Valentines Schmalentines; La Cocinita Nabs a Bywater Spot

NOLA: Valentine's Day falls on the Saturday before Mardi Gras, which means it doesn't really exist this year.  Ian McNulty still has a few dining suggestions/prix fixe situations for die hards clinging to the notion of a romantic evening. [Advocate]

MID CITY: Sarah Baird reports that PETA has chosen Mid City Pizza's red beans and rice pie as one of the top 10 vegan slices in the country. It's only available on Mondays, but the vegan cheese is available daily on any pie. [Gambit]

BYWATER: Starting February 21,  one of La Cocinita's trucks will have a permanent spot at Louisa and Chartres, the former location of BaNaNa Inn Social Club. The new "mini truck lot" will pay homage to the BaNaNa Inn (opened in 1946 and now extinct) with lunch, brunch, and dinner items including "tostones, sweet plantains and banana desserts," along lots of meaty and vegetarian/vegan items. [NOLA.com]