It will be a cinch to satisfy your sweet tooth this fall with two new businesses focusing on delectable desserts. Already baking up a storm in the Bywater, Shake Sugary is a new bakery owned and operated by Pastry Chef Dawn Snead. Though she has been offering her pastries here in New Orleans for a little under a year, Dawn only recently threw open the doors of her storefront on 3600 St. Claude Avenue. Every weekend from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. you can stop in and try everything from muffins and scones to cupcakes, pies and tea breads. She even makes her own granola with almonds, pecans, coconut and dried fruit. A few items that caught my eye; a Dark Chocolate Orange Truffle Tart, Banana Chocolate Chip Cupcake with Mocha Hazelnut Filling and Cinnamon Buttercream Frosting, and Raspberry White Chocolate Chip Scones. Check out more at www.shakesugary. com.
The Sweet Palate is a sweet spot that will opening this fall in the French Quarter, located at 519 St. Louis Street. Styled after European choclatiers and pastry shops, The Sweet Palate will be featuring chocolates from Oriol Balaguer in Spain, biscuits from Belgium, Italian-style gelato from New York and fresh, French pastries. They are even planning to feature their own New Orleans inspired breakfast with rich coffee and pastry.
Speaking of inspiration, there is a new deli on 1802 Magnolia Street called CJ’s Deli in Keller’s Market serving breakfast and lunch, open from 6 a.m. to 5 p.m. As well as offering reasonably prices plates and breakfast bowls starting at under a dollar, they have a good selection of deli meats and a baker on staff providing custom-made cakes for all occasions, as well as brownies, cookies and cupcakes. Cassidy Trahant and her friend Jamie jumped at the chance to put this venture together and they opened strong in mid-July to see their business begin with a flourish so close to the CBD.
Though some folks are starting anew, others are moving on. Chef Anthony Spizale who only recently took over the helm at Upperline has left the building. Chef Spizale is headed for bigger and brighter horizons from my understanding, but we all anxiously await to see where he’s going to land.
Mimi’s, the classic Creole-Italian restau rant of River Ridge has closed it’s doors after ten long years of devoted service much to the disappointment of its faithful diners, but everyone is holding their breath to see what their celebrity chef, Pete Vazquez, will do next. Rumors and hints from Vazquez and his friends and fans on local forums whisper that Chef Pete may be opening his own restaurant somewhere on Freret Street, the burgeoning corridor that is attracting so much press in past months. Everyone who has sampled the chef’s cuisine, whether it be at the linen covered tablecloths of Marisol or the backyard feasts at Bacchanal, are waiting with bated breath to experience the magic of Vazquez in his own venue...myself included!
Avid posters, fans and critics were astonished when local food critic Tom Fitzmorris suddenly shut down his long-running food forum that’s been going since the mid-90s. Citing a “lack of time” to properly manage the forum, Fitzmorris’ sudden move has been met by everything from concern to harsh criticism. In any event, many of his former posters moved back to their old stomping grounds on NewOrleans.com, as well as other local forums like Mr. Lake’s and NOLAEats, proving that there will always be a place online for New Orleans folks to “Talk Food.”
One last note, you won’t want to miss the Southern Food & Beverage Museum’s annual gala set for September 16 at 7 p.m. There’ll be fantastic food of course, presented by Galatoire’s, Besh’s American Sector, Broussard’s, the Brennan Restaurant Group, Twin Oaks Plantation and Cake Cafe & Bakery. Libations will include brews from Lazy Magnolia and cocktails mixed by your favorite local mixologists. For tickets and more information, please visit www.southernfood.org.
Finally, Street Fare Derby, taking place Saturday, September 24, will celebrate alternative dining vendors, including bar kitchens, delivery-only establishments, borrowed kitchens and food trucks. Being held at the Fair Grounds Race Course and Slots, tickets can be purchased for $10 in advance at www. streetfarederby.com.
Correction: Last month Billy Yager, manager at Cresecent Pie and Sausage, was incorrectly identifited as the owner in a photo caption.
Bob Sneed of Shake Sugary holds a delicious mixed berry muffin.
