At Home in New Orleans with Juley Le
Who: Juley Le, co-founder of Drip Affogato Bar and blogger behind lifestyle blog Upperlyne & Co.
Where: New Orleans, LA
Although she grew up just an hour outside New Orleans, in a large Vietnamese family on the bayou, Juley Le has come a long way. She is the founder of Drip Affogato Bar, a sweet shop dedicated to one of our very favorite treats; the brains behind lifestyle blog Upperlyne & Co.; and, last but not least, a new mom.
We visited her in her brand-new apartment, which she shares with her boyfriend and her son, James, to get the inside scoop (ahem).
“Affogato has been a favorite dessert of mine for a very long time,” Juley explains. Even when it wasn’t on the menu at a restaurant, she’d order ice cream with a shot of espresso and MacGyver her own.
She and her boyfriend started making their own at home and getting creative with the combinations and toppings. The “classique” — two scoops of vanilla ice cream, crushed pistachios, and sea salt — was their first invention and will always be her favorite.
A Visit with Juley Le & Her Kitchen
You just moved! Tell us about your new kitchen.
We love how the landlord renovated the apartment: the doors, baseboards, and door frames were made of repurposed wood from the previous house. The only additions were the lamp shades, and we painted the kitchen cabinets the flat charcoal color to mute some of the wood.
What’s your favorite thing about your kitchen?
I used to have the world’s smallest kitchen in my previous apartment, so the size and storage is a dream come true. I also love the natural light and how the kitchen opens up into the living room, which makes it so easy to entertain.
What’s the smartest thing about your kitchen?
Before moving in, my landlord asked if we’d like a wood shelf that she repurposed and we immediately said yes! It stores all our pretty glassware, dishes, and pots and makes a great display.
What’s the last great thing you made in your kitchen?
Probably homemade marshmallows! We used them for our seasonal peppermint hot chocolate affogato at Drip Affogato Bar and I created a s’mores bar for my girlfriends with the rest of the marshmallows.
Where do you go for Vietnamese food in New Orleans?
There’s a huge Vietnamese community here, mainly in the Eastbank and Westbank areas outside of downtown New Orleans. With that comes some amazing, authentic food!
Juley Le’s 5 Best Bites
- The banh mi sandwiches made with fresh-baked bread at Dong Phuong, a bakery and restaurant in the Versailles neighborhood.
- The vermicelli bowls and pho at Pho Cam Ly on Magazine Street.
- The ca roti, or rotisserie chicken, at Tanh Dinh.
- A traditional family meal at 9 Roses: clay pot fish, sautéed Vietnamese greens, sweet and sour soup, and salt and pepper squid.
- Our Vietnamese coffee affogato at Drip Affogato Bar!
Thank you for the visit, Juley! Find out more about Drip Affogato Bar, dedicated to the love child of ice cream and coffee.