Tag Archives: New Orleans

Travel NOLA for the Uninitiated

New Orleans is close enough to Dallas that you can decide on a Wednesday and be eating oysters by Friday afternoon. Southwest flies nonstop from Love Field in well under two hours, and American and Frontier fly nonstop out of DFW. That makes it one of the easiest long weekends a Texan can take, and one of the best fed.

Here is how we would do it, from where to sleep to where to eat to what to see once you are full. Please note, that in coming weeks we will publish a NOLA restaurant guide that will be less familiar and equally delicious.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Swamp Cafe Brings Authentic Cajun Joy

blue crab and crawfish

David Cui was born in Shanghai. He spent 28 years cooking Cajun food in New Orleans. Then he moved to Dallas, opened a small restaurant in a north Dallas strip center, and almost lost everything. Then the internet showed up.

The story of a true mom & pop, Swamp Cafe at 17721 Dallas Parkway is the that reminds you why small restaurants matter and how close they always are to disappearing. David and his wife Michelle have been running this place for years, with David doing the cooking and both of them doing everything else. The food is scratch-made Cajun — gumbo, jambalaya, étouffée, po’boys, beignets — and it is the real thing, built from nearly three decades of cooking in Louisiana.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

The Most New Orleans Thing in Dallas is on Commerce Street

Walk into The Free Man on a Tuesday night and you might not immediately understand what you are looking at. There is a band in one room and a different band in the other room. Someone is eating crawfish at the bar. The owner is probably behind a drum kit somewhere. The gumbo smells like it has been going since this morning, because it has. This is Deep Ellum, but it is also kind of New Orleans, and that is entirely on purpose.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Inside NOLA’s Casamento’s Oyster House

Casamento’s on Magazine Street is one of those rare New Orleans institutions that feels frozen in its own era, stubborn in the best possible way. Opened in 1919 by Joe Casamento, it has weathered a century of storms, booms, busts, parades, and changing tastes, yet the place looks almost exactly like it did when it began. You walk in and immediately step into a narrow, bright space covered head-to-toe in gleaming white-and-green tiles. Walls, floors, counters — everything is tiled. It’s part practical, part personality, and unmistakably Casamento’s.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

The Best Char-Grilled Oysters in New Orleans + DIY Recipe

Few things embody the essence of New Orleans’ culinary sophistication like the char-grilled oyster. This dish, an elevated iteration of the humble oyster, is not merely food but an experience—one that blends the briny sweetness of fresh Gulf oysters with the deep, smoky allure of an open flame. The ideal char-grilled oyster is an exquisite union of textures: tender and plump within, slightly crispy and golden on the outside, infused with a rich medley of butter, garlic, herbs, and spices. It is an indulgence that lingers on the palate, a perfect marriage of earth, sea, and fire.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Crawfish Season in Dallas: How Tasty Tails Does It the New Orleans Way

As crawfish season heats up across North Texas, Tasty Tails is once again reminding Dallas diners why its New Orleans–style boils have earned a loyal following. Now approaching its sixth year in Addison, the family-owned restaurant has remained a constant along Belt Line Road by staying true to what it does best: authentic Cajun cooking rooted in tradition. The menu reflects the dishes the owners grew up with—shrimp po’boys, boiled crawfish, Cajun chicken wings, and the ever-popular Mom’s gumbo.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Let the Good Times Roll: Mardi Gras at Ida Claire

Ida Claire has carved out a distinctive spot in Dallas’s dining scene, blending Southern comfort with a modern, playful twist. Known for its bright, airy interiors, attentive service, and dishes that celebrate the flavors of the South, the restaurant has become a destination for those who crave bold tastes and a welcoming atmosphere. From brunch favorites to dinner staples, Ida Claire offers a menu that’s inventive yet approachable, with everything crafted to highlight fresh ingredients and time-honored techniques.

Continue reading →

1 Comment

Filed under Steven Doyle

Pre Order Your King Cakes Today from Haute Sweets in Dallas

King cake is a defining tradition of Mardi Gras season, enjoyed from Epiphany through Fat Tuesday and rooted deeply in New Orleans culture. Made from a soft, brioche-style dough, it is typically swirled with cinnamon or other rich fillings, finished with icing and the iconic purple, green, and gold sugar. A small token (baby) hidden inside adds a playful element, turning the cake into something meant to be shared, celebrated, and passed around offices, families, and gatherings throughout the season.

Continue reading →

Leave a comment

Filed under Crave