NOCHI

A deep dive into the New Orleans culinary scene

New Orleans food culture is unlike that of any other American city, which leads one to wonder why it took so long to establish an academic center to spread the gospel. The New Orleans Culinary & Hospitality Institute (NOCHI) opened for its premier class of full-time students in January 2019, occuping an impressive five-story, $32-million campus at the edge of the Central Business District. The state-of-the-art teaching kitchens are open to students only, but you can a feel for what’s going on by signing up for one of their frequent “enthusiast” classes — three-hour deep dives into topics such as bread dough, cheese, or the history of famed New Orleans restaurants. (Check the website for upcoming classes.) For something even less formal, swing by the ground-floor Nochi Cafe, run by Gracious Bakery, and serving breakfast, lunch and happy hour drinks and snacks.