Weekend Cheat Sheet: January 2014
Keep your resolutions intact — even while having a delicious and fun-filled weekend.
Friday
Lunch at: Owners Michael Birtel and Ben Kazenmaier are all about keeping it seasonal and fresh at City Greens on Poydras Street. Enjoy “fast food” in the form of salads, soups and wraps, including vegetarian, vegan and gluten-free options. Our pick is the Southwest salad with mixed greens, avocado, black beans, corn, blue corn chips and pepper-jack cheese, tossed in a jalapeño-lime dressing. Or, if you need some protein, try the Thai peanut shrimp wrap with boiled Gulf shrimp, cilantro, cucumbers and spinach, tossed in a Thai peanut sauce. 909 Poydras St., eatcitygreens.com
Sip at: Watching your waistline doesn’t have to dull Friday night fun. Grab a bar stool at Root in the Warehouse District, and indulge, just a little, in cocktails created with stupendous sipping in mind. Try a St. Peter’s Burro, made with Sobieski vodka, fresh peach puree, lime and house-made ginger syrup, or a Compton Classic, made with Bombay Sapphire gin, rosemary syrup and fresh grapefruit. Don’t leave without sampling Chef Phillip Lopez’s extraordinary cuisine, like his popular aloo gobi with crispy potato, roasted cauliflower, baby eggplant, toasted Indian spices and Bergamot yogurt. 200 Julia St., rootnola.com
Boogie at: Put on your dancin’ shoes, and head out to Republic New Orleans — a jumping Warehouse District nightclub on South Peters Street. Owner Matt Alleman has transformed a 19th-century warehouse (once used to store produce for the Montgomery family) into a hip club with a modern vibe. With a wide variety of entertainment — from DJ Brillz to the Big Easy Bounce Band — Republic is the perfect spot to dance like no one’s watching ’til the sun comes up. 828 S. Peters St., republicnola.com
Saturday
Shape up at: Wake up at the crack of dawn, and head out to New Orleans City Park for a session of Salire Boot Camp. Owner Nolan Ferraro is a certified personal trainer, Pilates instructor and wellness coach who has spent more than a decade dedicating his life to fitness. Ferraro opened the Salire Fitness and Pilates Studio in 2005, and, shortly after, the Salire Boot Camps. Sign up for a four-week session, or just register for a single day pass to see if you’re strong enough to survive. 4209 Magazine St., salirefitness.com
Snack at: Located near the corner of Magazine and Marengo streets, Superfood Bar offers raw and organic foods and juices that are as delicious as they are healthy. Owner Joseph Stone is dedicated to helping customers reach their nutritional goals with a holistic attitude toward diet, including offering additional supplements, like antioxidants, probiotics and live foods (such as kombucha and kefir). Try Superfood’s raw tacos (with shells made from beet, carrot and flax meal), filled with romaine, avocado, sprouts and cashew sour cream, and wash it all down with a cup of green lemonade, chock-full of celery, cucumber, apple, fresh greens and lemon juice. 4113 Magazine St., superfoodbar.wix.com/nola
Dine at: Kick up your Omega-3s, and enjoy a sushi-filled evening at Chiba on Oak Street. New Jersey native Keith Dusko has brought his sushi know-how to the Crescent City, and, for the past year, he has made Chiba one of the more popular Japanese eateries in town. Indulge in savory dishes that won’t add empty calories, like the tuna ceviche with green apple, avocado, red onion and blood orange, or a bowl of bright-green edamame served with smoked sea salt. Still hungry? Dive into bonito, squid or live orange clam, or go totally veggie with a shiitake cucumber roll. 8312 Oak St., chiba-nola.com
Sunday
Revive at: Instead of picking up your favorite cup o’ joe, revive and revitalize at D’Juice Fresh Juice and Smoothie Bar. Made with fresh ingredients (no powders), D’Juice blends wholesome juices and smoothies that make the perfect pick-me-up. Suck down some pure power with the Energy drink, containing cucumber, green apple, kale, spinach, celery, lemon and ginger, or go for a sweeter treat, like the Berry-Berry Good smoothie, made with freshly juiced beets, kale, spinach, green apple, pear and orange, blended with frozen strawberries, mangoes and blueberries. 8237 Oak St., d-juice.com
Run, bike or walk at: Breathe in the bright, cool air along the Mississippi River Trail. From The Fly at Audubon Park all the way past Kenner and through the river parishes, this paved path atop the levee stretches 22 miles and is the perfect option for folks who want to avoid traffic and busy intersections. Once you reach the Colonial Country Club in Harahan, you’ll have a wonderful view of the mighty Mississippi River, and all of the boats and barges making their journey up or down the waterway. Rest for a while on a pier across from Rivertown in Kenner, and then head back to where you parked near The Fly. mississippirivertrail.org
Dine at: After spending all week keeping your New Year’s resolutions and staying fit, reward yourself by indulging in one meal at the brand-new Felipe’s Taqueria in Mid-City. Because Felipe’s prides itself on offering fresh, quality ingredients, you won’t be falling that far off the wagon. Share a round of salsa fresca with hot, crispy tortilla chips, and don’t be afraid to sink your teeth into a Super Burrito with carnitas (slow-cooked, pulled pork), black beans, creamy guacamole and rice. It’s okay; you’ve earned it. 301 N. Peters St., felipesneworleans.com