Critic Brett Anderson Marvels at Maypop’s Bibb Lettuce Chaat

Brett Anderson saves everyone a little time and hard work by distilling an entire month of eating into his favorite ten dishes. They are: Maypop’s Bibb lettuce chaat with a twisty coconut and cucumber Ranch dressing and a cashew crepe; Upperline’s “dark, delicious” duck and andouille gumbo; Galatoire's sauteed speckled trout meuniere; Station 6’s sauteed red snapper on crawfish-corn maque choux; Pollos a la Brasa Fiesta’s roast chicken; Cafe Henri’s fried chicken sandwich; Central City BBQ’s beef brisket; Two Sisters in Da East’s smothered pork chops; Middendorf's thin-cut fried catfish; and for those who like to plan way ahead - Manny Randazzo King Cakes. [NOLA.COM]

Helen Freund travels to “whimsical po-boy land” at Seersucker Restaurant and Catering in Gretna, where she finds that the creative touches are well-balanced in a fried green tomato poboy with bright, caper-rich remoulade and the 3 Little Pigs poboy featuring a fiery sausage patty, bacon, and “as much sliced Black Forest ham as one would find in any East Coast deli sandwich.” She “was smitten with the onion rings, where the thinly-shaved rings are battered and fried until deliciously greasy and crispy-edged.” [GAMBIT]

Tom Fitzmorris visits Susan Spicer’s new spot, Rosedale. “The food is not only modest and homestyle, but appears to have been adapted for the palates of people from the 1940s.” His loves the “big bowl of spaghetti with a thick, flavorful red sauce, shreds of ricotta cheese and – evidence of Susan’s presence – lamb meatballs,” but is puzzled by a bowl of grits that comes with a choice of eight different toppings. T-Fitz says to get a soup (all are “terrific”), but stay away from any dish that “sounds dreary...Anything that sounds like mash atop a mash, for example.” Of note: The restaurant is in an old police station and the jail cell has been converted to a bathroom. [CITY BUSINESS]