Dining for Kids
Emeril Lagasse has invited friend and fellow Food Network star Chef Mario Batali to join him at the annual Chefs Charity for Children fundraiser for the St. Michael Special School, which will be held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday and Tuesday, Jan. 24-25, at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside Hotel (2 Poydras St. 584-3880). This dynamic duo will present cooking demonstrations and will be joined by such other notable local chefs as John Besh, Frank Brigtsen, Leah Chase, John Folse and the Wong brothers. Tickets are available through the school by calling 524-6551.
Orwellian Dining
We’re not sure if we approve or disapprove of this, but consider it fair warning to note that The Bar & Bistro at La Louisiane (725 Iberville St., 378-8200) has installed a one-way mirror in the restroom that looks out over the Movers and Shakers Lounge to solve any “sneaking suspicions,” as they put it. So please limit any back-stabbing or hitting on a companion’s date in their absence. Whatever happened to trust? Also, the restaurant has developed a new lunch menu Tuesday through Friday, instead of Friday only.
Through the Grapevine
Here’s an early head’s up for the Sebastiani Wine Dinner presented by Wolfe’s of New Orleans (7224 Pontchartrain Blvd. 284-6004; www.wolfesofneworleans.com) on Jan. 26. The five-course meal includes a grilled hangar steak for the entree paired with a Sebastiani Cabernet Sauvignon, Alexander Valley 2002, and costs $85 per guest (tax and gratuity inclusive).
Also on Jan. 26, Victor’s Grill (921 Canal St. (The Ritz-Carlton, New Orleans) 524-1331; www.ritzcarlton.com/hotels/new_orleans) presents a Winter Winemaker’s Dinner as Chef de Cuisine Matthew Murphy pairs dishes with Markham Vineyards. The vineyard has produced three of the top-rated California wines as judged by Wine Spectator.
Pot Luck
The Melting Pot, arguably the best fondue restaurant chain in the country, finally has decided to land in New Orleans after staking out its territory in Baton Rouge. (Full disclosure: I worked at a Melting Pot in my hometown of Tallahassee with a high school buddy and co-founder.) Baton Rouge Melting Pot franchisee Christopher Womack plans to open a restaurant at 1820 St. Charles Ave., in a 5,000-square-foot space built in the 1920s that housed the old Packard dealership. In a press release, Womack says New Orleans diners have been making the trip to Baton Rouge for years. He tentatively plans to open by the end of June.
Ten Spot
Marisol (437 Esplanade Ave., 943-1912) celebrates the 40th anniversary of the production of the world’s largest cheese (all 34,000 pounds of it, by the Wisconsin Cheese Foundation at the New York World’s Fair) by inviting diners to sample cheese from “New Orleans’ Largest Cheese List” on Thursday, Jan. 20. Tomoko is on hand every Thursday evening to perform Brazilian jazz from 7 p.m. to 10 p.m. — Simmons
Other Stories This Week in Cuisine:
Wine of the Week
2001 Beaulieu Vineyard (BV) Tapestry
Reserve
Napa, California
$33-$40
Restaurant Review
Charlie's Steak House
Other Stories by Sara Roahen:
Restaurant Review 01 04 05
Restaurant Review 12 28 04
Restaurant Review 12 21 04
Sara Roahen Archives
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