The Unpretentious Charm of Theo's; Mizado Rising

EVERYWHERE—Brett Anderson would like to take a step back from all the pizza pretension afflicting New Orleans right now and admire Theo's, which he appreciates for its distinct lack of pretension in an age of hand-massaged cheeses and housemade meat toppings: "Theo's is not the type of pizza joint where you have to hear about the housemade fennel sausage and hand-pulled mozzarella before you can voice your desire to drink beer. (Theo's, incidentally, sells decent beer – and it's extra cheap on Monday and Tuesday.) These are the type of pizza joints where the mozzarella is shredded and blended with sharper provolone. And the staff doesn't have to check with a compliance officer in Naples in order to fulfill your request to cook a pie 'extra crisp.'" Ooo, sick burn. [NOLA.com]

MID-CITY—Hey there, pilgrim. If you haven't already had your prefatory Thanksgiving po-boy from Parkway, there's still time. The holiday sandwich of turkey, cranberry sauce, gravy and stuffing on Leidenheimer bread has been available every Thursday in November, and will still be on the menu Nov. 21 and Nov. 27, the Weds. before Thanksgiving. [Gambit]

FRENCH QUARTER—Chef Duke LoCicero will hold his 21st annual Foundation for Kids Gala from 7:00 pm to midnight on Dec. 6 at Cafe Giovanni. Tickets are wallet-busting $120 per person, but the evening will feature a plentitude of grappa, martinis, and wine. [NOLA.com]

MID-CITY—Ian McNulty got in on all the recent Mizado action, explaining how the Taste Buds trio of Gary Darling, Hans Limberg and Greg Reggio have helped elevated expectations for pan-Latin cuisine in New Orleans: "Mizado isn't the only place in town for new, pan-Latin cuisine. But it stands out by aiming squarely at the mainstream of the local dining scene. This is not a far-out foodie find, one-off pop-up or upscale tasting menu. Rather, it's a big, prominently-placed, moderately-priced restaurant in a city where for many "Latin dining" still conjures only Tex-Mex expectations." [The Advocate]