A Month of Januaries
And a few things to look forward to.
Hi friends,
If you’ve felt like this past month has been unending, you’re not alone. The good news: We made it. To what, exactly? Who can say. But, we have king cake and glitter to help us cope with whatever gets thrown our way in the coming weeks. And, we have each other.
January brought a lot of heartache and frustration this year, and then for two days, pure joy as the city shut down for snow. It was calm, and playful, and at times a little eery, with the kind of quiet you only find here after a hurricane (before the generators start running). We needed this, as fleeting as it was; a little calm before the chaos of the Super Bowl and Mardi Gras and Jazz Fest, and what is sure to be another sweltering summer.
As we close out the month, here are a few things you can look forward to over the next few days:
Tet Fest at Mary Queen of Vietnam Church
Cook-Off for the Coast at Docville Farm
Smoke & Honey’s inaugural Lamb Spit Party
Lagniappe: Exotic Animal Races at Fairgrounds Race Course
A little drone footage from our neighborhood early last Tuesday:
And Now…Spring?
After the snow melted off, Rémy and I moved all of our plants back outdoors, including our tiny meyer lemon tree that has been loaded with blossoms for weeks. Within hours, several bees had found the flowers, and were going to work. A sign of hope for a future season.
2025 James Beard Award Semifinalists
James Beard Foundation recently announced the semifinalists for this year’s awards, and a lot of local names made the list. Nominees will be announced in April, with the awards ceremony to follow in June.
Outstanding Restaurateur
Mason Hereford, Turkey & the Wolf, Molly's Rise & Shine, Hungry Eyes, and others, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Restaurant
GW Fins, New Orleans, LA
Emerging Chef
Kaitlin Guerin, Lagniappe Bakehouse, New Orleans, LA
Best New Restaurant
Porgy's Seafood Market, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Bakery
Bellegarde Bakery, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Hospitality
Compère Lapin, New Orleans, LA
Vestige, Ocean Springs, MS
Outstanding Wine and Other Beverages Program
Pluck Wine Bar and Restaurant, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Bar
Chandelier Bar, New Orleans, LA
Outstanding Professional in Cocktail Service
Abigail Gullo, LOA Bar, New Orleans, LA
Alan Walter, The Brakes Bar, Baton Rouge, LA
Best Chef: South
Melissa Araujo, Alma Cafe, New Orleans, LA
Madonna Broussard, Laura's II, Lafayette, LA
Ana Castro, Acamaya, New Orleans, LA
Hunter Evans, Elvie's, Jackson, MS
Nicole Cabrera Mills, Pêche Seafood Grill, New Orleans, LA
Tresse Sumrall and Austin Sumrall, White Pillars, Biloxi, MS
Arvinder Vilkhu and Ashwin Vilkhu, Saffron Nola, New Orleans, LA
Thanks for being here, y’all—and welcome to the new subscribers who clicked over from Southlands! See you out on the parade routes.
