“Oliver” picks up an order from Southern Hospitality Catering. (via Instagram)
Food, family and holidays are intrinsically linked, particularly in New Orleans where traditions run deep.
With Passover starting today (Wednesday, April 8) and Holy Thursday (April 9) leading up to Easter Sunday, more families are planning their feast around these holidays at home due to COVID-19 self-quarantine rules.
Gatherings will be far smaller and religious services will be virtual, but it’s still the holidays. Some will want a day off from cooking or may just want something special, picked up or delivered. Local restaurants, bakeries and caterers have filled the culinary void with to-go menus.
The final week of citywide, curbside fish-fry pickup to-go takes place on Good Friday and will include meals from Costera, Galatoire’s, Patois, and Ralph’s on the Park. Restaurants will serve their own curbside, to-go menus adhering to all safety regulations. A portion of the proceeds from each fish fry will go directly to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation earmarked specifically for their Hospitality Industry Worker Crisis Grants.
One tradition that many will be missing is the Holy Thursday meal at Dooky Chase’s Restaurant, where fans go to savor gumbo z’herbes (made with nine types of greens, such as turnip, mustard and collard, and meats such as ham hock and andouille) which is only served on this day.
The Dooky Chase dining rooms will be empty for Holy Thursday 2020, but the gumbo z’herbes is still available to pick up. (dookychaserestaurant.com)
Holy Thursday
Dooky Chase’s Restaurant
504-821-0600
2301 Orleans Ave.
Order: Phone, curbside pickup
Website: www.dookychaserestaurant.com/
Order gumbo z’herbes by the quart, half gallon or gallon, and fried chicken in orders of four, eight or 12 pieces. Don’t forget the cornbread.
The restaurant has remained open for take-out service.
Good Friday
Two dollars per meal will be donated to the Louisiana Hospitality Foundation earmarked specifically for their Hospitality Cares Pandemic Response Fund.
Costera
504-302-2332
4938 Prytania St.
Menu: Beer battered catfish sandwich with slaw, pickled peppers and chips, $15.
Galatoire’s
504-525-2021
209 Bourbon St.
Menu: Fried trout meunière amandine with summer squash, $15.
Patois
504-895-9441
6078 Laurel St.
Menu: Crispy fried catfish, potato salad, buttered green peas, $15.
Ralph’s on the Park
504-488-1000
900 City Park Ave.
Menu: Corn fried local catch, coleslaw, white remoulade, hush puppies, $15.
via Louisiana Hospitality Foundation
Good Friday fish fry at Ralph’s on the Park (via Louisiana Hospitality Foundation)
Easter
Pigeon Caterers
504-262-0412
Where to see the menu: Instagram: @Pigeoncaterers; Web site: https://www.pigeoncaterers.com/grab-n-go/order-online#/menus/36281
Order: Online or on the phone through Friday, 9 a.m. to 2 p.m.
Delivery: Saturday, April 11, and Sunday, April 12
Pigeon Catering is doing to-go orders as Pigeon’s Pantry. The extensive menu can be ordered à la carte or six serving portions.
Highlights include: Mini-praline baked brie with mini-crostini; crab and corn bisque; roasted, double rack of herb-crusted lamb chops; wild mushroom pilaf; red velvet white chocolate cookies.
Southern Hospitality Catering
504-897-0477, call between 9 am and 4 p.m.
Where to see the menu: Instagram: @SouthernHospitalityCatering or Facebook: @SouthernHospitalityCateringNOLA
Order: by Thursday, April 9
Pickup: Saturday, April 11, from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., or Sunday, April 12, 10 a.m. to noon. They will put the order into the vehicle.
Highlights include: Deviled eggs, honey apricot glazed spiral ham off-the-bone and garden green beans amandine.
The caterer also has been boiling crawfish, Friday through Sunday. Order Thursday by 4 p.m., pick up between 3 and 6 p.m. on Friday; Order Friday for pick up Saturday 1 p.m. to 4 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to noon. Minimum crawfish order for Easter Sunday is 10 pounds.
Easter egg cookies from Beth Biundo Sweets (via Instagram)
Beth Biundo Sweets
504-899-8059
Where to see the menu: Instagram: @bethbiundo
Order: Call between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m.; delivery only
Uptdate: Beth Biundo Sweets is sold out for Easter as of April 9.
Backatown Coffee Parlor
504-372-4442
301 Basin St., Suite 1
Menu: Three course brunch with crawfish and grits, salad and sweet potato pie. Complimentary tote with order of two.
Order: Online orders taken until Sunday at 7 a.m.
Pickup: Sunday between 8 a.m. and 2 p.m. or delivery via DoorDash.
Doris Metropolitan
504-237-3500
620 Chartres St.
Where to see the menu: https://dorismetropolitan.com/en/new-orleans/menus/dinner
Order: By Friday, April 10, 5 p.m.
Pickup: Sunday, April 12, noon to 5 p.m. They can bring to your car
Highlights include: prime rib roast, rack of lamb, venison osso bucco, roasted carrots, grilled asparagus and ice cream.
The restaurant is also offering a to-go menu throughout the week.
Passover and Easter
Maple Street Patisserie
504-304-1526
7638 Maple St.
7:30 a.m. to noon
Where to see the menu: Facebook – @MapleStPatisserie
Order: Call (but don’t leave message on the machine) or stop in.
Highlights include: Babka, as well as for Passover, the bakery has a variety of rolls, cakes, petit fours and cakes; for Easter, a “lamb” cake, carrot cake and cheesecake.
Passover
(via kosherneworleans.com)
Casablanca
504-888-2209
3030 Severn Ave., Metairie
Where to see the menu: Kosherneworleans.com
Pickup: Wednesday. April 8, between 9 a.m. and noon
Highlights include: As of Tuesday evening, the following is still available on the menu: matzo ball soup, gifilte fish, honey lime chicken, tzimis (vegan), potato kuegel and lemon almond macaroons.
Kosher Cajun Deli
504-888-2010
3519 Severn Ave.
Where to see the menu: koshercajun.com; special Passover hours (see here)
While at this point the prepared menu is by availability only, the store stocks a number of essential items for Seder.
Stein’s Market and Deli & Rimon at Tulane Hillel
Steins: 504-527-0771 or 504-281-4467; Rimon: 504-232-0758, call after 2 p.m. to order
2207 Magazine St.
Where to see the menu: Instagram: @Dansteinsdeli; Facebook: @SteinsMarketandDeli
Hours: Tues.-Sun., 9 a.m. – 5 p.m.; Catering: Pickup only.
While Stein’s is selling matzo, matzo meal, chocolate-coated matzo, brownie mix, macaroons, gefilte fish and prepared horseradish and beets, the deli is partnering with Rimon, Chef Dan Esses’ catering company that makes farm-to-table, healthy Kosher food.
Esses isn’t taking orders anymore for Passover Seder, but you may want to call to see if there is anything available, just in case.
Highlights: Braised brisket, kuegel and Pontchatoula strawberry and almond matzo crumble.
You can still order Stein’s sandwiches to-go during regular hours.
Reporter Sue Strachan can be reached at suestrachan16@gmail.com.
