Chef Kristen Essig shows off her new menu at Meauxbar

For New Orleanians, having a great bistro experience is pretty important. Sure, we appreciate fine dining formality and oyster bar parties too, but the idea of casual yet lovely dining with an updated menu from a great chef who is inspired by whatever inspires them that month, was meant for us, it really was.
The emergence of this in the city can surely be traced to the opening of Mr. B’s in 1979(?) or so at the corner of Iberville and Royal and that chef, Gerard Maras and Ella Brennan, owner. Gerard is one of the city’s finest chefs who is now working from his farm in Franklinton doing special events and teaching. Many trace their own great work in the city to their time with Gerard including my pal, celebrated chef Corbin Evans of Lulu’s, Lulu’s in the Garden, Savvy Gourmet and now Oxford Canteen in Mississippi who gave me an interview once about how Gerard was a true mentor to him and many others (like John Harris of Lilette, Brian Landry of Borgne, Alex Harrell of Sylvain, Aaron Burgau of Patois, Anton Schulte of Bistro Daisy, David and Torre Solazzo of Ristorante del Porto and Slade Rushing and Allison Vines-Rushing of MiLa as mentioned in a recent T-P article that traces farm to table dining to his Gerard’s Downtown after Mr. B’s.)

I mention these names, because even though Kristen arrived in New Orleans a bit later than the Mr.B’s days, she carries the same zeal and talent and would have been right there with Gerard if only she was old enough! And she can certainly be counted as a serious comer alongside those of her peers listed, all who follow the same principled and ambitious path that Gerard taught…
And because I believe that the reopening of the Meauxbar will be as important to the rebirth of the lively life on North Rampart with Essig at its helm. I wrote about her on another blog that I have and as mentioned there, I have great admiration for her style, her attention to detail and her commitment to local producers. Add to that, she is a French Quarter resident and so like her colleague (over at Stanley’s) Scott Boswell, wants to have a first-class kitchen to honor her own hood. In short, it’s just gonna be good and fun AND be a place for regular people to eat well… So count me in any time you are heading over there…
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