Food News
by Sara RoahenThe new year has brought with it new dining options all over town, including a second Mama Rosa's in Kenner (2001 Williams Blvd., 464-1991). Pizzas and muffalettas are the standard here, just as they are at the original French Quarter location (616 N. Rampart St., 523-5546), though diners can expect some New Orleans-style plate lunch specials as well. The new Mama Rosa's is open daily for lunch and dinner; delivery service coming soon.
Grand Opening
Kenneth and Melba Ferdinand recently transformed
one of their PJ's Coffee & Tea Co. locations into Cafe Rose Nicaud
(632 Frenchmen St., 949-3300), a coffeehouse and aspiring restaurant with more
mom-and-pop character. At this point the menu is experimental, offering La
Spiga sandwiches, salads and housemade soups such as eggplant Parmesan and
chicken tortilla; they're trying to secure a license to sell wines and international
beers. Cafe Rose Nicaud is open from 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. daily.
Rollercoasting
Frenchmen Street, fairly inert five years ago but bustling
with new restaurants just last year, still seems to be transitioning. Chef Cecil
Palmer left Cafe Negril a few months back to once again open his
own Jamaican kitchen, this time at 801 Poland Ave. (947-2323) on the edge of
Bywater, and Matt Yohalem abandoned his Belle Forche -- the corner
restaurant that anchored the dining strip for a brief moment -- for the former
Nautical space Uptown. Yohalem opened Il Piatto there (7708 Maple
St., 861-0002) in December. It's a sibling to his Santa Fe, N.M., restaurant
of the same name, and its Italian menu is similar to that of the original. General
Manager Raoul Schneider's favorite dish is the macaroni with bolognese
sauce ("just like in The Godfather"). Daily specials may include prime
steaks, risotto or grilled calamari with shaved fennel. All entrees, says Schneider,
cost less than $12 at lunch and less than $16 at dinnertime. Il Piatto is currently
open for lunch weekdays and dinner Monday through Saturday. You may dine on
the outdoor patio during fine weather.
Hot Spot
Later this month, look for a second Vaqueros restaurant
to open at 2037 Metairie Road, in the space formerly occupied by Odyssey
Grill, and then briefly Cafe Ambrosia. Vaqueros' chef, Mark Springfloat,
says the Southwestern food and drink here will mirror that found at the Prytania
Street location. While the exact hours have not yet been written in stone, the
new restaurant will serve both lunch and dinner.
