Mike Rogers Keeps on Shuckin', New Randazzo's, More

UPTOWN— Scott Gold interviews Casamento's award-winning oyster shucker Mike Rogers this week. Rogers on getting his start: "I grew up Uptown around Carondelet and Baronne (streets). That's where I first started learning how to shuck oysters, at Uglesich's. I was there for about 32 years — to the very last day. It was really sad those two weeks, when they were finally closing the building. But I kept on shucking, trying to get one more championship." [Gambit]

METAIRIE— Laura McKnight interviews Dorignac's Butch Steadman, who runs the famed-store's extensive spirits section. On rare items: " We have some strange liqueurs— like Slivovitz and Kruskovac from Slovenia. We have nine or 10 different cacachas from Brazil... We have some Greek Skinos, which is a strange spirit, hard to describe. Akvavit," and more. [NOLA.com]

NORTH SHORE— Will Coviello reports that Nonna Randazzo's is opening a location in Mandeville at 22022 Marshall Road: "A ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled at 10 a.m. Friday, Jan. 3, 2014, when the bakery opens for takeout service, offering a full array of pastries, breads, decorated cookies, pies, cakes and king cakes as well as custom party and wedding cakes. It also offers coffee and sodas. The Covington location serves lunch." [Gambit]

Casamento's [Photo: Nikki Mayeux]