Dooky Chase's is a New Orleans institution, especially on Holy Thursday.

Why it matters: It's the only day of the year to get chef Leah Chase's gumbo z'herbes, a dish steeped in faith and tradition.

The big picture: Creoles traditionally prepared gumbo z'herbes on Maundy or Holy Thursday as the last big meal with meat before Easter, according to the Chase family, which owns the restaurant.

• The dish blends greens and pork, with the superstition that each green brings you a new friend.
• The number of greens must be uneven.
• Leah Chase's recipe uses nine greens — mustard, collard, red Swiss chard, beet tops, cabbage, carrot tops, spinach, kale and watercress.

Zoom in: Chase died in 2019, but her family carries on the tradition. This year, her grandson, Edgar "Dook" Chase IV, and her great-granddaughter, Zoe Chase, prepared the gumbo.

• It's served in a large bowl with a scoop of rice. Diners pair it with the restaurant's famous fried chicken and cornbread muffins.
• The gumbo is exceptional, with a nice bit of heat at the end. There's hot sauce on the table if you want more kick.
• Homemade pecan pie, bread pudding and peach cobbler finished the meal.

Inside the room: Former Gov. John Bel Edwards sat next to Mayor Helena Moreno in the packed dining room.

• The atmosphere was festive. Not quite the Friday before Mardi Gras, but it felt like a party with diners mingling and table-hopping.
• Stella Chase Reese and other family members greeted and hugged just about every diner.
• Rev. Ajani Gibson from St. Peter Claver and newly installed Archbishop James Checchio offered blessings at the sold-out meals.

💭 Carlie's thought bubble: John Pope, the longtime obituary writer at The Times-Picayune, has organized a Holy Thursday table for 20+ years.

• This year, I finally scored a seat. His table is packed with journalists, community leaders, business owners and just downright fun folks.
• We cut up the whole time. It was everything I'd hoped for and more for this Easter tradition.

The bottom line: Add it your New Orleans bucket list.

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New Orleans is gearing up for a packed Easter weekend.

⛪️ Good Friday events: Many Catholics take part in the Nine Churches Walk to pray and reflect.

• Household of Faith stages a reenactment of Jesus' crucifixion at noon.
• Several churches, including St. George's and Trinity, host Stations of the Cross.

🎤 New Edition performs with Boyz II Men and Toni Braxton tonight at the Smoothie King Center. (Tickets)

• More live music options via WWOZ's Livewire.

🏃🏻‍♀️ Crescent City Classic: Thousands will run the 10k tomorrow morning from the Caesars Superdome through downtown and finish in City Park.

🖼️ Jammin' on Julia: The hybrid art walk and music festival starts at 5pm tomorrow.

👒 Easter parades: Don your Easter bonnets and head to the streets Sunday.

• The Historic French Quarter Easter Parade starts at 9:45am.
• The annual hat contest is at 11am at the Omni Royal Orleans Hotel.
• The French Quarter Easter Parade rolls at 1pm.
• The Gay Easter Parade rolls at 4:30pm.

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👀 TSA says it will have "adequate" staffing to handle security lines at MSY this weekend. The extra long backups from the past few weeks aren't expected, so MSY says passengers should arrive at least two hours early, instead of three.

• Kevin Dolliole, the airport's director of aviation, told City Council members yesterday that TSA agents received back paychecks on Monday and callouts are now returning to normal levels.
• Check this subreddit for regular security line updates at MSY.

🚔 Lakeshore Drive will have checkpoints and parking restrictions on Easter Sunday. (WDSU)

🌡️ March was the city's fourth-warmest on record. (Fox 8)

🍽️ Plume won its appeal with its lapsed liquor permit. But, the owners say they are undecided about the future of the West Bank restaurant. (Instagram)

👋 The New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Foundation has parted ways with its CEO less than a month before the organization's annual Jazz Fest. (OffBeat Magazine)

🧛🏻 "Interview with the Vampire" is getting a new cover for the 50th anniversary edition this October. The book's edges will also be sprayed blood red. (People)

👋 Carlie here. What's going in your boil this weekend?

• I recently went to one with mushrooms, carrots, pineapple and edamame, along with the traditional options.
• Completely convinced this skeptic. Yum!