This edition of Louisiana Eats takes a look back at the year that was 2021 – its challenges and its losses. Many restaurants and bars have closed their doors in the last two years, but when JoAnn Clevenger announced that New Orleans' beloved Upperline Restaurant would not reopen after initially closing due to the pandemic in March 2020, the entire city reeled with the news. We revisit our conversation with JoAnn from 2016.

The future of the English Tea Room & Eatery in Covington seemed in doubt when news broke of owner Tim Lantrip's accident. Hit by a truck while crossing Boston Street in October, for a while it was uncertain if he would recover. Fortunately, his wife Jan, who has also been his business partner for the last 20 years, reports he's making progress every day in his recovery while she and the devoted employees keep the fires burning at the English Tea Room. We revisit a lovely tea we enjoyed with the Lantrips in spring 2021 to remind us all what an important piece of the Northshore their tea room is.

And then, we remember Daphne Derven who passed away in October of 2021. A New Orleans resident since 2009, Daphne made her mark on the city's urban farming and agriculture scene before becoming the Curator of Education at the Historic New Orleans Collection where she was instrumental in developing the new children’s education wing at their Royal Street facility.

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