Food News
Back-up Plan
Queuing Up
All in the Family
Thursday Thrill
Summer Specials
The wait at Port of Call (838 Esplanade Ave., 523-0120) was 90 minutes two
Mondays ago (move over Jacques-Imo's), a span of time that might be reasonable
if you weren't tempted to spend it all drinking Monsoons. We zipped up Canal Street
instead, and Mandina's (3800 Canal St., 482-9179) once again came through with
thick, smoky red beans, impeccably fried trout amandine and spaghetti with red
gravy the color of a Valentine.
A hot line opened at Foodies Kitchen's Uptown location (7457 St. Charles
Ave., 865-8646) last month, introducing Orleans Parish to the Black and Blue
Burger, an indulgence of beef, bacon, blue cheese, remoulade sauce and avocado.
The kitchen is also prepared to make po-boys, tuna burgers, pastas and other
hot entrees on the spot. Karyn Champagne, who with husband Robert bought Foodies
Kitchen from the founding Commander's Palace team last January, says that several
new menu items are set to debut within the next few weeks at the Metairie store
(720 Veterans Memorial Blvd., 837-9695).
Chef Andrea Apuzzo has declared Tuesday night Family Night at Andrea's (3100
19th St., Metairie, 834-8583). Families and large parties may order from a menu
of roughly 15 dishes, each sized to feed four people. New Orleanians might recognize
this Italian, family-style approach to dining from marathon dinners at Mosca's.
Andrea's family-style menu includes tomato Caprese salad ($16), a marinated
and chilled seafood platter ($17) and crabmeat ravioli in cream sauce ($20).
Sit at Basil Leaf's (1438 S. Carrollton Ave., 862-9001) bar on Thursday
evenings between 5:30 p.m. and 8:30 p.m., and for $12 you'll receive an appetizer
special, 2-oz. fingers of three featured wines, plus a full glass of whichever
wine moves you most. On a recent Thursday the tasting involved three Chardonnays
and an appetizer of fried eggplant with minced chicken and basil. Diners wishing
to sit in the dining room may begin a full meal with the $12 deal.
Among the surfeit of restaurants offering mind-blowing summer promotions
(call your favorite place and ask what they've got going on), Mr. John's Steakhouse
(2111 St. Charles Ave., 679-7697) serves $14.95 Sunset Dinners Tuesday through
Sunday from 5 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Add wine for an additional $5.
