We returned today with friends to get dim sum at Panda King in Gretna. This was my third visit. The thing about dim sum is that being little dishes, you want to taste a little of everything. But once you have been once or twice, there are some dishes you simply MUST HAVE at each [...]
It’s that time of year in New Orleans: CARNIVAL TIME! And with carnival (yes, I call the season “Carnival,” and the final day of the season only “Mardi Gras.” My Maw Maw taught me right, after all. But I digress…) comes KING CAKE! I am a purist and do NOT eat king cake out of [...]
Every time I go to Galatoire’s, I find it hard to resist their turtle soup. My last bowl of it got me thinking about making it at home. So after talking it over with Pontchartain Pete, we decided to take it on. Historically, turtle soup gained popularity with the European explorations of the West Indies, [...]
Chill in the air, check. Saints playing on Sundays, check. It can only mean one thing. Time to check the freezer for andouille reserves, the pantry for filé powder, and get to the grocery for all the fixins. Yup, this weekend: Operation Chicken and Andouille Gumbo! I’m going to Baton Rouge at the end of [...]
I got the idea about a month ago to cook Gumbo Z’Herbes, green gumbo, following Leah Chase’s recipe. But about as quickly as that thought popped into my head, I thought it even better to have Chef Chase make it for me herself. I made such a comment on Facebook, and Native Palate immediately jumped [...]
We headed to the St. Joseph altars today. My mother-in-law, exiled in Arizona, had asked that I get her a new St. Joseph’s medal since she lost hers in her move out of Ohio. That was excuse enough for us. We visited three: St. Louis Cathedral (and joined the crowd for the meal prepared for [...]
There was a reporting on Twitter that Cochon Butcher had its version of mini kingcakes too. Now, I LOVE the Butcher–their sandwiches, meats and even praline bacon. But cake? Sans meat? How could they compete in the mini kingcake war? For starters, they offer four flavors, cinnamon, praline, strawberries and cream, and chocolate. These cakes [...]
Twitter has been abuzz about the latest NOLA craze: the mini kingcake. Genius, I know, right?!? First was Hubig’s to hit the scene last week. They admitted the first batch had “sliding icing” issues and needed clear packaging. So as they were revamping, La Dolce Nola hit the twittertube with the news of their [...]
I could give up liquor or cussing like a sailor. Or I could start a diet. Or swear off picking my cuticles on a bad day. Or commit to reading only highbrow Russian literature written over one hundred years ago. Or throw away my television. Or go entirely green. The options are endless. What to [...]