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Louisiana’s cultural heritage is often characterized by its French roots, with its common family names like “Thibodeaux" and “Hebert,” etc. And parts of the state are known for their Creole, African or even Spanish influences, like architecture in the French Quarter. But what’s less well known is the prominent Italian population residing in Southea...

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If tradition is good for anything, it’s knowing when we can break from it. Don’t listen to purists—when it comes to our food, the most fun creations are happening at the margins, shunning orthodoxy. And in New Orleans, that means futzing with our beloved seasonal dessert, the king cake. There is a growing selection of king cakes that eschew the swe...

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One of the most popular sandwiches to ever come out of New Orleans is the muffuletta. It was first served at Central Grocery, an Italian deli founded by Sicilian immigrant Salvatore Lupo in 1906. Sicilian farmers would stop by Lupo’s deli in between shifts at the French Market and juggle plates of olives, salumi, and cheese for lunch. To make it ea...

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Tara Francolini was prompted to open Francolini’s Italian Deli when she started missing the sandwiches of her New Jersey youth. The Italian sandwich shop pops up every Tuesday at The Rabbit’s Foot on Prytania Street and will soon open a brick-and-mortar on at Tchoupitoulas. Francolini was born and raised in New Jersey and, after attending school in...

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New Orleans and Siena are, in many ways, spiritual sister cities. The Palio and Carnival are both important civic rituals that bring their communities together in celebration. Just as the foundation of Mardi Gras is religious, celebrated on the day before Ash Wednesday, the same is true for the Palio, as each race is run on a feast day honoring the...

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My mother's father's father, Francesco Bruscato of Vicari Sicily, came to America twice. Once at age 18 in 1900 through Ellis Island in steerage with his 15-year-old sister, and a friend whose last name was Zagone. There were 1,300 other Sicilians on the boat pictured. He arrived in America with $4.00 to get from New York to Clarks, where his spons...

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Donations have launched our Fundraising Campaign to erect the 16' High Monument to the Sicilian Sugar Cane Harvester. Please Place Your Order Here. Sixty-Thousand Sicilians were recruited to work in Louisiana's Sugar Cane fields from 1870-1920. We have started fundraising for a 12' high monument to be placed on a 4' pedestal to honor those whose sh...

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The Honorable Robin M. Giarrusso – the Judge of Orleans Parish Civil District Court Division G – announced her intention to retire, effective May 1, 2023, following the completion of her landmark 35th year on the bench. Judge Giarrusso first took office on April 29, 1988 and served as Civil District Court’s Chief Judge from 1998-2000. She will reti...

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Ursuline Academy’s first and second graders marked the Jan. 27 feast day of their foundress, St. Angela Merici, by presenting an uplifting repertoire of songs to assisted living residents at Chateau de Notre Dame in New Orleans.  The pitch-perfect concert, performed by students in the chapel and accompanied by the youngsters’ guitar-playing music t...

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ReadersMagnet is excited to exhibit Eleanor Gaccetta’s “Generations of Good Food” at the 2023 LibLearnX: The Library Learning Experience on January 27-30, 2023, at the New Orleans Earnest N. Morial Convention Center, New Orleans, LA. “Generations of Good Food” is a compilation of nearly 200 recipes, including main dishes, bread, cakes, pies, cookie...

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