A food court for foodies
St. Roch Market officially reopened April 10, 2015, after being shuttered for 10 years following Hurricane Katrina. When the original market opened in 1875, in the pre-grocery store era, St. Roch’s was a place to grab a pound of shrimp and a dozen eggs laid by yard chickens. Joining the throngs on the new market’s inaugural weekend, a 50-something woman remembered: “My mother and I came here every Saturday to get gladiolas for my grandparents’ graves—it had to be gladiolas—and produce for the week.”
St. Roch’s is not your typical urban market. The concept is upscale—some might say haute cuisine—but at affordable prices. The revitalized emporium is a bright, white and airy space featuring the building’s original columns. There are high tables and stools in the center at which to dine, converse, or take it all in.
Info
Address 2381 St. Claude Avenue, New Orleans, LA 70117, +1(504) 609-3813, www.strochmarket.com | Hours Daily 7am–11pm| Tip If you desire a more typical grocery store experience, the Rouses chain is the Louisiana-based version of Kroger or Piggly Wiggly. And Langenstein’s (1330 Arabella St), around since 1922, sells a variety of prepared foods and brands not seen anywhere else.
There are 13 food vendors lining the sides of the market, ranging from a specialty butcher to a raw oyster bar. Among the prepared-food vendors is Micah Martello, a New Orleans native, returned after several years running the King Creole food truck. His menu features items like shrimp and grits and crawfish poutine, a Cajun spin on a Canadian recipe, mixing crawfish with french fries, cheese curd, and a roast-beef gravy. The next stall, Koreole, purveys an inventive fusion of Korean and Creole cuisines. Try the “Japchalaya” (andouille sausage, vermicelli noodles, and vegetables).
Inside the front door, St. Roch Forage sells vegetables and flowers from local urban growers. You can purchase fresh groceries or sign up for a weekly produce box. In the adjoining stall, Juice NOLA uses the fruits and veggies from Forage to create unique salads and cold-pressed juices right in front of you.
Even without buying a thing, St. Roch Market is a great place to drink in the bustle of an urban marketplace—plus there’s seating front and back, out in the open air.
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