Christmas is this week, New Year's next week, then Twelfth Night, then Mardi Gras. After the city catches a collective breath and rests for a couple weeks, check out these events in February and March.
Nuit-Belge is a high-end food and beer pairing event that debuted in Nashville last year and is coming to New Orleans on February 26, 2016 at Generations Hall. Polly Watts from the Avenue Pub is assisting event organizer Rhizome Productions with beer selections and restaurants lined up to participate include Angeline, Balise, Boucherie, Cochon Butcher, NOLA by Emeril, MoPho, Milkfish, Primitivo, Purloo, Root, Shaya, and Toups Meatery.
Chefs from every restaurant will create a dish to complement the Belgian style beer assigned to them, and will serve the pairing in an intimate setting. In addition, there will be a chocolate pairing, a cheese pairing from St. James Cheese Company, and a raw oyster bar. Regular priced tickets are $129 but a limited number of tickets are available for $99 with the discount code"noladotcom"
The John Besh Foundation is adding a more casual event on the night before its signature fundraiser, Fêtes des Chefs, called Fêtes Fest. Fêtes Fest will take place at the Civic on March 18 with live music, local food vendors, and booze. Tickets are $80.
Fêtes des Chefs, in its second year, consists of chefs (including Sean Brock, Michelle Bernstein, Edward Lee, and Aarón Sánchez) cooking for dinner parties (30 people maximum per party) at private homes around the city. John Besh himself will be hosting a dinner party at his home with Gail Simmons of Top Chef. Tickets are $1000.