by Brad Rhines

NOLA Brewing will soon add two new beers to their krewe of brews, and they’re celebrating with a couple of upcoming parade parties.  On Saturday, the Uptown brewery rolls out their seasonal Flambeau Red Ale with a Krewe du Brew Bar Crawl in the French Quarter, and next weekend at the Avenue Pub they’ll release Pour Me Somethin’ Mistah Imperial Porter, a collaboration with California’s Stone Brewing Company.

BYWATER - Starting tomorrow, one of downtown New Orleans' favorite food outposts will be located a little closer to the center of the city.

by Brad Rhines

Before the plethora of pop-ups in New Orleans, and before fine-dining chefs around town turned their attention to burgers and pizza, there was MVB.  Way back in October of 2010, folks lined up outside Slim Goodies Diner on Sunday evenings for three things, and three things only: burgers, fries, and shakes.  MVB closed at the end of last summer—pop-ups by definition, after all, are meant to be temporary—but this week fans were delighted to hear that the MVB burger is returning to New Orleans. 

Right around the time that the wait for King Cake was over, New Orleans was forced to question whether we had in fact backtracked to that pre-Christmas season of waiting called Advent instead of moving ahead to the time of pagan revelry, as we were required to keep vigil for yet another treat. The word went out to the masses that King Cake Vodka was on its way. In the early days, a few lucky players got to try the spirit,. But the rest were left to keep offering Jello shots at early Carnival parties. According to the founder of the company who produces the spirit, however, the wait will be over this week.

Sadly, Abita's Carnival-ready canned beer won't be released widely in time for Saturday's profane procession through the Marigny and French Quarter. However, the north shore brewery is giving New Orleanians a taste of the canned version of its iconic brew this week. Abita is planning a pub crawl Friday that starts at the Magazine Street Bulldog for canned Amber, moves to Balcony Bar for Jockamo IPA and finally to the rendevous for Purple Haze.

Andrew Zimmern was just here last week, but he's already returning to New Orleans again tonight...on TV. It's magic how they do that! The Travel Channel is set to run its New Orleans episode of Bizarre Foods America, in which he apparently eats delectables like stuffed pig stomach, smoked raccoon and something from Kermit Ruffins' grill. Dare we say a return trip for some nutria is in order? The episode airs tonight at 8:00 PM CST.

At the mention of apple and goat cheese in a King Cake, elders of New Orleans may shriek with accusations of heresy. But no one has brought a torch to Cake Café in the Marigny yet - only their cravings for a new take on the Carnival's premier treat.

by Brad Rhines

At Bellocq’s grand opening last night, patrons partied like it was 1899.  Bellocq, which is the newest venture from the crew at Cure, specializes in 19th century cocktails and officially opened late last month on Lee Circle, alongside the newly renovated Hotel Modern. 

UPTOWN - Sebastien Baudin wants you to know there’s a difference between a restaurant and a bistro.

FRENCH QUARTER - Quarter rats and downtown y’ats may know that the Hotel Monteleone's famous Carousel Bar quietly reopened for business after an extensive renovation. However, the gentle murmur became a paradegoer’s shout yesterday when the historic venue “officially” reopened. the Monteleone has done an excellent job making the place feel as if it were new, but new in 1950.