Rebecca Friedman

Professional writer, semi-professional eater, amateur baker. New Orleans native and resident. Seeker of stories that explore the flavor and fabric of this intoxicating city.

New Orleans Homes •

Potting Paradise

As spring draws us outdoors, avid gardeners — and those who just like playing in the dirt — will want their trowels and topsoil at the ready. We turned to Dr. Joe W. Willis, horticulture agent with LSU AgCenter, for some ideas on creating a potting shed space that’s both tranquil and functional. No space for a potting shed? Repurpose an exterior wall! 1. Electricity and easy access to water are highly recommended. Good lighting allows you to work early mornings and late nights, and it also ena
St. Charles Avenue Magazine •

Rachael DePauw: Finding Her Way with Clay

In her junior year at Tulane, Rachael DePauw had finished the requirements for a degree in political economy. She decided to take a pottery elective – and Cupid’s clay arrow struck. “I was obsessed,” said DePauw. “It was a compulsion. You couldn’t have told me to do anything else.” The pivot to potting was a departure, but DePauw approached her ceramic art with keen business sense. The Tulane alumna found early inspiration in the rich history and tradition of Newcomb pottery, developing a uniqu
New Orleans Bride •

Strike a Chord

Great tunes — or musical misfires — can make a wedding unforgettable. We asked local industry experts how to ensure your wedding begins and ends on a high note. When it comes to ceremonies, music can set the stage for magical moments. Depending on the couple, that might mean a string trio and Pachelbel’s “Canon in D” or a DJ playing the “Star Wars” theme. Anything goes these days — it just needs to be done well. According to Chris Jones, manager of popular wedding venue Felicity Church, most c
New Orleans Magazine •

Eat Like A Pro

Chefs are a lot like the rest of us. They don’t feel much like cooking after a long day at work. They know the pain of preparing separate dinners for partners and picky kids. And when they go out, they just want to relax and enjoy a good meal. There are differences, of course – like being expected to bring foie gras to the potluck or stock the pantry with one’s own commercial spice blend. But they share one thing with most New Orleanians: they love talking about what to eat, where to eat it and
Acadiana Profile •

Rare Vintage

Lauren Granger has always gravitated toward “old things.” But the former registered dietitian never imagined that her personal home renovation would lead to a new career in design, allowing her to share her love of midcentury and vintage items with others. After the birth of their first child, Granger and her husband Dustin found themselves outgrowing their small Lake Charles home – and its single bathtub. Granger would drive around during the baby’s daily naps scouting houses for sale. One day
New Orleans Magazine •

Alfresco Fresh

New Orleans has long enjoyed a tradition of outdoor dining, from crawfish-laden picnic tables to candlelit courtyards. Over the past year, many restaurants have responded to COVID-19 concerns by adding, expanding or beautifying outside seating to give patrons and staff extra breathing room. As we settle into spring, there’s no better time to sample the abundant alfresco options in neighborhoods across the city. This list represents just a fraction of places where the outdoor ambience might cure
New Orleans Magazine •

Food Lovers Guide

New Orleans is a food town, with a dedicated population that holds on tightly to old favorite haunts, while embracing and celebrating new traditions and new faces. For our annual December list of restaurant, food and drink “bests,” our team of writers, plus our editorial staff, had the difficult task of honoring some of our favorites, a job made even more challenging with the effects of COVID-19 on the dining scene. Restaurateurs, bar owners, caterers, hospitality workers and more have all faced
Biz New Orleans •

A Sweet Success Story

While 2020 has rained economic hardship on many small and family-owned businesses, it has created unexpected opportunity for others. Some of these organizations, like grocery retailers, have found themselves in the right industry at the right time. Others have pivoted toward new strategies that enabled them to not only survive the pandemic but flourish. One of these fortunate businesses is family-owned New Orleans Beverage Group, which owns the popular El Guapo line of cocktail bitters and syru
New Orleans Magazine •

Rise and Shine

In a town where boozy brunches tend to hog the morning spotlight, breakfast often gets short-stacked. That focus is shifting, however, as a growing number of restaurants around town pay closer attention to the first meal of the day. Whether your idea of morning glory is poached eggs on a white tablecloth or hash browns in a vinyl booth, we’ve got you covered. From buttery biscuits to tasty tacos to veggie-packed vegan scrambles, it’s breakfast time in New Orleans. Stein’s is a cult favorite no
Gambit •

Will Louisiana’s restaurant workers ever see a higher minimum wage?

Nearly half the states in the country will see a rise in their minimum wage in 2020, but Louisiana will not be among them. Unlike the 24 states implementing various increases, Louisiana’s minimum wage remains fixed at the federal minimum of $7.25 per hour, where it has been since 2009. Gov. John Bel Edwards campaigned on a platform to raise the state’s minimum wage, but his efforts, including a push last May to send the issue directly to Louisiana voters, have fallen short. The legislature begi
Biz New Orleans •

Making a House a Home

The Sazerac, an iconic New Orleans cocktail, is about to occupy a brand-new (yet well-aged) stage. On October 2, a historic site at the intersection of Magazine and Canal Streets opens to the public as the Sazerac House. The newly renovated 48,000-square-foot building (which dates to the 1860s) will bring something unique to the local landscape: a combined beverage museum, event space and fully functioning distillery. The space features hands-on exhibits and experiences designed to educate vis