Phil Minissale visited New Orleans for the first time when he was 17. An impressionable age, Phil got the bug and as the years unfolded found himself visiting the city as often as he could get here.

As a traveling songwriter, Phil made his way through New Orleans on extensive tours, either playing the Blue Nile or Neutral Ground Coffeehouse each year. In 2012, with nothing but a fierce impulsive desire, Phil stuffed his ’97 Civic Hatchback (may she RIP) with all his clothes, guitars, and potato chips. He found a place right off Napoleon & St. Charles, and not long after met an amazing community of artists, eventually befriending James Michalopoulos, owner of Celebration Distillation. Reminiscent of Old-Time Traveling Medicine Shows, Phil sells New Orleans “elixirs,” better known as Old New Orleans Rum & Gingeroo.

Phil still plays out, sharing his acoustic folk & blues music. In a first for Midnight Menu +1 Phil plays live for Ray and Margo and the delighted assortment of folks at The NOLA Brewing Tap Room. 

Phil knew Miss Right would come along sooner or later, and sooner happens to be tonight. Phil’s plus one is the delightful Leigh Wright, from Wright Solutions.