| BY ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer Happy Thursday, New Orleans food fans! For those who like their culture with an authentic side, the new "Queen Nefertari's Egypt" exhibit at the New Orleans Museum of Art is accompanied by a menu of Egyptian food at the museum cafe. We learn the latest on the charming Popeyes drive-thru cashier who sings for her customers. Dining writer Ian McNulty reflects on the ways that restaurants have worked to ride out the pandemic, and Couvant returns downtown. And there's more! Let's dig in... 1. The queen's cuisine Does art make you hungry? The much-anticipated new exhibition at NOMA, "Queen Nefertari's Egypt," comes complete with a special menu in the museum cafe, focusing on the flavors of Egypt. Read about the local chef who brings the food of his heritage to the table in Ian McNulty's story here. 2. Three-piece harmony, spicy A Popeyes drive-thru cashier in Kenner keeps the lines moving and the customers happy with her loving, singsong patter. What's next for the beloved Ms. Cynthia? Doug MacCash visited the fast-food spot to find out. 3. Wait! There's more. Restaurants continue to bring us together, because community is what they do, Ian McNulty writes. The downtown French restaurant Couvant is finally set to reopen after a pandemic-long shutdown. See the New Orleans chefs and dining spots that are finalists for the James Beard Foundations awards. And an Uptown cottage becomes a dim sum patio. 4. Cheap dates... Your mission, should you choose to accept it: A second date on just $20. Our Where NOLA Eats Facebook members have literally hundreds of suggestions and plenty of encouragement for the member who brought this budget dilemma to the group. Chime in here. 5. And Irish greats! Irish expat Ross Muggivan trained as a chef in Limerick City, but these days he lives and cooks in Lafayette. Check out his soda bread, fish and chips and Guinness stew here. That's it for the food newsletter, but in New Orleans the food news never stops. For more, visit us at NOLA.com. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! --A.S. P.S. Want to support our award-winning journalism? Check out this great deal. Just $1 for six months — for local journalism that matters! Subscribe here today. | 