New Orleans is one of the most exciting dining destinations in the United States, long known for its vibrant food scene where Cajun, Creole and Southern traditions blend with global influences. As the city approaches the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina in 2025, it’s no surprise that women who embody resilience and creativity are at the forefront of a culinary renaissance, transforming the city’s food culture into one of inclusive, accessible continuity and storytelling.
Here, three leading women share their perspectives on the Big Easy dining scene and why they see food as a powerful bond—connecting people to the land, to each other, and to the rich and layered history of New Orleans.
Mosquito Banquet Club
“The seasons on the bayou are not necessarily summer, fall, winter or spring. They are marked by nature, tradition and unique emotions,” James Beard Award-winning chef Melissa Martin writes in her new book, The Bayou: Enjoying the Four Seasons of Cajun Life. The book combines recipes and articles highlighting Cajun cooking with Melissa’s captivating life story, while also drawing attention to Louisiana’s rapidly eroding coastline. “The estuary is the artery of Cajun life. As the land disappears, so does our way of life,” she explains. “Cooking these recipes is my way of preserving this tradition.”
Mosquito Supper Club, the restaurant they opened in a double shotgun-frame house in Uptown in 2014, embodies that philosophy. The menu includes staples from Melissa’s childhood in Chauvin, Louisiana, such as delicate soft-shell shrimp, jambalaya, seafood bisque and classic oyster soup, as well as elegant options like oysters with caviar, shrimp and watermelon salad dishes. Autumn here is especially magical, with the restaurant’s menus changing with the seasons and the food becoming richer as the temperatures cool. While the menu continues to evolve, 99 percent of the ingredients are locally sourced, honoring the generous gifts of the shrimp, oyster fishermen, crabbers and farmers that define southern Louisiana cuisine.
Raniap Bakery
Former professional dancer turned pastry chef Caitlin Guerin describes opening her bakery as a true homecoming. After honing her craft in top kitchens across the U.S. and abroad, she returned to New Orleans and opened her pastry pop-up shop right before the pandemic struck. Reflecting on her own path, Caitlin said, “As Edna Lewis said, ‘All roads of self-discovery lead back home.’”
Her creations beautifully pay homage to the African diaspora and Southern cuisine, showcasing local ingredients through a seasonal lens. “I think pastry is a form of storytelling,” she said. Caitlin’s new Center City brick-and-mortar features her famous sweet and savory creations, made with local, seasonal ingredients, and top-notch coffee service. There’s a focus on sustainability and local sourcing, from croissants filled with locally made sausage from fourth-generation Creole sausage maker Vau Cresson, to cornmeal cakes drizzled with honey butter. “Every ingredient has a story,” she said. From the flour milled by the women at Carolina Mill to the honey drizzled on our cornmeal cakes — it’s all about connection.” Be sure to try Piety & Desire’s Pain au Chocolat, a fruity and delicious Tanzanian chocolate bar.
wild area
Wild Terrains, a small group travel company for women specializing in itineraries that provide transformational experiences for female entrepreneurs, recently launched its first domestic trip, a four-day, three-night girls’ trip to NOLA. “It was important to me to design an experience that not only celebrates Louisiana’s rich culture but also connects travelers with the women who are the backbone of this complex and vibrant city, and what better way than with food?” said Lauren Bates, Wild Terrains’ founder, whose family is from Louisiana. The itinerary is filled with unique experiences, from an evening cruise on a small fishing boat through the waterways of Louisiana’s delicate coastline to a bayou dinner. If booking a room at the Mosquito Supper Club is difficult, imagine sitting down to a soulful, private feast, crafted by Melissa and inspired by her mother’s recipes, featuring shrimp okra gumbo, crispy fried soft-shell crab, and blackberry dumplings; This night embodies what it means to share good food in South Louisiana: It’s about bayou life, its delicate ecosystem, its rich Cajun cuisine and the close-knit community that thrives here.
Wild Terrains chose Lauren AK Darnell, executive director of the Made in New Orleans (MiNO) Foundation, to lead the tour. “We shine a spotlight on women who are not only excelling in their fields but actively shaping the cultural landscape of New Orleans,” Darnell said. “They are innovators in food, art and design, pioneers who embody the spirit of this city.” This new role is a perfect fit for Darnell, who is at the forefront of promoting equity in the hospitality industry and providing career opportunities through her consulting company, Porch and Okra, and her role at MiNO, provide development, guidance and resources to BIPOC professionals in New Orleans. “In the hotel industry that preserves our diverse culture, the most marginalized are those who work behind the scenes. It’s my personal mission to change that,” Darnell said, “from my family’s history, living through hurricanes to my own experiences in these areas.” From my mother becoming the first Black Lobster Queen to my father working as a civil servant lawyer, they taught me the importance of justice and helping others.”
Together, these women represent a new wave of fashion leaders and leaders in New Orleans—those rooted in tradition, but not afraid of innovation. Their work tells the story of their lives, their communities, and their deep connections to a city that continues to inspire dreamers, artists, chefs, and creators despite the challenges it faces. Whether you love classic Cajun cuisine, creative pastries, or a mix of international and local flavors, these are the women-owned or operated places to visit.
Bakery and Coffee
Ayu Bakery
Start your day with a stroll through the French Quarter, then head to Ayu Bakery in the heart of the Marigny. Co-owners Kelly Jacques and Samantha Weiss have combined their love of New Orleans staples like waffles and pudding with Southeast Asian flavors inspired by Kelly’s heritage in pastry artistry. The stylish open kitchen lets you watch them make jalapeño cornbread cookies, croissants, kaya bread, and waffle breadsticks.
Dough Moon Bagels
New Orleans isn’t exactly known for its bagels, but Flour Moon Bagel founder Brain Kostic is changing that perception. The bakery offers hand-rolled, pot-cooked bagels that are crisp and chewy on the outside and soft on the inside, fresh takes on classics using locally sourced toppings and spreads like sweet herb pimento cheese and Acme white fish salad, and an extensive menu of pies.
Dyke Baking Company Limited
Christina Balzebre founded Levy Baking Company inside the Mosquito Supper Club. Pop-up shops are a common way to test new concepts and are flourishing in New Orleans, you can build a community and then immediately move into a physical location; the city’s cohesive, collaborative community encourages experimentation. Christina has gained a loyal following for her naturally leavened breads and artisanal pastries, including standout products like chocolate babka and seasonal, delicious open-faced croissants. The focus here is on sustainability and working with local farms and female millers to obtain the highest quality ingredients.
Mojo Cafe
Mojo has become an important part of New Orleans’ third wave of coffee, drawing locals and tourists alike to its three locations. The Lower Garden area on Magazine Street is especially popular.
Where to drink
choose
This bar and restaurant was founded by sommelier Skye Latorre, who has over 20 years of experience and a passion for wines from small, ethical producers. Pluck’s focus is on connecting guests with wines that inspire curiosity and emotion while remaining accessible and entertaining. The menu is carefully designed to complement the wines.
Patron Saints and Sacred Pizza
A perfect blend of cozy bar and East Coast-style pizzeria, neighboring Patron St. (a wine shop and bar) and Saint Pizza (a pizzeria and bistro) offer natural wines and a carefully crafted menu of sourdough pizzas and red sauce classics. Pair Saint Pizza’s tomato pie or pepperoni slice with Patron St.’s thoughtful wine list, which features small, low-intervention producers from around the world.
very very good wine
Founded by Miriam Matasar and her husband Darin Ylisto, Very Very Nice Wine is a welcoming neighborhood wine shop and wine bar located near Magazine Street. The bar specializes in natural wines as well as a curated premium snack menu including specialty cheeses, charcuterie, house-made olives, and signature duck fat popcorn. The space also hosts Tuesday night pop-up restaurants serving everything from dim sum to chef-ordered sushi.
where to eat
Akamaya
Renowned New Orleans chef Ana Castro opened her first solo restaurant, Acamaya, this summer in collaboration with her sister Lydia Castro. The cuisine is a vibrant exploration of sister traditions, including Mexican mariscos, the Spanish word for seafood or shellfish. Located in the Bywater neighborhood, the restaurant’s cheerful atmosphere matches the menu. Think fresh seafood prepared in innovative ways; seabass ceviche, vibrant green shrimp adobo, octopus with walnut salsa, fish tortilla and carne asada, arroz negro, costela and thorpes.
Compère Lapin and Bywater American Bistro
James Beard Award-winning chef Nina Compton’s two restaurants offer different styles of New Orleans cuisine. At Compère Lapin, Compton blends Caribbean flavors with French techniques and Louisiana culinary traditions to create dishes that are as vibrant as they are delicious. Bywater American Bistro offers a more casual experience with a menu focused on local ingredients and creative interpretations of American cuisine.
Dukey Chase
Founded in 1941 by the legendary Leah Chase, known as the “Queen of Creole Cuisine,” Dooky Chase’s is a culinary institution as well as a cultural one. This iconic restaurant is more than just a place for good food; it was a hub of social change, bringing together Thurgood Marshall, Oretha Castle Haley and Martin Luther King, Jr. and other civil rights leaders. Try the Shrimp Clemenceau, a succulent Creole dish with roasted shrimp, peas, mushrooms and crispy potatoes, served with red beans and rice; finish your meal with their famous bread pudding or sweet potato pie.
Elizabeth Street Café
This vibrant, bright café, located in the courtyard of the chic Hotel St. Vincent, serves a unique blend of French and Vietnamese cuisine, from steamy bowls of pho to banh mi sandwiches, as well as fresh pastries and a great coffee.
Mr.Mao
Chef Sophina Uong’s Tropical Inn restaurant serves cuisine focused on Cambodian, Indian and other Asian flavors while drawing inspiration from Southern cooking techniques. The restaurant’s bold, fun atmosphere matches its ever-changing menu – think crispy Korean wings, chili pork, shiitake scallops, pani puri and the unique street corn elote. A culinary adventure every time, Sophina’s fearless approach to food makes her a standout in the New Orleans dining scene.
Naples Nightjar
This Neapolitan-style pizzeria is worth crossing the bridge for. Nighthawk Napoletana is run by a husband-wife team and serves authentic Italian flavors in a cozy, family-friendly atmosphere. The pizza is great, the meatballs are excellent, and for dessert, don’t forget their chocolate pudding, which is an Italian chocolate pudding topped with cocoa nibs and Calabrian peppers.
Presented
With an unwavering commitment to consistency and quality, this seafood paradise is led by Nikki Cabrera Mills, who was named one of Food & Wine magazine’s Best New Chefs of 2024 for her simple, rustic approach to seafood, renowned for wood-fired dishes that let the ingredients speak for themselves.
Queen Trine Lisa
This Trinidadian restaurant serves bold, delicious dishes that reflect the Caribbean’s vibrant culinary traditions. Chef Lisa Nelson’s slogan says it all: “Trinbagan soul food served in the Caribbean’s northernmost city,” a reference to the city’s association with islands like Cuba, Trinidad, Tobago and Haiti, which have deep historical ties. Don’t miss the BBQ grilled chicken, cocoa-breaded fish sandwiches, oxtail plates and doubles, a popular vegetarian street food consisting of curried chickpeas sandwiched between flatbread, then drizzled with cucumbers, tangy mango chutney and sweet tamarind sauce.
red Rooster
It’s impossible to come to NOLA and not get addicted to the classy snoballs. Founded over 30 years ago by Easter Merryman and now run by her daughters, this beloved family business is a nostalgic stop for those looking to cool off with their iconic frozen treats.
Helper Classes
Chef Jacqueline Blanchard’s Japanese-style izakaya combines local seafood with traditional Japanese techniques to provide an intimate dining experience. Handmade hand rolls and sashimi are the stars of the menu. Blanchard, a 10th-generation Cajun, also owns Coutellier, a knife shop specializing in handmade Japanese cutlery, a must-visit for anyone who loves to cook.
they will be
James Beard Award-winning chef Sue Zemanic’s neighborhood restaurant takes its name from zsa, which means “again” in Slovak, and is inspired by Sue’s Slovak heritage. The carefully edited menu features locally sourced seafood and changes and shifts with the seasons, always featuring fresh seafood dishes such as roasted grape scallops, blue crab lasagna, seasonal perogies, and sunflower seed crusted green harissa.
