 871-9733

Duane P. Delaune Delaune Dental, the Art of Smiles 3801 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 305 885-8869 Cosmetic services offered

Gabriel F. Daroca III 2140 Ninth St. (985) 624-8268 Joseph F. Fitzpatrick 2900 E. Causeway Approach, Suite E (985) 626-9791

Shelly Ereth-Barone GNO Dental Care 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 105-A 832-1164

Toby B. Moffatt 1510 W. Causeway Approach, Suite A (985) 727-4848

Terry F. Fugetta 4508 Clearview Parkway, Suite 1-A 454-7008

Dennis R. Preau 2140 Ninth St. (985) 624-8268

Nicole Hurban Hunn 3108 W. Esplanade Ave. N. 838-8118

Marrero Maria Ribando Burmaster Barataria Dental Clinic 2272 Barataria Blvd.

341-3120

Eva L. Jessup Clearview Dental Care 2221 Clearview Parkway, Suite 202 455-1667

Metairie Debra Claire Arnold 2732 Athania Parkway 837-4992

Wynn Kapit 3024 Kingman St. 455-2984

Bridget Anne Brahney 3508 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

888-6860 George Philip Cerniglia 2727 Houma Blvd., Suite A 454-5880 Cosmetic services offered Hunter Lynn Charvet Sr. Charvet Dental Center 2300 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

Nanette LoCoco 4325 Loveland St., Suite B 335-2992 Kirk E. Melton 4224 Houma Blvd., Suite 320 456-5103 Troy L. Patterson Oak Family Dental 1001 N. Causeway Blvd.

834-6410 JenĂŠ Comeaux Ponder

2620 Metairie Road 834-2180 Garry Stephen Salvaggio Salvaggio Dental Care 3223 Eighth St., Suite 202 455-7717 Cosmetic services offered John C. Schwartz Schwartz Dental Group 337 Metairie Road, Suite 302 832-2043 Cosmetic services offered Ryan Michael Thibodaux Second Line Family Dentistry 815 N. Causeway Blvd.

833-2220 Gerard R. Tully Jr. 701 Metairie Road, Suite 2A-212 831-4837 Corky Willhite The Smile Design Center 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 777 831-1131 Cosmetic services offered New Orleans Mark David Anderson MidCity Smiles Family Dentistry 3625 Canal St. 485-6575 Donald Phillip Bennett 1010 Common St., Suite 810 523-4882 Stephen C. Brisco Sr. LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave., Suite 127 619-8721 Robert A. Camenzuli Camenzuli Dental Excellence 1319 Amelia St. 895-3400 James Anthony Campo Campo Dentistry 2215 S. Carrollton Ave. 866-0681

LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave. 619-8500 Eric Hovland LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave. 941-8113 William E. Kramer III 2801 Napoleon Ave., Suite A 891-2826 Susan S. Lebon 2633 Napoleon Ave., Suite 605 899-5400 Edward E. Levy III 7037 Canal Blvd., Suite 206 283-5549 Jamie Maria Manders 13201 Patterson Road 394-7702 F. G. “Frank� Martello 1502 Amelia St. 891-9119 John H. Moffatt Jr. Moffatt & Walsh 5809 Citrus Blvd., Suite 100 733-8551 Jonah R. Moore 1534 Aline St. 899-2333 Kendall P. Parker Parker Dental Center 5121 N. Claiborne Ave. 949-4547 Paul C. Perez 3600 St. Charles Ave., Suite 202 304-4761 Greer Cieutat Reisig 7037 Canal Blvd., Suite 206 283-5549 Gizelle P. Richard 4460 General DeGaulle Drive 394-5330 Cosmetic services offered

Mark Stephen Chaney 1407 S. Carrollton Ave. 861-2523

Elizabeth E. Riggs 3442 Magazine St. 891-1115 Cosmetic services offered

Denice Lorraine Derbes 6251 General Diaz St. 486-2876

Jeffrey K. Roby 2633 Napoleon Ave., Suite 700 899-3497

Jay Christopher Dumas Daughters of Charity 3201 S. Carrollton Ave. 941-6079

Wallace George Serpas III CBD Dental Care 316 Baronne St. 525-9990

Dov Glazer 3525 Prytania St., Suite 312 895-1137

Kim M. Tolar Tolar Family Dentistry 2502 Napoleon Ave. 891-1880 Cosmetic services offered

Leslie Parro Gottsegen 2633 Napoleon Ave., Suite 610 891-5000 Henry A. Gremillion

Sammy Tom Uptown Dental

8131 St. Charles Ave. 304-6800

4224 Houma Blvd., Suite 670 456-5033

William R. Yeadon LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave. 619-8712

Walter Jackson Jackson Oral Surgery 4051 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 200 455-7161

River Ridge William Keith DeJong De Jong-Plaisance Family Dentistry 10154 Jefferson Highway 738-5171

Robert E. Lane Southern Oral Surgery 4224 Houma Blvd., Suite 230 454-4515

Kerry T. Plaisance Jr. De Jong-Plaisance Family Dentistry 10154 Jefferson Highway 738-5171

Demarcus D. Smith IV Oral Surgery Services 4420 Conlin St., Suite 203 455-9960

Slidell J. Kevin Curley 2800 Gause Blvd. E., Suite D (985) 649-7510

Paul Joseph Walters Oral Surgery Services 4420 Conlin St., Suite 203 455-9960

John J. Killeen Jr. Slidell Smiles 110 Village Square (985) 643-7516 Cosmetic services offered

New Orleans Charles Patrick Silvia Jr. Southern Oral Surgery 3525 Prytania St., Suite 216 899-8173

Michael T. Robichaux 1101 Robert Blvd., Suite A (985) 641-8058

Hugo St. Hilaire 2700 Napoleon Ave., Suite 700 412-1240

Stephen J. Tomaszewski Camellia City Family Dentistry 1275 Seventh St. (985) 641-4444

Slidell Nathan R. Brown Northlake Oral & Facial Surgery 1271 Seventh St. (985) 643-1010

Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Oral Pathology

Covington Ben A. Almerico Almerico Oral & Maxillofacial 195 Greenbriar Blvd., Suite 100 (985) 892-9993

New Orleans Kitrina G. Cordell LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave. 941-8449

Kenner Jeffrey W. Dongieux 1900 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 101 468-8300

Molly S. Rosebush LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave., Room 2108 619-8721

Marrero Anthony A. Indovina 5132 Lapalco Blvd.

340-2401 Metairie Michael S. Block The Center for Dental Reconstruction 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 112 833-3368 Edward Joseph Boos Oral & Maxillofacial Surgical Associates 4224 Houma Blvd., Suite 670 456-5033 Michael Gray Ferguson Oral Surgery Services 4420 Conlin St., Suite 203 455-9960 Daniel B Harris

Orthodontics

Covington Laurie Lee Fricke 2301 N. Highway 190, Suite 7 (985) 892-2081 Amy Smith Sawyer Sawyer Orthodontics 226 W. 21st Ave. (985) 327-7181 Gretna Philip J. Puneky 250 Meadowcrest St., Suite 202 392-8484 Harvey Jack Patrick Devereux Jr. Devereux & Nguyen Orthodontics 2800 Manhattan Blvd., Suite D 368-7513 Julia P. Trieu Trieu Smiles 3708 Fourth St., Suite 103

jeffery johnston photo

Charles P. Silvia Jr., DDS, MD Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon

my toughest case Implants Without Bone Support Dr. Charles Silvia always knew he wanted to be in medicine.

“My grandfather was a surgeon, and as I got older I met quite a few physicians and dentists,” he says. “I really liked the fact that as a dentist, you had more control over your schedule but you could still perform surgeries.”

Although born in Rhode Island, Silvia spent most of his life

in California.

“My dad was a Navy aviator; he flew helicopters,” he says.

“So our family relocated a few times. We spent a lot of years in the San Diego area. I went to college in Los Angeles and then San Francisco for dental school.”

He says that it was during dental school that he solidified his desire to become an oral and maxillofacial surgeon – a dental specialty focused on treating injuries, defects and diseases of the face, head and neck.

“I’ve always been really interested in the anatomical sciences, and I love working with my hands,” he says. “I just knew it was a really good fit for me.”

At Southern Oral Surgery’s two locations, Silvia and his partner, Robert Lane, DDS, treat a wide array of problems, from removing wisdom teeth to dealing with major facial deformities.

“Our more difficult cases typically occur when patients present to our office for dental implants and they don’t have enough bone to support them,” he says. ”Many of these cases used to require complex bone grafting, but we have been using unique shorter and wider implants that no one else in the city, or even the rest of Louisiana, is using. I am lucky – we have an amazing collection of excellent, well trained general dentists in the New Orleans area, and they make these cases go much smoother and with greater success.”

Although these types of cases are clearly extreme, Silvia says he never addresses a case thinking it will be easy.

“Sometimes it’s the ones you think will be easy, like a wisdom tooth, that actually turn out to be difficult,” he says.

The more drastic the change, however, the more rewarding the work.

“When a patient comes to see me and is unable to chew or even smile, and I am able to help them, it’s a real life changer,” he says. “When they come to me in pain and I can remove that for them, it’s so rewarding.”

He says he especially enjoys his work with younger patients.

“By removing wisdom teeth I can save them from problems down the line,” he says. “And if a tooth isn’t erupting properly, we can surgically expose the tooth and place an attachment so the orthodontist can guide the tooth into its proper position. Those patients, and their parents, are very grateful. There are really so many rewarding things about what I do.”

– Kimberley Singletary

Southern Oral Surgery 3525 Prytania St., Suite 216, New Orleans 70115, 899-8173 4224 Houma Blvd., Suite 230, Metairie 70006, 454-4515, SouthernOralSurgery.com Years in practice – 21; Degrees – UCLA BS in Kinesiology/Physiology; UCSF School of Dentistry; LSU School of Medicine – Medical degree; Native of Rhode Island

309-7830

899-8383

Robert Michael Watzke 1929 Jutland Drive 341-0970

River Ridge Daniel Paul Bordes 9537 Jefferson Highway 737-7324

Kenner David Victor Scaffidi 527 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 101 468-6200 Mandeville William R. Ledoux 260 Dalwill Drive (985) 674-1500 Ronald A. Madere Madere Orthodontics 4010 Lonesome Road (985) 626-0160 Darren Miller Miller Orthodontics 1566 Highway 59 (985) 626-0991 Metairie John O. Clotworthy Clotworthy Orthodontics 1014 Veterans Memorial Blvd.

833-4361 Russell J. Cresson 3333 Kingman St., Suite 200 885-8863 Hector R. Maldonado 4432 Conlin St., Suite 2B 455-5581 Brian J. Olivier Olivier Orthodontics 4408 Trenton St., Suite C 218-7300 Shannon K. Simons 3020 Kingman St., Suite A 887-8480 Carol A. Stuckey Stuckey Orthodontics 701 Metairie Road, Suite 1A-204 835-1349 New Orleans Paul C. Armbruster LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave., Suite 230 941-8234 Leeann S. Evans Evans Orthodontics 5700 Citrus Blvd., Suite C 301-3413 G. Bradley Gottsegen Gottsegen Orthodontics 3424 Coliseum St. 895-4841 Sarita N. Hithe Hithe Orthodontics 3322 Canal St. 309-1401 Jamie Lydia Toso Toso Orthodontics 1502 Calhoun St.

Kids Dental Zone 1128 Old Spanish Trail (985) 646-2146

Periodontics

Slidell Kay D. Daniel Explore Orthodontics 2960 Gause Blvd. E. (985) 641-2472

Covington Caesar Sweidan St. Tammany Periodontics and Implants 7020 Highway 190 Service Road, Suite B (985) 778-0241

Michael J. Guevara Guevara Orthodontics 1251 Seventh St. (985) 641-3587

Gretna Charles T. McCabe 250 Meadowcrest St., Suite 204 392-4734

Pediatric Dentistry

Covington Todd S. Brasuell 189 Greenbriar Blvd., Suite A (985) 892-5942

Metairie Aymee Costales-Spindler Periodontal Health Specialists 2540 Severn Ave., Suite 402 887-8205

Hammond Richard D. Olinde 1008 W. Thomas St. (985) 542-6855 Cosmetic services offered

Hisham F. Nasr The Perio Clinic 337 Metairie Road, Suite 301 831-0800

Madisonville Katherine E. Vo The Children’s Dental Cottage 704 Main St. (985) 845-3211 Mandeville Michael J. Von Gruben 1305 W. Causeway Approach (985) 778-2272 Metairie Pamela R. Shaw Dentistry for Children 701 Metairie Road 838-8200 New Orleans Kellie S. Axelrad New Orleans Children’s Dental Center 6264 Canal Blvd., Suite One 833-5528 Claudia Anne Cavallino New Orleans Childrens Dental Center 6264 Canal Blvd., Suite 1 833-5528 Suzanne E. Fournier Louisiana State University School of Dentistry 200 Henry Clay Ave. 352-8038 Stephen C. Holmes Uptown Pediatric Dentistry 3715 Prytania St., Suite 380 896-7435 Janice A. Townsend 200 Henry Clay Ave. 896-1338 Slidell Nicole R. Boxberger

A. Margarita Saenz The Perio Clinic 337 Metairie Road, Suite 301 831-0800 David Wilson Periodontal Health Specialists 2540 Severn Ave., Suite 402 887-8205 New Orleans Gerald H. Evans LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave., Floor 2 747-7505 Kristi M. Soileau 3634 Coliseum St. 899-2255 Slidell Thomas W. Mabry Slidell Periodontist 1241 Seventh St., Suite A (985) 646-1421

Prosthodontics

Covington Israel Finger More Smiles Dental 7007 Highway 190 (985) 809-7645

Gretna Michael B. Smith 250 Meadowcrest St., Suite 100 392-6057 Metairie Roger A. Vitter 4228 Houma Blvd., Suite 210 883-3737 New Orleans Marco A. Brindis LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave. 941-8286

Luis E. Infante Gonzalez LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave., Room 2108 619-8721 Laurie F. Moeller LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave., Suite 2108 941-8289 Alika K. F. Yu LSU School of Dentistry 1100 Florida Ave. 619-8721 Slidell Robert J. Rooney II Slidell Dental Implants 100 Smart Place (985) 641-6607 n

This list is excerpted from the 2016 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for more than 160 dentists and specialists in the New Orleans area. For more information call (706) 364-0853, write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903, email info@usatopdentists. com or visit USAtopDentists. com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.

Copyright 2010-2016 by Top Dentists, LLC, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission.

No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

jeffery johnston photo

Shelly Ereth-Barone, DDS General Dentistry

my toughest case Taking The Scare Out of Injections Dr. Shelly Ereth-Barone grew up a world away from New Orleans – on a cattle ranch in northeast Montana.

“I am one of five girls in the family, and we definitely had a lot of ranching duties growing up,” she says, “things like moving cows, fencing.”

Very early on, however, she found that her true passion lay not

on the open range, but in a dental office.

“I know it sounds weird, but from the moment I first went to the dentist, I loved everything about it,” she says. “The smell, the sounds, the atmosphere – it just drew me in. I could not wait to go back for my cleanings.”

Ereth-Barone credits the good people of her childhood dental office with her love of the experience. She says it’s something she tries hard to replicate at her own office, GNO Dental Care in Metairie.

“We really do everything we can to make people feel comfortable from the moment they walk in the door,” she says.

“We treat every patient as if they were our family member.”

Recognizing that coming to the dentist can be a nervewracking experience for some, Ereth-Barone says that sometimes it’s the little things that make a big difference.

“We encourage patients to bring in headphones if they’d like,” she says. “Sometimes we’ll burn candles, like lavender, which is good for relaxation. But sometimes it’s just as simple as keeping them talking about something like what they’re going to have for dinner that night that keeps their mind off what’s going on.”

Ereth-Barone says one of her most memorable cases of having to calm extreme jitters came when she first opened her own office nine years ago.

“This young boy came in for a simple cleaning and he was so terrified that his mom had to literally drag him in the door,” she says. “Three or four months later, he came back in and just strolled through the door, called out ‘Hi Dr. Barone,’ and went on back on his own to go sit in the chair.”

Ereth-Barone adds that she’s personally done a lot of research and extra training on how to give injections in the most comfortable way possible.

“I know that can be the scariest part for some people,” she says, “so I want to make sure it’s as gentle as it can be.”

GNO Dental also uses a program called Caesy, which can educate a patient about any procedure through animations and audio.

“It explains exactly what will happen in a very easy way that really takes out that scary unknown,” she says. “Again, it’s all about creating the most welcoming, calming experience possible.”

– Kimberley Singletary

GNO Dental Care 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 105-A, Metairie, 832-1164, GNODentalCare.com Years in practice – 10; Degrees – UNO (Received early admission to dental school); LSU School of Dentistry; Native of Montana

ADVERTISING SECTION

Dental

Resources C

onfidence and a healthy, beautiful smile go hand in hand – a great smile breeds confidence, and confidence makes you smile. Beyond just your smile, your oral health is important for so many reasons, and area dentists and oral health specialists have the expertise to address whatever your concern: white teeth, straight teeth, strong teeth, healthy gums and much more. From TMJ and sleep

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JUNE 2015 / myneworleans.com

apnea to painful, sensitive teeth, your oral health problem can be treated with the help of a local dentist, orthodontist, periodonstist, prosthodontist or surgeon. Prioritize routine cleanings and maintenance, as protecting your smile and bite is important for the long haul.

Locate a doctor based on your needs, and plan a bright future for your teeth, one with sparkling smiles that leave a lasting impression.

DR. ROGER A. VITTER, D.D.S., M.ED What is a Prosthodontist?

Recognized as one of nine dental specialties by the American Dental Association, prosthodontics involves diagnosis and treatment of complex oral health problems such as restorative and reconstructive dentistry.

Prosthodontics requires three years of additional training beyond general dentistry school.

Dr. Roger Vitter is a Metairie-based prosthodontist who practices simple and complex restorative dentistry. He specializes in esthetic dentistry, implant dentistry, full mouth rehabilitation, partial and complete dentures, correction of bite and jaw problems (TMJ), and sleep apnea. Dr. Vitter is honored to have been named a New Orleans “Top Dentist” nine years in a row.

Accepted into dental school after only three years of college and completing dental school in only three years, Dr. Roger 4228 Houma Blvd. Suite 210 | Metairie, LA 70006 504-883-3737 DrVitter.com

Vitter received his specialty training in prosthodontics from the LSU School of Dentistry and his training in oral oncology/maxillofacial prosthodontics from MD Anderson Cancer Hospital in Houston, Texas. Dr. Vitter is one of only about 350 maxillofacial prosthodontists in the country. He is an associate professor at the LSU School of Dentistry and has practiced full time in Metairie for over 30 years.

An active researcher and lecturer, Dr. Vitter’s particular interest is in the clinical application of digital and virtual prosthetic reconstruction of head and neck cancer patients.

Would your dental and oral health concerns benefit from the expertise of a specialist? To find out more about the specialty of prosthodontics, visit drvitter.com. Doesn’t your smile deserve a specialist?

ADVERTISING SECTION

General & Cosmetic Dentistry

Dr. Duane Delaune at Delaune Dental, The Art of Smiles, is passionate about making a positive difference in the lives of those who place their trust in him through the highest quality, comprehensive dentistry. He enjoys helping his patients achieve and maintain optimal dental health along with a great smile throughout their lifetime.

His state-of-the-art office, conveniently located near Lake Pontchartrain on Causeway Boulevard, offers a wide range of dental services including general, cosmetic, and implant services from dental cleanings to Smile Design and full mouth reconstructions.

Dr. Delaune considers cosmetic dentistry an art form. He is passionate about every smile and offers a smile guarantee, ensuring that his patients love their new smiles whether it be through porcelain veneers, bonding, implants, or even dentures. His work can be seen in his Smile Gallery at DelauneDental.com. For more information or to schedule an appointment or consultation, contact Kalie at info@delaunedental. com or 504-885-8869.

Your smile isn't only one of your most important features, it's also unique to you. Everyone’s oral health, overall health and financial position is different, so at DiMarco Dental, Dr. Damon DiMarco provides

individualized care and solutions that fit your specific needs. From routine cleanings to custom mouth and snore guards to implants and whitening, DiMarco Dental provides a variety of oral health services that will keep you both healthy and happy.

It’s never too early to visit DiMarco Dental. Patients start as early as two years old, and developing good habits early can lead to a lifetime of healthy smiles. Young patients often require sealants and other preventative measures to combat the temptations of the modern diet, especially the sugars found in foods and beverages.

To schedule an appointment or for more information on DiMarco Dental and the practice’s holistic approach to medicine, call 504-366-5611 or visit DimarcoDental. com. New patients are welcome at their Gretna-based office at 309 Gretna Blvd.

At Oak Family Dental, Dr. Troy Patterson, Dr. Jason Alvarez and Dr. Margaret “Garet” Patterson work hard to achieve the perfect mix of efficient, state-of-theart dental treatment and good old-fashioned family dental care. They believe that exceptional dental care combines the most updated treatments with genuine concern for your needs. According to one patient, “From the moment I walked into the door, I felt as though I was the most important person in the room.”

Periodontal Health Specialists is a periodontal practice located in Greater New Orleans and dedicated to using conservative, state-of-the-art procedures to restore healthy, brilliant smiles. When you visit Periodontal Health Specialists, your periodontal and total body health are top priorities. Each doctor takes an integrative approach to periodontics and makes every effort to relieve patient apprehension about periodontal care with intravenous sedation available. A close-knit team, everyone at Periodontal Health Specialists is committed to providing patients with personalized care. In addition to treating periodontal disease and offering a variety periodontal procedures, the practice also offers cosmetic procedures and dental implants. Periodontists receive extensive training in implant dentistry.

DR. DAVID WILSON, DDS AYMEE COSTALES-SPINDLER,DDS PERIODONTAL HEALTH SPECIALISTS 2540 Severn Avenue Suite 402, Metairie, LA 70002 (504) 887-8205 PerioHealthSpecialists.com

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Periodontal Health Specialists is the practice of Aymee Costales-Spindler, DDS, and David Wilson, DDS, MSD. Dr. Spindler has practiced since 1985 and proudly welcomes Dr. Wilson to the periodontal practice. Dr. Wilson’s practice focuses on comprehensive periodontal treatment and implant dentistry.

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Focusing on comprehensive care, a variety of treatments are offered including implant procedures, crown and bridge, veneers, same day crowns, dentures, root canals, extractions, Invisalign, tooth-colored fillings, cleanings, as well as numerous other procedures. The newly renovated state-of-the-art office is fully equipped to solve all your dental needs with stress-reducing technologies like digital X-rays, CEREC one-day crowns, and an in-house dental lab. Convenient evening and Saturday appointments are available, and doctors can be reached 24 hours a day for dental emergencies.

For more information, visit OakFamilyDental.com or call 504-834-6410.

All that is good begins with a smile. At Dr. Bridget Brahney Family Dentistry, your smile is top priority.

Dr. Brahney and her team are dedicated to helping you

achieve and maintain long-term dental health and a beautiful smile, whether it be through routine cleanings and check-ups or through finding a solution to a more complex dental concern.

When you visit Dr. Bridget Brahney Family Dentistry, you will experience all that modern dentistry has to offer, including the latest advancements that reduce discomfort and expedite care. Dr. Brahney offers a comprehensive list of general, restorative, and cosmetic dental services to meet the needs of the whole family, from Velscope oral cancer screening to fillings, crowns and tooth whitening.

Not only are Dr. Brahney and her team focused on the beauty of your smile, they’re also concerned about your health, and to that end they focus on thorough exams and routine cleanings. For more information about Dr. Bridget Brahney and her practice, or to schedule an appointment, visit SmileNewOrleans.com or call 504-888-6860.

Mark D. Anderson, DDS; Jessica Tingstrom, DDS & Julio Marin, DDS

Mid-City Smiles Family Dentistry is conveniently located on the Canal streetcar line in the heart of MidCity. Dr. Mark Anderson, Dr. Jessica Tingstrom, Dr. Julio Marin, and their experienced team offer complete dental care for all ages, from routine cleanings to cosmetic dentistry procedures. In addition, Mid-City Smiles offers complete dental implant care including placement of implants as well as orthodontic care including braces and Invisalign.

Their new, state-of-the-art office offers the most advanced technology including a Dental 3D CBCT Scanner for the highest quality imaging needed for implant dentistry as well as an iTero Intraoral Digital Scanner used in place of traditional impressions for crowns and Invasalign, providing more accurate results.

Dr. Anderson, Dr. Tingstrom, and Dr. Marin are all New Orleans natives and graduates of the LSU School of Dentistry. Mid-City Smiles proudly serves as the official dental care provider of the New Orleans Pelicans.

Mid-City Smiles Family Dentistry 3625 Canal Street | New Orleans, LA 70119 504-485-6575 www.midcitysmiles.com

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Group are transforming lives with Esthetic Dentistry.

Dr. Cieutat-Reisig’s work is truly transformative, as it uses modern aesthetic techniques to make improvements whether subtle or dramatic. Aesthetic procedures offered include veneers, smile lifts, turbo-power bleaching, Invisalign, and implants. Even minor cosmetic dentistry can help improve your smile, making you appear years younger.

Conveniently located in Old Metairie (337 Metairie Road, Ste. 200), the Schwartz Dental Group provides a sleek, modern, and relaxing office for Greater New Orleans patients. The practice is patient-focused and treats patients as family. Dr. Cieutat-Reisig is dedicated to building lasting relationships with her patients based on trust and the ability to meet the personal needs of the individual. She takes time with patients and offers consultations for answering questions and listening to patient concerns.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 504-832-2043 or visit DrJohnSchwartz.com.

healthy smiles. Dr. Hunter Charvet Sr., Dr. Hunter Charvet Jr. and Dr. Sarah Haydel offer the best options to help patients make informed decisions about their dental work. They welcome patients of all ages and offer comprehensive dental services such as preventive cleanings with digital X-rays, natural colored composite fillings, Invisalign teeth straightening and complex restorative cosmetic cases that can include dental implants. The practice offers advanced digital equipment, including a Prexion CT machine and an iTero digital scanner for crowns, bridges, and implants performed using MIS surgical guides to ensure proper placement.

Dr. Charvet Jr. recently completed an implant course from the IADA, and Dr. Charvet Sr. earned his fellowship with the ICOI and is a graduate of the MISCH International Implant Institute. He offers the SomnoMed Oral Sleep Appliance for patients with sleep apnea. Both Drs. Charvet have received “Elite Dentist Recognition” from MicroDental Laboratories. Visit DrCharvet.com or call 504-834-6504 to schedule an appointment or for more information.

Charvet Dental Center is a third generation dental practice that focuses on the overall oral health of each patient while helping them maintain beautiful,

Dr. Mark Anderson, Dr. Jessica Tingstrom and Dr. Julio Marin pride themselves in their top-quality, patient-first approach to family dentistry. Conveniently

With immense respect for the “Power of Smile,”

Dr. Greer Cieutat-Reisig and the Schwartz Dental

JOSEPH COLLURA, DDS GENERAL DENTISTRY

Dr. Collura earned his degree from LSU School of Dentistry after earning his pharmacy degree. He has also taken numerous postgraduate courses in cosmetics, restorative, and implant dentistry. He has extensive training in minimally invasive dentistry, as opposed to traditional crowns and veneers. Our focus is patient comfort. We offer conscious sedation and nitrous oxide. Smile gallery on drcollura.com.

3939 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 104, Metairie, LA 70002 504-837-9800 DrCollura.com

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DR. JENE’ PONDER & DR. GEORGE COMEAUX The father-daughter team of Dr. George Comeaux and Dr. Jene’ Comeaux Ponder have provided top quality dental care for 40+ combined years. New Orleans natives and graduates of LSU School of Dentistry, Drs. Comeaux and Ponder welcome entire families to the practice—adults, adolescents, and children from 18 months.

2620 Metairie Rd., Metairie, LA 70001 | 504-834-2180

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located on the Canal streetcar line in Mid-City, Mid-City Smiles Family Dentistry offers complete dental care for all ages – everything from routine cleanings and cosmetic procedures, such as veneers and Zoom Whitening, to advanced implant dentistry. Orthodontic care includes braces and Invisalign, and Dr. Anderson is recognized as a leading area Invisalign provider. A new, state-of-the-art office allows them to offer the most advanced technology and techniques in creating and restoring beautiful, healthy smiles.

All New Orleans natives and graduates of LSU School of Dentistry, Dr. Anderson graduated from Benjamin Franklin High School and LSU; Dr. Tingstrom graduated from Mount Carmel Academy and UNO; and Dr. Marin is a graduate of Brother Martin and LSU. Along with their caring staff, they provide a friendly relaxed atmosphere in a beautiful office space.

Mid-City Smiles is uniquely positioned to serve both the English- and Spanish-speaking communities of New Orleans. For more information, or to schedule an appointment, visit MidCitySmiles.com or call 504-4856575.

Relaxed and comfortable are words not often associated with dental appointments, yet they are commonly used to describe appointments at the dental

office of Dr. Deborah Lesem in Lakeview. Her friendly and experienced staff greet you and quickly put you at ease. The spotlessly clean office is bright and cheerful.

For over 20 years, Dr. Lesem has seen patients of all ages, from children to elderly patients requiring special assistance. Treatments ranging from dental cleanings and screenings for gum disease and oral cancer to cosmetic procedures and makeovers, emergency care, fillings and root canals are just some of the many general dental services offered by Dr. Lesem.

If personal and attentive care is what you are looking for, Dr. Lesem’s dental office is the place for you. Consultations are a good way to get to know Dr. Lesem and get a feel for her office and are recommended for patients who may be apprehensive about a new dentist or dental treatment in general. For more information or to schedule an appointment, call 504-286-3880.

DeFelice Dental is committed to a conservative approach in patient care, focusing on preventative measures and maintenance as well as on patient education. They provide top-quality care in a relaxed atmosphere. For patients who may require more complex treatment, the DeFelice Dental team provides comprehensive care with a gentle, caring touch. Services

A lifelong resident of New Orleans, Dr. Greer Cieutat Reisig is a graduate of LSU School of Dentistry, Texas Christian University and Benjamin Franklin Sr. High School. With a sincere passion for creating beautiful smiles, Dr. Cieutat Reisig has nearly 30 years of practice experience treating patients of all ages.

She offers a variety of cosmetic services including teeth bleaching, Invisalign, bonding, porcelain veneers, tooth-colored fillings, crowns, and implant restoration. Dr. Cieutat-Reisig’s work is truly transformative, as it uses modern aesthetic techniques to make improvements whether subtle or dramatic. The practice is patient-focused with a goal of treating patients as family.

DR. GREER CIEUTAT REISIG 337 Metairie Road 504-832-2043

Dr. Cieutat-Reisig offers high quality dentistry in a relaxed atmosphere in a state-of-the-art facility located in Old Metairie. She has immense experience with both children, the elderly, and the medically compromised having spent 10 years affiliated with Children’s Hospital and many years working with Woldenberg Village.

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provided at the practice include gentle cleanings, toothcolored fillings, nonsurgical gum care, teeth whitening, porcelain veneers, natural looking crowns and implants.

In addition to visual cancer screenings completed during appointments, Velscope oral cancer early detection technology is available for patients needing or requesting more advanced screening.

Prior to leading his team at DeFelice Dental, Dr. Tre DeFelice worked as the Clinical Director of a unique specialty practice in New Orleans, where he planned, delivered and coordinated patient treatment along with a team of dental specialists, gaining tremendous experience and knowledge along the way. Dr. DeFelice spends many hours in continuing education to advance in areas of comprehensive patient care, esthetics, and dental implants.

DeFelice Dental is conveniently located at 1900 N. Causeway Blvd. near I-10. For more information, visit Dentist-Metairie.com or call 504-833-4300.

Dr. Jene’ Comeaux Ponder and her father Dr. George Comeaux Jr., along with their dedicated and caring staff, have been utilizing state-of-the-art technology to provide top quality and affordable dental care for all ages. The full range of dental services offered include preventative care, fillings, crowns, bridges, full

and partial dentures, implant restoration, Lumineers, root canals and oral surgery, along with cosmetic procedures and Essix minor tooth movement The practice is conveniently located in the heart of Old Metairie at 2620 Metairie Road. New patients are always welcome, and many insurances are accepted. To schedule an appointment or to get more information, call 504-834-2180.

Dr. Joseph J. Collura has worked at the forefront of cosmetic dentistry for more than 30 years, providing high quality care and attractive, bright smiles to patients throughout the New Orleans region. He has extensive experience in cosmetic dentistry, advanced restorative dentistry, single-tooth as well as complete mouth implant reconstruction, root canal therapy, non-surgical gum care and the prevention and treatment of bite-related problems. Dr. Collura is passionate about advancing his skills and education and has been honored with a guest faculty position with the prestigious Scottsdale Center for Dentistry, which provides the latest in programs, seminars and hands-on training. Additionally, Dr. Collura is licensed by the Louisiana State Board of Dentistry for conscious sedation and nitrous oxide analgesia.

When you visit Dr. Joseph Collura, you’ll realize

Charvet Dental Center is the private practice of Dr. Hunter Charvet, Sr., and Dr. Hunter Charvet, Jr. Second and third generation dentists, this father and son team offer a full range of dental services to patients of all ages, and have done so at the same location for over 35 years.

Dr. Charvet graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry in 1980 and has recently earned his fellowship with the International Congress of Oral Implantologists. He is a graduate of the Misch International Implant Institute.

In 2009, Dr. Charvet, Jr., graduated from the LSU School of Dentistry, where he served as class VP, and joined his father in private practice.

Dr. Sarah Haydel recently joined the practice as an Associate.

HUNTER CHARVET, JR., DDS SARAH HAYDEL, DDS HUNTER CHARVET, DDS CHARVET DENTAL CENTER

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Each doctor is a member of the Louisiana Dental Association, American Dental Association and New Orleans Dental Association, where Dr.Charvet, Jr., is a member of the House of Delagates 2300 VETERANS MEMORIAL BLVD. METAIRIE, LA 70002 504-834-6504 | WWW.DRCHARVET.COM

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you’re in a caring, calm environment designed for patient comfort with an open, relaxed atmosphere facing Lake Pontchartrain. During your one-on-one discussion following an exam by Dr. Collura, he’ll answer your questions and give you the information you need to make confident choices about your oral health care. For more information or to make an appointment, visit DrCollura.com or call 504-837-9800.

Pediatric Dentists

Dr. Jason Parker is a pediatric dentist specializing in comprehensive children’s dental needs from age 1 to teens. Dr. Parker received the Louisiana Dental Association’s New Dentist Award in 2008 for his outstanding contribution of time and talent for the

betterment of mankind.

He has served the LDA and NODA in many capacities, including serving as a delegate at the House of Delegates Annual Legislative Session, on the NODA Conference Committee, on the LDA Council on Communications and on the LDA Council on Governmental Affairs. He was appointed to the NODA Board of Governors and is the second Vice President of NODA. Parker was bestowed the honor of 2004 New Dentist Award of Excellence by NODA. In the community, Dr. Parker has volunteered, organized, or helped raise money for events city wide for children’s dental health. He also helped produce a post-Katrina documentary involving dentistry in New Orleans that he presented with Barbara Walters at the

The mission at Delaune Dental, The Art of Smiles, is to make a positive difference in your life through the highest quality comprehensive dentistry. Dr. Delaune will help you achieve and maintain optimal dental health along with a great smile throughout your lifetime.

He and his team are passionate about the care they provide. It is their hope this artistry and care will have a ripple effect in your life and throughout the community. To learn more about Delaune Dental, visit www.delaunedental.com. To schedule an appointment or consultation, contact Kalie at info@delaunedental.com or (504) 885-8869.

DR. DUANE DELAUNE DELAUNE DENTAL

3801 N. Causeway Blvd., Suite 305, Metairie, LA 70002 504-885-8869 DelauneDental.com

Oak Family Dental, the office of Drs. Troy L. Patterson, Jason Alvarez and Margaret Patterson, has served the New Orleans area for over 35 years. Patients are welcomed into a warm, friendly, family-based environment where they are given personal attention to restore existing concerns and learn how to prevent oral health problems.

DRS. TROY L. PATTERSON, JASON ALVAREZ AND MARGARET PATTERSON OAK FAMILY DENTAL

Focusing on comprehensive care, numerous treatments are offered including implants, veneers, crown and bridge, same day crowns, dentures, root canals, extractions, Invisalign, and preventive treatment. The state-of-the-art office is fully equipped to solve all your dental needs. Evening and Saturday appointments are available. For more information visit www.oakfamilydental.com.

1001 N. Causeway Blvd., Metairie, LA 70001 504-834-6410 OakFamilyDental.com

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ADA Annual Meeting in San Francisco.

For more information on Dr. Parker and his practice, visit DocParker4Kids.com or call 504-831-2120.

Orthodontics When your dental concerns involve straightening the teeth or achieving a balanced facial profile, it’s time to consult an orthodontist. At Explore Orthodontics, Dr. Kay Daniel and her team help you achieve the smile you deserve – a natural, healthy, and beautiful one.

Adults seeking treatment will find a full range of options specifically designed for adults at Explore Orthodontics. By seeking orthodontic treatment as an adult, you can possibly avoid severe tooth decay, gum and bone loss, irregular wear of the tooth enamel and TMJ/TMD pain.

For children and adolescents, Dr. Daniel is able to make a proper diagnosis and guide the process towards a healthy bite and beautiful smile. Treatment plans are designed for each individual patient’s concerns and dental needs.

Dr. Daniel is also able to treat sleep apnea and snoring. With in-office 3D diagnostic capability and at-home sleep testing, adults can be on their way to a better, healthier night’s sleep with the use of a comfortable dental appliance.

For more information on Explore Orthodontics or to

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schedule an appointment, visit ExploreOrtho.com.

Periodontics Periodontists specialize in the bone and tissues surrounding and supporting the teeth and are experts in the management of patients with periodontal diseases including all forms of gingivitis, periodontitis, and gum recession. New Orleans is home to some of the leaders in this field: Dr. Aymee Costales-Spindler and Dr. David Wilson of Periodontal Health Specialists.

When you visit Periodontal Health Specialists, your periodontal and total body health are top priorities.

Each doctor takes an integrative approach to periodontics and makes every effort to relieve patient apprehension about periodontal care. A close-knit team, everyone at Periodontal Health Specialists is dedicated to providing patients with personalized, state-of-theart care. In addition to treating periodontal disease and offering a variety of periodontal procedures, the practice also offers cosmetic procedures and dental implants.

Learn more about periodontics and Periodontal Health Specialists at PerioHealthSpecialists.com. Call their office anytime to schedule a consultation – no doctor referral is necessary. Schedule your appointment by calling 504-887-8205.

DAMON DIMARCO, DDS

MICHAEL S. BLOCK, M.D.

DIMARCO DENTAL

THE CENTER FOR DENTAL RECONSTRUCTION

At DiMarco Dental, patients can expect individualized care and tailored solutions unique to their health and smiles. Located in Gretna, just minutes from the CBD, DiMarco Dental is the family practice of Dr. Damon DiMarco. The practice has provided quality care for over 50 years in a friendly family environment.

A top New Orleans specialist, Dr. Michael Block is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon experienced in implant dentistry and surgical corrections. He utilizes cutting-edge technologies to ensure best possible patient care. Dr. Block is a graduate of Harvard School of Dental Medicine and received his training in Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery at LSU.

309 Gretna Blvd., Gretna, LA 70053 504-366-5611 DimarcoDental.com

110 Veterans Blvd. Suite 112 Metairie, LA 70005 504-833-3368 centerfordentalreconstruction.com

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Oral & Maxillofacial Surgery

A top specialist in New Orleans, Dr. Michael Block is an Oral and Maxillofacial Surgeon who utilizes state of the art technology to ensure the best care for patients.

He practices the full scope of oral and maxillofacial surgery, including orthognathic surgical correction of facial deformities, TMJ problems, removal of tumors with reconstruction and removal of teeth with sedation.

Dr. Block’s latest book on implant surgery is used by students, residents and professionals as a resource, and he teaches the procedure that replaces all of the patient’s teeth or one tooth within a few hours of removal, eliminating the need for dentures. Patients come in with teeth – or a tooth – that need replacing and leave the office with a new set of teeth, or a single crown, all within a few hours. He is one of few surgeons in the United States using a Navigation method (X-Nav) to optimize implant placement, which results in ideal tooth replacement because of ideal implant positioning.

Dr. Block’s efficient office and staff carefully organize schedules to avoid delays in seeing and treating patients at the clinic. For more info, visit CenterForDentalReconstruction.com or call 504-833-3368.

KAY DANIEL, DDS EXPLORE ORTHODONTICS

A native of St. Tammany Parish, Dr. Kay Daniel comes from a family of dedicated dentists. In practice since 1998, she has orthodontic experience resulting in thousands of beautiful smiles. With three convenient locations, Explore Orthodontics offers a variety of effective treatments plans tailored to each patient.

2935 Highway 190 Mandeville, LA 70471 | (985) 727-3010 4061 Behrman Hwy. New Orleans, LA 70114 | (504) 368-0690 2960 E. Gause Blvd.

Slidell, LA 70461 | (985) 641-2472

ExploreOrtho.com

Prosthodontics

Dr. Roger Vitter is a Metairie-based prosthodontist who practices both simple and complex restorative dentistry. Recognized as one of nine dental specialties by the American Dental Association, prosthodontics involves diagnosis and treatment of complex oral health problems such as restorative and reconstructive dentistry. Prosthodontics requires three years of additional training beyond general dentistry school.

Dr. Vitter has practiced full time in Metairie for over 30 years and is an associate professor at the LSU School of Dentistry. Dr. Vitter specializes in esthetic dentistry, implant dentistry, full mouth rehabilitation, partial and complete dentures, correction of bite and jaw problems (TMJ) and sleep apnea. He has been recognized as a New Orleans “Top Dentist” nine years in a row.

Would your dental and oral health concerns benefit from the expertise of a specialist? Your smile certainly deserves one. Dr. Vitter believes patients should have as much information as possible in order to make important, informed decisions regarding their oral health and treatment options. He invites you to learn more and explore his practice and specialty. For information, visit DrVitter.com or call 504-883-3737.

BRIDGET BRAHNEY, DDS

DR. BRIDGET BRAHNEY FAMILY DENTISTRY Dr. Bridget Brahney is a New Orleans native and proud graduate of top-ranked NYU College of Dentistry and Loyola University New Orleans.

A member of several professional and prestigious organizations, Dr. Brahney passionately pursues continued education. She and her staff are committed to providing high quality care in a relaxed environment.

3508 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Metairie, LA 70002 504-888-6860 SmileNewOrleans.com

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DINING LISTINGS

Carrollton Market quickly made a name for itself when it opened back in 2014 and with good reason – chef Jason Goodenough uses southern cuisine as a platform to swiftly branch out into polished iterations of more contemporary fare. ...The announcement of his weekend brunch is welcome news.

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THE MENU / TABLE TALK Biscuits and Debris entree from the Brunch Menu at Carrollton Market

Riverbend Brunches Where two avenues meet

by JAY FORMAN

W

ho doesn’t love brunch? Brunch is breakfast all grown up, but it still keeps things casual.

Simplicity and sophistication coexist on the same menu but at a friendlier price point. Chefs love it because it lifts their bottom line with an additional service, and customers love it because it’s, well, brunch. And in the Riverbend neighbor-

hood there are an array of different restaurants that are a good fit for all styles and budgets. And with college out for summer, June is a good time to visit these spots that will be crowded come fall.

Carrollton Market quickly made a name for itself when it opened back in 2014 and with good reason – chef Jason Goodenough uses southern cuisine as

Brunch Bites Carrollton Market 8132 Hampson St. 252-9928 CarrolltonMarket.com Dinner Tuesdays-Saturdays, brunch SaturdaysSundays

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Refuel Café 8124 Hampson St. 872-0187 RefuelCafe.com Breakfast and brunch daily

Dante’s Kitchen 736 Dante St. 861-3121 DantesKitchen.com Dinner Wednesdays-Mondays, brunch Saturdays-Sundays

a platform to swiftly branch out into polished iterations of more contemporary fare. But one thing he didn’t offer was lunch service, which made the announcement of his weekend brunch welcome news.

“We tried out an Easter brunch last year just to test the waters, and it was such a success that we did three turns that day,” Goodenough recalls. “So we made it a regular thing, and along the way we added Saturday service. Now we offer brunch all weekend long.”

Goodenough’s menu offers a tasteful mix of options. His “Biscuits and Debris” melds cornmeal biscuits, braised oxtail debris, spicy hollandaise and poached eggs into one sinful concoction, and also one in which you see a well-balanced interplay of southern, local and contemporary influences. An omelet dish makes use of his popular dinner appetizer Oysters Goodenough by incorporating them into a decadent omelet stuffed with creamed leeks, Benton’s bacon and sauce béarnaise. And if this isn’t enough for you, consider the Brunch Poutine, a more sophisticated take on the popular late-night Quebecois drunk food or hangover cure.

Goodenough’s take features bacon and eggs atop the foundational fries, gravy and cheese curds.

On the lighter side, there is a Creole Cream Cheese Stuffed French Toast with local blueberry jam and a homemade cinnamon roll with Cream Cheese icing. Look for mid-summer produce to appear in his vegetarian omelet, and also keep an eye open for dishes that make use of California Olive Ranch olive oil, a domestically produced product that’s foundational to a lot of his lighter dinner preparations, including his sumjeffery johnston PHOTOGRAPH

Late Morning or Late Night Some things never go out of style, and among them is a late morning (or late night) stop at Camellia Grill. A straight-up diner with local flair, you won’t find ‘locally sourced’ this or ‘handforged’ that here. What you will find is a crowd-pleasing array of burgers, omelets, waffles, sandwiches and more. It is a rite of passage for tourists and locals alike.

mery appetizer of crabmeat and Creole tomatoes.

“I was a guest at their ranch last year and got to see how it was made from harvest to bottle,” Goodenough says.

“Compared to some of the Italian oils, the difference was the depth of flavor and just how peppery it was. It had lot of natural character. We use it extensively.” The higher-end Arbequina version, for example, is used with to finish a lot of his finfish dishes, as well as with his salads and dressings.

Carrollton Market also offers a full bar and signature cocktail menu, which adds to the allure. The light-filled main dining room is elegant without being fancy, and fans of the craft will appreciate the view into the open kitchen.

Just a few doors down is Refuel Café, a hugely popular pit-stop for the college crowd.

This inexpensive counter-service spot focuses exclusively on breakfast and brunch, seven days a week. Enjoy going in the summer, before the schools are back in session.

Refuel distinguishes itself with a healthier, more thoughtful brunch menu than most other casual places. Egg whites, fresh produce and fresh-cut fruit abound. But

for the less healthily inclined, plate-sized waffles are available with a slew of accompaniments including Nutella, whipped cream and more. You can assemble your own Grit Plate with add-ons like bacon and avocado, roasted red pepper and feta. Indeed, part of the appeal of this place is the mix-and-match nature of the menu. More composed dishes include a very nice Spicy Cuban Sandwich made with citrus pulled pork, house-pickled jalapeno peppers, coarse mustard and Swiss on pressed bread. Wraps are on the smaller side, but the ingredients are fresh. I like the Southwest version with chorizo, avocado, eggs and cheese. Unlike Carrollton Market, Refuel doesn’t have a liquor license, but their coffee program is strong and they also offer an array of high-quality teas.

Brunch at chef Eman Loubier’s Dante’s Kitchen has been a draw for years now. The charming cottage at the foot of Dante Street seamlessly melds indoor and outdoor seating thanks to its lush tropical courtyard. On the menu you’ll find a long list of entrées, such as Dante’s Eggs Benedict, made with rosemary-scented pork tenderloin, local honey, buttermilk biscuits, eggs and hollandaise sauce. Chef Eman Loubier famously supports local foragers and producers, and while their sourcing is seen more in the dinner menu, look for excellent produce and seasonal fare to appear in the brunch menu as well.

Get there when they open at 10:30 a.m. for the best choice of seating. Reservations are not accepted for smaller parties, and they fill up quickly.

Also, Dante’s is a popular incubator for pop-ups, so be sure to check their website to see who might be appearing there on a Tuesday night to mix things up. n

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News From the Kitchens

Catahoula Hotel, Chris’ Specialty Meats and Bienvenue Bar & Grill

BY ROBERT PEYTON

Bar and Café in the Catahoula Hotel Once upon a time, Peruvian food was supposed to be the next big thing. There is a good reason for that: it’s a fascinating cuisine, and there’s a wide array of dishes.

It hasn’t really caught on here, but that may change with the opening of the Bar and Café in the Catahoula Hotel. Executive chef Billy LaCrosse collaborated with chef Dana Honn of Carmo on a menu that features classic Peruvian cuisine with a modern twist. As I write, the kitchen is working on its venting system, so the menu is composed of cold dishes such as raw fish preparations like ceviche and tiradito, along with salads and sandwiches.

By the time you read this, however, the menu will have expanded to include multiple versions of the dishes already on the menu, as well as four or five versions of causa, a dish based, literally, on chilled mashed potatoes seasoned with aji chiles and lime. Chef LaCrosse plans versions topped with shrimp, white anchovies, artichokes and a fresh fish that will change daily. In the summer, he anticipates multiple gazpachos using seasonal ingredients such as watermelon and tomato with avocado and cucumber. He emphasized that there will be vegan options for most of the dishes on the menu.

The Café and Bar at the Catahoula Hotel are located at 914 Union St., and it’s open at 7 a.m. for coffee; lunch starts at 11 a.m. and food service continues until midnight or 1 a.m., seven days a week. Call 504 603 4442 to learn more.

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Chris’ Specialty Meats Chris’ Specialty Meats was started in 1994 in Maurice, Louisiana, by siblings Chris and Twyla LaChaussee. The business soon moved to Baton Rouge, which still houses the production facility; there are two retail outlets, one in Prairieville and the other, since September of last year, here in New Orleans.

As you’d guess from the name, the main reason to visit Chris’ is the meat. The place is large and ringed by freezers containing vacuum-sealed and pre-seasoned products that range from stuffed chicken to ostrich tenderloin. There is a list of what’s available at their website: ChrisSpecialtyMeats.com.

There are two basic seasonings; for beef and other red meats, Chris’ uses a blend of paprika, garlic, onion, pepper and salt, and for “white” meats, they use a Cajun seasoning that was described to me as similar to Tony Chachere’s, but with less salt and a little less heat. You can order meats un-seasoned by calling in advance. Similarly, if you want something that isn’t available in the freezers, they’ll try to find it for you.

In addition to the meats, there’s a wide range of sausages and prepared foods on offer, and Creole and Cajun products line shelves between the freezers.

Chris’ Specialty Meats is located at 6251 West End Blvd., and it’s open 9 a.m.-7 p.m.

Mondays through Saturdays, 10 a.m.-5 p.m. on Sundays. Call 309-0010 to place an order.

Bienvenue Bar & Grill Ryan Haro closed his eponymous coffee and chocolate shop on Carondelet Street just before Mardi Gras, but he didn’t go far. In September of last year he took over FredRick’s, a convenience store on St. Charles Avenue that also served sandwiches and plate lunches.

Just before Carnival, Haro started renovations, re-opening as Bienvenue Bar & Grill as he closed his Carondelet operation.

You wouldn’t know it was a convenience store if you walk in today. The dingy drywall covering the walls has been removed to expose brick that lay underneath, and Haro has added two bars. He did retain the coolers that line the rear wall and plans to offer a variety of local and craft beers along the lines of Stein’s deli, if not as expansive.

The food at Bienvenue is also an upgrade; the onion rings are handmade as are the burgers, and the chicken is fresh, rather than frozen. In addition to burgers, poor boys and similar fare, there’s the option to order a “po’ bowl,” which he likened to the burrito bowls at Chipotle; a “bowl” of romaine leaves is filled with shredded iceberg lettuce and diced, then topped with any of the ingredients available for poor boys.

Bienvenue is located at 321 St. Charles Ave. and is open 8 a.m.-8 p.m. during the week, and 9 a.m.-3 p.m. on Saturdays and Sundays.

Call 587-7133 for more information.

SARA ESSEX BRADLEY photographs

myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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THE MENU / FOOD

Green Peace Salads for the season

by Dale Curry

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PHOTOGRAPHed and styled EUGENIA UHL

B Minty Watermelon and Avocado Salad 6 cups watermelon, cut into 1-inch cubes

2 avocados, cut into chunks 2 stalks celery, cut in 1/8-inch slices 2/3 cup chopped sweet onion ½ cup chopped fresh mint leaves 1 ½ cups feta cheese, cut into ¼-inch squares or crumbled Poppyseed dressing: ¼ cup cider vinegar 1/2 cup extra-virgin olive oil ¼ cup Dijon mustard

efore the turn of the century, salads were nowhere if they didn’t contain radicchio, arugula or frisée. Iceberg was out. Then came mesclun or fancy mixed greens. So available for so long, they border on boring. Now kale is in. That is, when it’s not a wedge or, in other words, iceberg.

Yes, fads swing and repeat themselves, even when it comes to the simple salad. But one thing is for sure – summer is the time for salads, no matter what you put in them.

Personally, I’ve decided I really like iceberg because of its crunch. After rinsing and spinning it, I put it back in the fridge with a wet paper towel over it. It gets as crispy as a hard shell taco. I use it as wraps for a variety of fillings, and as a wedge salad because my favorite dressing, blue cheese, is the standard.

Of all the “gourmet” greens, I most love arugula for its kicky taste and also for the ease of growing it. You can fill a container with a few seeds and in no time have beautiful leaves sprouting up. I like to snip off the leaves with scissors as they mature.

Mixing fruit with salad is a pure delight.

Sliced grapes, orange wedges and watermelon cubes give a salad extra oomph. Roasted nuts do as well; try almonds, walnuts or pecans.

Roast them in the oven for 5 to 10 minutes or until their aroma rises up and they become slightly browned. There is nothing like a good crunch in a green salad.

Speaking of fads, remember the layered salads that marinate a few hours before tossing them with dressing. I love the Sarah Salad, filled with different lettuces, peas and Swiss cheese and topped with bacon. Some long-running favorites still popular are the whole-meal Cobb and the caprese combo of in-season tomatoes, fresh basil and fresh mozzarella. Look for the best mozzarella you can find, and do yourself a favor and plant a basil plant. Last year mine grew three feet high in a container. I was distraught when the winter chill killed it.

June is the peak season for Creole tomatoes and the kickoff for many fresh summer veggies.

Farmers’ markets are at their best right now, and I like to try different ones in several parishes. One thing for sure, my salads are in for some big improvements.

Spinach Strawberry Salad

Chicken Salad With Creole Tomatoes

Kosher salt and freshly ground black pepper to taste

1 8-ounce bag cleaned fresh spinach

1/2 cup sliced almonds

Keep all ingredients cold until ready to serve. You can mix dressing ingredients ahead, if desired.

1 cup strawberries, rinsed, stemmed and sliced

½ medium onion, chopped

4 thin slices red onion, separated into rings

1 Tablespoon sugar 2 teaspoons poppy seeds

In a large bowl, mix watermelon, avocados, celery, onion, mint and feta.

In a small bowl, mix all dressing ingredients. When ready to serve, pour as much dressing as desired over salad and serve. Serves 6 to 8 as side salads

½ cup whole pecan halves

2 ounces blue cheese, crumbled 8 to 10 sweet basil leaves, torn For dressing: 2 Tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil 1 Tablespoon red wine vinegar 1 teaspoon sugar Salt, freshly ground black pepper and garlic powder to taste Spread pecan halves on a baking pan and roast in a 350-degree oven for 6 to 8 minutes or until slightly browned, turning once. Set aside to cool.

Place spinach in a large salad bowl. Add strawberries, red onion, blue cheese and basil leaves.

Place dressing ingredients in a medium bowl and whisk until thoroughly mixed. When ready to serve, pour over salad ingredients and mix well. Serves 4 to 6 as side salads

3 boneless skinless chicken breasts 2 stalks celery, chopped 3/4 cup Hellman’s mayonnaise Coarse sea salt, freshly ground black pepper, Creole seasoning and garlic powder to taste 1/4 cup fresh flat-leaf parsley, chopped 2 to 3 large red-ripe Creole tomatoes Lettuce, if desired Place chicken breasts in a medium skillet or pot and cover with water. Cover and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and poach, turning once, until chicken is done; about 30 minutes, depending on size. Drain and cool.

Spread almonds in a thin layer on a pan and place in a preheated 350-degree oven for about 4 to 5 minutes or until almonds are fragrant and barely browning. Cool.

Place celery and onions in a large bowl. When chicken is cool, pull it apart with your fingers so that the meat is shredded, not chopped. After shredding, you can chop a few times to make pieces smaller. Add chicken and remaining ingredients except tomatoes to a bowl and mix well, tasting and seasoning as you like.

When ready to serve, slice tomatoes about ½-inch thick, placing two on each plate. Sprinkle lettuce if using. Lightly salt and pepper, and top each with 1/2 cup chicken salad.

Garnish with chopped parsley leaves. Serves 6 as entrée salads Note: If you like curry chicken salad, add 2 teaspoons curry powder when mixing. myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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THE MENU / LAST CALL

Gone Wild

Sipping an Andromeda BY tim mcnally

T

here is simply no containing June; it’s all over the map. June is the month of weddings and grand receptions, with honeymoons and all manner of parties. June is the month of vacations. The kiddies are out of the school and the family is on their way to the beach, Disney World, Washington, D.C., or to visit relatives in not-soexotic destinations.

Around here June is the month when festivals continue at a frenzied pace. Count among the diversions the Oyster Festival, the French Market Creole Tomato Festival, the Louisiana Cajun Zydeco Festival, Father’s Day and towards the end of June, the beginnings of Essence Fest.

As usual, keeping track is a full-time task. Since we don’t want to miss out on anything, why not sit back, enjoy a beverage and assure that your schedule includes all the parties. As a suggestion, Abigail Gullo, the talented and oh-so-personable bar mistress at Compère Lapin, has concocted a drink that at first goes one way, then snaps back toward another direction and finally makes a soft landing on an egg white. Comfy, just like June.

Andromeda 1 ounce Pisco 3/4 ounce St. George Green Chile Vodka 3/4 ounce lime juice 1/2 ounce El Guapo Rose Cordial 1/2 ounce grapefruit liqueur 1/4 ounce honey syrup 1 egg white Peychaud’s bitters, sugar and salt to decorate Shake and strain into a chilled cocktail glass with a 50/50 sugar salt rim and decorate top with Peychaud’s bitters.

Created by Abigail Gullo, Head Mixologist, Compère Lapin, Old No. 77 Hotel and Chandlery, 535 Tchoupitoulas St., 599-2119, CompereLapin.com 90

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sara essex bradley PHOTOGRAPH

THE MENU / DINING GUIDE H= New Orleans Magazine award winner / $ = Average entrée price. $ = $5-10 / $$ = $11-15 / $$$ = $16-20 / $$$$ = $21-25 / $$$$$ = $25 and up.

American Zea’s Rotisserie and Grill Multiple Locations, ZeaRestaurants.com. L, D daily. Drawing from a wide range of worldly influences, this popular restaurant serves a variety of grilled items as well as appetizers, salads, side dishes, seafood, pasta and other entrées. Also offers catering services. $$$

Bywater Elizabeth’s 601 Gallier St., 944-9272, ElizabethsRestaurantNola.com. B, L MonFri, D Mon-Sat, Br Sat-Sun. This eclectic local restaurant draws rave reviews for its praline bacon and distinctive Southern-inspired brunch specials. $$$

H Maurepas 3200 Burgundy St., 2670072, MaurepasFoods.com. D Thu-Tue, Br Sat-Sun. Pioneering farm-to-table restaurant with an ingredient-driven menu that changes daily. Clever cocktails a plus as well. $$ Satsuma Café 3218 Dauphine St., 3045962, SatsumaCafe.com. B, L daily (until 5 p.m.). Offers healthy, inspired breakfast and lunch fare, along with freshly squeezed juices. $

carrollton Bourré 1510 S. Carrollton Ave., 5104040. L, D Tue-Sun. “Elevated” street food along with quality daiquiris and reconsidered wings are the draw at this newcomer from the team behind Boucherie. $$

CITY PARK Café NOMA 1 Collins Diboll Circle, NO Museum of Art, City Park, 482-1264, CafeNoma.com. L, (snacks) Tue-Sun. Sleek bar and café in the ground floor of museum offers a thoughtful array of snacks, sandwiches and small plates that are sure to enchant, with a kids’ menu to boot. $$

CBD/Warehouse District The Grill Room Windsor Court Hotel, 300 Gravier St., 522-1992, GrillRoomNewOrleans.com. B, L, D daily, Br Sun. Featuring modern American cuisine with a distinctive New Orleans flair, the adja-

cent Polo Club Lounge offers live music nightly. Jazz Brunch on Sunday. $$$$$ Manning’s 519 Fulton St., 593-8118. L, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Born of a partnership between New Orleans’ First Family of Football and Harrah’s Casino, Manning’s offers sports bar fans a step up in terms of comfort and quality. With a menu that draws on both New Orleans and the Deep South, traditional dishes get punched up with inspired but accessible twists in surroundings accented by both memorabilia and local art. $$$ Pete’s Pub Intercontinental Hotel, 444 St. Charles Ave., 585-5401, IcNewOrleans.com/dining/petes_pub. D Mon-Fri. Casual fare and adult beverages are served in this pub on the ground floor. $$ Q&C Hotel/Bar 344 Camp St., (866) 247-7936, QandC.com. B, D daily. Newly renovated boutique hotel offering a small plates menu with tempting choices such as a Short Rib Poor Boy and Lobster Mac and Cheese to complement their sophisticated craft cocktails. $$

H Root 200 Julia St., 252-9480, RootNola.com. L Mon-Fri, D daily. Chef Philip Lopez opened Root in November 2011 and has garnered a loyal following for his modernist, eclectic cuisine. Try the country fried chicken wings and the Cohiba-smoked scallops crusted with chorizo. $$$$

H Restaurant August 301 Tchoupitoulas St., 299-9777, RestaurantAugust.com. L Fri, D daily. James Beard Award-winning chef John Besh’s menu is based on classical techniques of Louisiana cuisine and produce with a splash of European flavor set in an historic carriage warehouse. $$$$$ Tivoli & Lee 2 Lee Circle, 962-0909, TivoliAndLee.com. B, L, D daily, Br SatSun. Progressive Southern cuisine is the focus. Rabbit sliders, poke salad and pickled shrimp redefine locally sourced ingredients, and craft cocktail and bourbon menus round out the appeal. Craft cocktail bar Bellocq serves specialty and locally influenced libations. $$$

Walk-On’s Bistreaux & Bar 1009 Poydras St., 309-6530, Walk-Ons.com. L, D, daily. Burger, sandwiches, wraps and more made distinctive with a Louisiana twist are served at this sports bar near the Mercedes-Benz Superdome. $$ Warehouse Grille, 869 Magazine St., 322-2188, WarehouseGrille.com. L, D daily, Br Fri-Sun. Creative fare served in an art-filled environment. Try the duck crêpes or the lamb spring rolls. $$ Wolfe’s in the Warehouse 859 Convention Center Blvd., 613-2882. B, L, D daily.

Chef Tom Wolfe brings his refined cuisine to the booming Fulton Street corridor.

His Smoked Kobe Short Ribs are a good choice. $$$

Downtown The Grill 540 Chartres St., 522-1800. B, L, D daily. A diner with local character staffed by local characters. $

Faubourg Marigny Langlois 1710 Pauger St., 934-1010, LangloisNola.com. L Fri-Sat, D Wed-Sun. *Reservations only Supper club and boutique cooking school in the Marigny serves up culturally informed, farmto-table fare with the added bonus of instruction. Dishes include Spiced Quail and Lemongrass Meatballs with Smoked broth. Open kitchen and convivial atmosphere add up to a good time. $$$

this bistro tucked away in a quiet end of the French Quarter. Southern Fried Quail and Braised Lamb Necks with ricotta agnolotti represent the style. $$$ Continental Provisions 110 N Peters St., Stall 23, 407-3437. Open daily.

Artisan purveyors including Bellegarde Bakery and Cleaver & Company team up to reclaim a foothold for quality food in the tourist Ground Zero of the French Market. Sandwiches, breads, cheeses and more. $$ Hard Rock Café 125 Bourbon St., 5295617, HardRock.com. L, D daily. Local outpost of this global brand serves burgers, café fare and drinks in their rock memorabilia-themed environs. $$ The Pelican Club 312 Exchange Place, 523-1504, PelicanClub.com. D daily.

Serves an eclectic mix of hip food, from the seafood “martini” to clay-pot barbecued shrimp and a trio of duck. Three dining rooms available. $$$$$ Rib Room Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, 621 St. Louis St., 529-7046, RibRoomNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Old World elegance and high ceilings, house classic cocktails and Anthony Spizale’s broad menu of prime rib, stunning seafood and on weekends a champagne brunch. $$$

GARDEN DISTRICT

The Marigny Brasserie 640 Frenchmen St., 945-4472, MarignyBrasserie.com. L, D daily. Chic neighborhood bistro with traditional dishes like the Wedge of Lettuce salad and innovative cocktails such as the cucumber Cosmo. $$$

Cheesecake Bistro by Copeland’s, 2001 St. Charles Ave., 593-9955, CopelandsCheesecakeBistro.com. L, D daily. Shiny, contemporary bistro serves Cajun-fusion fare along with its signature decadent desserts. Good lunch value to boot. $$

Snug Harbor 626 Frenchman St., 949-0696, SnugJazz.com. D daily. This jazz club serves cocktails and a dining menu loaded with steaks, seafood and meaty burgers served with loaded baked potatoes. $$$$

District Donuts Sliders Brew, 2209 Magazine Street, 570-6945, DonutsAndSliders.com. B, L, D daily. Creative sliders (hello, pork belly) and super-creative donuts (think root beer float) are the hallmarks of this next-generation café. $

French Quarter

Metairie

Angeline 1032 Chartres St., 308-3106, AngelineNola.com. B Mon-Fri, Brunch Sat & Sun, D nightly. Modern southern with a fine dining focus is the hallmark of

Boulevard American Bistro 4241 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 889-2301. L, D daily. Classic American cuisine including steaks, chops and more is augmented by

New Dining Options at Dickie Brennan’s Restaurants Tableau 616 St. Peter St., 934-3463, TableauFrenchQuarter.com; Palace Café, 605 Canal St. 523-1661, PalaceCafe.com Tableau, on Jackson Square in the French Quarter, is now offering its brass band brunch on Saturdays as well as Sundays. Egg dishes and salads compete for attention alongside classics such as Turtle Soup, Crawfish Au Gratin, Truffled Crab Fingers and BBQ Shrimp and Grits. Also in news from the Dickie Brennan Restaurant Group, the Palace Café, following extensive renovations, now offers The Black Duck Bar. Stocked with over 140 rums, it serves wine on tap, draft beers and craft cocktails. Popular local French Master Chef René Bajeux oversees the bar food, which includes charcuterie and shared plates. – Mirella Cameran.

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cheryl gerber photograph

regional favorites like Boulevard Oysters at this Metairie bistro. $$$ café B 2700 Metairie Road, 934-4700, cafeB.com. D daily, L Mon-Sat. Br Sun. Ralph Brennan offers New American bistro fare with a Louisiana twist at this family-friendly neighborhood spot. $$$ Caffe! Caffe! 3547 N. Hullen St., 2679190. B, L Mon-Sat. & 4301 Clearview Parkway, 885-4845. B, L daily; D MonSat. CaffeCaffe.com Healthy, refreshing meal options combine with gourmet coffee and espresso drinks to create a tasteful retreat for Metairie diners at a reasonable price. Try the egg white spinach wrap. $ Heritage Grill 111 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 934-4900, HeritageGrillMetairie. com. L Mon-Fri. This lunch-only destination caters to the office crowd and offers a freshly squeezed juice menu to go along with its regular menu and express two-course lunch. $$ Martin Wine Cellar 714 Elmeer Ave., 896-7300, MartinWine.com. Wine by the glass or bottle to go with daily lunch specials, towering burgers, hearty soups and salads and giant, deli-style sandwiches. $ Vega Tapas Café 2051 Metairie Road, 836-2007, VegaTapasCafe.com. D Mon-Sat. Innovative establishment offers fresh seafood, grilled meats and vegetarian dishes in a chic environment.

Daily chef specials showcase unique ingredients and make this place a popular destination for dates as well as groups of friends. $$

Mid-City Parkway Bakery and Tavern 538 Hagan Ave., 482-3047, ParkwayPoorBoys.com. L, D Wed-Mon. Featured on national TV and having served poor boys to presidents, it stakes a claim to some of the best sandwiches in town. Their french fry version with gravy and cheese is a classic at a great price. $

NORTHSHORE Dakota 629 N. Highway 190, (985) 892-3712, TheDakotaRestaurant.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. A sophisticated dining experience with generous portions. $$$$$

Riverbend Carrollton Market 8132 Hampson St., 252-9928, CarrolltonMarket.com. D TueSat. Modern Southern cuisine manages to be both fun and refined at this tasteful boîte. $$$

Uptown Audubon Clubhouse 6500 Magazine St., 212-5282, AudubonInstitute.org. B, L Tue-Sat, Br Sun. A kid-friendly menu with local tweaks and a casually upscale sandwich and salad menu. $$ Camellia Grill 626 S. Carrollton Ave., 309-2679. B, L, D daily. A venerable diner whose essential character has remained

intact and many of the original waiters have returned. Credit cards are now accepted. $ GG’s Dine-O-Rama 3100 Magazine St., 373-6579, GGsNewOrleans.com. B Sat, L, Tue-Sun, D Tue-Fri, Br Sun. Upscalecasual restaurant serves a variety of specialty sandwiches, salads and wraps, like the Chicago-style hot dog and the St. Paddy’s Day Massacre, chef Gotter’s take on the Rueben. $$ Martin Wine Cellar 3827 Baronne St., 899-7411, MartinWine.com. Wine by the glass or bottle with cheeses and snacks to-go. $ Slim Goodies 3322 Magazine St., 891 EGGS (3447), SlimGoodiesDiner.com. B, L daily. This diner offers an exhaustive menu heavily influenced by local cuisine.

Try the Creole Slammer, a breakfast platter rounded out by crawfish étouffée.

The laid-back vibe is best enjoyed on the patio out back. $ Stein’s Market and Deli 2207 Magazine St., 527-0771, SteinsDeli.net. B, L, D TueSun. New York City meets New Orleans.

The Reuben and Rachel sandwiches are the real deal and the half-sours and pickled tomatoes complete the deli experience. $ Surrey’s Café and Juice Bar 1418 Magazine St., 524-3828; 4807 Magazine St., 895-5757, SurreysCafeAndJuiceBar.com.

B, L daily. Laid-back café focuses on

breakfast and brunch dishes to accompany freshly squeezed juice offerings.

Health-food lovers will like it here, along with fans of favorites such as peanut butter and banana pancakes. $$ Tracey’s Irish Restaurant & Bar 2604 Magazine St., 897-5413, TraceysNola. com. L, D daily. A neighborhood bar with one of the best messy roast beef poor boys in town. The gumbo, cheeseburger poor boy and other sandwiches are also winners. Grab a local Abita beer to wash it all down. Also a great location to watch the game. $

H Upperline 1413 Upperline St., 891-9822, Upperline.com. D Wed-Sun. Consummate hostess JoAnn Clevenger and talented chef Dave Bridges make for a winning combination at this nationally heralded favorite. The oft-copied fried green tomatoes with shrimp remoulade originated here. $$$$

H Wayfare 4510 Freret St., 309-0069, WayfareNola.com. L, D daily. Creative sandwiches and southern-inspired small plates. $$ Ye Olde College Inn 3000 S. Carrollton Ave., 866-3683, CollegeInn1933.com. D Tue-Sat. Serves up classic fare, albeit with a few upscale dishes peppering the menu. $$$

Asian Fusion/Pan Asian Little Tokyo Multiple locations, LittleTokyoNola.com. L, D daily. Multiple

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DINING GUIDE locations of this popular Japanese sushi and hibachi chain make sure that there’s always a specialty roll within easy reach. $$

Bywater Red’s Chinese 3048 St. Claude Ave., 304-6030, RedsChinese.com. D Wed-Mon. Assertive, in-your-face Chinese fare by chef Tobias Womack, an alum of Danny Bowien’s Mission Chinese. The Kung Pao Pastrami and Delta Broccoli are good options. $$

CBD/Warehouse District Rock-N-Sake 823 Fulton St., 581-7253, RockNSake.com. L Fri, D Tue-Sun, late night. Fresh sushi and contemporary takes on Japanese favorites in an upbeat, casual setting. $$$

Faubourg Marigny Bao and Noodle 2700 Charters St., 272-0004, BaoAndNoodle.com. L, D daily. Housemade noodles and a more authentic take on Chinese fare sets this neighborhood startup apart. Try the soup dumplings if available $$

French Quarter V Sushi 821 Iberville St., 609-2291, VSushiMartini.com. D daily, late-night.

Creative rolls and a huge list of fusion dishes keep party-lovers going late into the night at this combination sushi and martini bar. $$$

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Garden District Hoshun Restaurant 1601 St. Charles Ave., 302-9716, HoshunRestaurant.com.

L, D daily. Offers a wide variety of Asian cuisines, primarily dishes culled from China, Japan, Thailand and Malaysia.

Five-pepper calamari is a tasty way to begin the meal, and their creative sushi rolls are good. Private dining rooms available. $$

H Tan Dinh 1705 Lafayette St., 3618008. B, L, D daily. Roasted quail and the beef pho rule at this Vietnamese outpost. $$

Kenner Little Chinatown 3800 Williams Blvd., 305-0580, LittleChinatown.net. L, D daily.

One of the city’s best Chinese restaurants is secreted away on William’s Boulevard in Kenner. Try the roast duck or roast pork, either one is terrific, as well as their short menu of authentic dishes that (for the most part) avoid Americanized Chinese fare. $$

Lakeview Lakeview Pearl 6300 Canal St., 3095711, LakeviewPearl.com. L, D Mon-Sat. A long list of specialty rolls rounds out the offerings of this Asian-Fusion restaurant. $$

Metairie CoNola Grill & Sushi 619 Pink St., 8370055, CoNolaGrillSushi.com. L, D Tue-

Sun. Eclectic cafe with DNA from both Sun Ray Grill and Aloha Sushi Bar puts out southern-inspired fare backed by an Americanized sushi menu, a kids menu and more. Along with a Sunday brunch, there’s something for everyone at this independent restaurant. $$$

H Royal China 600 Veterans Blvd., 831-9633. L daily, D Tue-Sun. Popular and family-friendly Chinese restaurant is one of the few places around that serves dim sum. $$

MARRERO Daiwa, 5033 Lapalco Blvd., 875-4203, DaiwaSushi.com. L, D daily. Japanese destination on the Westbank serves an impressive and far-ranging array of creative fusion fare. $$$

Mid-City H Café Minh 4139 Canal St., 482-6266, CafeMinh.com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Chef Minh Bui and Cynthia Vutran bring a fusion touch to Vietnamese cuisine with French accents and a contemporary flair. $$ Five Happiness 3605 S. Carrollton Ave., 482-3935, FiveHappiness.com. L, D daily.

This longtime Chinese favorite offers up an extensive menu including its beloved mu shu pork and house-baked duck. $$

H MoPho 514 City Park Ave., 482-6845, MoPhoMidCity.com. L, D Wed-Mon.

Vietnamese cuisine meets southern Louisiana in this upscale casual hybrid by chef Michael Gulotta. Mix-and-match pho and an interesting poor boy menu rounds out the appeal. $$$

Riverbend H Ba Chi Canteen 7900 Maple St., 3735628. L, D Mon-Sat. The kitchen plays fast and loose with Vietnamese fare at this eclectic outpost on Maple Street. Try the caramelized pork “Baco”. $

H Chill Out Café 729 Burdette St., 8729628. B, L daily, D Mon-Sat. Thai food and breakfast favorites like waffles and pancakes can both be had at this affordable college-friendly hangout. $

Uptown Chiba 8312 Oak St., 826-9119, Chiba-Nola.com. L Wed-Sat, D Mon-Sat. Contemporary restaurant features fresh, exotic fish from all over the world and fusion fare to go along with typical Japanese options. Extensive sake list and late night happy hours are a plus. $$$

H Jung’s Golden Dragon 3009 Magazine St., 891-8280, JungsChinese.com. L, D daily. This Chinese destination is a real find. Along with the usual, you’ll find spicy cold noodle dishes and dumplings.

One of the few local Chinese places that breaks the Americanized mold. $

H Magasin 4201 Magazine St., 896-

7611, MagasinCafe.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Pho, banh mi and vegetarian options are offered at this attractive and budgetfriendly Vietnamese restaurant. Café sua da is available as well. $ Kyoto 4920 Prytania St., 891-3644, KyotoNola.com. L, D Mon-Sat. A neighborhood sushi restaurant where the regulars order off-the-menu rolls. $$

WEST BANK Nine Roses 1100 Stephen St., 366-7665, NineRosesResturant.com. L, D Sun-Tue, Thu-Sat. The extensive Vietnamese menu specializes in hot pots, noodles and dishes big enough for everyone to share. $$

Bakery/Breakfast Café du Monde Multiple Locations, CafeDuMonde.com. This New Orleans institution has been serving fresh café au lait, rich hot chocolate and positively addictive beignets since 1862 in the French Market 24/7. $ CC’s Coffee House Multiple locations in New Orleans, Metairie and Northshore, CCsCoffee.com. Coffeehouse specializing in coffee, espresso drinks and pastries. $

BROADMOOR Gracious to Go 7220 Earhart Blvd., 301-3709, GraciousBakery.com. B MonFri. Quick-service outpost of Gracious Bakery + Café serves artisan pastries, locally roasted coffee and grab-and-go sandwiches to meet the needs of com-

muters. Onsite parking a plus. $

CBD/Warehouse District H Merchant 800 Common St., 571-9580, MerchantNewOrleans.com. B, L daily. Illy coffee and creative crêpes, sandwiches and more are served at this sleek and contemporary café on the ground floor of the Merchant Building. $ Red Gravy 4125 Camp St., 561-8844, RedGravy.com. B, Br, L, Wed-Mon. Farm-to-table Italian restaurant offers a creative array of breakfast items such as Cannoli Pancakes as well as delectable sandwiches and more for lunch.

Homemade pastas and authentic Tuscan specialties like Cacciucco round out the menu. $$

H Ruby Slipper Café 200 Magazine St., 525-9355; 1005 Canal St., 525-9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.net. B, L daily, Br Sun. Homegrown chain specializes in breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes with unique local twists such as bananas Foster French toast and barbecue shrimp and grits. $$

CARROLLTON Breads on Oak, 8640 Oak St., 324-8271, BreadsOnOak.com. B, L Wed-Sun. Artisan bakeshop tucked away near the levee on Oak Street serves breads, sandwiches, gluten-free and vegan-friendly options. $

City Park Morning Call 56 Dreyfous Drive, City Park, 885-4068, NewOrleansCityPark.

com/in-the-park/morning-call. 24 hours a day; cash-only. Chicory coffee and beignets coated with powdered sugar make this the quintessential New Orleans coffee shop. $

Faubourg Marigny H Ruby Slipper Café 2001 Burgundy St., 525-9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.net.

B, L daily, Br Sun. Homegrown chain specializes in breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes with unique local twists such as bananas Foster French toast and barbecue shrimp and grits. $$

Mid-City Gracious Bakery + Café 1000 S. Jeff Davis Parkway, Suite 100, 301-3709, GraciousBakery.com. B, L daily. Boutique bakery on the ground floor of the Woodward Building offers small-batch coffee, baked goods, individual desserts and sandwiches on breads made in-house.

Catering options available. $

H Ruby Slipper Café 139 S. Cortez St., 525-9355, TheRubySlipperCafe.net.

B, L daily, Br Sun. Homegrown chain specializes in breakfast, lunch and brunch dishes with unique local twists such as bananas Foster French toast and barbecue shrimp and grits. $$

Barbecue Bywater The Joint 701 Mazant St., 949-3232, AlwaysSmokin.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Some of the city’s best barbecue can be had at this locally owned and operated

favorite. $

French Quarter BB King’s Blues Club 1104 Decatur St., 934-5464, BBKings.com/new-orleans. L, D daily. New Orleans outpost of music club named for the famed blues musician features a menu loaded with BBQ and southern-inspired specialties. Live music and late hours are a big part of the fun. $$$

Lower Garden District Voodoo BBQ 1501 St. Charles Ave., 5224647, VoodooBBQAndGrill.com. L, D daily.

Diners are never too far from this homegrown barbecue chain that features an array of specialty sauces to accompany its smoked meats and seafood. $$

Metairie Voodoo BBQ 2740 Severn Ave., 3534227, VoodooBBQAndGrill.com. L, D daily.

Diners are never too far from this homegrown barbecue chain that features an array of specialty sauces to accompany its smoked meats and seafood. $$

Burgers French Quarter Bayou Burger, 503 Bourbon St., 5294256, SportsBarNewOrleans.com. L, D daily. Sports bar in the thick of Bourbon Street scene distinguishes its fare with choices like Crawfish Beignets and Zydeco Bites. $$ Port of Call 838 Esplanade Ave., 5230120, PortOfCallNola.com. L, D daily. It

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DINING GUIDE is all about the big, meaty burgers and giant baked potatoes in this popular bar/ restaurant – unless you’re cocktailing only, then it’s all about the Monsoons. $$

Lakeview Lakeview Harbor 911 Harrison Ave., 486-4887, NewOrleansBestBurger.com.

L, D daily. Burgers are the name of the game at this restaurant. Daily specials, pizza and steaks are offered as well. $

METAIRIE Cheeseburger Eddie’s, 4517 W. Esplanade Ave., 455-5511, AustinsNo. com/Cheeseburger-Eddie-s.html. L, D Mon-Sat. Hickory-grilled burgers are the main draw at this casual spot but tacos, tamales, poor boys and more are also served. $

Riverbend H Cowbell 8801 Oak St., 298-8689, Cowbell-Nola.com. L, D Tue-Sat. Burgers and homemade sauces on potato rolls are the specialty here, along with other favorites like skirt steak. $$

Uptown H The Company Burger 4600 Freret St., 267-0320, TheCompanyBurger.com.

L, D Wed-Mon. Custom-baked butterbrushed buns and fresh-ground beef patties make all the difference at this excellent burger hotspot. Draft beer and craft cocktails round out the appeal. $

French CBD/Warehouse District Chateau du Lac 857 Fulton St., 3010235, ChateauduLacWarehouse.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. This casual French bistro, run by chef-owner Jacques Saleun, offers up classic dishes such as escargot, coq au vin and blanquette de veau. $$$$ Le Foret 129 Camp St., 553-6738, LeForetNewOrleans.com. D Mon-Sat. Sophisticated fine dining melds southern cuisine and classic French with modernist influences in an elegant setting. $$$$

French Quarter Broussard’s, 819 Conti St., 581-3866, Broussards.com. D daily, L Fri, Br Sun. Creole-French institution also offers beautiful courtyard seating. $$$$

H Marti’s 1041 Dumaine St., 522-5478, MartisNola.com. D daily. Classic French cuisine, small plates and chilled seafood platters like Grand Plateau Fruits De Mer are the calling cards for this restaurant with an elegant “Old World” feel. $$$

Lacombe H La Provence 25020 Highway 190, (985) 626-7662, LaProvenceRestaurant. com. D Wed-Sun, Br Sun. Chef John Besh upholds time-honored Provençal cuisine and rewards his guests with a true farm-life experience, from housemade preserves, charcuterie, herbs, kitchen gardens and eggs cultivated on the property. $$$$$

Metairie Chateau du Lac 2037 Metairie Road, 831-3773, ChateauduLacBistro.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. This casual French bistro, run by chef-owner Jacques Saleun, offers up classic dishes such as escargot, coq au vin and blanquette de veau. $$$$

Uptown Bistro Daisy 5831 Magazine St., 8996987, BistroDaisy.com. D Tue-Sat. Chef Anton Schulte and his wife Diane’s bistro serves creative and contemporary bistro fare in a romantic setting. The signature Daisy Salad is a favorite. $$$$

H Coquette 2800 Magazine St., 2650421, CoquetteNola.com. L Wed-Sat, D Wed-Mon, Br Sun. The food is French in inspiration and technique, with added imagination from chef Michael and his partner Lillian Hubbard. $$$ Flaming Torch 737 Octavia St., 8950900, FlamingTorchNola.com. L Mon-Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. French classics including a tasty onion soup and often a sought-after coq-au-vin. $$

Faubourg St. John H Café Degas 3127 Esplanade Ave.,

H La Crêpe Nanou 1410 Robert St.,

945-5635, CafeDegas.com. L, D Wed-Sat, Br Sun. Salad Niçoise, Hanger steak and frites are served in a lovely enclosed courtyard at this jewel of a French bistro. $$

899-2670, LaCrepeNanou.com. D daily, Br Sun. Classic French bistro fare, including terrific moules and decadent dessert crêpes, are served nightly at this neighborhood institution. $$$

La Petite Grocery 4238 Magazine St., 891-3377, LaPetiteGrocery.com. L TueSat, D daily, Br Sun. Elegant dining in a convivial atmosphere. The menu is heavily French-inspired with an emphasis on technique. $$$ Lilette 3637 Magazine St., 895-1636, LiletteRestaurant.com. L Tue-Sat, D MonSat. Chef John Harris’ innovative menu draws discerning diners to this highly regarded bistro. Desserts are wonderful as well. $$$$$

Gastropub Abita Springs Abita Brew Pub 72011 Holly St., (985) 892-5837, AbitaBrewPub.com. L, D TueSun. Better-than-expected pub food in its namesake eatery. “Tasteful” tours available for visitors. $$

CBD/Warehouse District Gordon Biersch 200 Poydras St., 5522739, GordonBiersch.com. L, D daily. Local outpost of this popular chain serves specialty brews made on-site and crowdpleasing lunch and dinner fare. $$ Victory 339 Baronne St., 522-8664, VictoryNola.com. D Tue-Sat. Craft cocktails served by owner and acclaimed bartender Daniel Victory, as well as refined small plates and gourmet pizza. $$

French Quarter H Cane & Table 1113 Decatur St., 5811112, CaneAndTableNola.com. L Sat-Sun, D daily. Open late, this chef-driven rustic colonial cuisine and rum and “protoTiki” cocktails make this a fun place to gather. $$ Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar and Bistro 720 Orleans Ave., 523-1930, OrleansGrapevine.com. D daily. Wine is the muse at this beautifully renovated bistro, which offers vino by the flight, glass and bottle.

A classic menu with an emphasis on local cuisine. $$$

H Patrick’s Bar Vin 730 Bienville St., 200-3180, PatricksBarVin.com. D daily.

This oasis of a wine bar offers terrific selections by the bottle and glass. Small plates are served as well. $$

Lower Garden District The Tasting Room 1926 Magazine St., 581-3880, TTRNewOrleans.com. D Wed-

Sun. Flights of wine and sophisticated small plates are the calling cards for this wine bar near Coliseum Square. $$

Mid-City Trèo 3835 Tulane Ave., 304-4878, TreoNola.com. L Wed-Sat, D Tue-Sat. Craft cocktail bar also serves a short but excellent small plates menu to accompany its artfully composed libations. $$

Uptown The Avenue Pub 1732 St. Charles Ave., 586-9243, TheAvenuePub.com. Kitchen open 24/7. With more than 43 rotating draft beers, this pub also offers food, including a cheese plate from St. James Cheese Co. and the “Pub Burger.” Counter service only. $ Bouligny Tavern 3641 Magazine St., 891-1810, BoulignyTavern.com. D MonSat. Carefully curated small plates, inventive cocktails and select wines are the focus of this stylish offshoot of John Harris’s nationally acclaimed Lilette. $$ The Delachaise 3442 St. Charles Ave., 895-0858, TheDelaichaise.com. L SatSun, D daily. Cuisine elevated to the standards of the libations is the draw at this lively wine bar and gastropub. Food is grounded in French bistro fare with eclectic twists. $$

Italian Avondale H Mosca’s 4137 Highway 90 West, 4638950, MoscasRestaurant.com. D Tue-Sat. Italian institution dishes out massive portions of great food, family-style. Good bets are the shrimp Mosca and chicken à la grande. Cash only. $$$

Bywater H Mariza 2900 Charters St., 598-5700, MarizaNewOrleans.com. D Tue-Sat. An Italian-inspired restaurant by chef Ian Schnoebelen features a terrific raw bar, house-cured charcuterie and an array of refined adult beverages served in the industrial/contemporary setting on the ground floor of the Rice Mills lofts. $$$

CBD/Warehouse District H Domenica The Roosevelt Hotel, 123 Baronne St., 648-6020, DomenicaRestaurant.com. L, D daily. Chef Alon Shaya serves authentic, regional Italian cuisine.

The menu of thin, lightly topped pizzas,

The French Market Hosts 30th Annual Creole Tomato Festival FrenchMarket.org The French Market, in the heart of the French Quarter, will celebrate the start of the Creole Tomato season with its annual festival on June 11-12, 10 a.m.-7 p.m. Tomatoes grown in Plaquemines or St. Bernard parishes qualify as Creole tomatoes and they’re in season all summer. The festival honors local farmers and their goods in one of America’s longest continually operated open-air markets. It consists of cooking demonstrations by local chefs, a Creole tomato eating contest, live music, an arts market, a children’s area and, a first for the fest, a Bloody Mary Market. – M.C.

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artisanal salumi and cheese, and a carefully chosen selection of antipasti, pasta and entrées features locally raised products, some from chef John Besh’s Northshore farm. $$$$

569-0198, ItalianBarrel.com. L, D daily.

Northern Italian dishes like Braciola di Maiale as well as an exhaustive pasta menu tempt here at this local favorite that also offers al fresco seating. $$$

Tommy’s Cuisine 746 Tchoupitoulas St., 581-1103, TommysNewOrleans.com. D daily. Classic Creole-Italian cuisine is the name of the game at this upscale eatery.

Appetizers include the namesake oysters Tommy, baked in the shell with Romano cheese, pancetta and roasted red pepper. $$$$$

Muriel’s Jackson Square 801 Chartres St., 568-1885, Muriels.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Enjoy pecan-crusted drum and other local classics while dining in the courtyard bar or any other room in this labyrinthine, rumored-to-be-haunted establishment. $$$$

French Quarter Café Giovanni 117 Decatur St., 529-2154, CafeGiovanni.com. D daily. Live opera singers three nights a week. A selection of Italian specialties tweaked with a Creole influence and their Belli Baci happy hour adds to the atmosphere. $$$$ Chartres House, 601 Chartres St., 5868383, ChartresHouse.com. L, D daily. This iconic French Quarter bar serves terrific Mint Juleps and Gin Fizzes in its picturesque courtyard and balcony settings.

Also famous for its fried green tomatoes and other local favorite dishes. $$$ Irene’s Cuisine 539 St. Philip St., 529881. D Mon-Sat. Long waits at the lively piano bar are part of the appeal of this Creole-Italian favorite beloved by locals.

Try the oysters Irene and crabmeat gratin appetizers. $$$$

H Italian Barrel 430 Barracks St.,

Napoleon House 500 Chartres St., 524522-4152, NapoleonHouse.com. L Mon-Sat, D Tue-Sat. Originally built in 1797 as a respite for Napoleon, this family-owned European-style café serves local favorites gumbo, jambalaya and muffulettas, and for sipping, a Sazerac or lemony Pimm’s Cup are perfect accompaniments. $$ Ralph Brennan’s Red Fish Grill 115 Bourbon St., 598-1200, RedFishGrill.com.

L, D daily. Chef Austin Kirzner cooks up a broad menu peppered with local favorites such as barbecue oysters, blackened redfish and double-chocolate bread pudding. $$$$$ Arnaud’s Remoulade 309 Bourbon St., 523-0377, Remoulade.com. L, D daily.

Granite-topped tables and an antique mahogany bar are home to the eclectic menu of famous shrimp Arnaud, red beans and rice and poor boys as well as specialty burgers, grilled all-beef hot

dogs and thin-crust pizza. $$

H R’evolution 777 Bienville St., 5532277, RevolutionNola.com. L Wed-Fri, D daily, Br Sun. An opulent place that combines the local flavors of chef John Folse with the more cosmopolitan influence of chef Rick Tramonto. Chef de cuisine Chris Lusk and executive sous chef Erik Veney are in charge of day-to-day operations, which include house-made charcuterie, pastries, pastas and more. $$$$$

harahan Oak Oven 6625 Jefferson Highway, Harahan, 305-4039, OakOvenRestaurant. com. L, D Mon-Sat. Wood-fired pizza and seasonal Italian cuisine with a locavore philosophy brings respite to the burbs.

Family friendly with patio seating to boot. $$

Lakeview H Tony Angello’s 6262 Fleur de Lis Drive, 488-0888, TonyAngellos.com. D Tue-Sat. Creole-Italian favorite serves up fare. Ask Tony to “Feed Me” if you want a real multi-course dining experience. $$$$

Metairie H Andrea’s Restaurant 3100 19th St., 834-8583, AndreasRestaurant.com. L Mon-Sat, D daily, Br Sun. Osso buco and homemade pastas in a setting that’s both elegant and intimate; off-premise catering. $$$

Semolina 4436 Veterans Blvd., Suite 37, 454-7930, Semolina.com. L, D daily. This casual, contemporary pasta restaurant takes a bold approach to cooking Italian food, emphasizing flavors, texture and color. Many of the dishes feature a signature Louisiana twist, such as the muffuletta pasta and pasta jambalaya. $$ Vincent’s Italian Cuisine 4411 Chastant St., 885-2984, Metairie, VicentsItalianCuisine.com. L Tue-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Snug Italian boîte packs them in, yet manages to remain intimate at the same time. The cannelloni is a house specialty. $$$

Mid-City H Liuzza’s 3636 Bienville St., 482-9120, Liuzzas.com. L, D daily. Classic neighborhood joint serves favorites like the “Frenchuletta,” stuffed artichokes and andouille gumbo. Kid’s menu offered. $$ Ralph’s On The Park 900 City Park Ave., 488-1000, RalphsOnThePark.com. Br Sun, L Tue-Fri, D daily. A modern interior and contemporary Creole dishes such as City Park salad, turtle soup, barbecue Gulf shrimp and good cocktails. $$$$

NORTHSHORE H Del Porto Ristorante 501 E. Boston St., (985) 875-1006, DelPortoRistorante. com. L, D Tue-Sat. One of the Northshore’s premier fine dining destinations serving Italian food that makes use of locally sourced meats and produce. $$$

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DINING GUIDE Uptown Amici 3218 Magazine St., 300-1250, AmiciNola.com. L, D daily. Coal-fired pizza is the calling card for this destination, but the menu offers an impressive list of authentic and Creole Italian specialties as well. $$ Pascal’s Manale 1838 Napoleon Ave., 895-4877, PascalsManale.com. L MonFri, D Mon-Sat. Vintage neighborhood restaurant since 1913 and the place to go for the creation of barbecued shrimp.

Its oyster bar serves icy cold, freshly shucked Louisiana oysters and the Italian specialties and steaks are also solid. $$$$ Vincent’s Italian Cuisine 7839 St. Charles Ave., 866-9313, VicentsItalianCuisine.com. L Tue-Fri, D Tue-Sun. Snug Italian boîte packs them in yet manages to remain intimate at the same time. The cannelloni is a house specialty. $$$

Louisianian Fare CBD/Warehouse District H Annunciation 1016 Annunciation St., 568-0245, AnnunciationRestaurant. com. D Mon-Sat. Chef Steven Manning brings a refined sensibility to this refined Warehouse District oasis along with his famous fried oysters with melted brie. $$$

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Balise 640 Carondelet St., 459-4449, BaliseNola.com. L Mon-Fri, D nightly.

Chef Justin Devillier turns back the clock at this turn-of-the-century inspired bistro in the CBD. Decidedly masculine fare – think venison tartare with horseradish and pumpernickel – is carefully crafted and fits well alongside the excellent cocktail and beer list. $$$ Bon Ton Cafe 401 Magazine St., 5243386, TheBonTonCafe.com. L, D Mon-Fri. A local favorite for the old-school business lunch crowd specializing in local seafood and Cajun dishes. $$$$ Café Adelaide Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras St., 595-3305, CafeAdelaide.com. B, D daily, L Mon-Fri. This offering from the Commander’s Palace family of restaurants has become a powerlunch favorite for business-people and politicos. Also features the Swizzle Stick Bar. $$$$

H Cochon 930 Tchoupitoulas St., 588-2123, CochonRestaurant.com. L, D, Mon-Sat. Chefs Donald Link and Stephen Stryjewski showcase Cajun and Southern cuisine at this hot spot. Boudin and other pork dishes reign supreme here, along with Louisiana seafood and real moonshine from the bar. Reservations strongly recommended. $$

Drago’s Hilton Riverside Hotel, 2 Poydras St., 584-3911, DragosRestaurant. com. L, D daily. This famous seafooder specializes in charbroiled oysters, a dish they invented. Great deals on fresh lobster as well. $$$$ Emeril’s 800 Tchoupitoulas St., 5289393, EmerilsRestaurants.com. L MonFri, D daily. The flagship of superstar chef Emeril Lagasse’s culinary empire, this landmark attracts pilgrims from all over the world. $$$$$

H Herbsaint 701 St. Charles Ave., 524-4114, Herbsaint.com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Enjoy a sophisticated cocktail before sampling chef Donald Link’s menu that melds contemporary bistro fare with classic Louisiana cuisine. The banana brown butter tart is a favorite dessert. $$$$$ Mother’s 401 Poydras St., 523-9656, MothersRestaurant.net. B, L, D daily.

Locals and tourists alike endure long queues and a confounding ordering system to enjoy iconic dishes such as the Ferdi poor boy and Jerry’s jambalaya.

Come for a late lunch to avoid the rush. $$ Mulate’s 201 Julia St., 522-1492, Mulates.com. L, D daily. Live music and dancing add to the fun at this world-

famous Cajun destination. $$ Palette 700 Tchoupitoulas St., 613-2350, B, L, D daily. Creole, Cajun and French flavors all come together at this restaurant in the Renaissance Hotel near the Convention Center. $$

Central City Café Reconcile 1631 Oretha Castle Haley Blvd., 568-1157, CafeReconcile.org. L Mon-Fri. Good food for a great cause, this nonprofit on the burgeoning OCH corridor helps train at-risk youth for careers in the food service industry. $$

Darrow Café Burnside Houmas House Plantation, 40136 Highway 942, (225) 473-9380, HoumasHouse.com. L daily, Br Sun. Historic plantation’s casual dining option features dishes such as seafood pasta, fried catfish, crawfish and shrimp, gumbo and red beans and rice. $$ Latil’s Landing Houmas House Plantation, 40136 Highway 942, (225) 473-9380, HoumasHouse.com. D Wed-Sun. Nouvelle Louisiane, plantation-style cooking served in an opulent setting features dishes like rack of lamb and plume de veau. $$$$$

Faubourg Marigny Feelings Cafe 2600 Chartres St., 9452222, FeelingsCafe.com. D Wed-Sun, Br

Sun. Romantic ambiance and skillfully created dishes, such as veal d’aunoy, make dining here on the patio a memorable experience. A piano bar on Fridays adds to the atmosphere. Vegan menu offered. $$$$ Horn’s 1940 Dauphine St., Marigny, 459-4676, HornsNola.com. B, L daily, D Thu-Mon. This casual, eclectic watering hole offers offbeat twists on classics (the Jewish Coonass features latkes to go with the crawfish etouffée) as well as the usual breakfast and lunch diner fare. $ Praline Connection 542 Frenchmen St., 943-3934, PralineConnection.com. L, D daily. Down-home dishes of smothered pork chops, greens, beans and cornbread are on the menu at this Creole soul restaurant. $$

French Quarter Acme Oyster House 724 Iberville St., 522-5973, AcmeOyster.com. L, D daily.

Known as one of the best places to eat oysters. $$

H Arnaud’s 813 Bienville St., 523-5433, ArnaudsRestaurant.com. D daily, Br Sun. Waiters in tuxedos prepare Café Brûlot tableside at this storied Creole grande dame; live jazz during Sun. brunch. $$$$$ Antoine’s 713 St. Louis St., 581-4422, Antoines.com. L, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. This pinnacle of haute cuisine and birthplace of oysters Rockefeller is New Orleans’

oldest restaurant. (Every item is á la carte, with an $11 minimum.) Private dining rooms available. $$$$$

cultures reflected in Louisiana cooking and cuisine, often with a slight contemporary twist. $$$

seasoning and bountiful offerings, along with reserved seating, make this a destination for locals and tourists alike. $$$$

H The Bistreaux New Orleans Maison

H Dickie Brennan’s Bourbon House 144

H MiLa 817 Common St., 412-2580,

Dupuy Hotel, 1001 Toulouse St., 5868000, MaisonDupuy.com/dining.html. L, D daily. Dishes ranging from the casual (truffle mac and cheese) to the upscale (tuna tasting trio) are served in an elegant courtyard. $$

Bourbon St., 522-0111, BourbonHouse. com. B, L, D daily. Classic Creole dishes such as redfish on the halfshell and baked oysters served. Its extensive bourbon menu will please aficionados. $$$$

MiLaNewOrleans.com. L Mon-Fri, D MonSat. Latest offering from husband-andwife chefs Slade Rushing and Allison Vines-Rushing focuses on the fusion of the cuisines of Miss. and La. $$$$

Galatoire’s 209 Bourbon St., 525-2021, Galatoires.com. L, D Tue-Sun. Friday lunches are a New Orleans tradition at this world-famous French-Creole grand dame. Tradition counts for everything here, and the crabmeat Sardou is delicious. Note: Jackets required for dinner and all day Sun. $$$$$

NOLA 534 St. Louis St., 522-6652, Emerils.com. L Thu-Mon, D daily. Emeril’s more affordable eatery, featuring cedarplank-roasted redfish; private dining. $$$$$

The Bombay Club Prince Conti Hotel, 830 Conti St., 586-0972, TheBombayClub. com. D daily. Popular martini bar with plush British décor features live music during the week and late dinner and drinks on weekends. Nouveau Creole menu includes items such as Bombay drum. $$$$ Café Maspero 601 Decatur St., 523-6250, CafeMaspero.com. L, D daily. Tourists line up for their generous portions of seafood and large deli sandwiches. $ Court of Two Sisters 613 Royal St., 522-7261, CourtOfTwoSisters.com. Br, D daily. The historic environs make for a memorable outdoor dining experience.

The famous daily Jazz Brunch buffet and classic Creole dishes sweeten the deal. $$$$$ Criollo Hotel Monteleone, 214 Royal St., 681-4444, CriolloNola.com. B, L, D daily. Next to the famous Carousel Bar in the historic Monteleone Hotel, Criollo represents an amalgam of the various

House of Blues 225 Decatur St., 3104999, HouseOfBlues.com/NewOrleans. L, D daily. Surprisingly good menu complements music in the main room. Worldfamous Gospel Brunch every Sunday.

Patio seating available. $$ Killer Poboys 811 Conti St., 252-6745, KillerPoboys.blogspot.com. L, D WedMon. This quasi-popup operating out of the Erin Rose Bar serves some of the city’s best poor boys, including one featuring glazed pork belly. $ K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen 416 Chartres St., 596-2530, ChefPaul.com/KPaul. L Thu-Sat, D Mon-Sat. Paul Prudhomme’s landmark restaurant helped introduce Cajun food to a grateful nation. Lots of

Richard Fiske’s Martini Bar & Restaurant, 301 Dauphine St., 586-0972, RichardFiskes.com. D nightly. Just a few steps off of Bourbon Street you can find this relaxing bar featuring an innovative menu with dishes like Crawfish, Jalapeno-and-Bacon Mac and Cheese garnished with fried oysters. Live music a plus. $$$ Royal House, 441 Royal St., 528-2601, RoyalHouseRestaurant.com. L, D daily. B Sat and Sun. Poor boys, jambalaya and shrimp Creole are some of the favorites served here. Weekend breakfast and an oyster bar add to the crowd-pleasing appeal. $$$ SoBou 310 Chartres St., 552-4095, SoBouNola.com. B, L, D daily. There is something for everyone at this “Modern Creole Saloon.” Decidedly unstuffy with

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DINING GUIDE an emphasis on craft cocktails and wines by the glass. Everything from $1 pork cracklins to an extravagant foie gras burger on accomplished yet eclectic menus. $$

H Tableau 616 S. Peter St., 934-3463, TableauFrenchQuarter.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Gulf seafood such as trout amandine and classic Creole brunch dishes like eggs Sardou are the highlights of this Dickie Brennan restaurant that shares space with Le Petite Théâtre on the corner of Jackson Square. $$$

H Tujague’s 823 Decatur St., 525-8676, TujaguesRestaurant.com. L Sat-Sun, D daily. For more than 150 years this landmark restaurant has been offering Creole cuisine. Favorites include a nightly six-course table d’hôté menu featuring a unique beef brisket with Creole sauce. $$$$$

Kenner Copeland’s 1319 W. Esplanade Ave., 6179146, CopelandsofNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Al Copeland’s namesake chain includes favorites such as Shrimp Ducky. Popular for lunch. $$

Lakeview H Cava 789 Harrison Ave., 304-9034. D Mon-Sat. Fine dining (and excellent wine list) at this high-end Cajun and Creole restaurant that makes customer service a big part of the experience. $$$

Metairie/Jefferson Acme Oyster House 3000 Veterans Blvd., 309-4056, AcmeOyster.com. L, D daily.

Known as one of the best places to eat oysters. $$ Austin’s 5101 W. Esplanade Ave., 8885533, AustinsNo.com. D Mon-Sat. Mr. Ed’s upscale bistro serves contemporary Creole fare, including seafood and steaks. $$$ Copeland’s 1001 S. Clearview Parkway, 620-7800; 701 Veterans Blvd., 831-3437, CopelandsofNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Al Copeland’s namesake chain includes favorites such as Shrimp Ducky.

Popular for lunch. $$ Crabby Jack’s 428 Jefferson Highway, 833-2722, CrabbyJacksNola.com. L Mon-

Sat. Lunch outpost of Jacques-Imo’s.

Famous for its fried seafood and poor boys including fried green tomatoes and roasted duck. $ Drago’s 3232 N. Arnoult Road, 888-9254, DragosRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. This famous seafooder specializes in charbroiled oysters, a dish they invented.

Great deals on fresh lobster as well. $$$$

Mid-City H Katie’s Restaurant and Bar 3701 Iberville St., 488-6582, KatiesInMidCity. com. L, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. Creative poor boys, local dishes such as gumbo and Sunday brunch make this a neighborhood favorite. $$ Lil’ Dizzy’s Café 1500 Esplanade Ave., 569-8997, LilDizzysCafe.com. B, L daily, Br Sun. Spot local and national politicos dining at this favored Creole soul restaurant known for homey classics like fried chicken and trout Baquet. $

H Mandina’s 3800 Canal St., 482-9179, MandinasRestaurant.com. L, D daily.

Though the ambiance is more upscale, the food and seafood dishes make dining here a New Orleans experience. $$

H Redemption 3835 Iberville St., 3093570, Redemption-Nola.com. L Wed-Fri & Sun, D Wed-Sun. Chef-driven “Revival” Creole fare served in an inspiring former church. $$$

H Toups’ Meatery 845 N. Carrollton Ave., 252-4999, ToupsMeatery.com. L, D Tue-Sat. Charcuterie, specialty cocktails and an exhaustive list of excellent à la carte sides make this restaurant a carnivore’s delight. $$$

Upper 9th Ward St. Roch Market 2381 St. Claude Ave., 615-6541, StRochMarket.com. B, L, D daily. Beautiful restoration of historic St. Claude Marketplace with open dining space houses a broad collection of independent eateries including craft cocktails and more. $$

NORTHSHORE Acme Oyster House 1202 N. Highway 190, Covington, (985) 246-6155, AcmeOyster.com. L, D daily. Known as one

of the best places to eat oysters. $$ Gallagher’s Grill 509 S. Tyler St., (985) 892-9992, GallaghersGrill.com. L, D TueFri, D Sat. Chef Pat Gallagher’s destination restaurant offers al fresco seating to accompany classically inspired New Orleans fare. Event catering offered. $$$

Riverbend H Boucherie 1506 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-5514, Boucherie-Nola.com. L, D Tue-Sat. Serving contemporary Southern food with an international angle, chef Nathaniel Zimet offers excellent ingredients presented simply. $$ Brigtsen’s 723 Dante St., 861-7610, Brigtsens.com. D Tue-Sat. Chef Frank Brigtsen’s nationally famous Creole cuisine makes this cozy cottage a true foodie destination. $$$$$

Uptown H Apolline 4729 Magazine St., 894-8881, ApollineRestaurant.com. D Tue-Sun, Br Sat-Sun. Cozy gem serves a refined menu of French and Creole classics peppered with Southern influences such as buttermilk fried quail with corn waffle. $$$ Casamento’s 4330 Magazine St., 8959761, CasamentosRestaurant.com. L Tue-Sat, D Thu-Sat. The family-owned restaurant has shucked oysters and fried seafood since 1919; closed during summer and for all major holidays. $$ Clancy’s 6100 Annunciation St., 8951111, ClancysNewOrleans.com. L Thu-Fri, D Mon-Sat. Their Creole-inspired menu has been a favorite of locals for years. $$$ Commander’s Palace 1403 Washington Ave., 899-8221, CommandersPalace. com. L Mon-Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. The grande dame is going strong under the auspices of James Beard Award-winner chef Tory McPhail. Jazz Brunch is a great deal. $$$$ Dick and Jenny’s 4501 Tchoupitoulas St., 894-9880, DickAndJennys.com. L Thu-Fri, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. A funky cottage serving Louisiana comfort food with flashes of innovation. $$$$

Domilise’s 5240 Annunciation St., 899-912. L, D Mon-Wed, Fri-Sat. Local institution and rite-of-passage for those wanting an initiation to the real New Orleans. Wonderful poor boys and a unique atmosphere make this a one-of-a-kind place. $

H Gautreau’s 1728 Soniat St., 899-7397, GautreausRestaurant.com. D Mon-Sat. Upscale destination serves refined interpretations of classics along with contemporary creations. $$$$$ Jacques-Imo’s Cafe 8324 Oak St., 8610886, Jacques-Imos.com. D Mon-Sat. Reinvented New Orleans cuisine served in a party atmosphere. The deep-fried roast beef poor boy is delicious. The lively bar scene offsets the long wait on weekends. $$$$ Joey K’s 3001 Magazine St., 891-0997, JoeyKsRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. A true neighborhood restaurant with daily lunch plates; red beans and rice are classic. $ Mahony’s 3454 Magazine St., 899-3374, MahonysPoBoys.com. L, D daily. Along with the usual poor boys, this sandwich shop serves up a grilled shrimp and fried green tomato version dressed with remoulade sauce. Sandwich offerings are augmented by a full bar. $ Mat & Naddie’s 937 Leonidas St., 8619600, MatAndNaddies.com. D Mon-Tue, Thu-Sat. Cozy converted house serves up creative and eclectic regionally inspired fare. Shrimp and crawfish croquettes make for a good appetizer and when the weather is right the romantic patio is the place to sit. $$$$

WEST BANK Copeland’s 2333 Manhattan Blvd., 3641575, CopelandsofNewOrleans.com. L, D daily, Br Sun. Al Copeland’s namesake chain includes favorites such as Shrimp Ducky. Popular for lunch. $$

Pizza Reginelli’s Pizzeria Multiple Locations, Reginellis.com. L, D daily. Pizzas, pastas, salads, fat calzones and lofty focaccia sandwiches are at locations all over town. $$

Vincent’s Innovates and Teams Up with Brocato Vincent’s Italian Cuisine, 7830 St. Charles Ave., 866-9313; 885-2984, 4411 Chastant St., Metairie, 885-2984; VincentsItalianCuisine.com Vincent’s Italian Cuisine, with locations in Metairie and Uptown New Orleans, has increased its offering. First, the restaurant is now offering off-site catering for up to 1,000 people. A new six-course tasting menu, “Taste of Vincent’s” is being developed and will be launched over the summer. In addition, the family-run stalwart on the dining scene has teamed up with the storied Angelo Brocato Original Italian Ice Cream Parlor to introduce two exclusive new gelato flavors: “Limoncello” and “Strawberricello”. Brocato’s, a gelateria and pasticceria, has been run in New Orleans by the Brocato family for over 100 years. – M.C.

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cheryl gerber photograph

Theo’s Pizza Multiple Locations, TheosPizza.com. L, D daily. The crackercrisp crust pizzas are complemented by a broad assortment of toppings with a lot of local ingredients at cheap prices. $$

Bywater H Pizza Delicious 617 Piety St., 6768282, PizzaDelicious.com. Authentic New York-style thin crust pizza is the reason to come to this affordable restaurant that began as a pop-up, but they also offer excellent salads sourced from small farms and homemade pasta dishes as well. Outdoor seating a plus. $

Uptown H Ancora 4508 Freret St., 324-1636, AncoraPizza.com. D Mon-Sat. Authentic Neapolitan-style pizza fired in an oven imported from Naples. The housemade charcuterie makes it a double-winner. $$ Pizza Domenica 4933 Magazine St., 301-4978, PizzaDomenica.com. L Fri-Sun, D nightly. James Beard Award Winning Chef Alon Shaya’s pizza centric spinoff of his popular Restaurant Domenica brings Neapolitan-style pies to Uptown. Excellent salads and charcuterie boards are offered as well. $$ Slice 1513 St. Charles Ave., 525-PIES (7437); 5538 Magazine St., 897-4800; SlicePizzeria.com. L, D daily. Order up slices or whole pizza pies done in several styles (thin- and thick-crust) as well as pastas, seafood, panini and salads. $

Seafood

French Quarter

Akers Middendorf’s Interstate 55, Exit 15, 30160 Highway 51 South, (985) 3866666, MiddendorfsRestaurant.com. L, D Wed-Sun. Historic seafood destination along the shores of Lake Maurepas is world-famous for its thin-fried catfish fillets. Open since 1934, it’s more than a restaurant, it’s a Sun. drive tradition. $$

CBD/Warehouse District H Borgne 601 Loyola Ave., 613-3860, BorgneRestaurant.com. L, D daily.

Coastal Louisiana seafood with an emphasis on Isleños cuisine (descendants of Canary Islanders who settled in St. Bernard Parish) is the focus of this high-volume destination adjacent to the Superdome. $$$

H Pêche 800 Magazine St., 522-1744, PecheRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Award-winning southern-inspired seafood destination by chef Donald Link serves whole roasted Gulf fish from its massive, wood-burning oven. An excellent raw bar is offered as well. $$$ Sac-A-Lait 1051 Annunciation St., 324-3658, Sac-A-LaitRestaurant.com. D Tues-Sat, L Fri. Cody and Sam Carroll’s shrine to Gulf Coast and Louisiana culinary heritage melds seafood, game, artisan produce, and craft libations in an ambitious menu that celebrates local and southern cuisine. The striking buildout in the Cotton Mill lofts adds to the appeal. $$$$

Bourbon House 144 Bourbon St., 5220111, BourbonHouse.com. B, L, D daily.

Local seafood, featured in both classic and contemporary dishes, is the focus of this New Orleans-centric destination.

And yes, bourbon is offered as well. $$$ Crazy Lobster 500 Port of New Orleans Place, Suite 83. L, D daily. Boiled seafood and festive atmosphere come together at this seafood-centric destination overlooking the Mississippi River. Outdoor seating a plus. $$$ Creole Cookery 508 Toulouse St., Suite C110, 524-9632, NewOrleansCreoleCookery.com. L, D daily. Crowd-pleasing destination in the French Quarter offers an expansive menu of Creole favorites and specialty cocktails served with New Orleans flair. $$$ Deanie’s Seafood 841 Iberville St., 5811316, Deanies.com. L, D daily. Louisiana seafood, baked, broiled, boiled and fried is the name of the game. Try the barbecue shrimp or towering seafood platters. $$$

H GW Fins 808 Bienville St., 581-FINS (3467), GWFins.com. D daily. Owners Gary Wollerman and twice chef of the year Tenney Flynn provide dishes at their seasonal peak. On a quest for unique variety, menu is printed daily. $$$$$

H Kingfish 337 Charters St., 598-5005, CocktailBarNewOrleans.com. L, D daily.

Regionally inspired seafood dishes

with carefully sourced ingredients and southern influence is the focus at this chef-driven French Quarter establishment. $$$ Landry’s Seafood 400 N. Peters St., 5580038, LandrysSeafood.com. Kid-friendly and popular seafood spot serves of heaping platters of fried shrimp, Gulf oysters, catfish and more. $$ Le Bayou, 208 Bourbon St., 525-4755, LeBayouRestaurant.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Blackened redfish and Shrimp Ya-Ya are a just a few of the choices at this seafood-centric destination on Bourbon Street. Fried alligator is available for the more daring diner. $$$ Oceana Grill 739 Conti St., 525-6002, OceanaGrill.com. B, L, D daily. Gumbo, poor boys and barbecue shrimp are served at this kid-friendly seafood destination. $$ Pier 424, 424 Bourbon St., 309-1574, Pier424SeafoodMarket.com. L, D daily.

Seafood-centric restaurant offers long menu of traditional New Orleans fare augmented by unusual twists like “Cajun-Boiled” Lobster prepared crawfish-style in spicy crab boil. $$$

Kenner Mr. Ed’s Seafood and Italian Restaurant 910 W. Esplanade Ave., Ste. A, 463-3030, AustinsNo.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Neighborhood restaurant specializes in seafood and Italian offerings such as stuffed eggplant and bell pepper. Fried seafood

FR

ITALIAN CUISINE

M EE eve artinis for ry day lun ch

Don’t forget about Vincents for Private Parties & Catering 4411 Chastant Street Metairie, LA 70006 (504)885-2984

7839 St. Charles Avenue New Orleans, LA 70118 (504)866-9313 OPEN SUNDAYS

www.vincentsitaliancuisine.com myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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DINING GUIDE and sandwiches make it a good stop for lunch. $$

Metairie Austin’s Restaurant, 5101 W. Esplanade Ave., 888-5533, AustinsNo.com. D MonSat. Signature steak, seafood and Italian specialties reign at this dinner-only destination. Catering offered as well. $$$ Deanie’s Seafood 1713 Lake Ave., 8314141, Deanies.com. L, D daily. Louisiana seafood, baked, broiled, boiled and fried, is the name of the game. Try the barbecue shrimp or towering seafood platters. $$$ Mr. Ed’s Seafood and Italian Restaurant 1001 Live Oak St., 838-0022, AustinsNo.com. L, D Mon-Sat. Neighborhood restaurant specializes in seafood and Italian offerings such as stuffed eggplant and bell pepper. Fried seafood and sandwiches make it a good stop for lunch. $$

Uptown Frankie & Johnny’s 321 Arabella St., 243-1234, FrankieAndJohnnys.net. L, D daily. Serves fried and boiled seafood along with poor boys and daily lunch specials. Kid-friendly with a game room to boot. $$

West End Landry’s Seafood 8000 Lakeshore Drive, West End, 283-1010, LandrysSeafood. com. Kid-friendly and popular seafood spot serves of heaping platters of fried shrimp, Gulf oysters, catfish and more. $$

Steakhouse CBD/Warehouse District H Besh Steak Harrah’s Casino, 8 Canal St., 533-6111, HarrahsNewOrleans. com. D daily. Acclaimed chef John Besh reinterprets the classic steakhouse with his signature contemporary Louisiana flair. $$$$$ Chophouse New Orleans 322 Magazine St., 522-7902, ChophouseNola.com. D daily. In addition to USDA prime grade aged steaks prepared under a broiler that reaches 1,700 degrees, Chophouse offers lobster, redfish and classic steakhouse sides. $$$

H Desi Vega’s Steakhouse 628 St. Charles Ave., 523-7600, DesiVegaSteaks. com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat. USDA Prime steaks form the base of this Mr. John’s offshoot overlooking Lafayette Square, but Italian specialties and a smattering of locally inspired seafood dishes round out the appeal. $$$

H La Boca 870 Tchoupitoulas St., 5258205, LaBocaSteaks.com. D Mon-Sat. This Argentine steakhouse specializes in cuts of meat along with pastas and wines. Specials include the provoleta appetizer and the Vacio flank steak. $$$ Morton’s The Steakhouse 365 Canal St., One Canal Place, 566-0221, Mortons. com/NewOrleans. D daily. Private eleva-

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tor leads to the plush, wood-paneled environs of this local outpost of the famed Chicago steakhouse popular with politicians and celebrities. $$$$ Ruth’s Chris Steak House Harrah’s Hotel, 525 Fulton St., 587-7099, RuthsChris. com. D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Filet mignon, creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin are the most popular dishes at this area steak institution, but there are also great seafood choices and top-notch desserts. $$$$$

Garden District H Mr. John’s Steakhouse 2111 St. Charles Ave., 679-7697, MrJohnsSteakhouse.com. D Tue-Sat, L Friday. Wood paneling, white tile and USDA Prime Beef served sizzling in butter are the hallmarks of this classic New Orleans steakhouse. $$$

French Quarter Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse 716 Iberville St., 522-2467, DickieBrennansSteakhouse.com. L Fri, D daily. Nationally recognized steakhouse serves USDA Prime steaks and local seafood. $$$$$

H Doris Metropolitan 620 Chartres St., 267-3500, DorisMetropolitan.com. L SatSun, D daily. Innovative, genre-busting steakhouse plays with expectations and succeeds with modernist dishes like their Classified Cut and Beetroot Supreme. $$$$ Galatoire’s 33 Bar & Steak 215 Bourbon St., 335-3932, Galatoires33BarAndSteak. com. L Fri, D Sun-Thu. Steakhouse offshoot of the venerable Creole grande dame offers hand-crafted cocktails to accompany classic steakhouse fare as well as inspired dishes like the Gouté 33: horseradish-crusted bone marrow and deviled eggs with crab ravigote and smoked trout. Reservations accepted. $$$

Metairie Ruth’s Chris Steak House 3633 Veterans Blvd., 888-3600, RuthsChris.com. L Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Filet mignon, creamed spinach and potatoes au gratin are the most popular dishes at this area steak institution, but there are also great seafood choices and top-notch desserts. $$$$$

Mid-City H Crescent City Steaks 1001 N. Broad St., 821-3271, CrescentCitySteaks.com. L Tue-Fri & Sun, D daily. One of the classic New Orleans steakhouses. Steaks, sides and drinks are what you get. $$$$

Uptown Charlie’s Steak House 4510 Dryades St., 895-9323, CharliesSteakHouseNola. com. D Tues-Sat. This quintessential New Orleans neighborhood steak house serves up carnivorous delights including its 32-ounce T-Bone in a relaxed and unpretentious atmosphere. An upstairs dining room accommodates larger parties with ease. $$$

Vegan/Vegetarian Lower Garden District H The Green Fork 1400 Prytania St., 267-7672, GreenForkNola.com. B, L Mon-Sat. Fresh juices, smoothies and vegetarian-friendly fare make The Green Fork a favorite for lovers of healthy food.

Catering is offered as well. $$

World Byblos Multiple Locations, ByblosRestaurants.com. L, D daily. Upscale Middle Eastern cuisine featuring traditional seafood, lamb and vegetarian options. $$

Bywater The Green Goddess 307 Exchange Place, 301-3347, GreenGoddessRestaurant.com.

L, D Wed-Sun. One of the most imaginative local restaurants. The menu is constantly changing, and chef Paul Artigues always has ample vegetarian options.

Combine all of that with a fantastic selection of drinks, wine and beer, and it’s the total (albeit small) package. $$

CBD/Warehouse District Johnny Sanchez 930 Poydras St., 304-6615, JohnnySanchezRestaurant. com. L, D daily. Contemporary Mexican mecca offering celebrity chef cachet to go along with the locally sourced produce accompanying the Bistec a la Parilla.

Popular happy hour and downtown locale next to South Market District add to the appeal. $$$

H Lüke 333 St. Charles Ave., 378-2840, LukeNewOrleans.com. B, L, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Chef John Besh and executive chef Matt Regan serve Germanic specialties and French bistro classics, housemade patés and abundant plateaux of cold, fresh seafood. $$$ Palace Café 605 Canal St., 523-1661, PalaceCafe.com. L Mon-Sat, D daily, Br Sun. Dickie Brennan-owned brasserie with French-style sidewalk seating and house-created specialties of chef Darrin Nesbit. Favorites here include crabmeat cheesecake, turtle soup, the Werlein salad with fried Louisiana oysters and pork “debris” studded Palace potato pie. $$$$$

Faubourg Marigny H Mona’s Café 504 Frenchmen St., 949-4115. L, D daily. Middle Eastern specialties such as baba ganuj, tender-tangy beef or chicken shawarma, falafel and gyros, stuffed into pillowy pita bread or on platters. The lentil soup with crunchy pita chips and desserts, such as sticky sweet baklava, round out the menu. $

Faubourg St. John H 1000 Figs 3141 Ponce De Leon St., 301-0848, 1000Figs.com. L, D Tue-Sat. Vegetarian-friendly offshoot of the Fat Falafel Food Truck offers a healthy farm-to-table alternative to cookie-cutter Middle Eastern places. $$

French Quarter Bayona 430 Dauphine St., 525-4455,

Bayona.com. L Wed-Sat, D Mon-Sat. Chef Susan Spicer’s nationally acclaimed cuisine is served in this 200-year-old cottage. Ask for a seat on the romantic patio, weather permitting. $$$$$ El Gato Negro 81 French Market Place, 525-9752, ElGatoNegroNola.com. Central Mexican cuisine along with handmuddled mojitos and margaritas made with freshly squeezed juice. A weekend breakfast menu is an additional plus. $$

Kenner H Fiesta Latina 1924 Airline Drive, 4682384, FiestaLatinaRestaurant.com. B, L, D daily. A big-screen TV normally shows a soccer match or MTV Latino at this home for authentic Central American food.

Tacos include a charred carne asada. $$

Lakewood H Mizado 5080 Pontchartrain Blvd., 885-5555, MizadoCocina.com. L daily, D Mon-Sat. Sleek restaurant offers modern Mexican cuisine featuring pan-Latin flavors and influences. Small batch tequila and a ceviche bar make it a party. $$

Lakeview H Mondo 900 Harrison Ave., 224-2633, MondoNewOrleans.com. L Mon-Fri, D Mon-Sat, Br Sun. Chef Susan Spicer’s take on world cuisine. Make sure to call ahead because the place has a deserved reputation for good food and good times. $$$

METAIRIE Vega Tapas Café 2051 Metairie Road, 836-2007, VegaTapasCafe.com. D MonSat. Fun, eclectic small plates destination offers creative fare keeps guests coming back with frequent regionally inspired specialty menus served with humor and whimsy. $$

Mid-City Juan’s Flying Burrito 4724 S. Carrollton Ave., 486-9950, JuansFlyingBurrito. com. L, D daily. Hard-core tacos and massive burritos are served in an edgy atmosphere. $ Lola’s 3312 Esplanade Ave., 488-6946, LolasNewOrleans.com. D daily. Garlicky Spanish dishes and great paella make this artsy boîte a hipster destination. $$$

H Mona’s Café 3901 Banks St., 4827743. L, D daily. Middle Eastern specialties such as baba ganuj, tender-tangy beef or chicken shawarma, falafel and gyros, stuffed into pillowy pita bread or on platters. The lentil soup with crunchy pita chips and desserts, such as sticky sweet baklava, round out the menu. $

H Taqueria Guerrero 208 N. Carrollton Ave., 484-6959. B, L, D, Tue-Sat. Friendly staff and authentic Mexican cuisine make this affordable neighborhood restaurant a neighborhood favorite. $

Upper 9th Ward Kebab , 2315 Saint Claude Ave., 3834328, KebabNola.com. L, D Fri-Mon. The

menu is short and tasty at this kebab outpost along the revitalized St. Claude Avenue corridor. $

Uptown H Café Abyssinia 3511 Magazine St., 894-6238. L, D daily. One of a just few authentic Ethiopian restaurants in the city, excellent injera and spicy vegetarian fare make this a local favorite. $$

H Irish House 1432 St. Charles Ave., 595-6755, TheIrishHouseNewOrleans. com. L Mon-Fri, D daily, Br Sat-Sun. Irish pub dishes such as shepherd’s pie and fish and chips are featured here, as well as creative cocktails like Irish iced coffee. Check the schedule of events for live music. $$ Jamila’s Mediterranean Tunisian Cuisine 7808 Maple St., 866-4366. D Tue-Sun. Intimate and exotic bistro serving Mediterranean and Tunisian cuisine. The Grilled Merguez is a Jazz Fest favorite and vegetarian options are offered. $$ Juan’s Flying Burrito 2018 Magazine St., 569-0000, JuansFlyingBurrito. com. L, D daily. Hard-core tacos and massive burritos are served in an edgy atmosphere. $

H Mona’s Café 4126 Magazine St., 894-9800; 1120 S. Carrollton Ave., 861-8174. L, D daily. Middle Eastern specialties such as baba ganuj, tender-

tangy beef or chicken shawarma, falafel and gyros, stuffed into pillowy pita bread or on platters. The lentil soup with crunchy pita chips and desserts, such as sticky sweet baklava, round out the menu. $

H Panchita’s 1434 S. Carrollton Ave., 281-4127. L, D daily. Authentic, budgetfriendly Mexican restaurant serves tamales, mole and offers free chips and salsa as well as sangria. $

H Patois 6078 Laurel St., 895-9441, PatoisNola.com. L Fri, D Wed-Sat, Br Sun. The food is French in technique, with influences from across the Mediterranean as well as the American South, all filtered through the talent of chef Aaron Burgau. Reservations recommended. $$$

H Shaya 4213 Magazine St., 891-4213, ShayaRestaurant.com. L, D daily. James Beard Award-winning chef Alon Shaya pays homage to his native Israel with this contemporary Israeli hotspot.

Fattoush Salad and Matzo Ball Soup made with slow-cooked duck are dishes to try. $$$

Specialty Foods CBD/Warehouse District Calcasieu 930 Tchoupitoulas St., 5882188, CalcasieuRooms.com. For gatherings both large and small, the catering menus feature modern Louisiana cooking and the Cajun cuisine for which chef

Donald Link is justifiably famous.

French Quarter Antoine’s Annex 513 Royal St., 5258045, Antoines.com/Antoines-Annex.

Open daily. Serves French pastries, including individual baked Alaskas, ice cream and gelato, as well as panini, salads and coffee. Delivery available.

Metairie Sucré 3301 Veterans Blvd., 834-2277, ShopSucre.com. Desserts daily. Open late weekends. Chocolates, pastry and gelato draw rave reviews at this dessert destination. Beautiful packaging makes this a great place to shop for gifts.

Catering available.

com. Open daily. Specialty shop offers a selection of fine cheeses, wines, beers and related accouterments. Look for wine and cheese specials every Friday.

Sucré 3025 Magazine St., 520-8311, ShopSucre.com. Desserts daily & nightly. Open late weekends. Chocolates, pastry and gelato draw rave reviews at this dessert destination. Beautiful packaging makes this a great place to shop for gifts. Catering available. n

Mid-City H Blue Dot Donuts 4301 Canal St., 218-4866, BlueDotDonuts.com. B, L Tue-Sun. The Bacon Maple Long John gets all the press, but returning customers are happy with the classics as well as twists like peanut butter and jelly.

Uptown Blue Frog Chocolates 5707 Magazine St., 269-5707, BlueFrogChocolates.com.

Open daily, closed Sundays in summer.

French and Belgian chocolate truffles and Italian candy flowers make this a great place for gifts.

St. James Cheese Company 5004 Prytania St., 899-4737, StJamesCheese.

If you feel that a restaurant has been misplaced, please email Managing Editor Morgan Packard at Morgan@MyNewOrleans.com.

A STUNNING COLLECTION OF 50 TRADITIONAL (AND SOME NON-TRADITIONAL) LOUISIANA RECIPES. AN ABSOLUTE MUST HAVE FOR YOUR KITCHEN, OR THE PERFECT GIFT FOR A LOUISIANA FOOD LOVER.

$16.95 TO ORDER VISIT LOUISIANACOOKBOOK.COM

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ADVERTISING SECTION

Orthopedics & Sports Medicine F

rom broken bones and tennis elbow to carpal tunnel and neuromuscular disorders, orthopedists treat a vast number of injuries and ailments. Whether your pain originated from a sports injury or too much time typing at the office, that pain is real and can make everyday activities difficult to accomplish. Seeing an orthopaedist may help you get back to daily life at home, at work or on the playing field quicker than you think. A variety of minimally invasive and advanced procedures are available from physicians and surgeons across New Orleans, even in cases of rare conditions. Knowing your options is the first step in seeking care, and a consultation with one of the following orthopedics and sports medicine specialists may help you find a path to healing.

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ADVERTISING SECTION

The only practice affiliated with Touro consisting entirely of fellowship-trained orthopaedic specialists, Orthopaedic Specialists of New Orleans is the partnership of Dr. Richard L. Meyer Jr. and Dr. Scott A. Tucker.

Dr. Meyer performs hip and knee reconstructive surgery. He is a leading pioneer in anterior total hip replacement and the first to perform the procedure in New Orleans and teaches the procedure internationally. Dr. Meyer’s services include computernavigated surgery, patient-specific knee replacement, partial knee replacement, knee arthroscopy and hip and knee revisions.

Dr. Tucker performs complex surgeries of the shoulder (including total replacement and reverse replacement), elbow, ankle and knee (including partial knee replacement) with a focus on arthroscopic surgery. He trained with worldrenowned surgeon Dr. James Andrews, during which time he cared for numerous high-level athletes.

Drs. Meyer and Tucker treat complex and common orthopaedic problems and also implement many non-operative orthobiologic and regenerative medicine therapies, such as in-office Platelet-Rich-Plasma and Bone Marrrow Aspirate and Lipogem Stem Cell injections, all done using ultrasound guidance.

For more info, visit DrRichardMeyer.com and

DrScottATucker.com or call 504-897-7877.

Serving the West Bank and Greater New Orleans region, Westside Orthopaedic Clinic provides superior general orthopaedic treatment with a specialty in spinal care. The clinic has been in operation since 1961, making it one of the longest standing orthopaedic clinics in the city.

Dr. Ralph Katz is trained in all areas of modern orthopaedic surgery and is board-certified as well as fellowship-trained.

Dr. Katz is a leader in his field with over 15 years performing advanced, minimally invasive procedures that restore strength and independence, allowing patients to successfully return to their regular activities quickly. Additionally, Sarah Logrande, APRN, has joined the practice under the guidance of Dr. Katz and clinic staff.

High-quality patient care is of the utmost importance at Westside Orthopaedic Clinic. Most major insurance plans are accepted, including worker’s compensation. Same day appointments can often be accommodated. “Why suffer? Call today for an appointment!” Westside offers full-service, inhouse X-rays, EMG/NCS, as well as physical therapy services with access to new rehabilitation equipment.

For more information on Westside Orthopaedic Clinic, visit WestsideOrtho.com or call 504-347-0243.

The physicians at Pontchartrain Orthopedics & Sports Medicine specialize in caring for the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones, joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and related structures of the body. They evaluate and treat all injuries and disorders from the neck down to the feet in both adult and pediatric patients.

The dedicated team of board certified orthopedic surgeons, physical therapists, pain management specialists, and support staff at Pontchartrain Orthopedics and Sports Medicine has been serving the Greater New Orleans community for over three decades.

BRANDON P. DONNELLY, M.D., CHARLES G. HADDAD, JR., M.D., JEFFREY J. SKETCHLER, M.D., JOSEPH L. FINSTEIN, M.D., JOHN G. BURVANT, M.D., KEITH P. MELANCON, M.D., HAROLD M. STOKES, M.D., MICHAEL P. ZERINGUE,M.D.

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Pontchartrain Orthopedics & Sports Medicine’s physicians ensure that they are available 24/7 for telephone calls, hospital rounds and emergency room consultations, including after hours, weekends and holidays. X-ray services are also provided in-office. Physical therapy services are provided in our fully staffed and equipped facility at our Metairie office.

PONTCHARTRAIN ORTHOPEDICS & SPORTS MEDICINE

3939 Houma Blvd., Suite 21 | Metairie, LA 70006 | 504.885.6464 105 Plantation Road, Suite | 110 Destrehan, LA 70047 | 985.764.3001 14041 Hwy. 90 | Boutte, LA | 985.764.30001 posm.org

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Each year, thousands of Americans make the decision to end chronic joint pain by undergoing joint replacement surgery. The Orthopaedic and Spine Center at Touro Infirmary understands that even elective surgery such as joint replacement of the knee, shoulder or hip can be very disconcerting. Touro offers a unique approach to patient care, providing education, care, and resources patients need to relieve pain, improve function and get back to doing the things they love.

Touro Infirmary is the first of its kind in the region, offering the most recent arthroscopic, minimally invasive surgical procedures designed to return you to an active lifestyle as quickly as possible. The Center features a unique group recovery method with “hotelstyle” rooms and amenities and occupies a separate hospital wing designated specially for joint recovery patients. Touro physicians and staff recognize the importance of both family and group support during the recovery period.

To learn more about the Orthopaedic and Spine Center at Touro, visit Touro.com.

Tulane Orthopaedics doctors are elite, fellowshiptrained surgeons who combine their expertise and subspecialty areas into a single comprehensive program.

Patients have access to some of the most capable surgical care in the nation, as well as one of the finest rehabilitation programs. This ensures a faster and more effective recovery, regardless of whether you’re trying to get back on the sports field or back to daily life.

Specialists offer care and prevention of sports medicine injuries, total joint replacements of hips, knees, shoulders, elbows and ankles, treatment of pelvic and other bone fractures and treatment of spinerelated conditions ranging from scoliosis in children to adults with disc herniations and spinal stenosis. Other conditions treated include painful foot ailments such as bunions and painful nerve compressions. With multiple locations, including the Institute of Sports Medicine in Uptown New Orleans, Tulane-Lakeside in Metairie and downtown at Tulane Medical Center, Tulane doctors and staff are able to serve the entire Greater New Orleans community.

For more information, call 877-Tortho-1 (877-8678461) or 504-988-6032, or visit OrthoTulane.com.

At Pontchartrain Orthopedics & Sports Medicine , the goal is to achieve 100 percent patient satisfaction from any medical or non-medical service provided. Their physicians specialize in the care of the musculoskeletal system, which includes bones,

One of few local practices consisting entirely of fellowship-trained orthopaedic specialists, Orthopaedic Specialists of New Orleans is the partnership of two passionate, acclaimed orthopedists who specialize in both complex and common orthopaedic problems.

Dr. Meyer is fellowship trained in hip and knee reconstructive surgery and sports medicine. He is a leading pioneer in anterior total hip replacement and the first to perform the procedure in New Orleans. He has lectured and taught the procedure internationally. Dr. Meyer’s services include computer-navigated surgery, patient-specific custom instrumentation for knee replacement, partial knee replacements, hip and knee revisions, and arthroscopy of the knee.

RICHARD MEYER, MD & SCOTT A. TUCKER, MD

Dr. Tucker has extensive experience performing complex surgeries of the shoulder (including total replacement and reverse replacement), elbow, knee, and ankle, with a focus on arthroscopic surgery. His fellowship training was with world-renown surgeon Dr. James Andrews at The Andrews Institute.

ORTHOPAEDIC SPECIALISTS OF NEW ORLEANS 3434 Prytania St., Suite 310, New Orleans, LA 70115 504-897-7877 | DrRichardMeyer.com | DrScottATucker.com

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joints, ligaments, tendons, muscles, nerves and related structures of the body. All orthopedic problems from the neck down to the feet of both adults and children are treated from their full-service, advanced facility.

Patient input is given the highest consideration during all courses of treatment, and conservative treatment is always considered before a decision for surgery is made.

The comprehensive orthopedic management program at Pontchartrain Orthopedics & Sports Medicine includes procedures such as arthroscopic surgery, total joint replacement, carpal tunnel surgery and fracture management as well as sports medicine and worker’s compensation cases. Pain management services include interventional spine, ultrasound-guided injections and Botox injections.

Pontchartrain Orthopedics maintains offices in Metairie, Destrehan and Boutte. Physicians at Pontchartrain Orthopedics are the team doctors for many local schools. For information and appointments, visit posm.org or call the office at 504-885-6464.

One of the region’s top orthopaedic surgeons, Dr. Neil Maki practices in Thibodaux, Louisiana, in association with Thibodaux Regional Medical Center (TRMC). Six staff members, including physician assistant Nicole Orgeron Bourgeois, PA-C, insure that

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patients’ individual needs are met by the most effective means possible. Advanced services include digital X-ray, electronic medical records, ultrasound technology and all services and specialists at TRMC. Although Dr. Maki does most orthopaedic procedures, he specializes in the shoulder and sports medicine. Dr. Maki pioneered many of today’s shoulder arthroscopic procedures including obtaining patents on some arthroscopic instrumentation. He also performs shoulder replacements, including reverse shoulder replacement and resurfacing arthroplasty. Dr. Maki is one of few specialists in the region who perform endoscopic carpal tunnel (wrist) and endoscopic cubital tunnel (elbow) surgery.

Board-certified in both orthopaedic surgery and sports medicine, Dr. Maki is on the active staff at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center. He is also fellowship trained in Hand and Upper Extremity Surgery. He has served on the medical staff of the New Orleans Saints and the Nicholls State University athletic programs. He may be reached by calling 985-446-6284 or 1-800-521-2647.

The Sports Medicine Center of Thibodaux Regional is committed to providing student athletes and coaches with the tools needed for a

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safe and successful season. One unique aspect of care offered through Thibodaux Regional’s Sports Medicine Center is use of its advanced concussion technology, which provides physicians with concrete data to help determine when an athlete is ready to return to sports following an injury. In addition to concussion management, comprehensive treatment and rehabilitative services are offered for all types of injuries with an end goal of helping athletes return to the same level of competition performance.

“Thibodaux Regional’s sports medicine program also offers educational seminars that focus on nutrition, conditioning, equipment fitting and reconditioning, and specific health topics such as concussion and athletic injury rehabilitation,” says Larry D‘Antoni, ATC, LAT, Coordinator of the Sports Medicine Center of Thibodaux Regional.

To learn more about the sports medicine program at Thibodaux Regional Medical Center, call 985-493-4502 or visit Thibodaux.com.

Sometimes a kiss makes everything better, but sometimes that’s not enough. When kids break a bone or have something more serious that requires an orthopedic specialist, they can get scared. In fact, so can parents. The Orthopedics Department at Children’s Hospital provides evaluation, diagnosis and treatment for the entire spectrum of orthopedic conditions and disorders in infants, children and adolescents.

Children’s Hospital Orthopedics has the largest Pediatric fellowship-trained group in the state and treats conditions including hip pathology, fractures, spinal disorders, sports injuries, neuromuscular disorders,

clubfoot and other foot disorders. As the only fullservice hospital exclusively for children from Houston to Gainesville, from the Gulf to Birmingham, Children’s Hospital offers a multi-disciplinary approach to care.

Orthopedic services are available at the Metairie Center, Children’s Hospital Outpatient Center of Baton Rouge, Children’s Hospital Burdin-Riehl Clinic in Lafayette, and the newly opened Northshore Center in Covington. For additional information, visit Children’s Hospital online at CHNola.org/orthopedics.

Dr. Alexis Waguespack is a fellowship-trained spine specialist and board-certified orthopedic surgeon providing comprehensive treatment of cervical, thoracic, lumbar, and sacral spine disorders, including scoliosis, spondylolisthesis and kyphosis (aka adult deformity).

Dr. Waguespack is one of few specialists in the country experienced at treating adult deformity using the latest advancement in minimally invasive surgery for spinal deformity/scoliosis, offering superior results and quicker recoveries. She is one of few Louisiana physicians treating often-misdiagnosed SI joint pain (which accounts for some 25 percent of patients with longstanding lower back pain) with outstanding success rates using a minimally invasive outpatient procedure.

Dr. Waguespack trained at the San Francisco Spine Institute, which included the treatment of professional golfers, basketball players, and members of the San Francisco 49ers. She is a member of the North American Spine Society and the American Academy of Orthopedic Surgeons. She can be reached at 504-392-7123. •

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The following physicians – most of whom are included in Best Doctors' list of top practioniers – can help get you back on your feet and back on the field.

Orthopaedic Surgery Covington

Kevin Darr

Covington Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic 19343 Sunshine Ave. (985) 892-5117

Mark J. Hontas

Tulane University Medical Group – Covington Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 71211 Highway 21, Suite A (985) 893-9922

H. Reiss Plauche

Covington Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic 19343 Sunshine Ave. (985) 892-5117

Jason L. Rolling

Covington Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic 19343 Sunshine Ave. (985) 892-5117 Jefferson

Deryk Jones

Ochsner Hospital – Elmwood Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute Cartilage Restoration Institute 1201 S. Clearview Parkway, Building B 736-4800

Scott C. Montgomery

Ochsner Hospital – Elmwood Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute, Building B 1201 S. Clearview Parkway 736-4800

Misty Suri

Ochsner Hospital – Elmwood Ochsner Sports Medicine Institute, Building B, Suite 104 1201 S. Clearview Parkway 736-4800 Kenner

Vinod Dasa

LSU Healthcare Network Kenner Clinic Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 200 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 500 412-1700 110

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Luis M. Espinoza

Orthopedic Center for Sports Medicine 671 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 100 467-5900

Michael Hartman

LSU Healthcare Network St. Charles Multi-Specialty Clinic 3700 St. Charles Ave., 6th Floor 412-1100

Peter C. Krause

LSU Healthcare Network Department of Orthopaedics 200 W. Esplanade Ave., Suite 500 412-1700

James F. Mautner

Ochsner Health System Ochsner Medical Center Division of Trauma Surgery 1514 Jefferson Highway, 5th Floor 842-3970

Andrew G. King

Children’s Hospital of New Orleans Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 200 Henry Clay Ave. 896-9569

Orthopaedic Associates of New Orleans 3434 Prytania St., Suite 430 899-6391

Christopher Marrero

LSU Healthcare Network St. Charles Multi-Specialty Clinic Department of Orthopaedics 3700 St. Charles Ave., 6th Floor 412-1100

Mark S. Meyer

Marrero

Lucas Thomas Cashio

Chad Millet

Mark Juneau Jr.

Jefferson Orthopaedic Clinic 920 Avenue B 349-6804 New Orleans

George Chimento

Ochsner Health System Ochsner Medical Center Department of Orthopaedics 1514 Jefferson Highway, 5th Floor 842-3970

Donald C. Faust

2633 Napoleon Ave., Suite 600 899-1000

Paul Gladden

Tulane Medical Center Tulane Orthopaedic Clinic 1415 Tulane Ave., 4th Floor 988-2177

James C. Butler

Southern Spine Care 1150 Robert Blvd., Suite 240 (985) 661-2170 Thibodaux

James Monroe Laborde

Ochsner Health System Ochsner Medical Center Department of Orthopaedics 1514 Jefferson Highway, 5th Floor 842-3970

Jefferson Orthopaedic Clinic 920 Avenue B 349-6804

Slidell

Southern Orthopaedic Specialists 2731 Napoleon Ave. 897-6351

Michael J. O’Brien

Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine 202 McAllister Extension 864-1476

J. Lockwood Ochsner Jr.

Ochsner Health System Ochsner Medical Center Department of Orthopaedics 1514 Jefferson Highway, 5th Floor 842-3970

Felix H. Savoie III

Tulane Institute of Sports Medicine 202 McAlister Extension 864-1476

Robert Treuting

Ochsner Health System Ochsner Medical Center Department of Orthopaedics 1514 Jefferson Highway, 5th Floor 842-3970

Neil James Maki

Thibodaux Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Clinic 525 Saint Marys St. (985) 446-6284 Pediatric Orthopaedic SURGERY New Orleans

William K. Accousti

Children’s Hospital of New Orleans Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 200 Henry Clay Ave. 896-9569

James Toliver Bennett Tulane Medical Center Division of Pediatric Orthopaedic Surgery 1415 Tulane Ave. 988-2177

Joseph A. Gonzales Jr.

Children’s Hospital of New Orleans Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 200 Henry Clay Ave. 896-9569

Stephen Douglas Heinrich Children’s Hospital of New Orleans Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 200 Henry Clay Ave. 896-9569

Andrew G. King

Children’s Hospital of New Orleans Department of Orthopaedic Surgery 200 Henry Clay Ave. 896-9569 •

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hether you love New Orleans so much you’ve chosen to live here, or you live elsewhere but find yourself always coming back for more, there’s no denying it’s easy to love with so much to see and do, not to mention taste and hear. From the exceptional music and entertainment and eclectic cuisine to the various historical landmarks and close-knit cultural communities, New Orleans is a city perfect for being a tourist, even when you live here. There are always new boutiques to shop, new tours to take, new menus to try, and new hotels in which to relax. Even if they’re not “new,” they can be new to you. Experience New Orleans as if for the first time this summer by playing tourist, and fall back in love with the Big Easy with each experience, purchase and meal.

When living the New Orleans experience, it’s important to envelop yourself in the essence of New Orleans – a feeling captured by each upscale property in the New Orleans Hotel Collection (NOHC). Authentic, independent and quality driven, each hotel offers its own story and is set apart by its distinctive style, personalized service and superb location.

Locally owned and operated, the collection consists of the Bourbon Orleans, Dauphine Orleans, Crowne Plaza (Airport), The Whitney Hotel, Hotel Mazarin, Hotel Le Marais and soon-to-be-added JUNG Hotel and Hotel 111.

Service is standout at each property, ranking at the top of TripAdvisor.com listings as the number 1, 2, 3, 6, and 15 hotels in the market. Conde Nast Traveler’s 126,000 readers just named Hotel Le Marais and Bourbon Orleans Hotel to their list of the Ten Best Hotels in New Orleans. NOHC offers free breakfast, local calls, newspaper, bottled artesian waters, Wi-Fi, a welcome drink, reward points and in-room coffee.

Earn STASH Hotel reward points usable at over 200 independent hotels across the United States (STASHrewards.com).

Enjoy a “staycation” this summer with the “Summer in the City” package! Visit NewOrleansHotelCollection.com.

This year, the Hotel Monteleone celebrates 130 years of providing top service to guests with plenty more to celebrate as well, from the recent unveiling of Royal Salon to the launch of its literary book. Fifth generation family-owned and operated, the historic Hotel Monteleone is located on famous Royal Street in the French Quarter.

The Hotel Monteleone has long been the home to some of the world’s most famous and colorful characters – Ernest Hemingway, Tennessee Williams, William Faulkner and Truman Capote called it home, as well as countless movie stars, dignitaries and royalty.

The pet-friendly hotel features 570 luxurious guest rooms 112

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including 55 suites. All guest rooms come with marble and granite baths, Keurig coffee and brewer, in-room safe, refrigerator, high-speed internet access (fees apply), HD LCD television, iron and ironing board, hairdryer, plush robes and alarm clock radios. Hotel Monteleone houses the award-winning Criollo Restaurant, the famous Carousel Bar & Lounge, a heated rooftop swimming pool with Acqua Bella Pool Bar, 24/7 Fitness Center with panoramic views, Spa Aria, on-site Business Center, valet parking, and 25,000 square feet of meeting space.

For information and reservations, visit HotelMonteleone.com or call 504-523-3341.

Named the No. 1 brunch spot in New Orleans by OpenTable, Red Gravy continues to make a statement with its richly flavored, authentic Italian cuisine and farm-to-fork approach. The restaurant locally sources most ingredients from local farmers, fishers, and bakers, and all pasta (including gluten-free) is handmade in-house. This summer, guests can look forward to Jersey- and NYC-inspired menu specials, as owner and ring leader Roseann Melisi Rostoker will be traveling to her beloved Atlantic with a creative eye for new dishes.

In addition to its Italian brunch and lunch items such as pastas, sandwiches, omelets, egg platters, and the best meatballs in New Orleans, Red Gravy is proud to offer gluten-free pizza made from arrowroot and almond flours.

The bar offers handcrafted brunch cocktails such as the wickedly tasty Witch’s Coffee and seasonal selections using a handcrafted strawberry vodka made with berries from nearby Johndales Strawberry Farm.

View the menu and make your reservations online at RedGravyCafe.com, or call 504-561-8844.

Five Happiness, New Orleans’s award-winning Chinese restaurant, offers a delicious menu of Sichuan and Hunan specialties in a sleek and elegant dining room.

Enjoy the succulent shrimp with honey-roasted pecans, General’s Chicken or asparagus sautéed with garlic sauce in a comfortable and unique setting distinguished by its authentic Chinese décor of etched glass and Chinese paintings. The dining room, now split into three rooms, provides a more private dining experience for guests.

The well-known and affordable Imperial Room is available at Five Happiness for private parties, receptions or other functions and can hold up to 60 people. Serving options are customized for each party, ranging from sit-down dinners to buffets or cocktails with hors d’oeuvres and prices ranging from $20-$45 per person For more information, call 504-482-3935 or visit FiveHappiness.com.

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Chef John Trinh, formerly of Eleven79, presents New Orleans’ treasured cooking traditions in the French Quarter at the New Orleans Creole Cookery, 510 Toulouse Street. Trinh offers a unique Creole-Italian style of cooking with dishes such as Lobster Fra Diavolo and Creole Braised Pork Shank.

His expertise shines in new dishes he added to the menu: Pecan Crusted Redfish, Redfish Almandine, and the best Oyster Rockefeller in New Orleans. Through the menu and service, chef Trinh delivers an authentic, Creole New Orleans dining experience.

New Orleans Creole Cookery is everything you love about New Orleans in a setting to fit every occasion. Enjoy casual fine dining at its very best in your choice of the charming Toulouse Lautrec dining room, romantic courtyard or lively oyster bar. Each offers the Creole-inspired menu complemented by tempting handcrafted cocktails from the bar.

New Orleans Creole Cookery is open seven days a week

New Orleans Creole Cookery

from 11 a.m. until 10 p.m. for lunch and dinner. Learn more at NewOrleansCreoleCookery.com. Call 504-524-9632 for reservations.

Enjoy riverside dining along the banks of the mighty Mississippi River at The Crazy Lobster and feast on the freshest and best. Share a Steamed Seafood Bucket with your nearest and dearest, or satisfy your own appetite by keeping it all to yourself – a 2-pound lobster, snow crab, shrimp, crawfish, clams, mussels, corn on the cob, potatoes, and sausage all seasoned to pure perfection. Crazy Lobster also serves up all the New Orleans’ favorites – étouffée, jambalaya, gumbo, and red beans – along with the best fried seafood in New Orleans.

The Crazy Lobster is home to Poppy’s Voodoo Juice, a refreshing tropical cocktail for those hot New Orleans summers. Live music keeps the restaurant hopping nightly with a variety of funky musicians straight from Frenchmen Street.

The Crazy Lobster is open seven days a week, from 11 a.m.-10 p.m. For more information and menu, visit TheCrazyLobster.com. Call 504-569-3380 for reservations.

Beat the heat with cool summer specials available at Ralph Brennan restaurants Ralph’s on the Park and Café NOMA. Chef Chip Flanagan has revived his summer signature three appetizers and a glass of wine for only $33 at Ralph’s on the Park. Now through August, choose three of 14 appetizers, like Smoked Fried Oysters or Crabmeat Deviled Egg with white remoulade, pico de gallo and espellette. For reservations, call 504-488-1000 today!

Beginning July 15, Café NOMA’s 2016 “The Artful Palate” complimentary summer cooking series will feature nine artfully inspired demos with Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group chefs every Friday at 6:30 p.m. Visit CafeNoma.com for the full schedule and more information.

The Crazy Lobster

Enjoy the perfect day exploring the French Quarter. Begin your experience at Bourbon House with the Plateaux de Fruits de Mer, a selection of oysters on the halfshell and chilled seafood salads. Wash it all down with a famous Frozen Bourbon Milk Punch.

Next, make your way from Bourbon House to Palace Café’s new second floor lounge, the Black Duck Bar. The myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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focus there is on a beautifully curated rum list (which includes delicious cocktails) as well as charcuterie and share plates from Master Chef René Bajeux. Enjoy the laid back, sophisticated atmosphere resembling a Parisian café.

After you’ve sipped and nibbled, take a stroll down

The Court of Two Sisters

The Court of Two Sisters

Chartres Street to the corner of Jackson Square, and find yourself a table on the balcony at Tableau. Watch for a beautiful sunset while enjoying their Tart A La Bouille, a Cajun sweet custard dessert rarely seen on menus. Cap off the relaxing day with an after-dinner drink, or if you’re there between 2 p.m. and 6 p.m., take advantage of Tableau’s daily happy hour and order a $5 classic cocktail.

Discover more at FrenchQuarter-Dining.com.

Amazing history, elegant old-world ambiance and delectable Creole cuisine come together at The Court of Two Sisters in the French Quarter. Located at 613 Royal St., this old-line restaurant is where locals and visitors from around the world come to enjoy traditional Creole cuisine in the largest courtyard in the French Quarter. Dinner is a romantic, memorable occasion. The expansive menu includes choices such as Crawfish Napoleon, Louisiana crawfish tails in a Creole cream reduction with an Andouille grit cake and fried green tomato and Confit of duck leg with Andouille butter beans, fried onions, and Madeira reduction. A recent remodel of the buffet area and Terrace dining now features murals of City Park and Audubon Park painted by local artist Judy Merrell.

Daily, the Jazz Brunch Buffet provides a lavish display of hot and cold dishes served alongside live Dixieland music. The restaurant is available to host special events in a beautiful setting with freshly prepared food and refreshing drinks all summer long. Reservations recommended. For more information, visit CourtOfTwoSisters.com or call 504-522-7261.

Recently listed as one of the “27 Doors to Walk Through in New Orleans,” The Bombay Club and Martini Bar at the Prince Conti Hotel in the French Quarter is definitely not to be missed, by tourists and locals alike. Visit during Happy Hour, daily from 4-7 p.m., when Bar Manager Blake Kaiser will have a cocktail waiting.

Classic Cocktails include the likes of a Sazerac, Pimm’s Cup or Manhattan. Kaiser hand-crafts each cocktail, including specialties such as Blackout Bramble, Blueberry Yum and the Black and Gold Cobbler.

Grab a bite to eat from Chef Phillip Todd’s new menu showcasing locally sourced seafood, meat, and produce that is prepared with a combination of classic European and traditional Louisiana Creole flare with a modern twist.

For more information on the Bombay Club and Martini Bar and its signature cocktails or dinner menu, please visit BombayClubNewOrleans.com or call 504-577-2237 to make reservations.

Known as the go-to cigar bar and only smoking-allowed bar in the French Quarter, La Habana Hemingway Cigar Bar, located at 533 Toulouse St., offers a sophisticated and friendly locale for enjoying premium imported cigars complemented by a fine scotch, a signature mojito or other luxurious libations at its full bar and smoking lounge.

Now with state-of-the-art lighting and sound, La Habana provides Latin jazz, salsa, and Afro-Cuban beats that complement the various flavors offered by Rocky Patel, Arturo Fuente, Cohiba, Macanudo, Partagas and Padron – just a small sampling of the bar’s cigar selection.

La Habana recently opened a second, new location with a future lounge underway at 522 ½ Bourbon St. As of this year, La Habana Hemingway Cigar Bar is partnering with Rocky Patel in blending and presenting the bar’s in-house,

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signature cigar, the Jon Carlos Nola, made of all Nicaraguan tobacco.

Peruse a vast selection of cigars at both La Habana locations or enjoy a smoke and a drink at 533 Toulouse St. For more information or to book a party or table, visit CigarBarNewOrleans.com or call 504-522-5007.

Celebrate the spring season with the oldest familyrun restaurant in the country, Antoine’s Restaurant.

This charming, festive, and acclaimed French-Creole establishment celebrates 176 years of French Quarter service this year. Whether you’re looking for a meal or beverage to enjoy with friends during festival season or a special three-course menu on a special occasion, Antoine’s French-Creole menu has the flavors you love.

Antoine’s popular three-course lunch menu continues this year, changing as it does by a penny a year. The new $20.16 Lunch Menu includes three courses with three options each and features items such as Charbroiled Oysters, Seafood Cake over roasted corn rice, and Pecan Bread Pudding. A special 25-cent cocktail, which changes daily, will also be available, made fresh from the bartender.

Enjoy Happy Hour at the famous Hermes Bar seven days a week from 4-7 p.m. with $4 house wines, cocktails and imported beer and $2 domestics. Grab a bite to go with your drinks from the Hermes Bar menu featuring appetizers, oysters and poboys.

For more information and reservations, visit AntoinesRestaurant.com or call 504-581-4422.

Mr. Ed’s has been a local favorite since 1989 and is still regarded as among the best eateries in New Orleans today.

Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar serves your choice of chargrilled, fried, or raw oysters as well as long time favorites such as Oyster

Rockefeller and Bienville. Offering both a stand-up oyster bar and cocktail bar, it’s the perfect place to relax and enjoy.

Mr. Ed’s Oyster Bar & Fish House is now offering three unique locations, including a brand new location two blocks from Lee Circle. Operating in Metairie and the French Quarter, the third location opened at 1327 St. Charles Ave., near the Garden District. Situated in the Maison St. Charles Hotel, this up-and-coming hotspot features a banquet hall that holds up to 200 people, room service and daily lunch specials.

“Mr. Ed” McIntyre also oversees Mr. Ed’s Seafood & Italian Restaurant of Metairie and Kenner and Austin’s Seafood & Steakhouse of Metairie. Explore each savory menu at MrEdsRestaurants.com.

Located in the Lower Garden District and just blocks from Downtown New Orleans, Hoshun Restaurant delivers a flavorful punch of pan-Asian flavors with their own take on traditional dishes from China, Japan, Vietnam and other South-Asian countries. Popular menu items include pho soup and Vietnamese spring rolls, pad Thai, sushi, General Tsao’s Chicken, Hunan steak, Kung Pao shrimp and more. Enjoy family-style dining in an elegant atmosphere while sharing your favorite appetizers, entrees, combination dinners, and sushi specials. Open daily until 2 a.m., Hoshun is a favorite late-night spot for locals and visitors alike.

Whether you’re looking for seafood, steak, or vegetarian fare, Hoshun’s extensive menu provides options for everyone. Salt & Pepper Shrimp and Ahi Tuna Seared are a couple of Hoshun’s seafood specialties, while Butter Pepper Mignon offers a meatier possibility.

For menu and information, visit HoshunRestaurant.

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com or call 504-302-9716. Located at 1601 St. Charles Ave., Hoshun offers a private party room overlooking the St. Charles Avenue streetcar line fitting between 25-70 people.

Now in its 26th year, Bayona continues to delight diners with its innovative dishes, seasonal craft cocktails, and exceptional wine list. The ever-evolving menu has made Bayona a perennial favorite of patrons and critics alike.

Enjoy lunch or dinner in the romantic 200-year old Creole cottage in the heart of the French Quarter, or dine al fresco in the famed courtyard.

Beginning June 1, Bayona will once again be offering its renowned Anniversary Lunches – three courses for $26.

Indulge in signature dishes like the Goat Cheese Crouton with Mushrooms and Madeira Cream and the crowdpleasing Smoked Duck “PB & J” with creamy cashew butter and pepper jelly, or see what magic Chef Susan Spicer and her team have conjured up for the daily specials featuring the freshest local ingredients. The anniversary lunch will also feature 26-cents martinis, lemon drops and Manhattans.

Discover why Bayona has won accolades from such publications as Zagat, Gourmet, TripAdvisor and Forbes Travel Guide, to name a few. For reservations, please call 504-525-4455 or visit Bayona.com.

This summer, stop by any of the Tropical Isles, home of the Hand Grenade®, New Orleans’ Most Powerful Drink® and the Hand Grenade® Martini. Also, enjoy a Hand Grenade® at Funky Pirate Blues Club or Bayou Club.

Experience Trop Rock, Cajun/Zydeco & the Blues with Tropical Isle’s nightly entertainment, the best on Bourbon.

State-of-the-art sound systems plus great live bands will keep you dancing the night away at Tropical Isle Bourbon, Tropical Isle Original, Little Tropical Isle, Funky Pirate, and the Bayou Club. While there, ask about the Hand Grenade® Martini! Enjoy big screen TVs at Funky Pirate, Bayou Club, Tropical Isle Bourbon, and Top of the Trop. For more on Tropical Isle, visit TropicalIsle.com.

For a quiet escape, visit local favorite The Orleans Grapevine Wine Bar & Bistro right off of Bourbon at 116

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720 Orleans Ave., which has more than 200 varieties of wine by the bottle and plenty of wine by the glass, plus a Bacon Happy Hour! For sample menus and wine lists, visit OrleansGrapevine.com.

Chateau Sew & Sew, conveniently situated in the Lower Garden District, has all of your fabric and sewing needs covered. Visit the quaint and welcoming shop for fun fabrics, notions, gifts, custom monogramming or even a community class.

From June 21-Sept. 6, Chateau Sew & Sew is excited to participate in the nationally recognized Row by Row event, which is a great way to interact with fellow “sewists” all over the world by creating a unique quilt that represents your summer travels and fun. Travel with friends, discover new quilt shops, and have fun collecting rows. Prizes and collectibles add to the experience. This year’s theme is “Home Sweet Home.” Stop by Chateau Sew & Sew, grab up the shop’s free pattern for the quilt block designed by Debbie Schober, and start quilting!

Please call 504-533-9221 or visit ChateauSew.com for more info on the shop and Row by Row! Chateau Sew & Sew is located at 1115 St. Mary Street.

While Trashy Diva is a distinctly New Orleans clothing company with five locations spread across the city, their vintage-inspired designs are known and coveted worldwide.

For nearly 20 years, Trashy Diva has provided customers with impeccable designs in classic styles. Original dresses and separates by Candice Gwinn suit a modern sensibility with a focus on creating feminine silhouettes that flatter a variety of body types, from sizes 0-24.

Summer in the South means sundresses, sandals, and swimwear! Whether your style is classic, bold, and graphic like Trashy Diva’s Deco Daffodil print or funky, cheeky, and bright like the Fowl Play print, you’ll find an assortment of dresses, skirts, and tops to flatter your shape. Pair your choice with the perfect airy summer footwear from their Uptown shoe boutique or French Quarter dress boutique,

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including brands like Swedish Hasbeens, B.A.I.T. and Jeffrey Campbell.

Visit their French Quarter dress boutique or either lingerie boutique to shop the expansive swimwear selection, including modest retro suits from Esther Williams as well as bra-sized options from Freya and Huit (extending through a G cup). For more information, visit TrashyDiva.com or call 504-299-3939.

heeled styles in every color. Truly make a statement with accessories such as one-of-a-kind purses studded with Swarovski Crystals and artwork-inspired clutches designed on canvas.

A. Renée Boutique is definitely the new destination store in the French Quarter and is located at 824 Chartres St. Visit AReneeBoutiqueNOLA.com or call 504-299-3965 for more information.

You’ve gotten the beads, hurricane glasses, masks and shrunken alligator heads. But would you also like to take home something that is stylish and beautiful and that you cannot get anywhere else? Then visit QUEORK, a fantastic French Quarter boutique that’s the first of its kind not only in New Orleans, but in the United States! QUEORK is a local business that specializes in fine handbags, shoes and accessories for fashion, home and office that all prominently feature natural cork “leather.”

Cork leather comes from the same raw material as wine corks – the bark of the cork oak tree. Once the bark is removed by hand, which allows the tree to continue growing, it is processed into a supple, waterproof, scratchproof, stain resistant, hypoallergenic, antimicrobial and durable fabric that QUEORK transforms into luxurious products. Visit QUEORK in the French Quarter and see the stunning array of colors and designs they offer. From handbags, wallets, belts, bowties, boots, jewelry, aprons, hats, and more, there’s something for everyone at QUEORK. You can even get a collar for your special four-legged friend.

Visit QUEORK at 838 Rue Chartres or shop online at Queork.com.

An idea that began in a college dorm room is now a story of success, as The Basketry has blossomed into a nationwide gift delivery company and retail store based in Greater New Orleans. From extravagant gift combinations to simple yet colorful assemblages of necessities, gift baskets from The Basketry are fit for every occasion: graduations, holidays, corporate gifts, wedding gifts, and much more.

As The Basketry brand continues to grow, owner Kristi Brocato remains committed to the principles that began the company, “Provide beautiful gifts that make people smile, and have a lot of fun in the process.”

At The Basketry, each team members sincerely values your gift giving experience and wants your colleagues and loved ones to love the gift they receive. From custom-designed gift baskets to unique gifts, Kristi and her team can help you put something together for any occasion. Shop online at TheBasketry.com, visit the retail store at 12337 Highway 90 in Luling, or call 504-309-7935 to experience The Basketry magic!

A. Renée Boutique is new fashion boutique that is a French Quarter standout!

"I created A. Renée Boutique for us local women who still have it going on,” says Owner April Posch. For “women who dress to kill,” Posch stocks a smoking-hot fashion palette that is unique, elegant, and sexy with a little funk to keep it playful. Expect the softest fabrics, a lot of color and sizing available from XS to XL. Shoes at A. Renée Boutique are imported form Brazil and Italy – both sexy and comfortable, you can find low-

Trashy Diva

New Orleans is a city for both sinner and saint. It is the place where God and the Devil shook hands so the party could go on. In this spirit, the Saints and Sinners Tour, offered by French Quarter Phantoms, takes you through the sweat-soaked madness of the city’s best and worst – the pious and the criminally disposed. Experience both the good and evil of New Orleans on this surprising and oft-salacious, adults-only tour exploring the eclectic belief systems that created a sense of acceptance found nowhere else.

Looking for a more family affair? Wander the headstones and mausoleums of St. Louis No. 1 Cemetery and learn the fascinating histories of people buried there with French Quarter Phantoms’ Cemetery Tour. St Louis No. 1 Cemetery is the oldest active New Orleans cemetery and the most haunted cemetery in Louisiana!

It is the final resting place of the notorious Voodoo Queen Marie Laveau as well as many other colorful New Orleanians.

Other tours include the Ghost & Vampire, Tour Treme, Music of New Orleans: Listen & Learn, and True Crime. For tour times, tickets, and private tours, visit FrenchQuarterPhantoms.com or call 504-666-8300.

The Louisiana Children’s Museum will take families on an exciting cultural adventure all summer long with a new traveling exhibit, Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tet Festival. Museum-goers will discover the beauty, sights and sounds of Vietnam through its most important celebration of the year, Tet! Explore the Marketplace to select traditional flowers and pretend food items to prepare for the Tet celebration. Dress up in customary Ao Dai and pose for interactive family photos. Children can also try on a giant Lion Dance Mask, play traditional games, and learn the customs and values myneworleans.com / JUNE 2016

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French Quarter Phantoms

French Quarter Phantoms

exemplified by the annual Tet celebration.

Voyage to Vietnam: Celebrating the Tet Festival will be on display throughout the summer, Monday through Saturday from 9:30 a.m.-5 p.m. and Sunday from 12-5 p.m. To learn more, visit lcm.org or call 504-5231357.

Jefferson Performing Arts Center (JPAC) opened its doors to the public in June 2015 and will be celebrating 118

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its one-year anniversary on Thurs., June 30 from 5:307:30 p.m. with live music, food from Messina’s, and complimentary tours for all who are interested!

Centrally located in Metairie, JPAC is an SMG-managed facility and is the only professional theater of such magnitude in Jefferson Parish. With a seating capacity of 1,061, JPAC is able to accommodate all forms of entertainment from theater, concerts, and dance, to lectures, meetings, graduations, private events and more. The expansive lobby and Hospitality Suite are suitable for hosting a variety of functions with regional catering favorite Messina’s as the exclusive food and beverage provider of the facility. With floor-to-ceiling glass windows, an open floor plan, and a spacious second-level and terrace, JPAC offers a unique and customizable space for your event, whether you opt for a sun-filled daytime event or a fully-lit lobby for your evening gathering.

For information on the upcoming anniversary celebration or for all events at JPAC, visit JeffersonPAC.com or follow JPAC on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

The French Market District is comprised of a scenic six-block stretch along the Mississippi River in New Orleans, from The Shops at the Upper Pontalba to the Farmers and Flea Markets, and also includes the newly opened Crescent Park on the River, accessible by foot or bike. Stroll this eclectic “neighborhood within a neighborhood” to experience historic architecture, al fresco dining, live music,

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boutique retail shopping, and plenty of authentic French Quarter ambience inside and out, seven days a week. There are daily walking tours, fitness classes, children’s workshops, and a weekly Crescent City Farmers Market each Wednesday from 1-5 p.m.

The French Market’s signature annual festival is the French Market Creole Tomato Festival, which turns 30 years old in 2016, on June 11 and 12. The free two-day festival will feature four live music stages, a children’s activity area on the Old U.S. Mint Grounds, an arts market and a bloody Mary market in Dutch Alley, plus food trucks, crafts bazaar and a 5K run at Crescent Park. Find the full festival schedule at FrenchMarket.org.

The summer brings a variety of thrilling performances to the newly restored Saenger Theatre. In June, Wicked is back by popular demand, delivering Broadway excitement to New Orleans. Other highlights include the comedy of Whoopi Goldberg and Flight of the Conchords and the music of Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons as well as Alice Cooper.

After closing in 2005, the Saenger Theatre reopened its doors in September 2013. The $53 million redevelopment project features an authentic restoration of the original 1927 design, including restorations and recreations of the original finishes and color schemes. New, state-of-the-art building and technical systems, including an expanded theatre stage house, ensure that the Saenger is able to host the finest performing arts attractions. New theatre seating, increased concessions and restroom facilities, and new lounge areas complete the scope of this truly remarkable restoration effort.

Tickets for all performances at the Saenger Theatre can be purchased at the Saenger Theatre box office at 1111 Canal Street, Monday-Friday 10 a.m.–5 p.m., online at Ticketmaster.com, or by calling 800-745-3000. The Saenger’s event calendar can be found at SaengerNola.com.

Recently reopened, the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum was established in 1986 to preserve and interpret the maritime history and heritage of Biloxi and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Phase 1 of the Golden Fisherman Restoration Project has newly kicked off. The Golden

Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum

Fisherman is one of the largest freestanding statues in Mississippi at an impressive 16 feet. The statue was unveiled

in Biloxi in 1977 to commemorate the city’s seafood heritage and celebrate a newly redeveloped downtown. The original fisherman was primarily funded by the fishing community.

In 2005, the statue was severely damaged by Hurricane Katrina and unfortunately stolen and removed from Mississippi by scrap metal scavengers. Law Enforcement returned what remained of the dismantled statue back home to the Gulf Coast in 2006. The Golden Fisherman Restoration Project is brought to you by the City of Biloxi, the MS Department of Marine Resources/MS Tideland Trust Fund, Gulf Coast National Heritage Area, and the Maritime & Seafood Industry Museum.

You can participate in returning this cultural icon to the coastal community by going to GoFundMe. com/23cadp8s and making a donation. For more information, visit MaritimeMuseum.org.

The most amazing cocktail experience happens at the New Orleans Drink Lab! A great and unique way to kick start a night with friends or gain skills to impress friends and family at an upcoming party or event, Drink Lab masterclasses are full of the fun and history of New Orleans classic cocktails.

Classes are guided by founder and master bartender Daniel Victory, who is lauded as a pioneer of the New Orleans “craft cocktail” emergence. His talent led him to be considered one of the most engaging ambassadors of the Crescent City. Victory’s team of master bartenders has decades of industry experience. They are ready to pass those secrets, skills and techniques on to you.

Hands-on, fun, and interactive experiences include: Classic New Orleans Cocktails 101, Wine Tastings and Bourbon & Whiskey Tastings, just to name a few.

From muddling and mixing to shaking and stirring, you do it all during a masterclass. The fun starts when you arrive. Here, you are the star behind the bar. Classes are offered Wednesday-Saturday by appointment only. For more information, call 504-522-8664 or visit DrinkLabNola.com.

Milavo™ is a pocket spritzer that solves all of your hygiene needs while on the go. Created as an alternative to both dry paper goods and wasteful wet wipes, Milavo™ allows you to create moist wipes at any time or place. About the size of a large cigarette lighter, Milavo’s compact, sleek design makes it easy to discreetly carry in your pocket or purse and prepares you for visits to the restroom whether you’re shopping the town, busy at the office, or visiting friends.

Milavo™ is clearly the answer to making personal hygiene convenient, effective and economical. Just spritz bath tissue and wipe as normal after toilet use. It is also suitable for wiping armpits and other intimate body areas. If you want to freshen up during the day, just spritz some tissue and dab the soothing liquid on your forehead, temples, neck and inner elbows. A mixture of purified water, aloe vera juice, lavender, tea tree, lemon peel oils and naturally derived stabilizers, the lavender-scented solution contains no alcohol and is gentle and soothing to the skin.

Learn more and purchase Milavo™ today at MilavoSpray.com.

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TRY THIS

Summer Camps and More at Chateau Sew & Sew Chateau Sew & Sew, 1115 St. Mary St., 533.9221, ChateauSew.com If “Sex & The City” had been filmed in New Orleans, Chateau Sew & Sew would have been a perfect venue for the girls.

Located in the Lower Garden District, it’s Karen Flournoy’s dream of a fabric and sewing studio come true. Built from a passion for the homemade, and with help from Flournoy’s mom, Susan Jackson, it’s a treasure trove of beautiful fabrics, where customers can also take a sewing class and find unique gifts. This summer camps are being offered in June and July. Campers will learn how to hand stitch, pin and cut fabric and how to use a sewing machine. Suitable for children as young as 7, the camps run 9 a.m.-12 p.m.

Jefferson Performing Arts Center Holds 1st Year Celebrations Jefferson Performing Arts Center, 6400 Airline Drive, Metairie, 731-4700, JeffersonPAC.com The Jefferson Performing Arts Center (JPAC) is celebrating its first anniversary with a party open to the public. On Thurs., June 30, 5:30-7:30 p.m., there will be live music in the lobby, complimentary theatre tours and food and libations provided by Messina’s Catering. JPAC is a 6,000-square-foot theatre in the heart of Jefferson Parish and has a capacity of 1,061. Managed by SMG, JPAC is a stateof-the-art venue, able to accommodate all forms of entertainment and events.

– Mirella Cameran

Getting the Jump Sector6 Extreme Air Sports

By Kim Singletary

I

f you talk to any local parent of a young child, chances are they’ve heard of Sector6. After all, it’s not that often that a really unique indoor adventure option opens in New Orleans, and with Sector6, we’re talking about “the largest extreme air sports facility in the world.”

What exactly does that mean? It means trampolines – lots of them. The 44,000-square-foot facility in Elmwood opens with a grid of over 60 trampolines. It is a sight like you’ll see nowhere else, but it’s also just a warm up.

Trampolines here are not just for jumping, they’re for dodgeball, basketball and, if you’re really adventurous, a narrow area in the back allows you to bounce off your back and walk up walls.

To say Sector6 is a trampoline park is really only half correct. The other half is foam pits, above which are suspended a wide array of activities you’d never consider unless you knew you could walk away safely from any landing – even on your face, true story.

Ever wanted to swing on a trapeze? They have one. Cirque-du-Soleil it with some long silk panels connected to the ceiling? Yup. See how far you can make it across a tightrope? If it turns out more than halfway, consider me in awe.

Finally, for those that remember watching “American Gladiator,” you’ll feel a bit of déjà vu with the Ninja Obstacle Course. If you’re going to go for it, however, I’d recommend starting with this feature because by the time you spend more than half an hour at the park you’re going to be … well, let’s say a little winded.

I have been to Sector6 twice now; once with kids and once on a double date night. It is great for both. The park hosts a special hour, 9 to 10 a.m. every day, where only children age 6 and under are allowed with their parents. Kids are $10, and one accompanying parent and any children 2 and under are free.

Passes for all are available for either one or two hours: Trust me, start with one hour.

My 5-year-old barely lasted the hour and that’s only with taking multiple breaks. For a fun date night option, check out Club6. Every Friday and Saturday night, 9 p.m. to 12 a.m., the park is limited to age 15 and up and the lights go down, the music goes up and lasers and blacklights give the place a rave-like quality.

Keep in mind that Sector6 is always, ahem, jumping. I would suggest filling out your waivers and booking your spot online before heading down. You will also want to arrive about 20 minutes before your time slot to get your wristband, store your gear (no shoes allowed) and maybe do a little stretching. Hindsight can really be 20/20. n

cheryl gerber photos

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Mrs. Drake Days By errol laborde

W

henever I eat something that I really like, I don’t respond by saying, “quack, quack,” nor, thankfully, does anyone I know.

Apparently there must have been some sort of precedent for such a reaction by the late 1930s, when a local company began making packaged sandwiches of the type that could be bought off the counter at convenience stores. The sandwich line was called “Mrs. Drake.” The sandwiches were sold wrapped in cellophane with the two halves arranged side by side forming a triangle. At the top was a label with the image of a yellow Momma Drake, wearing a chef’s hat, and four little drakelings at her side. An ad for the product included the line “quacking good sandwiches.”

Philosophers and gastronomes alike

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have been vague on the subject of at what level of excellence is quacking good achieved. I grew up eating the sandwiches because I went to a grade school that didn’t have a cafeteria, but that sold Mrs. Drake products instead.

Even at an early pre-acne age, I could talk with expertise about the choices.

The tuna was the most tasteless, the Swiss cheese was too chewy (both existed primarily to appease Catholics who couldn’t eat meat on Fridays). Far more interesting was the luncheon meat and potato salad; though the salad was rather bland, it certainly was no threat to counteract the lonely thin meat slice. Leading the flavor list was the classic luncheon meatand-pickle sandwich made with the meat slice and a spread that seemed to be a combination of mayonnaise

and mustard. It was the pickle, though, that elevated the dish to its level of excellence. It was sweet and crunchy, delivering more bang to the mouth’s gustatory cells than any other item on the counter.

Then came the big day.

Every so often there’s a cosmic moment that tilts the world’s spin, but in a good way, making the planet a better place to live.

In New Orleans it happened the day that Mrs. Drake introduced a new and revolutionary sandwich, the “Lil’ Barbecue.”

Here the chefs de cuisine in the Mrs. Drake kitchen dared to be different. Instead of sliced bread they used buns. Inside was ladeled with some sort of meat enhanced by some sort of barbecue sauce. (In retrospect I don’t remember what type of meat it was. We kids didn’t read labels much back then.) And then on top of the heap was – yes, it’s true – a pickle slice just like in the luncheon meat sandwich, providing the same wonderment.

When the Lil’ Barbecue was first introduced, there probably wasn’t much point in making the other sliced bread-based varieties (except on Fridays) because few would want anything else. Mrs. Drake had taken a new step and there was no turning back.

But then my life changed. When I went off to high school I discovered that there were places with cafeterias that served hot gourmet dishes, such as shepherd’s pie and spaghetti with meat sauce. Life changed for the sandwich business, too.

Convenience stores became fewer; fast food places became more plentiful. Mrs. Drake eventually disappeared from the counter, as would its traditional side dish, Dickey’s potato chips, and its long-time nectar, Big Shot Cola – all locally made.

Maybe when something is “quacking good,” that means that people will still be remembering it years later. n

ARTHUR NEAD ILLUSTRATION