Portugese Flavors Meet Philippine Cuisine
For a dining experience that brings together New Orleans' vibrant culture and legendary cuisine, head out on September 4 at 34 Restaurant & Bar for a special evening with guest chef Nikki Cabrera Mills of Pêche.
This dining experience combines the exquisite Portuguese flavors of 34 with traditional Filipino dishes from Pêche's Chef Mills. The dinner offers a four course meal costing $95 per person. Chef Chris, a Portuguese-American from New York, and Chef Nikki, who grew up in the Philippines, will be collaborating on each course.
Pêche Restaurant
Pêche, located on Magazine Street, is inspired by the cooking of South America, Spain, and the Gulf Coast. Founders Stephen Stryjewski and Ryan Prewitt aim to create a unique New Orleans seafood experience for guests, using live-fire cooking techniques often seen abroad. Pechê partners with a variety of local fishermen and farmers to ensure the best quality materials and sustainable practices. In 2014, Pechê's dedication to excellence earned them a spot on the "Top 10 Best Restaurants in New Orleans."
Chef Nikki Cabrera Mills, who will be co-chef of Thursday's event, joined Pêche in 2014. She grew up in the Philippines, where her family owned and operated a bakery. After a lifetime of being surrounded by fresh food and cuisine, she decided to attend culinary school in New York City. Her career started in New York City, shifted to LA, the Phillippines, and finally landed in New Orleans working with Pêche. She became Chef de Cuisine in 2019 and since then has been awarded prestigious awards such as 2024 class of Best New Chefs by Food & Wine and Best Chef: South semi-finalist by the James Beard Foundation.
34 Restaurant & Bar
Though having opened less than a year ago, 34 Restaurant & Bar has already made a strong impression on the downtown New Orleans food scene. The restaurant showcases an array of authentic Portuguese dishes, inspired by the heritage of Chef Emeril Lagasse and his son, EJ. Chef Lagasse, a former beloved chef at Commander's Palace, helped bring Creole cuisine to national prominence, while EJ has quickly proven himself a talented chef in his own right. As co-owner and chef at Emeril's Restaurant, Chef EJ now brings his culinary expertise to 34 Restaurant. 34 Restaurant hones in not only on brilliant cuisine, but vibrant atmosphere and acoustics.
The interior is just as authentic as the food, which is crafted by Portuguese American chef from New York, Chef Chris Dos Reis. Dos Reis spent summers working at his uncle's "truck stop shop" in Portugal. Since then, he has ascended to large ventures including Denmark's Kadeau, Fäviken in Sweden, London's Brat, Momofuko Ko, and Blue Hill at Stone Barns, to name a few. His love for his culture and heritage is what makes the cuisine and experience at 34 Restaurant all the while.
The Event
This culinary event promises to be as distinctive as the restaurants behind it—rich with flavor, ambiance, and culture. There will be four courses that will be served for the event. Course one will include a choice between Gulf fish crudo, fried eggplant and codfish, or coconut shrimp and mustard greens. The other courses will include pork adobo, Gulf fish, and pastel de nata with ube.34 Restaurant and Pêche are delighted to welcome you for this unforgettable four-course dining experience. Seats are limited, so guarantee your spot by using this link.
