NOLA Cook's Stores? Vintage/Antique Cookware?

[kaleokahu]

Hi. Y'all:

I'll be visiting New Orleans at the first of the year, and *in addition* to the food itself, I'll be shopping for equipment. New is fine, but frankly I'm most interested in gear that's already got 50-100 years going for it. Are there any specialty antique shops, or dealers who share my weakness?

I'd Be Much Obliged,
Aloha,
Kaleo

[BerkeleySQ]

Try Lucullus :http://www.lucullusantiques.com/

[kaleokahu]

Hi, BerkeleySQ:

Thank you very much. This is exactly the sort of place I was hoping to find. I note from their website that they have two locations. Which--or both--do you recommend?

Thank You So Much,
Aloha,
Kaleo

[uptownlibrarian]

There's only one location in New Orleans as far as I know, on Chartres Street in the French Quarter. Note also that it's *very* expensive, even by French Quarter antique store standards.

[kaleokahu]

Thanks, uptownlibrarian:

Yes, I would have guessed they're $$$. Can you recommend any other places, in the FQ or elsewhere?

Thanks, Kaleo

[uptownlibrarian]

I don't know of any cookware places, but you might enjoy a visit to Kitchen Witch, a fantastic new and used cookbook store in the French Quarter. They have TONS of great old books, and a good selection of new New Orleans stuff.

-----
Kitchen Witch
631 Toulouse St, New Orleans, LA 70130

[kaleokahu]

*Very* nice tip. Mahalo nui loa!

Kaleo

[midcity]

+1 on Kitchen Witch. It sounds like a must for you. A wonderful place run by very nice people. They would also be a great reference for places to find kitchen equipment.

[kaleokahu]

Hi, midcity:

Brilliant suggestion to ask *them*. I'm looking for real, using stuff, not froufrou wallhangers, of whatever period. I have 19th, 20th and 21st Century stoves, so it's all good.

Mahalo,
Kaleo

[savory south]

What are you looking for....truly old pieces 100+ that primarily would be used for visuals or interior design or things you could actually cook, serve, drink/eat from in that are post WWII?

[kaleokahu]

Hi, savory:

Well,...both...or neither...

I don't have wallhangers for wallahangers' sake. Everything I buy is for use, but my copper gets stored in sight, so I guess it's for decoration.

I don't particularly care about age, it's just that IMO the best is sometimes pre-WW1 or even earlier. Post WW2 works, too, if it's good stuff (Wagnerware, Magnalite, Guardian, etc.).

Thanks,
Kaleo

[kaleokahu]

I'll be in NOLA next week. Any updates or further pointers?

Thanks!

[goodeatsgal]

Hi Kaleo, I assume you're back from your New Orleans trip? Any good finds you'd like to share? I'm going there in a couple of weeks.

Thanks!

[kaleokahu]

Hi, goodeatsgal:

Yes, back after a great trip. Kitchen Witch is a good place for books, though I confess several other "regular" bookstores in the Quarter have deeper and wider cookbook offerings. KW's owners are very nice people, and they have some vintage cookware that I would call more kitschy than vintage.

Then there's Lucullus, which has a large volume of truly vintage and antique kitchen equipment, including a fair amount of copperware. They are an antique shop, and a nice one, which unfortunately doesn't translate into bargains. The sense I got there was that they were happy if you bought something, but just as happy to keep looking at their merchandise.

There is a smattering of copperware in other FQ antique places, but no troves, and I didn't find any truly outstanding pieces.

The coolest place I found was actually an architectural salvage business called Ricca's. It's outside the Quarter about a mile. They have accumulated some very cool stuff over 60 years and three generations of family ownership. I got a great deal there on some gorgeous antique brass lavatory faucets and a massive door knocker. Their selection of period hinges and door hardware is mind-boggling.

Sorry I missed hearing about Loubat until reading the post below.

Aloha,
Kaleo

[uptownlibrarian]

Do you recall the names of the regular bookstores in the Quarter that had a better selection of cookbooks than Kitchen Witch?

[Big Easy]

Sorry, I sometimes neglect to check the dates on these threads. Didn't notice that it was from last year.

[FoodChic]

You're not the only one. :-)

[FoodChic]

Go to La Maison d'Absinthe on 823 Royal. Amazing collection of antique absinthe ware. The vintage pieces they have are absolutely breathtaking.

Also go to the Kitchen Witch for a large selection of new and vintage cookbooks.
http://www.kwcookbooks.com/

[BrooksNYC]

La Maison d'Absinthe closed on Royal Street in 2010, unfortunately.

However, it looks as though the collection of antique absinthe ware now has a home at the Southern Food and Beverage Museum:

http://southernfood.org/sofab/?p=2733

The Royal Street store used to sell absinthe paraphernalia. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum does not. (I have seen some very pricey antique absinthe ware at Lucullus.)

[FoodChic]

Are you sure it was 2010? It seems to me our last purchase from there was last year.
Hmmm...I'll have to dig up my receipt. Eitherway, what a loss. Such beautiful things.

[BrooksNYC]

I haven't been down in a while, so can't vouch for the closing personally, but here's a thread from the Wormwood Society:

http://wormwoodsociety.org/forums/ind...

A loss, indeed.

[FoodChic]

Well, you were right on. My receipt is April 2010 NOT April 2011.

TIme is flying by so fast it's painful to even think about.

[BrooksNYC]

Ha! Surreal, isn't it? I'm 60 now. Life is going by so fast that in the blink of an eye I'll either be 75......or outta here.

: (

[Big Easy]

Loubat Equipment has been supplying the New Orleans restaurant industry since 1875. They used to be on Decatur Street in the French Quarter but moved to their current location in Mid-City in the '80s. Still the go-to place for restaurant-quality cookware. I think they have a showroom at the Mid-City location.