Get ready for a taste of New Orleans this weekend, March 25-27, at the New Orleans Roadfood Festival. Combining signature dishes from New Orleans with select vendors from around the country, the festival will offer attendees the chance to try several foods as well as participate in several events. On Friday night March 25th, enjoy the Kickoff Party at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum with chefs and foodies from around the country. Saturday offers the chance to try the World’s Longest Oyster Po’ Boy, coming in at 20 feet and approximately 1,000 hot oysters. Or, perhaps you’re the contest type. Check out two giants forces of appetite square off against one another as the New Orleans Fire Department challenges the New Orleans Police Department in a Beignet Eating Contest.

The Street Festival will feature over 50 vendors from around the country. Beyond traditional New Orleans dishes, the festival will offer signature dishes from around the country. These dishes are often unavailable beyond their regions of origin, so save yourself some airfare and try them at the Festival!

You can expect to see the following New Orleans Restaurants at the event:

• Antoine’s Restaurant
• Court of Two Sisters
• Oceana Restaurant
• Pier 424
• Royal House

For more information, be sure to check out the New Orleans Roadfood Festival Facebook page for event schedules, photos, and discussions.

At long last, the season has changed and so has Broussard’s – don’t worry, the old world, European decor and classic New Orleans charm are more vibrant than ever!

With young blood, fresh ideas and a laid back attitude, Broussard’s is eagerly embracing the fresh innovation and savvy spirit of 2010.

Here’s a taste of what they’re cooking up:

Friday in the Courtyard presents

• Lunch is Served! – now serving Friday lunch 12pm-3pm. Relaxed, uncomplicated, inexpensive menu featuring the classics.
• Happy Hour! 4pm-7pm, featuring $5 Greygoose cocktails & Broussard’s house specialties like the famous Broussard’s Smile… because it’s not Happy Hour unless you’re smiling! While you’re at it, grab a bite off the Bar Menu which features tapas style snacks. It’ll definitely make Happy Hour even HAPPIER!
• Jazzed about James! – Every Friday from 7pm-10pm, famous New Orleans trumpeter, James Andrews, will be in the bar/lounge stirring up some soul with his iconic trumpet, jazzy jams and infectious knack for having fun! This tremendous entertainer will send you off singing with a skip in your swagger to the Broussard’s beat.

You’ll have to see it to believe it, so stop by and start the weekend right!

With recent news of a tomato health scare, we at NewOrleansRestaurants.com think that it’s a perfect opportunity to shed some light on our beloved Creole tomatoes.

Grown only in certain parts of southern Louisiana, Creole tomatoes are revered in a city known for good food. This tasty fruit – yes fruit – has become the basis for so many southern dishes that locals have created an event in which to celebrate it – the annual French Market Creole Tomato Festival, held every year in June.

At the festival this past weekend, people took in cooking demonstrations, tasting sessions, recipes and even got down to some local music. There were even people dressed in giant tomato costumes looming about.

As we assure you, our local tomatoes are perfectly safe to eat, we invite you to support our Louisiana farmers by cooking up some pasta, seafood stuffed tomatoes, or even some salsa. You’ll be doing a good deed, and hey, your taste buds will thank you.