 | By ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Hello again, New Orleans food fans! This week, Ian McNulty maps out food options at the French Quarter Festival, which starts Thursday. We present you the winners of the Hogs for the Cause barbecue cookoff. Chelsea Shannon digs into the tradition behind the 25-cent lunch martini at Commander's Palace. St. Louis meets New Orleans at Francesca, a new pizza shop and deli in Lakeview. Ian slices into the history of the po-boy loaf, and why we call it "French bread." Finally, for a comforting meal combo, Chef Kevin Belton recommends his homemade tomato soup and a crispy, grilled ham and cheese sandwich. 1. Quarter time! The French Quarter Festival kicks off Thursday with nearly 200 musical acts — and 60-some food vendors. But what to eat? Ian McNulty is here to guide us through the delicious dilemmas of the fest. 2. Just 'Cause With $4.3 million raised for families battling pediatric brain cancer, the "cause" is the winner. But teams in the charity cookoff Hogs for the Cause at UNO last weekend were competing for prizes in a variety of categories. We have the best of the fest here. 3. Wait! There's more. The 25-cent lunch martini is a Commander's Palace tradition: Here's why. St. Louis-style pizza stars at a new shop in Lakeview called Francesca. And have you ever wondered what's so French about New Orleans French bread? Ian McNulty looked into the origin of the name. 4. Combo plate. Looking for a bowl of comfort? Try this delicious pairing of homemade tomato soup with a crispy grilled ham and cheese sandwich. Pssst: Chef does this one with the cheese on the outside AND on the inside. 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! | 
