The political equivalent of a civil war in Lakeview apparently will not break out this year after all. Assistant City Attorney Joe Landry has decided not to run for judge of Traffic Court in the April 4 election and instead will run for judge of Municipal Court. That clears the way for fellow Lakeview resident Mark Shea to run as the only “Lakeview candidate” in the Traffic Court race. The irony of this development is that Landry now will run for the judgeship being vacated by Shea’s father, Judge John A. Shea, who announced last week that he will retire upon reaching the age of 75 on May 9. John Shea has served as Municipal Court judge for 30 years.

Got a flexible job? (Hell, in this economy, got no job?) Rush down to Galatoire’s tomorrow at 9:30 a.m., where, over soufflé potatoes and succulent béarnaise, culinary couple and alliterative adjectivists Tim and Nina Zagat will unveil the 2009 New Orleans guide and present awards to its category winners for best food, service and décor. The real drama: Will this be the year Popeyes (food score: 22) finally overtakes Emeril’s (food score: 25)?

Chef Samantha Castagnetti cooks solo in the kitchen of her café the Italian Barrel (430 Barracks St., 569-0198), reviewed in this week’s issue, which is a necessity given the tiny confines of the space that was once home to a smoothie shop.

But then, some of the best things to eat here require no cooking at all. Rather, they rely on a keen eye to the imported meat and cheese ordering form and a careful hand at the slicer. Some of these clutch ingredients do play key roles in Castagnetti’s cooked dishes, especially the frequent special of chicken under fontina and speck, which was the dish that made me decide to return for future meals at the Italian Barrel in the first place.

But to order the meat board (pictured above) and the cheese board (below) exclusively and work your way through them makes for a memorably delicious meal with a unique pace. This is how a full hour got away from a friend and I who met here for lunch one afternoon, casually comparing the differences between Parma proscuitto and proscuitto cotto or between spicy and mild sopressa Veneta, and likewise between the truffle-laced caciotta cheese from Tuscany and the rabiola from Trentino Alto Adige.

Both boards are highly recommended, either for a meal or for a shared nosh with a few glasses of wine at the café’s tiny, narrow tile bar.

-

Photo by Jonathan Bachman

-

In case you haven’t noticed, the Hornets are 8–1 in games that Antonio Daniels has played in since he came to New Orleans. And while he’s not putting up monster stats, he’s playing steady, efficient basketball and, more importantly, running the offense and getting his teammates the ball.

-

Oh, and he’s also doing silly trick shots (video below), which means he completely fits in with his Hornets’ teammates. 

Read the rest of this entry »

Did you miss it on the newsstands this week? Gambit Weekly is now The Gambit — take a peek to check out our new look.