food and drink

Kristine Froeba: La Casita Taqueria opens on historic Oak corridor

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There’s a new Mexican joint in the historic Town of Carrollton. The Oak Street shopping district of yore continues its gentrification, with an influx of small businesses as the result. The street where we all bought our first pair of shoes at Haase’s has come a long way. What was once then, a main shopping corridor, fell onto hard times, then a few shabby decades, followed by a post-Katrina renaissance. Not far from the railroad tracks, replacing Squeal BBQ, is a new hipster restaurant, surely to be popular with locals and students alike. Julia Street’s La Casita So-Cal Tex-Mex Taqueria has opened a second location.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Mayas Nuevo Latino Cocina: A decade of Central America Caribbean cuisine on Magazine

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Mayas Nuevo Latina will soon be celebrating its tenth year, offering Zagat-rated Central American Caribbean fusion in New Orleans. The restaurant is a frontrunner for those seeking a casual, but elegant, gourmand Latin American experience Uptown. Chef Edgar Irias and co-owner, Trinity Cazzola, founded the restaurant in 2007 and are about to expand their reach with a second restaurant further upriver. The concept will be an authentic Mexican menu, with zero Tex-Mex influence. Expect goat meat and imported local cheeses.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Noodle & Pie: Asian Fusion, authentic ramen, small plates and a slice of pie

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There are so many restaurants to frequent in our little hamlets of Uptown; we sometimes forget the one’s right around the corner. A walk to the neighborhood hardware store led me to stumble into Noodle and Pie. I’d been there before and enjoyed it, but now found a delightful Summer Menu with a few new additions. The concept is Japanese Ramen and Rice dishes with Small Plates and – Pie. Chef Brian Armour and Pastry Chef Jacques Hebert are the creators of the dishes and keep the menu fresh.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Uptown Square’s Crescent City Farmer’s Market more than just produce #EatLocal

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Every Tuesday, Uptowners clamor for Homemade Tamales, Artisan Cheeses, Fresh Diary, and Spices. They’re not at Whole Foods or St. James Cheese Company. Instead, they crowd a tented open-air area of the old Uptown Square where Free Range Eggs, Watermelon Frescas, and Organic Honey are among other homemade, freshly harvested, and artisan produced items. You can start with an Iced Coffee and an Authentic Breakfast Burrito before filling carrier bags with fresh picked blueberries, okra, and butter beans. And there is usually live music playing.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Tal’s Hummus: Israeli Street Food on Magazine

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The bright, clean flavors of the Mediterranean have arrived Uptown just in time for Summer. While we have Shaya to accommodate our fine-dining yearnings for authentic Israeli foods, we didn’t have a casual counterpart – until now. Tal’s Hummus opened three weeks ago in the space formerly occupied by McClure’s BBQ. Already the small space is packed. This time, the neighbors aren’t complaining (to be fair, McClure’s is beyond excellent, but the neighbors didn’t like the smoker).

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Pick-Your-Own Veggies at Two Acre Farms on Saturday Morning

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When perusing menus and speaking to chefs, “locally sourced,” “farm-to-table,” and “seasonal greens” are the phrases most oft repeated. The current widespread movement of farm-to-table is replacing the larger food suppliers with a more personal experience. Chefs know the farmers. There is a running dialogue of what will be ripe in two weeks. The food is fresher.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: DISTRICT: DONUTS. SLIDERS. BREW… and breakfast and raw juice… and salads and… DONUTS

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Let’s be clear: District isn’t just a foodie’s donut paradise. There’s a lot more to District than just great donuts. Granted, the donut creations are innovative; frequently decadent, and, depending on the day, crazily inspired fun. The slider specials follow suit in innovation, but one can always skip the Fried Oyster with Micro-chi Kara and Caper Aioli Slider, or the Fried Chicken All Natural Thigh, Sweet & Spicy Slaw, Scratch Candied Jalapeños, & Crispy Chicken Skin Slider, and just order the perfect little gourmet Black Angus Cheeseburger – either choice leaves room for a donut! The food is made from scratch, the fillings hand-mixed, the ingredients natural and locally sourced.

food and drink

Kristine Froeba: Magasin: Authentic and healthy Vietnamese on Magazine

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Summer is coming, and New Orleanians are seeking lighter fare. Many are also seeking healthier choices. Magasin Café offers both. The restaurant is popular and has become a mainstay for both the Magazine foodie crowd and the health-conscious. Magasin Café has proven so successful in fact, that late last year, the small restaurant expanded, adding a second location, Magasin Kitchen, in the CBD.