Louisiana Lands 2 on Southern Living’s Best New Restaurants List

(KMDL-FM) We are into that time of year when it's too hot to turn on the oven or the stove in Louisiana. Heck, for a large portion of the day, it's even too hot to cook outside. Still, in a state where culinary reputations abound from the Cajun Cuisine of Lafayette and Acadiana, to the Creole Cooking that made New Orleans famous, we are always searching for food that's good and for new places that make good food.

The Folks at Southern Living Magazine must share our quest because they, too, love good Southern cooking and they, too, like to seek out new places and offer recommendations for hungry folks like you and me. In one of their most recent articles, they have done just that with their "20 Best New Restaurants in the South".

Where Are Some Good Places to Eat in Louisiana?

The article's title in the magazine and in the online version includes the phrase "according to our editors," which seems like a CYA move from SL, but I can't blame them for not wanting to make enemies. Lord knows, in the South, criticizing someone's cooking can get you erased from a will or could force you to move out of state.

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The list of 20 establishments was selected by editors at Southern Living, and in the article, the restaurants are not listed in any particular order. But we did find two that might be of interest to you in the near term since they are Louisiana properties, and we know what we like, right?

First observation on the Southern Living article, I was disappointed to see a restaurant named Beaucoup made the list. Not because of the name, but because that very Louisiana-sounding moniker was for an eatery in Richmond, Virginia.

Second, there are a couple of places in Texas that aren't that far of a drive. If you do head to Houston or Dallas on a regular basis, you might want to check those listings out.

What Louisiana Restaurants Made Southern Living's Best New Restaurants list?

Third, both Louisiana entries on the "Best New" list from Southern Living are based in New Orleans. One features Mexican coastal cuisine, the other is more of a seafood counter where you can get things cooked or enjoy them raw. Here are the two NOLA restaurants that Southern Living thinks are among the best of the newest culinary offerings in the South.

Porgy's Seafood Market is located in Mid-City, New Orleans. It offers customers the chance to purchase fresh raw seafood for preparation at home, or you could have the culinary crew at Porgy's prepare it for you. One of the highlights of the menu is shrimp ceviche, which is light and refreshing on a hot New Orleans day. And another choice the SL editors loved was the po-boys.

What Are Some New Restaurants to Try in New Orleans?

Porgy's is located on North Carrollton Avenue in New Orleans, You can find out more about them right here.

The second NOLA restaurant to earn Southern Living accolades is Acamaya, which is located on Dauphine Street in the Bywater neighborhood. The menu at Acamaya focuses on seafood with a Mexican influence. And while the seafood is usually the star, the Southern Living editors found great favor with the Tonka Bean Flan, calling it one of the best bites on the menu.

If you'd like to see the entire Southern Living list, you can do that right here.