New Orleans Black Owned: Pop Ups
Pop up’s are a cultural mainstay in New Orleans. Look around any weekend and there’s inevitably someone cooking up everything from barbecue chicken to boiled seafood on a trailer hitched to a truck on a neutral ground in the city. The best pop up’s are located in the same place every time and they sell out FAST. Since social media has taken control of our lives, there’s more range and more demand for consistency in these popups. Dee’s Exquisite is a prime example of this. They are open on St. Bernard most Thursday’s through Sunday, in a space that would be considered unassuming if it weren’t for the larger than life DEE’S EXQUISITE banner, and the line that stretches at least the three blocks down St. Bernard to Rampart street. Come here early and often for the best boiled crab you have ever had. If you disagree I will just direct you to their nearly 50,000 loyal instagram followers.
Brandi Dobney on the other hand is relying on instagram as an ordering platform for her new business Wing Woman, often heading her ordering forms with the catchy “How do I order my damn Wing’s Woman?!” Born and raised in New Orleans this girl can ADAPT. She transformed her intimate dining company into the pickup and delivery company Wing Woman in the face of COVID-19. Her specialty sauces are incredible: Pineapple Ginger and Carrot Habanero! I hear from inside sources that with every order you get a free donut as well.
The NOLA Chuck Wagon serves up seafood and New Orleans creole cuisine. Charles ‘ Big Chuck’ Jones launched his pop up in 2019. He has delivery options and pick up. Order in advance and enjoy sautéed salmon salad with lemon butter garlic sauce, T-Bone steak, shrimp, crawfish plates, crawfish and more. He usually sets up on Thursdays through Sundays on St. Claude Avenue. Make sure you catch Chuck Wagon and staff, Batterina, in New Orleans.
Erika Lassair aka ‘Chef Diva’ of Diva Dawg has been serving delicious hot dogs in her food truck for years. Lately, she has been busy with gourmet catering hot dogs. These dawgs are ‘drop it like it’s hot’ good. Ericka has been featured with Essence Festival, Vogue, Tory Burch Foundation and is featured in the book ‘Adventures in Women Entrepreneurs: Stories that Inspire’ by Robin Behrstock. Lassair has vegetarian options ranging from creole veggie dawgs, veggie chili, veggie fries and nachos. Also, homemade fries, crawfish étouffée nachos, sweet fire wings and red bean dawgs.
Pop ups are a welcome cultural phenomenon in New Orleans. Over the years, they have been gaining momentum. I am always looking forward to catching a pop up in the city. Spreading the word with social media and locals keep these pop ups growing.