Moon Garden, one of the first dedicated boba tea spots in New Orleans, is opening Friday (Feb. 17) for tea and snacks on Magazine Street in the Irish Channel. The building was formerly the home of Alkemy Salon, which closed last year. Owner Raymond Curry completely renovated the Magazine Street building — the former Alkemy Salon, which closed last year — to fit his purposes, adding a kitchen and a bar and freshening up the space. Moon Garden is planning its soft opening for Friday (Feb.
Tara Francolini was prompted to open Francolini’s Italian Deli when she started missing the sandwiches of her New Jersey youth. The Italian sandwich shop pops up every Tuesday at The Rabbit’s Foot on Prytania Street and will soon open a brick-and-mortar on at Tchoupitoulas. Francolini was born and raised in New Jersey and, after attending school in Boston, she moved overseas and lived in Australia and New Zealand. During her travels abroad, she began missing the Italian sandwiches she grew up on. When she returned to Massachusetts, she realized how unique Italian sandwiches are to the New Jersey area.
Of the 12 New Orleans restaurants honored this year on the list of the 2023 James Beard Award semifinalists, half are in Uptown neighborhoods. Honorees range from an iconic grand dame, Commander’s Palace, to a newly opened Senegalese restaurant, Dakar NOLA.
The James Beard Awards, established in 1990, considered the Oscars of the food world, are the highest honors in the U.S. food industry. The finalists will be announced on March 29 and the winners on June 5. Five chefs from four Uptown restaurants have been nominated in the category of Best Chef in the South: Ana Castro of Lengua Madre; Melissa M. Martin of Mosquito Supper Club; Colleen Quarls and Liz Hollinger of Molly’s Rise and Shine; and Michael Stoltzfus of Coquette. The James Beard Foundation includes Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi and Puerto Rico in this regional category.
The James Beard Foundation uses this criteria when choosing its Best Chefs: “Chefs who set high standards in their culinary skills and leadership abilities, and who are making efforts to help create a sustainable work culture in their respective regions while contributing positively to their broader community.”
While New Orleans isn’t necessarily known as a barbecue town, Chef Mike Shaffer is hoping to help change that. Shaffer brings his own style to the New Orleans barbecue scene with Los Crudos Seafood & BBQ, a pop-up that frequents local bars and breweries.
Shaffer is from Southern California and spent six years working in Chicago restaurants. When the Chicago winters got too cold, he relocated to New Orleans and worked at Lilette and Marjie’s Grill before striking out on his own. With Los Crudos, Shaffer brings the Mexican influences of Southern California to his menu, serving a different kind of barbecue. “I picked up some influences from just from eating at friends’ houses and their parents cooking for me,” he said.
A new boutique hotel, The Marsh, in the Milan neighborhood promises to be a destination for locals and visitors alike. The Marsh is located in the space on Delachaise and Dryades Street that housed the Gladstone Hotel and Restaurant. In 2020, the building was purchased by local developer Matt Rosendahl and completely renovated.
Rosendahl went to work adding new windows and refurnishing the space as a combination hotel and lounge. Special touches such as repurposed wood salvaged after Hurricane Ida add a cozy feel that lets you know that you’re staying at a hotel that’s proudly New Orleans. Located a few blocks from St.
Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market celebrates permanent location Jan. 29 at 3440 Piety St. to bring more fresh produce to food deserts in Louisiana. Barcelo Gardens Fresh Market is excited to announce the opening of the newest location, a permanent venue at 3440 Piety St. This new venture, featuring a brick-and-mortar store and multi-use open space, will bring fresh vegetables and produce to the Florida/Desire area.
King Cake Hub is back this year at Zony Mash Beer Project and will kick off the Carnival season season with a party and pageant. The seasonal pop-up is a one-stop shop for king cakes. Local bakeries send a daily supply, so that lovers of the Carnival confection, or anyone buying a king cake for their workplace, have myriad fresh choices in one place. King Cake Hub was founded in 2019 by Will and Jennifer Samuels. The couple got their first taste of the king cake business with their own king cake at their gelato shop La Dolce NOLA on Metairie Road in 2011.
When Will died of esophageal cancer in September 2021, Jennifer knew she would continue King Cake Hub, as it was such an important part of the couple’s life together.
A new Chinese restaurant on Magazine Street has a familiar family at its helm. Miss Shirley’s opened on Dec. 1 in the space that was occupied by Jung’s Golden Dragon II. Jung’s Golden Dragon, which opened in Metairie in 1977 before relocating Uptown in 2010, closed in May when the owner, Jung Tan, retired. Miss Shirley’s is named for co-owner and hostess Shirley Lee.
Family recipes are being shared and Christmas meals planned. What is served between the starter and dessert varies from household to household, but dinner traditionally begins with Creole Oyster Patties and ends with Creole Bread Pudding, topped with Whiskey Sauce. Oyster Patties
Everyone loves Oyster Patties. No culinary topic in New Orleans evokes the response that an Oyster Patty can. Locals will begin by sharing who in their family cooked them, how they were made, and over which particular holiday the Oyster Patty held court.
Franchised owner/operator Ben McLeish has deep roots in New Orleans, having lived in the city for more than 20 years, founding a nonprofit organization and leading an inner-city ministry. He has a deep passion for the city his family calls home and plans for his new restaurant to inspire a generation of leaders. Locally owned and operated
As full-time, hands-on leaders in their restaurants and communities, Chick-fil-A owner/operators proudly reside in the communities they serve. For McLeish, caring for neighbors in New Orleans has motivated him throughout his career. When he first moved to the city from his home state of Georgia, his desire to help those in need led him to nonprofit work, where he met his wife, Stephanie.
