Author Archives: Max

You can’t keep a good city down – especially not one with such phenomenal food and drink traditions as New Orleans.

We suppose it’s a sign of progress that so many new restaurants have opened during the past year. The activity certainly shows confidence in the local economy and is also a tribute to tourism, which provides another level of patrons to fill tables. Here we present our choices of those among the new most worthy [...]

…I’d come to recognize that exposing myself to a crosswind of exhilaration and mystification was both the price and reward for fully surrendering myself to the ambition of Phillip Lopez, the restaurant’s precociously modern chef. His restaurant is many things, probably too many. But above all else it is indisputably (and admirably) unlike any restaurant New [...]

Chefs are busy finding specialty suppliers for everything from eggs to herbs these days. But Phillip Lopez foraged for something a little different before opening Root in the Warehouse District.

In these days of “local-local-local,” it takes gumption to name your restaurant, Root, particularly in New Orleans, where culinary heritage runs deep.

Max Ortiz, general manager and co-owner of Root, moves across the restaurant’s floor with the purpose and intensity of a prowling jungle cat… With 15 years of experience in the industry, Ortiz, along with noted hot chef and co-owner Philip Lopez, knows exactly what he’s doing…

While last year’s restaurant scene was dominated by pop-ups, burgers and more casual fare, 2012 is already notable for its upscale dining options. Some restaurants are helmed by ambitious young chefs making their first move, while others are extensions of already established names. And with more high-profile places slated to open soon, it’s shaping up [...]

“At Root, Chef Phillip Lopez is putting new spins on traditional Louisiana ingredients…”

Wow. After two weeks and a ridiculous number of votes, we’ve finally found out who can claim the title of the Hottest Chef in New Orleans. Our winner, rising above his sexytime rivals and claiming 55% of the vote in the final round, is Phillip Lopez, chef and owner at Root.

…[I]t’s one of those times of year when everybody can just be crazy, be somebody else. As a chef, it’s fun because we have a lot of friends from out of town coming in, and they come in basically just for Mardi Gras, pretty much saving up money for the whole year to come and [...]