| By ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Greetings, New Orleans food lovers! This week, we hear from generations of fans who will miss Tony Mandina's in Gretna as the restaurant closes. Mid-City's Toups Meatery launches a summer food delivery program for hungry children. The Southern Food & Beverage Museum marks 20 years, and Insomnia Cookies celebrates a location's grand opening. Round 3 of our sno-ball bracket closes Friday: Vote early and often for your favorite. Finally, Liz Williams shares her recipes for picnic-friendly salade Nicoise, a maque choux salad and rice pudding squares. 1. Remembrance of things pasta After 41 years in business, Tony Mandina's Restaurant in Gretna announced it would close. Hundreds of fans of the beloved Italian restaurant shared their memories with the owners on social media. 2. Special delivery. On a recent Tuesday afternoon, Toups Meatery restaurant kitchen staff were filling bags and boxes that would provide several days of meals for hundreds of families across the city. From a refrigerated truck, chef Isaac Toups was directing the action. Ian McNulty gets an up-close look at the Toups Family Meal feeding program. 3. Wait! There's more. At the Southern Food and Beverage Museum, visitors can see memorabilia from legendary, and sometimes lost, New Orleans food and drink places (think McKenzie's pastry counter and Bruning's bar). The late-night baked goods chain Insomnia Cookies holds a grand opening with, what else? Free cookies! And is your favorite sno-ball stand still in the running? Don't forget to vote in our highly unscientific sno-ball bracket. 4. It's a toss-up! Fresh salads bring your beach picnic to the next level. Columnist Liz Williams has versatile recipes for Salade Nicoise, macque choux salad and a dessert of rice pudding squares. 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! | 