New Orleans is a city where food is about taste and history, culture, and tradition. Two of the city’s most iconic dishes—gumbo and po’boys—tell stories of the diverse influences that have shaped this vibrant culinary landscape. Here’s a guide to the best places to experience these dishes, along with a bit of their historical background.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
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 readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival, or Jazz Fest, is an exciting celebration of the city’s musical and cultural heritage, attracting thousands of visitors every year. The 2025 edition promises to be no different, bringing an eclectic and diverse lineup, top-tier culinary offerings, and a profound sense of the city’s historical significance. Scheduled for two weekends—April 24–27 and May 1–4—Jazz Fest will take place at the iconic Fair Grounds Race Course, a venue that has hosted the event for decades. The festival grounds offer a picturesque setting for this immersive cultural experience, providing ample space to enjoy live performances, sample local cuisine, and soak in New Orlean’s almost carnival-like atmosphere.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
The French Quarter is the heart and soul of New Orleans, where history, culture, and excitement collide. From its vibrant architecture to its lively music scene, this neighborhood offers something for every type of traveler. Here’s a high-level guide to some of the best hotels in the area, alongside top places to eat, sights to see, and Mardi Gras expectations.
Continue readingFiled under Steven Doyle
By Alex Gonzalez
A New Orleans icon paid a visit to Dallas last month. Joy Wilson, better known as Joy the Baker, hosted a special holiday cooking demo at Williams Sonoma, where she has a line of cake mixes and breakfast mixes. Joy refers to her products as “baking lite,” due to the fact that most of the ingredients are contained within the mix packages, however, the work is still required to bring these recipes to life.
Last year, Joy launched Joy the Baker magazine after garnering a large following on her namesake blog over the previous 12 years.
Continue readingFiled under Alex Gonzalez, Crave
by Steven Doyle
Originating n New Orleans, the muffuletta is a sandwich that’s made on a round, disc-like sesame bread filled with cured meats, marinated olives, and pickled vegetables. Though you can buy a muffuletta at any number of places in the city, it all began at Central Grocery in the French Quarter, where it came about as a way for Sicilians to combine the separate ingredients of their meal.
Central Grocery, a great place for fine Italian goods, sells the muffuletta by the round ($17.95) or half-round ($9.50), both of which come in their signature white paper wrappers. Two very hungry eaters may easily put away the whole round. Continue reading
Filed under Richard Banks
by Steven Doyle
To celebrate National Tourism Week, the good people of New Orleans will be trucking it up to Dallas for a visit. The colorful and sought after “Follow Your NOLA” food truck will visit Austin, Dallas, and Houston after stopping first this weekend at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival.
Those who visit will be treated to cooking demonstrations and food samples by Restaurant Borgne Chef Brian Landry (John Besh restaurant), authentic cultural experiences like a jazz trumpeter or a Mardi Gras Indian, gifts, giveaways, and a chance to win hotel and meals when you drive to New Orleans. Continue reading
Filed under Steven Doyle
by Farah Fleurima
On a visit last month to New Orleans’ Root restaurant, I discovered a garden-fresh oasis of seasonal, chef-crafted fare in a sea of Cajun and Creole excess (not that we dislike those excesses). Executive chef Phillip L. Lopez’s creations fondly reminded me of the earthy uniqueness that comes out of Chef Matt McCallister’s kitchen at FT33: inspired, crafty, playful fare that uses the best of local purveyors and what’s in season … and is plated fancifully.
Inside the Warehouse District eatery, I was delighted by the open airiness and bright green touches in the décor – definitely reminded me of a garden! Continue reading
Filed under Farah Fleurima
