RICE

While typically a pillowy platform for creamy red beans, rice unites the Paella Valenciana at Laurentino's, a delicious marriage of chicken, andouille, calamari, shrimp, mussels, and vegetables with saffron rice. You'll also find saffron rice at Salt Ôn' Pepper, a po-boy and Pakistani restaurant in the French Quarter. The Biryanee has a bed of basmati rice with saffron and Indian spices and a choice of chicken, beef or goat. There's no need to choose at Chun Lee Restaurant in Jefferson; the Chun Lee Special Rice comes with chicken, pork, and shrimp. Fiesta Bistro does a classic Spanish paella with shrimp, scallops, mussels, calamari, chicken and clams in saffron rice. Over at Nacho Mama's, side dishes include two kinds of beans and two of rice: Spanish rice or lime-cilantro. Sapporo gets creative with its low-carb menu; snow crab, shrimp, asparagus, green onion, cucumber and lettuce wrapped in rice paper and served with chef's special sauces. The Original Coffee Pot restaurant offers a revised version of calas, a once common Creole breakfast of rice cakes served with maple syrup.