Dakar NOLA's accolades keep piling up.

Why it matters: Chef Serigne Mbaye won a James Beard Award this week, the latest recognition for a restaurant that's become one of New Orleans' biggest culinary success stories.

The big picture: Mbaye thanked New Orleans in his acceptance speech Monday for best chef in the South, saying it's "where I finally felt free to be fully myself and where my community embraced what I had to offer."

• After the ceremony, he told us in an exclusive interview that he hopes the award shows people that "West African food has a voice that is beautiful."
• "Our people are amazing," he said. "People should cook the food that you want to cook, and I want to inspire more chefs to do that."

Zoom in: The top honor comes two weeks after he and co-owner Afua "Effie" Richardson reopened their restaurant in a bigger space Uptown.

• The restaurant's famous seven-course tasting menu is served in its dining room, which is inspired by Senegalese family tables and market mornings.
• They'll unveil a new à la carte menu next month for patio diners.

Zoom out: The awards "strengthen New Orleans' standing on the global culinary stage," writes Walt Leger III, the president and CEO of New Orleans & Co., which handles the city's tourism and marketing efforts.

• The attention helps "attract visitors from around the world, creating opportunities that benefit our entire restaurant, hospitality and cultural community," Leger said in a letter to supporters yesterday. "As the saying goes, a rising tide lifts all boats."

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Tropical Storm Arthur is expected to form today and make landfall overnight near the Texas-Louisiana state line, the National Hurricane Center says.

Why it matters: Arthur will be the first named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season.

The big picture: Tropical storm watches and warnings are in effect from Sargent, Texas, to Morgan City, Louisiana.

• The storm, currently known as Invest 90L, is expected to dump 4 to 8 inches of rain in parts of Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi, Alabama and Florida, forecasters warn.
• Some spots could get up to 12 inches through Thursday, leading to potentially life-threatening flash flooding.
• The system is expected to hug Texas' coast before moving inland. See the latest track.

Zoom in: In New Orleans metro, 2 to 3 inches of rain are likely through Saturday morning, but some areas could get up to 8 inches, the National Weather Service says.

• Baton Rouge could get up to 20 inches in a worst-case scenario. The entire region is under a flood watch.

Latest forecast

🏈 Cam Jordan signed a 1-year contract with the Saints for his 16th season. Phew. Watch his interview.

🎪 Mystery solved! A representative from locally owned Terminix NOLA says they are handling the St. Elizabeth's job, which is the company's biggest drywood fumigation project ever. (Photos)

• Owner Joe Martin told WWL the tarps had to be special ordered.

🚧 The French Quarter construction project should be finished "by late fall 2026," SWBNO says. The utility released a block-by-block update yesterday. (Press release)

⚖️ The Batture co-owners are in a legal dispute that's threatening to break up their real estate firm, Ben + Burka. (The Times-Picayune 🔒)

🤑 Get your applications in before 5pm Friday to be included in the next lottery for the Louisiana Fortify Homes Program. It gives homeowners up to $10,000 in grants to upgrade their roofs. (Details)

🚔 Louisiana state troopers have stopped enforcing vehicle inspection sticker violations. The state Legislature passed a bill that replaced the stickers with a new system that takes effect next year. (Facebook)

🏚️ New Orleans has a new task force to sort through ownership issues of blighted properties stuck in the tax-adjudication process. (WDSU)

Cash Money Records and No Limit Records are going on tour together.

Why it matters: It's a big step for the rival New Orleans record labels.

The big picture: Master P of No Limit and Birdman of Cash Money will lead the tour, according to the social media announcement.

• Boosie, Juvenile, Mannie Fresh, B.G., Silkk the Shocker, Mia X, Fiend, Mac, Mercedes, Choppa Style and Mr Serv-On will join too.
• "Two Empires. One Stage," the video promo says.

What's next: The tour kicks off Sept. 11 in Houston and then comes to the Smoothie King Center the next day.

• Tickets go on sale today. The presale code is CMNL.