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18
ADORE
•
FALL 2017
C
oquette, housed in an elegant two-story townhouse on
Magazine Street in the Garden District, is the kind
of restaurant that true foodies love. The menu is not
pretentious, the dishes innovative with perfect execution, and the
high beam is on the ingredients. In a city known for fantastic
food, partners Kristen Essig and Michael Stolzfus have gained a
loyal following for what they call a food journey. The imaginative
menu, which changes several times a week, is fully inspired
by locally sourced and seasonal farm-fresh products. It's an
ambitious approach for sure, but one that keeps the chefs on their
seriously creative toes and delivers quite a food adventure
for diners. With a spectacular wine list, impeccable service,
and many off-menu nights, it is easy to see why both locals
and visitors alike place their trust in these capable hands.
The setting is casual with an authentic New Orleans
vibe. Beautiful wood floors, walls of old brick, a pressed
tin ceiling, and a chandelier or two deliver just the right
amount of old school bling. The gleaming bar seats fourteen
and many regulars consider that to be the best perch in the
Coquette
changing the paradigm in contemporary southern cuisine
By Katy Danos | Photos by james gaffney