Former SoBou Bartender is Opening an Absinthe Lounge in the French Quarter

New absinthe lounge to hit the French Quarter

The former head bartender of cocktail haven SoBou at the W Hotel and the opening chef of French Quarter bistro Curio will team up to open an absinthe lounge early next year. Laura Belluci will serve as bar director and Hayley Vanvleet as executive chef of Belle Epoque, to be located behind the Old Absinthe House at 240 Bourbon Street. Menu items from Vanvleet will include a French onion pot pie, stuffed chicken wings with whipped foie gras and a trio of oysters with absinthe mignonette. Expect this to be among 2019’s most gorgeous eateries, as it’s being designed by the mind behind the interiors of cozy beauties Cavan and Longway Tavern.

Chef de cuisine of Peche opening restaurant

The current chef de cuisine of Warehouse District favorite Peche will be in the kitchen at the new restaurant opening in the soon-to-be closed La Thai space. As previously reported, the Uptown spot on Prytania will be called Costera, and will feature coastal Spanish cuisine with traditional Louisiana influences. Chef Brian Burns is opening the restaurant in partnership with another veteran of Donald Link’s restaurant group Reno De Ranieiri.

New vendors at St. Roch and Auction House Markets

St. Roch Market has a new food stall, Doily, with salads, sandwiches and sweets, replacing Bittersweet Confections, and Auction House Market will add a new Thai pop-up later this month or early 2019, according to the Gambit. Long Chim will be the first permanent locale of the pop up by May Mananya and Kirk Cohen, who have brought their Thai street food to the Catahoula Hotel, the Drifter Hotel and Courtyard Brewery.

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Two Donald Link Restaurant Vets Are Taking Over the La Thai Space in Uptown [ENOLA]

New to St. Roch, Auction House markets: Sandwiches, salads, and desserts; Thai pop-up [GAMBIT]