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We lease an apartment above the Pythian Market in the Central Business District of New Orleans. While strolling through the Market one day, I had the pleasure of meeting Taylor Moore, owner of Grey Bird Baking Company, as she featured her beautifully created, scrumptious King Cake Macarons. I was so impressed with her passion, drive, and work ethic. I love seeing others follow their dreams and succeed in their endeavors! Check out Taylor’s statement below. Show her some love by visiting her website, following her Instagram, visiting her booth at the Pythian Market and, most importantly, purchasing some of her delicious creations. Let’s support our local entrepreneurs!

I am Taylor Moore, owner of Grey Bird Baking Co. Before starting my business eight months ago, I had the pleasure of working in the emergency department as the manager of a scribe program. Although my experiences in the hospital were invaluable, I decided to take a leap into baking – my first passion.

The name of my company was inspired by the love of birds and the color grey that my mother and I share. When thinking about the method birds use to travel (in formation), I think about the endless support I receive from my loved ones.

My company has gained attention because of our French macarons. One of my first pop-ups was at Pythian Market during Mardi Gras, where I featured Grey Bird Baking Co.’s King Cake Macaron. Now, you can find numerous flavors at our booth at Pythian Market (next to Little Fig) or other locations around the city, like Drink Beauty and One Stone Restaurant in Algiers. I cannot wait to roll out new products, like our Stuffed Snickerdoodle Cookie.

Please check out my website, www.greybirdbakingco.com, and Instagram account, @greybirdbakingco. You will be able to stay updated about new products, special news, and all that Grey Bird has to share!

Thanks,
Taylor

Celebrating its 15^th Anniversary, COOLinary New Orleans will once again take place during the entire month of August 2019.  This month-long event features a multitude of restaurants in the city, offering specially priced prix-fixe brunch, lunch, and dinner menus.  Indulge in New Orleans’ finest cuisine (Commander’s Palace, Café Degas, Gris Gris, Antoine’s, Bayona, Brigtsen’s, to name a few) at affordable prices.  Restaurants will be offering 3-course dinner menus for $39 or less, 3-course brunch menus from $39 or less, and 2 or 3-course lunch menus for $20 or less. Participating restaurants are located all over the city and surrounding areas.

We are all suffering from the excessive heat this summer! The temperature in my car was registering a whopping 100 degrees the other day! Do yourself a favor, book a room and take advantage of the incredible restaurant deals happening during the month of August.  Make reservations at several of the awesome restaurants participating in this event.  For an updated list, visit the official COOLinary website here. Keep checking back for menu updates.  We love dining in New Orleans but realize it can sometimes be quite expensive.  Here’s your chance to check out some of your bucket list restaurants! Feast like a King and Queen- spend like a Pauper!

I’m going to be honest with you, as I write this post, that unfortunately I did not inherit the “love of reading” gene my father possesses. With that being said, many of you requested information regarding the many bookstores in New Orleans and I’m bound and determined to deliver on that request!  I thought to myself, you don’t need to have a love of reading to scavenger around the city finding cool and unusual spots for you guys to visit on your next adventure in the city.  My husband, who is an avid reader, joined me on this field trip. Here’s a bit of info on 8 bookstores we encountered on our jaunt around the city. Each one has a different feel and uniqueness to it, but with the same goal in mind of offering its customers a variety of escapable page turners!! Since our focus is always on food, we’ll pair your experience with the closest “our favorite” eating establishment(s).

One of our favorites, Octavia Books offers a wide variety of titles in a clean and organized environment.  The staff is friendly and well-versed in all genres of literature and willing to answer any of your questions. This bookstore offers frequent author signings and various readings/talks, providing you the opportunity to meet the authors and other patrons with similar interests. It spoke to my happy place with the coffee station set up atop a bookshelf in the center of the store! After you’ve found that perfect book, head on over to Toast (5433 Laurel St) for a delicious breakfast/lunch from 6:30am-2pm Monday through Friday or 8am-2pm Saturday and Sunday!

Adjacent to the back gardens of St. Louis Cathedral, in the alley left of the Cathedral known as Pirate’s Alley, sits this quaint and well-adored bookstore.  It is located on the bottom floor of Faulkner House, the former home of the American writer, William Faulkner, who is known for both his poetry and his American South based novels (The Sound and the Fury, As I Lay Dying, to name a couple).  The interior of the bookstore is beautiful, with a well-organized inventory of books, including the works of its namesake. Browse around this beautiful place then walk about a block down Chartres St. to enjoy a meal, while sitting in the courtyard of Sylvain (625 Chartres St).

Located directly across the street from The Waldorf Astoria Roosevelt Hotel, Crescent City Books boasts a huge space, which is quite deceiving from the street. This is such a cool place with an extremely knowledgeable staff and a resident cat, named Isabella! It is the only ABAA (Antiquated Booksellers of America) bookstore in Louisiana and has two of their own publishing companies, Second Line Press and Crescent City Books Press. It’s known for its large selection of new and used books, prints and antique maps. A must see for the die-hard reader! Walk across the street to Domenica’s (123 Baronne St) to fill your tummy with roasted cauliflower, pasta, pizza, lasagna!!

Formerly known as Faubourg Marigny Art and Books, this bookstore was completely remodeled and reopened under new owners (David and Gretchen) in March of 2019.  Specializing in all genres of new and used books, including LGBTQ and BDSM (I’ll let you look this one up). A trade credit program is available where reimbursement is provided for gently used books to be used solely in the form of a store credit. You can find details of this program on their website. Other items available for purchase include unique candles, earrings, art, posters and other novelties. Open 12pm-12am. Grab yourself a good book and stroll down Frenchman St to find the perfect spot to begin your new literary adventure! Walk a block to Mona’s Café (504 Frenchman St), where they’re serving up delicious Middle Eastern fare.

This is an awesome bookstore, located in the Rink Shopping Center on the corner of Washington Ave. and Prytania St. It’s packed full of locally themed books, a large assortment of fiction and non-fiction titles, numerous kids’ books, a nice selection of signed books and other novelties. Their website is chocked full of information, including hours of operation, upcoming events, author discussion/signing dates and more. Check it out the next time you’re wandering around the Garden District, then head over to Magazine St for lunch—Joey K’s, La Petite Grocery, Baru, Mayas, Saba, Coquette (open for brunch/lunch Saturday and Sunday only) are just a few of our favorites!

Located in the French Quarter, not far from Jackson Square, Beckham’s has been in operation since 1967.  It’s two stories are filled with approximately 60,000 used books, covering a large variety of topics including history, law, medicine, gardening, cooking, parenting, sports, poetry and just about any other topic you’d be interested in. They also specialize in a vast collection of used classical CDs and LPs and new books with an emphasis on history, cooking, architecture, music and literature from the South. Same owners as the Librairie Book Shop located at 823 Chartres St. Make your way down Decatur St. and try the infamously delicious brisket at Tujague’s (823 Decatur St) or the “original” muffuletta sandwich at Central Grocery (923 Decatur St).

This is a progressive and everything nerdy bookshop!  Tubby and Coo’s is named after the owner’s grandparents.  They specialize in new and used science fiction, fantasy, graphic novels, and children’s books. Board games are a big deal at this establishment. They offer 24/7 gaming tables, where patrons can choose a game from the gaming library and play to their hearts desire. Their motto is “it’s all geek to me!” They’ve recently established their own publishing company, which assists independent authors in getting their works published in a more lucrative environment. Sounds pretty cool and a win-win situation for all involved! Grab yourself a quirky book and head down the street to The Bean Gallery, a popular Mid-City coffee shop, serving delicious coffee and various yummies!!

Blue Cypress is locally owned and operated, showcasing a large selection of fiction, non-fiction, children, new and used books. If you’re wanting to learn a bit about Louisiana history, stop by this quaint little bookstore.  They buy, sell and trade so you can’t go wrong!  The staff is friendly and engaging, with extensive knowledge to assist you in your hunt for the prefect read. Book Club meetings are hosted every third Wednesday of the month at 6pm. What a great way to meet others with the same interests. Once again, the resident cat will greet you at the door. While you’re in the area, visit one of the following to satisfy your taste buds:  Jacques-Imo’s (8324 Oak St), DTB (8201 Oak St), Cowbell (8801 Oak St), or Breads on Oak (8640 Oak St).