 | By ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Happy holidays, New Orleans foodies! Lists are big this time of year, whether it's Santa's gift roster or New Year's resolutions. In that spirit, Ian McNulty has a list of 25 New Orleans dishes to try in 2025. And, he offers 10 places with the best Chinese food for your family's holiday traditions. Some restaurants around town already have crawfish, and we checked out a new place for candy and Japanese snacks. Wake up and weigh in on our new readers' poll of the best coffee in New Orleans. Finally, Olivia Regard shares her favorite recipe for a fragrant, dense gingerbread cake. 1. Next year's dining plan. Hope you’re hungry. Here are 25 dishes to try, snapshot style, of eating around New Orleans through Ian McNulty's busy year covering our ever-changing dining scene. 2. Hungry for the holidays? The holidays and Chinese food go together like, well, holidays and “A Christmas Story.” It's a seasonal tradition for many. Ian lines up his top spots for American-Chinese favorites. 3. Wait! There's more. Crawfish is already on the menu in some New Orleans restaurants. What's that mean for mudbugs in 2025? A couple from California is selling candy and Japanese-style snacks on Magazine Street's new Le BonBon, which they describe as a "unique, little candy-toy-party shop." And we're looking for your opinions in this very unscientific poll of readers for the best coffee in New Orleans. 4. Christmas traditions. This gingerbread cake will make your home smell like the holidays. It's quick to make, keeps well and it's a showstopper on your table. Here's the recipe for Olivia Regard's gingerbread cake. That's it for the newsletter, but in New Orleans, the food news never stops. Get the inside info every day at Where NOLA Eats. P.S.: Want to support local journalism that matters? Subscribe here. It's our best deal! | 
