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BYBY JENNIFER KAT STROMQUIST KILBOURNE
French Twist or chef Eric LaBouchere at Martinique Bistro (5908 Magazine St., 891-8495; www.martiniquebistro. com), every plate is personal. “We’re a 100-seat restaurant — on a good day,” he says, referring to courtyard seating that is available when the weather is nice. “On a regular day, (capacity is) only 46, so it’s small enough — intimate enough — that I can really be hands-on with the food. There are only so many people out there, so we really pay attention to each plate. There are no heat lamps back here. It’s all done a la minute.” When owner Cristiano Raffignone purchased Martinique Bistro from Hubert Sandot in 2003, the menu reflected Sandot’s Franco-Caribbean heritage. Focusing on local ingredients allows LaBouchere and Raffignone to maintain the original tropical feel while making the restaurant’s aesthetic more distinctly French. The secluded Patrons enter Martinique through a high-walled courtFrench restaurant yard, which gives the restaurant a cozy, secluded vibe. showcases flavors Inside, warm lighting from sconces and dark wood accents from near and far. give the room an intimate, hushed feel. “We’re this hidden gem, and the food mimics the atmosphere,” LaBouchere says. Martinique serves traditional bistro fare like bouillabaisse and salads, along with more sophisticated entrees, including duck breast cured with Steen’s Cane Syrup and pan sauteed drum in a Champagne vinaigrette. LaBouchere gets most of his seafood from Gulf fishermen, and the produce at Martinique comes from New Orleans. The chef changes the menu seasonally and welcomes outside influencessuch as Prince Edward Island mussels and sushi-grade fish from Honolulu.
Gambit > bestofneworleans.com > JULY 13 > 2010
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SHOPPING NEWS BY BY MISSY MARY WILKINSON CROSS A portion of profits from selected products by REPAX BAGS (www.repaxbags. com) will be donated to charity. Proceeds from the sale of Confetti Pink bags go to the Susan G. Komen for the Cure foundation, while the purchase of Mango Orange bags supports the American Red Cross. In addition, the sale of Lagoon Blue bags aids the Barataria-Terrebonne National Estuary Program (BTNEP) in their fight against the oil spill crisis. Repax Bags are available at stores citywide, including THE PLANT GALLERY, CANSECO’S, THE BRASS MONKEY and LANGENSTEIN’S. COVENANT HOUSE NEW ORLEANS has launched the Marketplace at Armstrong Park. The market takes place on the corner of Rampart and St. Peter streets every Friday from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. The weekly event features more than ten vendors selling a variety of prepared meals, seafood, produce and handcrafted items. On Tuesday, July 13 from 4 p.m. to 8 p.m., RAISING CANE’S (citywide; www. raisingcanes.com) is donating 15 percent of all dinner sales to DAG’S HOUSE (5316 August Ave., Marrero, 218-7271; www. dagshouse.com), a boarding and fitness facility that provides services such as canine massage and acupuncture, swimming and fitness programs to special needs dogs and dogs recovering from surgery.