It’s been a long, slow summer in New Orleans, but there’s still been a lot happening in the local restaurant scene.That’s why I’m using this edition of my regular where-to-eat-now column to catch you up on a few things, and also check in with some enduring favorites I revisited during the slump. A selection of nigiri with “chef’s choice” dressings at Yakuza House in Metairie. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) These are quick picks from a restaurant scene that is rich, diverse, constantly changing and still very much in need of the locals as the slow…

New Orleans is a food lover’s paradise as a whole, with must-try restaurants in every neighborhood, but if you’re spending most of your time in the French Quarter you’ll be spoiled for choice when it comes to dining. The oldest neighborhood in the city, this historic, one-square-mile area is packed with culinary gems, both iconic and trendy. From the country’s oldest continuously operating restaurant to fresh new spots quickly earning accolades, the Quarter has it all. Whether you’re looking to celebrate a special occasion with top-notch service in an elegant setting, or you just need a quick bite at a…

The croissant had the delicate, buttery-brittle crinkle to its gleaming surface that transmitted goodness by sight, sound and taste. It was the same croissant I always get at Hi-Do Bakery (439 Terry Parkway), a Vietnamese family bakery in Terrytown that’s a master of French pastries and draws throngs for its old-school king cakes. Ham and cheese and chocolate croissants share a box from Hi-Do Bakery in Terrytown, a Vietnamese bakery known for king cake and French pastry. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) What was different this time? On a recent Saturday morning, the bakery was dead…

For the past dozen years, chef Cristina Quackenbush has been making magic, cooking what she calls Filipino soul food under the Milkfish banner. With the opening of Tatlo Divine Cuisine & Absinthe House behind the Old Absinthe House in the French Quarter, she’s kicked that conjuring into overdrive.Tatlo is for the “bewitched and hex curious,” Quackenbush says, and it’s the next phase of culinary devotion for the dynamic chef.“I practice witchcraft,” she says. “It’s part of my personal journey that has helped me through a lot of challenges. I’ve dabbled all my life.”TatloWhere 240 Bourbon St.; tatlo.co When Dinner and…

The story behind Korean fried chicken is salty, spicy, earthy and just a little sweet, the profile of the gochujang, the fermented red chili paste that’s key to these extra-crispy, double fried wings. Chi Chi’s is a Freret Street restaurant for Korean fried chicken and beer, including beer towers, in New Orleans. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune) The story behind the city’s new purveyor of them is a homecoming for a couple raised in the local restaurant business who are making their own start with some of the cravings they developed working far afield. Onigirazu are…

While there is still street construction outside of the Superdome, the food inside is getting hot and ready, and there are a few new options for fans to try.Sodexo Live!, the company behind concessions at the Dome, shared nine new options at general concession stands and nine new food items in the suites.The chicken cordon bleu sandwich is going to be available on the ground floor and the 200 level. The sandwich is a hand-battered chicken breast stacked with shaved black forest ham and Swiss cheese, dressed with tomatoes, lettuce and Tony Chachere’s special sauce on a brioche bun. Caesars…

Let’s just get this out of the way: New Orleans is a fabulous food city. But there’s another culinary gem tucked away in the state of Louisiana — and that’s Lafayette. The fourth largest town in the state, Lafayette packs a big punch when it comes to food, proudly identifying as the epicenter of all things Cajun and Creole cuisine. In fact, Lafayette’s Say Oui initiative has sparked many of the restaurants to have both French and English menus.  As a travel writer who splits my time between New Orleans and New York City, my husband and I had the…

After a home-grown brand for fried chicken closed its Lakeview location, a different local restaurant will expand in its place. It’s bringing burgers back to an address that was long known for them.The Red Bird Fried Chicken at 911 Harrison Ave. has closed.Taking its place will be Desi Vega’s Prime Burgers & Shakes, a second location for that Harahan restaurant (640 Hickory Ave.). It’s slated to open in early October. Red Bird fried chicken expanded into the former location of Three B’s Burgers and Wine Bar on Harrison Avenue in Lakeview. (Staff photo by Ian McNulty, NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune)…

As the summer heat begins to wane in New Orleans — even temporarily — there’s fresh hope in the air: for a mild, uneventful end to hurricane season; that this year the Saints take the NFC South; and that the local crawfish supply returns plentiful. This fall is also expected to bring an abundance of new restaurant options that will rival a most exciting summer of game-changing openings. New Orleans diners can look forward to a lively spot for Korean fried chicken, onigirazu, and beer towers; an Emeril Lagasse tapas restaurant featuring a jamón bar; and a late-night cocktail den…

Ti Martin and the Hospitality Revolution Welcome to Season 2, Episode 16 of Tinfoil Swans, a podcast from Food & Wine. New episodes drop every Tuesday. Listen and follow on: Apple Podcasts, Spotify, or wherever you listen. Tinfoil Swans Podcast On this episode Ti Martin — along with her cousin and co-proprietor, Lally Brennan — is ensuring that the family’s 131-year-old New Orleans restaurant Commander’s Palace is living up to its legacy and moving into the future. At the 2024 Food & Wine Classic in Aspen this past June, Martin joined Tinfoil Swans for a spirited conversation about kicking down doors,…