Jamie Shannon, kitchen commander of Commander's Palace, is a face to watch, bringing a stylish edge to New Orleans cooking. Front of the house at Commander's, keep an eye on Lally Brennan, who is taking over some of the duties of Auntie Ella. Tropical Asian cuisines, a little offbeat and esoteric, entice the cutting-edge crowd. Birds of a feather spin together, with rotisserie cooking showing no sign of slowing down. Other meats are hopping on for the ride, too.
Elegance regains the reins.
Lush and lovely table settings are the proper preludes to dazzling dinners. Nuevo Latino fever infuses the drink market, with cachaca, a Brazilian liquor, creating tropical cocktails. Smoothies and fresh blended juice drinks, served from a proliferating collection of juice bars, are the New Age milkshakes. Health-conscious consumers squeeze them morning, noon and night.32. Without snobbishness or elitism, wine and food will be more carefully paired than ever.