• Nola's Hottest Plates: Chefs Spill the Tea on Must-Try Dishes

  • Apr 19 2025
  • Length: 3 mins
  • Podcast

Nola's Hottest Plates: Chefs Spill the Tea on Must-Try Dishes

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  • Food Scene New Orleans

    Savoring the Soul of New Orleans: Where Tradition Meets Innovation on Every Plate

    Listeners, if you crave a city where every bite tells a story, New Orleans is your culinary dreamland. The streets right now are electric with new restaurant openings, each one reshaping old favorites with clever twists and audacious flavors. For night owls, Junebug in the Central Business District beckons, bringing a late-night menu of French and Creole plates from Chef Shannon Bingham—think savory snacks and sandwiches that riff on local classics, all wrapped in an atmosphere that pays homage to the city’s jazz greats. Over in the Lower Garden District, Here Today Rotisserie from the Coquette team is winning hearts with golden rotisserie chicken and gumbo that’s pure comfort in a bowl.

    Seafood lovers are spoiled for choice. At Seawitch on St. Charles Avenue, Chef Richard Bickford is spinning Gulf oysters into art, from sparkling half-shell platters to panko-fried shooters. Maria’s Oyster & Wine Bar elevates happy hour with Gulf tuna crudo, wild oysters, and a showstopping “seafood plateaux” laden with the freshest crawfish, shrimp, and ceviche. Meanwhile, Acamaya in the Bywater is redefining Mexican seafood thanks to Chef Ana Castro’s deeply personal, Mexico City-inspired dishes. The arroz negro—black rice brimming with squid, mussels, and huitlacoche—is the stuff of legend.

    There’s serious buzz around farm-to-table and tasting menus. Étoile on Magazine Street has transformed a historic mansion into a fine-dining temple, offering a seven-course tasting menu that turns local tomatoes, Wagyu beef, and goat cheese soufflé into unforgettable experiences. For something truly intimate, Wild South is the talk of the town: Chef Michael Stoltzfus melds Louisiana flavor with avant-garde creativity, serving tasting menus in a 40-seat dining room where each dish (like swordfish bacon–topped oysters) is as bold as the city itself.

    But innovation isn’t limited to what’s on the plate. New Orleans’ chefs are embracing technology, sustainability, and multicultural inspiration, from AI-powered kitchens to pop-up collaborations. At Mosquito Supper Club, diners gather around communal tables for multi-course meals sourced from local fishermen and crabbers, shining a light on the city’s enduring connection to its waterways.

    Of course, no roundup would be complete without a nod to the classics—Emeril’s is back, with E.J. Lagasse at the helm. His updated menu keeps the icon’s spirit alive while welcoming the next generation of food lovers.

    What sets New Orleans apart is its fearless blend of heritage and imagination. Creole, Cajun, French, African, Vietnamese, and Latin influences form the backbone of the city’s gastronomy, but it’s the chefs’ restless creativity and genuine love for local ingredients that keep the scene so vital. If you’ve ever wondered what it feels like to taste a city’s soul, New Orleans is ready to serve it to you—one unforgettable dish at a time..


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