| BY ANNETTE SISCO | Staff writer |
Happy Thursday, New Orleans food lovers! This week, Ian McNulty examines the mystery of why so many restaurants are closed on Mondays now. He sat down with chef Frank Brigtsen for a profile of the beloved restaurateur. Jung's Golden Dragon is closing, and Trep's in Mid-City is changing hands. A new brewery will open on Oak Street in the former restaurant Cowbell, and dozens of volunteers are busy making baklava for Greek Festival. And we remember the legendary Cajun cook Alzina Toups with three amazing shrimp recipes. Let's dig in ... 1. Blue Monday? It happened recently to Ian McNulty: With a friend in town on Monday, he found half a dozen places closed or booked up for dinner before lucking onto a restaurant that was open and still seating guests. That prompted Ian to ask why so many more restaurants are closed on Mondays now. Here's what he learned. 2. The power of food. Chef Frank Brigtsen has an urgent message for the students he's teaching at Nicholls State and at NOCCA. "I want them to know we can make a big difference in the world through the power of food. That's our medium,” he said during a quiet afternoon before service at Brigtsen’s. Read Ian McNulty's interview. 3. Wait! There's more. With its owner retiring, Jung's Golden Dragon will close after decades of serving traditional Chinese cuisine. Trep's in Mid-City will become a new restaurant called Monday, to be operated by mother-son restaurant duo Lenora Chong and Larry Morrow. Calliope Beer Works takes over Cowbell on Oak Street, while an army of volunteers bakes baklava for the 2022 Greek Festival. 4. Remembering a legend. Legendary Cajun cook Alzina Toups, who died May 2 at age 94, introduced the cuisine of her heritage to the world, one table at a time in her home in Galliano. Food writer Judy Walker recalls memorable dinners with Alzina, along with recipes for chicken and shrimp fricassee, shrimp and pasta casserole and spicy smothered shrimp. That's it for the food newsletter, but in New Orleans the food news never stops. For more, visit us at NOLA.com. Thanks for reading, and have a great weekend! -A.S. P.S. If you aren't already subscribing to this free weekly newsletter, click here to subscribe. Want to support our award-winning journalism? Check out this great deal, just $1 for six months - for local journalism that matters! Subscribe here today. How does the New Orleans business climate impact your favorite restaurant? Sign up for NOLA Business Insider to find out: nola.com/biz. | 