Locals tried to keep this restaurant, which began in a comfy cottage off the St. Charles streetcar line, a secret. The young couple behind Iris learned their skills at Lilette. The chef has a talent for crisp, bright flavours, such as sautéed grouper with oven-dried ratatouille or duck breast roasted with browned  Brussels sprouts, bacon, and honey. The food is haute cuisine, but the prices were low enough that the neighbourhood’s young professionals could visit weekly. Word spread, the national media made a fuss, and Iris has recently relocated to a larger location across town in the French Quarter.