Food News
by Sara RoahenRalph's on the Park (900 City Park Ave., 488-1000), the long-awaited joint venture between Ralph Brennan and Chef Gerard Maras, is now open, serving lunch weekdays, dinner nightly, breakfast on Saturday and brunch on Sunday. The two men worked together in the 1980s at Mr. B's Bistro (201 Royal St., 523-2078), before Maras eventually struck out on his own and opened Gerard's Downtown, located where Panasia is now (500 St. Charles Ave., 299-8004). Ralph's on the Park's space, which formerly housed Tavern on the Park, underwent extensive renovations during the year between its purchase and the recent opening. Perhaps the restaurant's most striking feature, however, is Maras' separate vegetarian menu offering such dishes as crisp fried oyster mushrooms with rosemary aioli and pan-sauteed vegetable cakes with mint dressing. To view all the menus, and for other information, visit www.ralphsonthepark.com.
Welcome Aboard
Emeril's Delmonico (1300 St. Charles Ave., 525-4937) has a new chef de cuisine:
Shane Pritchett recently transferred from Emeril's flagship restaurant
(800 Tchoupitoulas St., 528-9393) to replace Andrew Knoll, who left Delmonico
for more tropical climes.
Still Searching
Genghis Khan, the Korean restaurant that once survived nearly 26 years in
a low-brow Mid-City spot, no longer operates in the Baronne Plaza Hotel
(201 Baronne St.), where it moved in 2001. Conversation with several of the
hotel's employees yielded little information, but the word on the street is
that chef-owner Henry Lee is searching for a new location.
Tables For One
The new year's first Single Gourmet outing will take place this Friday
evening at Andrea's (3100 19th St., Metairie, 834-8583), beginning at
6:30 p.m. and costing $50. The group will head to Le Parvenu (509 Williams
Blvd., Kenner, 471-0534) for dinner on Sunday, Feb. 8. To reserve a spot at
one of the dinners, or for more information, call 885-1831 or visit www.singlegourmetneworleans.com.
A Royal Treat
In the spirit of Carnival season (already?), at Thursday's Crescent City
Farmers Market, La Spiga Bakery (2440 Chartres St., 949-2253) will
debut this season's brioche-based queen cake. The Tuesday market is at 200 Broadway
St. and runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. The Thursday market is at 3700 Orleans Ave.
and runs from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The Saturday market is at 700 Magazine St. and
runs from 8 a.m. to noon. Call 861-5898 or visit www.loyola.edu/ccfm.
