 | BY ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Greetings, New Orleans food lovers! This week, we plunge into the mystery: Is it really OK to eat catfish caught in the Mississippi River? Adolfo's on Frenchmen Street is "reserved for the chef" for one night after its beloved founder passes away. Commander's Palace and Bayona plan special events to spice up late summer. Avenue Pub is on the market, a seafood emporium expands, and a seafood queen is crowned. Finally, summer is winding down, but we'll enjoy garden produce for a while to come, thanks to Liz Williams' recipes for zucchini pickles, tomato jam and brandied figs. 1. On the hook for dinner? It's a timeless sight: Anglers relaxing on the banks of the Mississippi River, waiting for a nibble from a big catfish. If you've always wondered how safe those fish are to eat, reporter Jabez Berniard has the answer. Get the facts here. 2. Reserved for the chef. Adolfo's Restaurant carved out a place on busy Frenchmen Street, where Chef Adolfo Perez Palavinci served a soulful version of Italian cuisine. Palavinci, 63, died Aug. 12 after a heart attack. Now, his family has made plans for a special night at the restaurant to celebrate his life. 3. Wait! There's more. Commander's Palace, Bayona and Mister Mao fight the summer doldrums with unique dining events. The 24-hour craft beer mecca Avenue Pub has been listed for sale; owner Polly Watts explains why. An "Xquisite" family restaurant took off in the pandemic and is now expanding. And meet the queen of American seafood, crowned recently at the Great American Seafood Cook-Off in New Orleans. 4. Garden bounty. Liz Williams, founder of the Southern Food & Beverage Institute in New Orleans, has the best friends and neighbors. They keep her amply supplied with summer's bountiful garden harvests. To make sure that nothing goes to waste, Liz offers us these delicious recipes for zucchini pickles, brandied figs and tomato jam. That's it for the food newsletter, but in New Orleans the food news never stops. For more, visit us at NOLA.com. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! -A.S. P.S. If you aren't already subscribing to this free weekly newsletter, click here to subscribe. Want to support our award-winning journalism? Check out this great deal, just $1 for six months - for local journalism that matters! Subscribe here today. How does the New Orleans business climate impact your favorite restaurant? Sign up for NOLA Business Insider to find out: nola.com/biz. | 
