Food News
by Sara RoahenYou Scream, I Scream ...
Angelo Brocato's (214 N. Carrollton
Ave., 486-0078) frozen confection experts know how to treat a summer peach. Peach
ice, dark in color but pulsing with flavor, is currently the most season-sensitive
flavor going at the Mid-City shop. I've never yet left the premises without a
scoop of zuppe inglese, a yolk-yellow ice cream that tastes like eggnog with chocolate
chips, but that didn't keep me from a slab of torroncino last week. Essentially
pulverized almonds and cinnamon folded into vanilla ice cream, torroncino might
be the only ice cream I've ever eaten from a doily-lined plate. Find it in the
display case next to the spumoni and baked Alaska.
Wine Geek
Rickilane Banks is pairing his
knowledge of the Pinot Noir grape with Chef Adolfo Garcia's tapas know-how
for the third in a series of wine tastings, to be held from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday,
July 30, at RioMar (800 S. Peters St., 525-3474). Why spend the $20? Banks,
a waiter at the restaurant, brags, "I'm pretty well-known as a wine nerd."
All Wet
I wonder how GW Fins' (808 Bienville
St., 581-3467) 70 wines by the glass feel about the restaurant's current martini
promotion. Through Aug. 31, guests at the bar may taste three specialty martinis
for $5. GW Fins' signature martini, the Valentini, combines raspberry vodka
and white creme de cocoa in a chocolate-rimmed glass.
Back Up
Alex Patout is a survivor. In 2002,
he leased a circa-1830s cottage in Mandeville in order to open a sister restaurant
to his Alex Patout's (720 St. Louis St., 525-7788) in the French Quarter.
The building caught fire last July, before many people had heard of it. Then,
$700,000 later, the restaurant re-opened on the fire's one-year anniversary, a
bittersweet celebration, to be sure. Alex Patout's Northshore location is at 2025
Lakeshore Drive, Mandeville, (985) 626-8500.
Blue Summer
Call Cobalt (333 St. Charles Ave.,
565-5595) to learn what Chef Brack May is smoking this week. Each week
this summer, May is dabbling in a different region's barbecue culture, from Memphis
dry-rub spare ribs to Louisiana barbecue shrimp.
Cheap date idea: The Food Network's reality
show, Into the Fire, will feature the hot and cold of Commander's
Palace's kitchen at 9:30 p.m. Friday, Aug. 1.
