One summer many years ago, my father had some work around New Orleans and not much money, so he brought my mother and me along and turned it into a holiday. We stayed in what must have been the French Quarter, in a smallish room with wood-slatted shuttered windows opening out onto a narrow balcony….
Down and Dirty Rice
New Orleans has its own cuisine shaped by what grows there, but also by the people who live there. Dirty rice is as old as the city itself and was a dish invented in the kitchens of resourceful cooks to avoid waste and turn less desirable ingredients into something amazing. It’s a dish that satisfies…
Red Beans and Rice – Leftovers Versus Lagniappe
Happy Presidents Day, and a little something for nothing — Red Beans and Rice Happy Presidents Day. For federal workers and many others, Presidents Day means an extra day off. An extra day off is such a luxury, a delight, a bonus. So why doesn’t an extra meal give us the same thrill? I’ve never…
Maque Choux — the Big Easy
It’s Labor Day, so take it easy with maque choux. Easy yet elemental, maque choux features the Creole holy trinity of onion, pepper and celery, and three summer besties — tomato, basil and corn. It honors the big-hearted spirit of Louisiana, offers the pleasure and bright flavors of summer, nourishment when we need it, and…
