21 April 2023
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Plus, banner thieves come for Tipitina’s, Brasa is opening in Canal Place, and Sucré seeks countrywide expansion
Since graduating from pop-up to restaurant in Summer 2022, Zee’s Pizzeria has been heralded as some of the very best pizza in New Orleans. Now founder Zander White is revealing himself as a Swiftie, telling WGNO he’s offering a year’s supply of Zee’s Northeast-style pies to anyone willing to exchange their hard-fought tickets to Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour.
Like many, White says he and his wife tried and failed to get tickets to a stop on the tour earlier this year, and while the free pizza tactic is mostly an attempt to get Swift’s attention (in hopes she’ll grant the tickets herself), they are willing to part with “at least” a year of free pizza for two Swift tickets, offer valid through 2024.
Tip’s struck by regretful thieves
A surveillance video released by legendary music venue Tipitina’s this week shows two people clumsily ripping a huge banner off the side of its building in the early morning hours of Easter Sunday, before toppling to the ground under its weight and then awkwardly stuffing it into the backseat of a waiting car. According to WDSU, Tipitina’s owners said they did not file a police report but that the banner, which showed the Jazz Fest 2023 lineup of shows at the venue, was later returned.
Popular South American steakhouse to replace Morton’s
A popular South American steakhouse in Metairie is opening a location in Orleans Parish, taking over a vacant Canal Place restaurant space that used to belong to Morton’s. Brasa Churrasqueria, which is being rebranded to Brasa South American Steakhouse, is from restaurateurs Edgar Caro and Antonio Mata (also of Basin Seafood, Zocalo, and for Caro, Baru). It’s expected to open in October after a renovation of the ground-floor space in the luxury shopping and office complex, which was home to Morton’s for 20 years until it closed during the pandemic.
Sucré looks to expand to Covington and beyond
The rebranded Sucré, a stylish dessert shop originally made famous for its macarons, has its sights set on expansion: first on the Northshore, and then to markets around the country, reports the Times-Picayune/New Orleans Advocate. Owner Ayesha Motwani revived the brand in 2020, one year after all six of its stores shut down following a report that co-founder Tariq Hanna resigned over internal allegations of his sexual misconduct. Motwani, who is married to the notorious owner of the Willie’s Chicken Shack franchise, Aaron Motwani, will open a Sucré at Covington’s NorthPark development this fall.