Riverfront Reveillon: A Taste of 1940s New Orleans

Travel back to the 1940s -- when mobile phones were restricted to Dick Tracy comics, and when America's baby boom birthed one of New Orleans' most beloved icons, Mr. Bingle. The nation was changing quickly during those post-war years, but through it all, one local tradition remained constant: the reveillon dinner.

That's the inspiration for "Riverfront Reveillon", an immersive, 1940s-themed dining experience hosted by the Culinary Arts and Entertainment Production Design departments at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA). "Riverfront Reveillon" will take place on Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6pm, with guests seated on the stage of NOCCA's Lupin Hall, at 2800 Chartres Street, New Orleans. The entire four-course meal, including hors d'oeuvres and wine pairings, is priced at $150, inclusive of tax and gratuity. The menu includes:

• Cocktail hour: Cajun-Inspired Hors d'oeuvres, served with Bois-Brincon Cremant de Loire Brut
• 1st course: Smoked Tomato Redfish Courtbouillon, served with Buil & Gine Rueda Nosis (2023)
• 2nd course: Slow Roasted Duck, Sweet Potato Dirty Rice, served with Weingut Dr. Heger Tuniberg Pinot Noir (2019)
• Dessert: Gateau di Syrop, Fig Leaf Ice Cream, Fresh Fig Compote

The evening begins with a cocktail hour, accompanied by an abundance of appetizers and a menu of performances to bring out the 40s flavor. Afterward, you'll step onto the stage of Lupin Hall, where NOCCA's talented Culinary Arts students will present a meticulously curated meal, with wine pairings, inspired by New Orleans holiday fare. You'll be seated banquet-style with your fellow guests to enjoy the meal and even more entertainment.

Chef Dana D'Anzi Tuohy, chair of NOCCA's Culinary Arts department, says that events like this allow students to explore their own histories: "This dinner is a love letter to New Orleans. In learning about these special holiday dishes, students have the opportunity to think about their own families and their traditions, their own ways of being with one another during special times of the year. It encourages them to think about food and how the foods we make, in turn make our community."

As for the entertainment, Blake Coheley, NOCCA's Director of Admissions who boasts a long resume in musical theater, thinks the biggest challenge will be choosing what to include. "By the 1940s, radio was well established, movies and records were everywhere, and the television was becoming a must-have in every home. We have some of the world's best music to choose from, and it's going to sound incredible. The students are so excited to share this snapshot of an era with you."

There is limited seating for this unforgettable dinner, so be sure to make your reservations early!

WHAT: "Riverfront Reveillon", an immersive 1940s holiday dining and entertainment experience presented by NOCCA students and faculty

WHEN: Friday, December 5, 2025 at 6pm

WHERE: On the stage of NOCCA's Lupin Hall, 2800 Chartres Street, New Orleans, LA 70117

WHO: Students and faculty from the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts' Culinary Arts and Entertainment Production Design Departments, with performances by students from NOCCA's performing arts departments

DRESS: Fun, festive, and 40s!

ALSO: This is an all-ages event, but guests must be 21 or older to enjoy wine with their meal. Proof of age will be required. We cannot issue refunds or make exchanges. Thank you for understanding.

The New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (better known as NOCCA) was founded in 1973 and opened its doors to students in 1974. Today, NOCCA is Louisiana’s arts conservatory for high school students, offering intensive instruction in Classical Music, Creative Writing, Culinary Arts, Dance, Drama, Entertainment Production Design, Jazz, Media Arts, Musical Theatre, Vocal Music, Visual Arts, and academics. Students come from across Louisiana, attending via full-day, afternoon, and after-school sessions. Admission to NOCCA is by audition, and there is no tuition.

The NOCCA Foundation is NOCCA’s nonprofit partner, providing supplemental funding for NOCCA and advocacy for its world-class program. Some of the Foundation’s more notable endeavors include: a Student Support Program that pays for students’ classroom supplies as well as fees associated with important summer training programs across the country; an Artists-in-Residence Program that brings more than 100 professional visiting artists into NOCCA’s classrooms each year; the capital campaign for NOCCA’s current home and expansion projects like Press Street Gardens; a wide array of arts classes for adults; and concert, gallery, and literary events for the community. The Foundation also oversees rentals of the NOCCA campus, making it available to arts organizations, individuals, corporations, and other groups.

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