| By ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Happy Thursday, New Orleans food lovers! It's time once again for our fabulous rite of spring, the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival. This year's big change — only cashless payment accepted — is being closely watched by food vendors, but fans will find other changes in the Fair Grounds food scene. Some beloved food vendors are still missing: We find out why. Pizza Poetry day is Friday, when some takeout pies come topped with cheese, sauce and a verse penned by a local kid. The James Beard awards single out a pair of New Orleans recipe books (one's for cocktails). Finally, Liz Williams wants everyone to enjoy more vegetables, plus an awesome chocolate dessert. 1. Cash-free Jazz Fest? As usual, people going to the New Orleans and Jazz Heritage Festival should bring an appetite. This year, though, they can leave the cash behind, as cards and digital payments become the coin of the realm. 2. Off the menu. Merline Herbert of the Lafayette restaurant Creole Lunch House won't be selling her distinctive Creole stuffed bread at Jazz Fest this year. Fatty's Cracklin owner Jason Lees is also sitting this one out. Ian McNulty spoke to missing food vendors about their plans for the future. 3. Wait! There's more. Resident food bard Ian McNulty is well-versed in Pizza Poetry day. Two local cookbooks are up for James Beard awards. And see which local bars and restaurants got the nod for a Food + Wine award. 4. Veggie tales! Our columnist Liz Williams of the Southern Food and Beverage Museum celebrates the bounty of spring with a creamy pasta primavera and a hearty Lebanese salad, fattoush. (For dessert, you have to try Liz's easy chocolate pot de crème.) That's it for the food newsletter, but in New Orleans, the food news never stops. Keep up with all the inside info at Where NOLA Eats. P.S.: Want to support local journalism that matters? Subscribe here. It's our best deal! | 