Now that we've got a few half-marathons under our belts, my running buddies and I have turned our attention towards February's Mardi Gras Rock & Roll Marathon. We started training a few weeks ago, which means we run at least three days a week, mixed in with some cardio and strength workouts. Due to the time constraints of the workweek, we save our long runs for Saturdays and Sundays, which means one thing: post-run brunch!

Long runs, often around 10 miles or more, leave us absolutely ravenous, so four of us have taken to trying a different restaurant every weekend, and - this is the best part! - we order whatever we want. After all, French bread stuffed with scrambled eggs, sausage gravy, American cheese and bacon is easily rationalized when you've just burned off 800 calories.

Call it a chayote, an alligator pear, a chow-chow or a mirliton, I didn’t even know this delicious fruit existed until I moved to New Orleans. It is an excellent source of amino acids and Vitamin C as well as being amazingly versatile as the base for both sweet and savory recipes.  There are hundreds of culinary concoctions that can be made from the mirliton and, luckily, I was able to try a few at the 2009 Mirliton Festival in Markey Park this weekend. Many attend the festival to hear the great local bands, visit with neighbors, browse local craft tables, but me?  I go for the food.  I knew I had to really cheat to experience the bounty at the festival, but it was well worth it.

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I’m not sure if it’s because I’m preparing to hibernate for the winter or a lack of iron, but I have been craving a nice, juicy steak lately.  Images of a thick, medium-rare filet that yields easily to a knife have been pervading my dreams and even my waking thoughts and I knew I couldn’t put it off any longer.  Although I know of many different steakhouses in the city, I asked around for a casual establishment where I could get a really incredible steak and one of my co-workers mentioned The Beef Connection in Gretna.  She had never been there herself, but her friend had raved how the filets were “like buttah” and I decided to give it a try.  This is my 15th week and my 15th cheat and I am down 43 pounds.

Everyone in New Orleans has a favorite burger joint.  A friend of mine loves the hand-formed burgers and sweet potato fries at Beachcorner Bar & Grill on Canal Street and another touts the overstuffed baked potatoes and heady Monsoons at Port of Call in the Quarter, but my burger of choice is lovingly made at GB’s Patio Bar & Grill.  Located on Maple Street on the river-side of Carrollton Avenue in the Riverbend, GB’s is an unassuming, neighborhood restaurant with a welcoming patio dining area replete with fans or space heaters, as the weather dictates and a small staff that remembers your face and treats everyone like an old friend.  John and I were in the mood for a leisurely burger in a comfortable atmosphere and GB’s always fits the bill.  I’ve been on this diet for 3 1/2 months now, I am down a grand total of 42 pounds and this is my 14th cheat.

Before the storm, my boss Jay put $40 in my hand and sent me to take out our intern (Gregg) to lunch for his last day at the office.  He was moving on to bigger and better things in Dallas, Texas.  Gregg and I grinned at each other, excited that we had more to spend at lunch than a $5 dollar meal at McDonald’s and ran out of the office clutching our cash before our boss could change his mind.  I clearly recall having a leisurely lunch and one of the best hamburgers I’ve ever eaten at Ye Olde College Inn.  Last night I decided it had been too long since my last visit.  This is my 12th week and my 12th cheat and I am down 38 pounds.

John and I argued about where our cheat would be this week, he wanted hibachi and I wanted something fried, but I came out victorious and selected to re-visit Ye Olde College Inn on Carrollton Ave.  It has been almost 6 years since I last visited this restaurant and I was ready to experience it again, although I was in for a whole new experience.

I'm a local New Orleanian, born and raised. I lived here for 17 years before I left for college, came back two out of four summers during college, and have spent over a year here now since moving back home. And yet, somehow I had never been to that legendary restaurant/spiritual dining experience on Orleans Avenue. Yes, that's right, I'm talking about Dooky Chase.

Lucky for me, I attended high school with one of Chef Leah Chase's granddaughters. We Mount Carmel girls were actually so fortunate as to have Chef Leah prepare food for us when we went on overnight retreats! Still, my memories of eating chicken cacciatore in my pjs in a cafeteria with 150 other girls pale in comparison to my dinner last night at - long last! - Dooky Chase.

Ask a local New Orleanian where to find the best roast beef po-boy in the city and you will get a slew of answers, but one particular neighborhood joint will be named again and again, Parkway Bakery & Tavern.  In the 6 years I have lived in New Orleans, Parkway Bakery has come up repeatedly as one of the best po-boy shops in town, a real original whose building has stood (serving po-boys) since the 1920’s!  Nestled in Mid-City overlooking Bayou St. John, it is difficult to stand in front of this establishment and not imagine it existing in another era.  This is my 11th week and 11th cheat and I am down 37 pounds.

Ever since John and I began this diet, he has been begging that we spend one of our cheat nights at Taco Bell.  I hemmed and hawed, whined about the delicacies to be found at so many local, non-chain restaurants and this week, I finally gave in.  In actuality, I was secretly stoked to go to Taco Bell as it is my favorite fast food restaurant and it had been so long since I had last been there. Now I had an excuse. So, without further ado, this is my 10th week and 10th cheat and I am down 37 pounds.

Goat cheese-stuffed squash blossoms. That's the only reason you really need to visit Domenica, John Besh's new restaurant in The Roosevelt, but if you're looking for more, I've got some. They are a study in alliteration: braised berlotti beans, burrata and budino.

I should start at the beginning. My dad's, my brother's and my birthday are all in the same week of September. Growing up, this meant we all shared a cake - doberge, of course - and a family party. With my brother now in Colorado, grown-up birthday week means a fancy father-daughter dinner. It's a tradition I revere even more than that coveted middle slice of doberge that's exactly half-chocolate, half-lemon.

I do love to eat, so as my birthday approaches, I find myself planning out my various birthday meals much more than conjuring up a wishlist of gifts. This year I voted to eat at Domenica; I had been looking forward to handmade pastas and authentic Italian-style pizzas since I had first read about it. We made reservations for a Tuesday at 5:45 p.m.

The Southern Food and Beverage Museum was the site selected for a Press Conference this morning to celebrate International Coffee Day and to announce the first “New Orleans Coffee Festival” this Saturday, October 3, 2009.  Located on the banks of the Mississippi River and adjacent to the Port of New Orleans, SOFAB could not have been a better location for the announcement.

Attendees were greeted by visionary and festival organizer, Linda Brewster Meffert. She went on to introduce Tommy Westfeldt, President of Westfeldt Brothers one of the oldest coffee importers in the United States. Established in 1851 and operating from New Orleans for over 153 years, Tommy Westfeldt and his family is the 6th generation to work in this family owned company.

Click here to see the full photo gallery of International Coffee Day!