Food News
by Sara RoahenIn the spirit of Gambit Weekly's own mission this week to map the city's dining options by neighborhood, I should mention that the third edition of Kevin R. Roberts' self-published guidebook, New Orleans Neighborhood Restaurant Guide: Updated Profiles & Photos of Our Favorite Forty, is now for sale at local bookstores, as well as at Perlis, Martin Wine Cellar and Whole Foods Market. Roberts steers readers to restaurants that adhere to his own tagline: 'Keep It Local.' Bluebird Cafe, Cafe Sbisa, Christian's Restaurant, Dick & Jenny's and Parkway Bakery & Tavern are among this edition's new entries, all of which are accompanied by black-and-white photos of the restaurants' exteriors. Roberts has also released a companion poster, New Orleans Neighborhood Restaurants, the third in a series that began with New Orleans Paradox of Style and New Orleans Legendary Bars. The posters are for sale at neighborhood frame shops and bookstores. To read more, visit www.neighborhoodrestaurantguide.com.
What's in Store
In a related vein, it was heartening to read Jeff Siegel's piece, 'Grocery Shopping in the Big Easy,' in the latest Gravy, a newsletter compiled by the Southern Foodways Alliance. Siegel posits that the recent failure of the Albertson's supermarket chain in New Orleans is due to the city's support of more localized grocery traditions. Though it's not a scientific study, he does report that, according to census bureau figures, 'Louisiana has 2 percent of the grocery stores in the United States, but only 1.5 percent of the population.' Of course, that could mean merely that we eat more. But, considering Albertson's demise, the optimist would infer that more, smaller, independent groceries and local chains such as Rouse's, Dorignac's, Langenstein's and Robert Fresh Markets account for that extra .5 percent.
Give Him Cornbread
Times-Picayune columnist Lolis Eric Elie, who edited Cornbread Nation 2: The United States of Barbecue, an anthology compiled by the Southern Foodways Alliance, will conduct a discussion and signing beginning at 7 p.m. on Saturday at Octavia Books (513 Octavia St., 899-7323). One of the essays in the book is by John T. Edge, featured elsewhere in this issue.
Class in Session
The Savvy Gourmet has nailed down a roster of October cooking classes, including "Get Back to Your Roots (cooking with root vegetables)" on Monday, Oct. 18, and "Apple Harvest" on Tuesday, Oct. 19. For locations and pricing, and to reserve a space, call 895-2665 or visit www.savvygourmet.com.
