| By ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Greetings, New Orleans food lovers! This week, we peek inside Le Petit Bleu, a tiny cafe sidekick to Commander's Palace next door. "Ya-ka-mein lady" Linda Green's beef noodle soup is good for what ails you, but now she's the one who needs a boost. A former Emeril's pastry chef strikes out on his own with Mae's, a bakery Uptown. Gyros and breakfast sandwiches meet at Smoke & Honey. Ian McNulty and Chelsea Shannon bring their new video series to a hidden gem for Indian food on the West Bank. Finally, get ready for hungry Mardi Gras guests with Judy Walker's recipes for short ribs, pork chop sandwiches and potato salad. 1. Commander's to-go? Le Petit Bleu is the tiny new cafe next door to Commander’s Palace. It's a crêperie, a place for a quick breakfast, and a market for prepared foods from the Commander’s Palace kitchen. We ventured inside. 2. Rallying for Miss Linda. Linda Green has ladled up her ya-ka-mein at second-line parades and at Jazz Fest. She's also served the beef and noodle soup, along with other dishes, to police working the Uptown Carnival parade route. But this year, the "ya-ka-mein lady" is contending with severe health issues. 3. Wait! There's more. Uptown’s latest bakery, Mae's, opens with cake, pie, and a new direction for its owner, a onetime chef at Emeril’s. Our dynamic duo, Ian and Chelsea, head across the river to experience a unique Indian restaurant, Plume. And taste the comfort as Greek and Jewish "soul food" meet at Smoke & Honey in Mid-City. 4. Carnival cuisine! Who's ready for Mardi Gras? Judy Walker's time-tested recipes will feed a hungry parade crowd with short ribs, pork chop sandwiches and Mama's potato salad. In New Orleans, the food news never stops. Keep up with all the inside info at Where NOLA Eats. P.S.: Want to support local journalism that matters? Subscribe here. It's our best deal! | 