Restaurants Announce COOLinary Offerings for 2024

Birdy’s behind The Bower

The Instagram-worthy restaurant will offer a two-course lunch menu from Monday to Thursday for $26 per person (excluding beverage, tax, or gratuity). Starter options include the choice of Watermelon and  Tasso Salad with freshly sliced watermelon, house-made tasso, peppery greens, spiced sunflower seeds, and sugarcane dressing, and Summer Mango and Avocado Salad with freshly sliced mango and avocado, ripped mint, shaved red onion, chamoy and lime vinaigrette, and tajin. Mains include the Chilled Nola BBQ Shrimp Roll with buttery brioche rolls, BBQ aioli, zested lemon, and crisp green lettuce, and Confit Duck and Tomato Salad with sugarcane glazed duck leg, fresh farm tomatoes, whipped feta, and compressed basil.

Birdy’s Behind The Bower is located at 1320 Magazine St. birdysnola.com.

Tujague’s

The second-oldest restaurant in New Orleans, Tujague’s COOLinary menu will feature a three-course menu from Monday to Sunday for $46 per person (excluding beverage, tax, or gratuity). Start with a choice of Chicken & Sausage Gumbo with Louisiana popcorn rice; New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp with grilled French bread; or Wedge Salad. Mains include Pork Porterhouse with sweet potato wedge, molasses-pecan butter, Abita braised collard greens, finished with Creole mustard demi-glaze; Blackened Redfish with broccolini, lemon beurre blanc, tomato concasse, and basil relish; Grilled Hanger Steak with roasted garlic mash, balsamic honey glazed baby carrots, and sauce au poivre. Dessert options include Blueberry Cobbler with spiced crumble topping, and vanilla bean ice cream, and Crème Brûlée.

Tujague’s is located at 429 Decatur St.in the French Quarter. tujaguesrestaurant.com.

Compere Lapin

Helmed by acclaimed Chef Nina Compton, Compere Lapin will offer a three-course dinner menu from Monday to Sunday for $58 per person (excluding beverage, tax, or gratuity). Start your meal with a choice of Tomato and Cucumber Salad with a coconut dressing and soft herbs; Pickled shrimp with sorrel and avocado mousse; and Smoked fish Tart with smoked trout roe. Main course options include Fried Chicken with coconut grits and jerk peanuts; Buttermilk Dumplings with summer corn and peppers; and Pan-Seared Snapperwith coconut broth. End your dinner  on a sweet note with a choice of Bread Pudding with caramelized bananas and rum caramel; and Summer Blueberry Consomme with soft herbs.

Compere Lapin is located in the Old No.77 Hotel & Chandlery at 535 Tchoupitoulas St. comperelapin.com.

Osteria Lupo

The brain-child of Chef Brian Burns and Reno De Ranieri, Osteria Lupo, will feature a four-course tasting menu for $58 per person (served family-style, full table participation required, (excluding beverage, tax, or gratuity) from Monday to Sunday. Visitors can enjoy a selection of Antipasti, including Marinated Mushrooms with chili, garlic, and oregano; Black Truffle Arancini with fresh Umbrian truffle and Val D’Aosta Fonduta; Summer Melon Saladwith prosciutto and herbed honey; and Clams Fra Diavolo with fregola, smoking Goose‘nduja, and Arrabiata. Pizza and Pasta include Asparagus Pizza with leeks, pickled red onion, and provolone picante; and Spaghetti alla Chittara with Maine lobster, Trebbiano, and jalapeno. Secondi & Contorni (main and side dishes) include Grilled Hanger Steak with crispy potatoes and salsa verde; Gulf Fish with fennel puree, hazelnut tapenade, and sundried tomato; Wood-Fired Zucchini with lemon ricotta and pepitas; and Crispy Brussels Sprouts with brown butter, hazelnuts, and ricotta salata. For dessert, indulge in Tiramisu with lady fingers, mascarpone, espresso, and salted caramel, and Lemon Ricotta Cake with blueberry compote, sfoglia, and blueberry whip.

Osteria Lupo is located at 4609 Magazine St. osterialupo.com.

Commons Club

Commons Club, under the direction of Executive Chef Chris Borges, will offer visitors a delicious three-course brunch and dinner menu. The $29 per person (excluding beverage, tax, or gratuity) brunch menu will include the first course of Petite Croissant and  Pan au Chocolat with whipped butter, and house peach preserves. The second course includes a choice of Avocado Toast with sunflower seed tahini, shaved vegetable salad sprouts, and seeds on sourdough bread or Roasted Corn Salad with corn panna cotta, avocado, radish, pepitas, and little gem salad. The third course includes a choice of a Bagel Plate with heirloom tomato, whipped cream cheese, red onion, cucumber, fried capers, and dill; Fried Egg Sandwich — English muffin, bacon, cheddar cheese, fermented chili aioli, and side salad; and Gulf Shrimp and Grits — New Orleans-style BBQ shrimp, andouille, stone ground grits, corn, and Worcestershire offered from Friday to Sunday.

The dinner menu, priced at $49 per person (excluding beverage, tax, or gratuity) and available Monday to Sunday, will feature first-course options, including a choice of Tempura Romano Beans with hazelnut romesco, Urfa hot honey, and pickled peppers; Corn Panna Cotta — roasted ‘elote’ corn, avocado, radish pepitas, and little gem salad; and Grilled Peaches with duck rillette, focaccia, chervil, and truffle balsamic. The second course includes a choice of Pork Porterhouse with stewed okra, hominy, and tasso ham cherry pepper ragout; Braised Lamb Shank ‘Grillades’ with rice grits, peas, watercress, and zucchini masala cilantro yogurt; and Spaghetti au Tournesol with artichoke, basil, zucchini, cherry tomato, sunflower tahini, and Panna grata. Relish in the dessert options, including the choice of Cheesecake Mousse with blackberry curd, plums, and crumble; and Apricot Bread Pudding with hibiscus syrup, saffron, ginger, cardamom, and cream cheese.

Commons Club is located in the lobby of Virgin Hotels New Orleans at 550 Baronne St. virginhotels.com/the-commons-club.

Costera

The wildly-popular coastal Spanish restaurant and bar in Uptown New Orleans will offer a three-course tasting menu for $55 per person (served family-style, full table participation required) from Wednesday to Sunday. The menu (sample menu) includes citrus and vermouth Marinated Olives; griddled sourdough with Boquerones and green olives; beef shank and potato Bombas with aioli and pickled chilies; blistered Shishito Peppers with arbequina and maldon; and Crudo with grapefruit ginger vinaigrette, cucumber, pickled Fresnos, and mint. Second course options include Gambas Al Ajillo with oregano, lemon, and sherry; Roasted Heirloom Carrots with olive oil yogurt, spiced cauliflower, and pistachio romesco; seared Yellowfin Tuna with pistachio romesco and shaved fennel;  24oz boneless Ribeye with charred onion salsa verde; and  Papas Bravas with aioli and piquillo pepper puree. End your meal with Chef’s Selection of Desserts. The restaurant will also offer its four-course tasting menu for $65 per person. The quantity and variety of dishes will vary based on party size.

Costera is located at 4938 Prytania St. costerarestaurant.com

Gris-Gris

Gris-Gris on Magazine Street has announced its 2024 COOLinary menu – a three-course menu for $55 available at dinner only.

FIRST COURSE (Select One):

·         BLUE CRAB STUFFED CREOLE TOMATO: Green Remoulade, Fried Saltines

·         CHICKEN & ANDOUILLE GUMBO: Paroisse de Vermillion-Inspired Gumbo with Louisiana Popcorn Rice

SECOND COURSE (Select One):

·         REDFISH MEUNIERE: Fingerling Potatoes, Artichokes, Arugula & Tomato Salad

·         CHARGRILLED LAMB CHOP: Almond Rice Pilaf, Mint Chimichurri

THIRD COURSE

·         CHOCOLATE MOUSSE PIE: Strawberry Coulis, Whipped Cream

Gris-Gris is located at 1800 Magazine St. grisgrisnola.com

King Brasserie

King Brasserie at Kimpton Hotel Fontenot is participating in COOLinary this year with a dinner and lunch menu. King’s COOLinary menu includes dishes from the restaurant’s newly launched Tour d’Azur summer tasting menu, which is currently focused on the Basque region and aligns seasonally with what’s available and delicious during the summer months in Louisiana. Each course also features an optional wine or non-alcoholic cocktail pairing for an additional price.

COOLINARY DINNER MENU | offered Monday-Sunday – $42

First Course, Choice of:

Arugula & Anchovy with Ossau-Iraty cheese, garlic breadcrumbs, lemon-caper dressing

Or, Gazpacho with Louisiana blue crab, gold tomato, cucumber, jalapeno

Second Course, Choice of:

Gulf Fish with Covey Rise Farms butter beans, sweet pepper & Creole tomato stew

Or, Seared Scallops with chorizo & potato croquette, grilled corn velouté

Or, Steak Frites (+$12) with a 12oz grass-fed New York strip and pink peppercorn au poivre

Third Course, Choice of:

Sweet Corn Créme Brûlé with blueberry, basile, mint, yuzu

Or, Basque Cheesecake with stone fruit compote, pistachio, honey

COOLINARY LUNCH MENU | offered Monday-Sunday – $28

First Course, Choice of:

Arugula & Anchovy with Ossau-Iraty cheese, garlic breadcrumbs, lemon-caper dressing

Or, Gazpacho with Louisiana blue crab, gold tomato, cucumber, jalapeno

Second Course, Choice of:

Gulf Fish with Covey Rise Farms butter beans, sweet pepper & Creole tomato stew

Or, Seared Scallops with chorizo & potato croquette, grilled corn velouté

Or, Steak Frites (+$12) with a 12oz grass-fed New York strip and pink peppercorn au poivre

King Brasserie is located at 501 Tchoupatoulas St.  kingbrasserieandbar.com

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