4 October 2023
Suis Generis
Off-the-beaten-path food and drink opportunities provide a taste of Afghanistan, Mississippi farm experiences, and New Orleans’s very own night market
Fall is finally here, and in New Orleans, that means the return of “festing” outdoors, safely. Two of the city’s major food events, Beignet Fest and the Fried Chicken Festival, have recently taken place, with more staples like the Crescent City Blues and BBQ Festival and the Oak Street Po-Boy Festival coming up. But there are also some under-the-radar food events and festivals happening this fall — some for the first time; others that take place outside city limits — that showcase the best of the area’s food and drink scene. Here, we’re rounding up the off-the-beaten-path food events you won’t want to miss this fall.
Suis Generis
Suis Generis chef Ernest Foundas at the Tiki Farm.
Suis Generis’ Tiki Farm & Food Lab Experiences
Saturdays, October 7 — December 16
Pearlington, Mississippi
Do you love fermented foods but have been reluctant to try making them on your own? Suis Generis, the funky, eclectic restaurant in New Orleans’s Bywater neighborhood with its own farm, is here to show you the way. Suis is hosting a series of food experiences at its farm in Pearlington, Mississippi on Saturdays this fall, with topics including fermentation, zero-waste cooking, miso making, and more. Each event begins with a tour of the Tiki Farm, followed by a learning session, and ends with a six to eight-course chef dinner. Tickets for each event at the Tiki Farm & Food Lab (5167 Florida Boulevard, Pearlington, Miss.) range from $100 to $125 and can be purchased here.
A Taste of Afghanistan
October 17
Saint John
Chef Eric Cook’s French Quarter ode to contemporary Creole cooking is stepping outside of its box for A Taste of Afghanistan, an evening hosted by Home is Here NOLA. The evening, taking place Tuesday, October 17 from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m., will feature a tasting menu of dishes like khabuli palao, mantu, and borani banjan, cooked by Afghan refugee chefs who will introduce their food and share their experiences as new community members settling in New Orleans. Tickets (benefitting Home is Here NOLA) are just $35 in advance here or at the door.
Pig Tales Food Forum
November 4
The Historic New Orleans Collection
Pork is a staple of Louisiana cooking, from the sausage in red beans and rice and gumbo to cochon de lait and boudin. But it’s more than that — it’s been an ingredient essential to the region’s survival and culture. Hosted by famed food writer and historian Dr. Jessica B. Harris, The Historic New Orleans Collection’s 2023 Food Forum, Pig Tales, spotlights the history, culinary uses, and cultural place of pork, culminating with a reception of seven local chefs reinterpreting a traditional Acadiana boucherie — dishes from Vance Vaucresson of Vaucresson Sausage, Marcus Jacobs of Marjie’s Grill, Alfredo Nogueira of Cane & Table, and Quoc Trieu of Tan Dinh. Tickets for the day-long event are $100.
NOLA Nite Market
November 11
Bonnabel Boat Launch
NOLA Nite Market may not be new, but it remains one of the area’s most exciting, eclectic food festivals. It returns on Saturday, November 11 at the always-lively Bonnabel Boat Launch from 3 p.m. to 11 p.m. Initially modeled after the bustling nighttime outdoor markets common in many Asian countries, NOLA Nite Market was founded by Thuy Pham in 2019 and has only grown in popularity and profile since, gathering awesome, often under-the-radar vendors and helping preview up-and-coming pop-ups and restaurants. This year, attendees can again expect favorites like Milkfish, Kusina, Bao Mi, and Wishing Town, in addition to newcomers like Xanh NOLA, chef Anh Luu’s newish Vietnamese street food pop-up.
New Orleans Cocktail Week
November 6 — 12
There’s a new cocktail celebration coming to town, no doubt inspired to some degree but the internationally recognized Tales of the Cocktail conference and festival. The inaugural New Orleans Cocktail Week takes place the second week of November, and its main gist is to showcase the city’s top bars, restaurants, and bartenders via events and discounted specialty cocktails and pairings. Basically, a $15 Cocktail Week pass grants participants discounted $7 to 10 cocktails at participating bars and restaurants from November 6 — 12, spots like Bar Marilou, The Bower, and Couvant. Stay tuned for further details, expected to be released soon.