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Just Like Mama
Used to Make
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Sisters (l-r) Carmie Winters, Monica Montagnet and Anne
Delph enjoy Italian delicacies at Mamma’s Cucina during
a monthly family gathering. |
The Italian
music, atmosphere, and framed snapshots from the Old Country make
you feel like you’re in Italy, while the tantalizing smells,
cooking style and generous portions make you miss your mother.
That’s the whole idea at Mamma’s Cucina (3805 Hessmer
Ave., Metairie, 780-1700), the new restaurant owned by Duke LoCicero,
owner/chef of Cafe Giovanni in the French Quarter.
Although the decor is upscale, the attitude is decidedly
attentive but casual at Mamma’s Cucina, where General Manager
Gawain Thiel, known to everyone simply as G, says customers will
be equally comfortable and welcome whether they’re having
a casual lunch or a very formal dinner. “We’re trying
to be very people-friendly and have great food,” he says.
“We welcome anything from tennis shoes to tuxedos.”
Taking care of the culinary tasks is Chef Jay Diamond,
who honed his skills at Commander’s Palace and offers customers
a mixture of menu standards from lasagna, chicken Marsala, ravioli
and spaghetti with Pappa Sammy’s meatballs to adventurous
specials such as rabbit in a sweet chocolate sauce infused with
tomatoes and portobello mushrooms or an occasional off-the-menu
cheesecake in cream sauce.
Every dish here is cooked to order, Thiel says, nothing
is prepared in bulk and the chef uses only the freshest ingredients.
Diners can even keep an eye on preparation of items cooked on
a wood-fired grill because it is located behind glass in full
view of the dining room.
“The restaurant has more of a homey mama’s
kitchen attitude,” Thiel says. “We give customers
incredible food, a great wine selection at a great price, and
professional service, but it’s not an uptight attitude at
all.
“We want you to have an incredible experience,
get [the food] you want and enjoy it.” Part of the creed
LoCicero included on the menu is a pledge that not only will diners
enjoy home-style cooking but also generous portions like your
mama would serve. “Mamma would never let anyone go away
hungry, and neither would we.”
Connected to the restaurant is an upscale but comfortable
lounge, Il Duce that has almost two dozen seats around the bar,
plus a plush room with red walls and overstuffed black couches
and chairs and smaller tables and chairs for lingering over conversation.
“We have about every vodka made and the ones we don’t
have yet will be coming in sometime soon,” Thiel says. “We
also squeeze orange, lemon and lime juice fresh every day.”
Music at played in the bar spans Abba to Zebra with everything
techno, Frank Sinatra and everything else possible on the 400-CD
player. Next month, Thiel plans to introduce live music to the
bar on special nights, and there’s a television set for
customers to enjoy sporting events on Monday and Thursday nights.
Mamma’s Cucina is open for lunch Tuesday through
Friday and dinner Thursday through Saturday.
It’s All Clear Now
Clear Channel Radio is now offering what it calls
“The Sports Monster” — Sports Radio 1280 AM,
featuring highlights and commentary about sporting teams and special
shows. Sports Radio 1280 is the only radio station in the market
to broadcast sports programming around the clock, says Operations
Manager Jim Owen, who also fills the same position for Clear Channel’s
WRNO-FM and WNOE-FM.
Programming will include sports commentary from recognized
names from Fox Sports and ESPN, including the program Mike &
Mike In the Morning, which features NFL veteran Mike Golic and
ESPN anchor Mike Greenberg from 5 a.m. to 9 a.m. daily. Fox Sports
Host Tony Bruno will follow with commentary on sports and Jim
Rome will host a call-in program and other notables will round
out the 24-hour schedule.
Promising Eats
Commander’s Palace Family of Restaurants has
named Kevin Vizard executive chef for the new Cafe Adelaide and
Swizzle Stick Lounge, scheduled to open next month in the new
Loews New Orleans Hotel.
Over his 20 years in the business, Vizard has worked
at Mr. B’s Restaurant, Prytania Bar & Grill, Bayou Ridge
Cafe and Commander’s Palace. He has also opened two Creole
bistros of his own: Kevin’s and Vizard’s.
Loews New Orleans Hotel is located at the corner of
Poydras and S. Peters streets near the Ernest N. Morial Convention
Center and has 285 guest rooms and 17,000 square feet of space
for other functions.
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Other Stories This Week in Features:
Cover Story
2003 Fall Restaurant Guide by Neighborhood
Fall Restaurant Guide
Feature
CD Reviews
Blake Pontchartrain™
New Orleans Know-It-All
Other Stories by Kandace Power Graves:
Cover Story 10 20 03
Feature 10 14 03
Feature 10 07 03
Kandace Power Graves Archives
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