Culinary Happenings in NOLA

Upcoming dinner service at Alma Cafe

​A quick round up of gastronomic events happening in the city right now: 

TIKI TAKEOVER AT THE BOWER
After overwhelming success last summer, LGD hotspot The Bower is bringing back its tropical summertime Tiki Takeover. Available all summer long at both the restaurant and adjacent Bower Bar, guests can enjoy a selection of dishes and cocktails certain to transport them straight to the Polynesian islands. 

With a decked-out space filled with tiki decor, along with an array of tiki-inspired cocktails from Beverage Director Mickey Mullins, guests can enjoy sippables ($14-18) served up in specialty tiki glassware. Libations include Lifeguard – gin, pineapple, lemon, orgeat and bitters; Toasted Daquiri with rum, fresh lime and toasted sugar; Bananavardie – rye, banana liqueur, glittered Campari; Pinky Promise – tequila, hibiscus, apricot and lime with an absinthe mist; Mood Ring – vodka, vanilla bean lemonade and butterfly pea flower; and Sipping Next to Vanna White – gold rum, Aperol, vanilla lemonade and lime. Frozen concoctions include Piña Colada with a house blend of rums, pineapple, and coconut, served in a large coconut and Apostle’s Upswing – rum, mint, peach and pineapple. 

Executive Chef Marcus Woodham is spicing it up in the kitchen with options like Spam Musubi - sweet soy glazed spam, sushi rice, furikake, spicy mayo; Huli Huli Pork Ribs with pickled jalapeños, pineapple and cucumbers; and Spicy Salmon Poke with avocado & cilantro rice, beets, pineapple, mango and a lime leaf vinaigrette. 

THE BOWER AND LUXARDO PRESENT: A TALES OF THE COCKTAIL® SPIRITED DINNER 
THURSDAY, JULY 25, 2024

Four-Course Pairing Dinner Featuring Cocktails from San Francisco’s True Laurel 
WHO/WHAT: The Bower, located in the Lower Garden District and culinary darling of Latter Hospitality, has partnered with Girolamo Luxardo, the Italian liqueur factory and one of the oldest European firms producing liqueurs and spirits, for an exclusive four-course dinner pairing during Tales of the Cocktail® 2024. This special event will highlight a thoughtfully curated menu by The Bower’s Executive Chef Marcus Woodham paired with creative Luxardo libations by Mixologist Nicolas Torresof San Francisco’s acclaimed cocktail den, True Laurel. 
Priced at $100 per person (excluding tax & gratuity), visitors will experience a delightful fusion of flavors and the art of mixology. 

WHEN/WHERE: The Bower and Luxardo Spirited Dinner will take place Thursday, July 25th, at 7 PM. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite. The Bower is located at 1320 Magazine Street. 
 
TUJAGUE’S UNVEILS NEW $18.56 WEEKEND BRUNCH MENU
Tujague's, the second oldest restaurant in New Orleans, is pleased to launch its new two-course weekend brunch menu, priced at $18.56! The restaurant, which first opened its doors in 1856, is paying homage to its rich history by providing an affordable and delicious weekend brunch experience in The Big Easy.

The menu, under the direction of Executive Chef Gus Martin, offers diners traditional favorites with a modern twist. Patrons can enjoy a choice of starters, which includes the Wedge Salad — iceberg lettuce, buttermilk dressing, applewood smoked bacon, onions, tomatoes, and crumbled bleu cheese; Shrimp Crêpe — two crêpes filled with herb goat cheese and Gulf shrimp in a rich béchamel sauce; and Gumbo du Jour. Entrees include a choice of  Croque Madame — toasted brioche layered with sliced ham and gruyère cheese, topped with a fried egg, and served with mornay sauce; Shrimp and Grits with pan-seared Gulf shrimp, New Orleans-style BBQ sauce, and stone-ground grits; and Eggs Madison with chorizo sausage, onion, potatoes, cheddar cheese hash, topped with fried eggs and chimichurri. Visitors can also enjoy alcoholic beverages such as the Old Fashioned for $5, Red, White, or Rosè wine for $6, and their famous cocktail creation - The Grasshopper for $7. 

Tujague’s $18.56 brunch menu is available every Saturday and Sunday from 10AM to 2:30PM. Reservations can be made on OpenTable. Tujague’s is located at 429 Decatur Street in the French Quarter.

ALMA CAFÉ TO HOST SNEAK PEEK PREVIEW DINNERS: FRIDAY, JULY 26th – FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 13th
Alma Cafe Honduran restaurant is delighted to announce that the restaurant will officially launch dinner service this Fall. In preparation for the launch, Chef/Owner Melissa Araujo -- a James Beard: Best Chef South 2024 semifinalist –will host a limited number of exclusive dinner previews each Friday from Friday, July 26th – Friday, September 13th. Reservations are suggested, with the first seating at 5 PM, and the last at 9:45 PM. 

The dinner preview nights will feature a curated selection of dishes that blend traditional flavors with a modern twist. Using ingredients from her own backyard, guests can indulge in dishes such as Aguachile Negro with local gulf shrimp and scallops in an aguachile negro; Tostada de Tuna — yellowfin tuna, avocado pure, caramelized shallots, and jalapeno; Pork belly with pickled vegetables; New England Style Lobster Roll; Duck in salsa verde; Papas Bravas; Hongos en Crema; and BBQ Pork Ribs with fine herbs. Like everything at Alma Cafe, dinner dishes will honor the chef’s beloved grandmother’s cooking, a bevy of robust, hearty dishes inspired by the chef’s childhood.  

The inventive cocktail menu from Head Bartender Mark Preston will also be available. Satisfy your palate with libations like the Smoke Rosemary Negroni Sour (gin, sweet vermouth, Campari, rosemary syrup, lemon juice, splash of orange juice, and egg white); Hello Again (mezcal, Ancho Reyes chile liqueur, watermelon, and lime); Paloma No. 2(tequila blanco, grapefruit, lime, honey, salt air); and Pimm's Cup (Pimm’s No. 1, cucumber vodka, lemon, ginger ale, and sparkling wine float). 

Located at 800 Louisa Street, Alma Café has become a beloved spot for authentic Honduran cuisine. The addition of dinner service marks a new chapter, inviting guests to experience the restaurant's welcoming ambiance and exceptional cuisine during the evening hours.
Reservations can be made on OpenTable. Stay up to date on all things Alma Cafe on social at @eatalmanola. /  READ OUR REVIEW OF ALMA CAFE!