A Nola love story: In five courses

New healthy eatery Seed will offer a five course dinner menu at Compleat Stage’s Thursday visceral performance experience, A Nola Love Story. Photo: Seed Facebook

Now here’s an only-in-New Orleans item: An evening of storytelling with music, actors and delicious local food. Okay, so that’s not so unusual. But starting it at 11:30 at night, with a five-course meal served at midnight this Thursday night? That’s seriously for night owls.

And why?

“Because it’s New Orleans,” says Ed Rhinehart, accomplished chef at new Central City health restaurant Seed (1330 Prytania Street)with a laugh. “Actually, it’s the template for future shows. And also, it doesn’t impede on our normal business hours.”

A NOLA Love Story is the brain child of Raul Gomez, a violinist with the Louisiana Philharmonic Orchestra and Director of the Jackson, MS Youth Orchestra and his actress wife Ruby Lou Smith. Compleat Stage, their non-profit professional performing ensemble tells stories through innovative shows created by interdisciplinary artistic collaboration.

Seed’s one hundred percent plant-based menu is the responsibility of Chef Rhinehart. “It’s going to be traditional New Orleans fare from different seasons at different times — with a twist, of course,” he says. The word vegan is totally shunned by this former Restaurant Revolution chef. “A lot of our business is from non-vegan folk who have been brought here by their friends. It’s really just normal food.”

The storytelling part is up to Compleat Stage. “It’s kind of collaboration,” Ed says. “But they are the ones who came in with the skeleton of the idea”.

Billed as a “unique experience that will engage all your senses and imagination”, A NOLA Love Story is bringing together a string trio, special guest hip-hop artist Ra Yoseph and an ensemble of three actors to tell a love story that “will resonate with all lovers of culture and New Orleans flavor.”

Tickets are $38 per person or $60 a couple and must be purchased in advance. But better hurry, only a few spots are left for this love story in five courses from Seed.

For information and to purchase any remaining tickets, go to www.compleatstage.org