Buttermilk Drama; Tiki Cuisine; The Branch at Oxalis' Opens Thursday & More

SEVENTH WARD: This is a sad story, y'all. Actor, baker, and owner of Wink's Buttermilk Drop, Dwight Henry, has been accused of stealing money from the cash register at his former workplace (which many believed Henry actually owned) The Buttermilk Drop due to a dispute with a manager. Apparently there is now a warrant out for his arrest. The Advocate has also just outed Henry's previous arrest record and charges including second-degree murder. [Advocate]

CBD: The South Market District is gearing up to be the downtown food epicenter of 2015, and Ian McNulty takes a look at the restaurants--including expansions from Magasin, Booty's, and The Besh Group--and the developers driving the ambitious new food hub/mixed use building The Paramount. [Advocate]

BYWATER: Todd Price reports that Barrel Proof/Bar Tonique alum Jonathan Peterson is now IN as beverage director at Solange-fave Oxalis (3162 Dauphine), and to kick things off, Peterson and the gang will debut their new back bar The Branch this Thursday with its own separate menu. Expect "lots of dark spirits, amaros and even a few warm drinks." [NOLA.com]

FRENCH QUARTER: Todd Price also looks at the story behind Beachbum Berry's tiki mecca Latitude 29 this week. Plus gives everyone a taste of chef Chris Shortall's tiki cuisine: "Instead of using the traditional anchovies in the soy, ginger and honey dressing for the Caesar salad, he topped it with fried squid rings. The ginger and pork stuffing for dumplings gets flattened into a hamburger patty. And a Cuban sandwich is reimagined with homemade pineapple bread, cream cheese instead of Swiss, pork belly and Chisesi ham." [NOLA.com]