The Hunt For Festive Eats

We’re missing a lot right now. Hugs, high fives, parties, and sharing meals at restaurants. As for New Orleanians, there’s one thing in particular we’re collectively grieving the loss of. The last weekend of April and first weekend in May will be quiet in our city. We’re yearning to wait in line for crawfish bread, funnel booze into an old sunscreen bottle, and listen to street bands play outside of Liuzza’s sunburnt and covered in mud. New Orleans without Jazz Fest is like a body without soul, but the good times must roll.

Thankfully, WWOZ pivoted to provide us with their “Festin in Place”, live recordings of Jazz Fest’s archival performances, letting us safely get our groove on from the comfort of the front porch. Additionally, several vendors are taking advantage of pop-ups and markets to sell their coveted dishes we wait all year for--you can track down the Jazz Fest food staples using these consolidated lists by (Ian McNulty) and (NOLA Eater). 

Here at Dirty Coast, we’ve narrowed down our own Jazz Fest picks, ordered them to-go, ate them quarantine-style, and put together our favorites for you. It wasn’t easy, but somebody’s gotta do it!  

Pythian Market was our first stop for crawfish enchiladas. We ordered on their website, chose a day and time for pick up, and were notified by email when the order was ready. The Market was fairly empty except for those working there (thank you!). The pick-ups seem to be spaced out nicely, and the transaction was comfortable.

The enchiladas came 3 to an order and frozen with sauce to pour over. We baked the enchiladas for 20 minutes in the oven, then took the foil off the top to broil her a bit. They were DELICIOUS and we destroyed them. Don’t sleep on this. 

Bevi Seafood posted on their Instagram about ½ Gallons of Strawberry Lemonade which is also the perfect excuse to get boiled crawfish and shrimp. Inside the building, 6 foot spacers are marked off (we were too early and they hadn’t had the drive through set up yet). We enjoyed these on the porch in lawn chairs listening to WWOZ. It did wonders to raise our fest-missing spirits. 

Sal’s Snowballs opened on Sunday, which was exactly what we needed in this heat. The line was spaced out and moved quick, and it was worth the trip to Metairie. You don’t realize how much normalcy eating a snowball again on a Spring day brings until you do it. Do it.

 

What we are excited about this coming week:

Crawfish Bread shipped to your door (those words are definitely NSFW… or shall we say NSFWFH), smallest order is a 3 pack of loaves for $90. 

Our mouths haven’t stopped watering thinking about Cottage Catering NOLA Fest Food Pop-Up at Mahoney’s. Crawfish Monica, Crawfish Strudel, White Chocolate Bread Pudding oh my! We placed an order for crawfish strudel for pick up on Friday, but passed on the crawfish Monica because when you have access to Mimaw's homemade crawfish pasta you don't pass that up, no one cooks better crawfish pasta then someone’s Mimaw. 

Ajun Cajun’s restaurant on Oak Street is open for takeout during the week. We will be calling in our order for a Soft Shell Crab Poboy ASAP, no doubt. You are able to order off the full menu, which includes other Jazz Fest favorites like shrimp yakisoba, the garlic beef ribeye po-boy, and cucumber seaweed salad. 

Patton’s is taking preorders for combo plates; one crawfish sack, one oyster patty, and 3 crawfish beignets. We are going to Slidell for it, and yes it is worth it. We emailed JazzFestToGo2020@pattons.com an order for 2 plates, and got a friendly “you got it!” reply 24 hours later.  The pre-order doesn’t mean you skip the drive up line, though. You pay upon pick-up. We. Are. Pumped.

Prejean’s is known at Jazz Fest for their pheasant, quail and andouille gumbo and Crawfish Enchiladas. Both are available at Pythian Market. Although they were sold out of Gumbo last week, but we are definitely trying again. We can’t justify driving 2 hours to Lafayette just for gumbo yet, but have we thought about it? Several times.

Loretta’s Authentic Pralines - Praline stuffed beignet, crabmeat beignet, pralines and more! Open on Fridays for pickup in the Marigny. 

Canseco’s Markets - Nothing says Jazz Fest tradition like a Cuban sandwich from Canseco's! Order ahead for pick up.

GoNOLA Recipes At Home: Jazz Fest Mango Freeze: A DIY for a classic Jazz Fest treat!

What else have you found out there in the wild? What are you cooking at home? Did Mimaw make crawfish pasta and will you bring us some? Seriously, bring us some.