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News for Restaurants in New Orleans
August 2012 Archive

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RESTAURANT NEWS

Openings

After a number of years at the helm of Clancy's kitchen, chef Steve Manning has opened Annunciation, his own Creole restaurant, in the Warehouse District. Manning's new venture promises cuisine not so different from what he offered at Clancy's, but with more of a seafood and vegetables focus. Look for dishes such as lobster and shrimp risotto, scallops with brie and fried soft-shell crab with seafood meunière sauce. Located in the heart of the warehouse/arts district, Annunciation is open for dinner only, but Manning plans to announce lunch openings in the near future. Dinner Mon.-Sat. Annunciation, 1016 Annunciation St., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-568-0245.
 

News Bytes

Cafe Adelaide Unveils its New "Happier Hour"
Cafe Adelaide offers one of the liveliest happy hours in town, and now the restaurant has unveiled its new "Happier Hour." The bar now offers two small plates and a signature cocktail for $20, nighly from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. Among the most popular house cocktails are the Wild Magnolia --- Plymouth gin, St. Germain, lemon, house-made magnolia bitters; the Oh What a Night! --- Sazerac rye whiskey, sweet vermouth, lemon, sparkling wine; and the signature drink, the Adelaide Swizzle --- Olde New Orleans Amber Rum, Peychaud's bitters, lime, soda, and a still-undisclosed secret ingredient. Small plates include such tastes as shrimp and tasso corndogs, bacon-crusted oysters, foie gras and truffle flatbread, and turtle soup. Cafe Adelaide, Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-595-3300.
 
Commander Commander's Palace Offers Special Lunch Menu
Commander's Palace, the grande dame of fine dining in New Orleans, now offers specially-priced two-course lunch specials. The menu changes weekly, but typically features items such as crispy braised pork over charred jalapeño boudin, or onion-crusted chicken salad with cranberries and barbecued Vidalia onions and blue cheese, or griddle-seared Gulf fish in a sautée of house-made andouille and red beans. Commander's continues to offer its popular 25-cent martinis with this tongue-in-cheek restriction: "Limit 3 per person 'cause that's enough!" Lunch is served Monday through Friday, 11:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. Commander's Palace, 1403 Washington Ave., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-899-8221.
 
R'evolution Opens for Lunch
Restaurant R'evolution, the elegant dining spot in the Royal Sonesta Hotel, now is open for lunch. The restaurant, which opened for dinner only earlier this summer, is open Mon.-Fri. for lunch, featuring standout items from the dinner menu. Co-owner/chefs John Folse and Rick Tramonto offer their interpretations of local favorites, such as po' boys, beignets, gumbos and oyster dishes, as well as innovative new dishes such as crabmeat-stuffed Louisiana frog legs niçoise, ricotta gnocchi with lobster, and molasses-lacquered duck breast. The big question was whether the Red Velvet Creole Cream Cheese dessert would make the cut for the lunch menu. The answer is yes! Lunch Mon.-Fri., Dinner nightly. Restaurant R'evolution, Royal Sonesta Hotel New Orleans, 777 Bienville St., New Orleans, LA 70116, 504-553-2277.
 
Dining room of Ralph Ralph's on the Park Announces September Lobster Menu
Restaurateur Ralph Brennan has unveiled a special "Surf and Sparkle Lobster Menu" for September at Ralph's on the Park. The special offerings will run from Sept. 4-30, including small and large plates of lobster gumbo, lobster Arancini, poached lobster, fried lobster, lobster thermidor and grilled lobster, among other specialties. The "sparkle" part of the menu has to do with sparkling wines paired with each menu item. Among others, the sparkling wines will include Ruffino, Veuve Clicquot and Moët & Chandon. Ralph's on the Park is always busy, so reservations are suggested. Ralph's on the Park, 900 City Park Ave., New Orleans, LA 70119, 504-488-1000.
 
"Happier Hour" at Cafe Adelaide
Cafe Adelaide presents "happier hour" nightly from 5:30 p.m.-7 p.m. through August 31, 2012. Guests can order two small plates and a signature cocktail for $20. Cafe Adelaide, Loews New Orleans Hotel, 300 Poydras St., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-595-3300.
 
Stormin' of the Sazerac at The Roosevelt
The Roosevelt New Orleans, a Waldorf Astoria Hotel will celebrate its past through a recreation of "Stormin' of the Sazerac." The event, taking place on September 28 in the Sazerac Bar, commemorates the day when women were first allowed to join the men in the bar. For the 68th anniversary of this occasion, guests are invited to wear 1940s clothing and take part in a "vintage glamour" costume with celebrity judges. The winner will receive a one night stay in The Roosevelt. Starting at 3 p.m., hourly drawings for special prizes will also be happening. Employees from The Roosevelt Emporium  Gift Shop will be modeling era hats while guests enjoy a vintage fashion show from RetroActive and lip makeovers from Guerlain Spa. The Roosevelt New Orleans, A Waldorf Astoria Hotel, 123 Baronne St., New Orleans, LA 70112, 504-648-1200.
 

Chef Shuffle

The Rib Room at the Omni Royal Orleans hotel has announced the hiring of a new chef. The restaurant, which has had an inordinately high chef turnover rate in the past few years, has hired Michael Gottlieb, formerly executive chef at the Red Fish Grill. Gottlieb's background also includes ownership of a family-owned restaurant in Savannah, Georgia, and a stint at the prestigous Inn at Little Washington in the Washington, D.C. area. While Gottlieb is likely to bring his own culinary touch to the Rib Room, the restaurant's "focus will continue to be rotisserie-driven," according to press materials released to announce his appointment. Rib Room, Omni Royal Orleans Hotel, 621 St. Louis St., New Orleans, LA 70130, 504-529-7045.
 

Closings

CLOSED FOR GOOD
Take your taste buds on a walk down memory lane! Check out our exclusive closed restaurant database for New Orleans to virtually visit your favorite dining spots from the past. Dominique's, R.I.P.

Sweet Olive, the restaurant originally opened by Mike Stoltzfus (Coquette) in The Saint Hotel, has now been re-named Tempt. Sweet Olive, 931 Canal St., New Orleans, LA 70112, no phone.
 
Rambla, which was located in the lobby of the International House hotel, has closed. Named for a central boulevard of pedestrian malls and busy urban blocks in Barcelona, the restaurant served a mix of Spanish and French-inspired dishes in tapas-sized portions. Rambla, International House, 217 Camp St., New Orleans, LA 70130, no phone.
 

CULINARY EVENTS
Want to learn to cook
? Try new dishes? Meet a foodie friend for fun? Check out our compilation of culinary events in your area.


View our calendar of Wine Dinners & Tastings in New Orleans

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