Crab Cravings: making a mess with fresh seafood

On a remote edge of Lake Pontchartrain, Louie Lipps is boiling crabs. "I cooked for my family all my life. I’m the main guy who cooks," he says. "I just learned that people like the taste of seafood without burning your mouth off for forty minutes after you eat." A devoted seafood lover, Lipps owns the Crab Trap restaurant in Frenier, ...

The Shell Game: for the love of Louisiana oysters

There is nothing quite like eating a raw Louisiana oyster. Salty and succulent with a slightly sweet finish, it is a superior bivalve. An entire culture springs from the raw desire to devour these luscious mollusks on the half shell, drenched in plenty of hot sauce and horseradish. The proper way to do it, of course, is at an oyster bar. The ritual of watching ...

Black’s Revisited: Abbeville oyster bar is back on track

The home of Steen’s Cane Syrup, Abbeville is the heart of Vermilion Parish. It hosts the annual Cattle Festival (formerly known as Dairy Day) each October, and the Giant Omelette Festival in November, followed by festivities during the holiday season that include concerts in the historic square and a symphony of lights throughout the town lined with ...

The Spirit of La Fonda: Margarita madness in Lafayette

Wheeling and dealing over lunch and enchiladas is the hallmark of La Fonda’s in Lafayette, where margaritas and two-fisted cocktails enhance the handshakes of money makers. Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thursday in the early evening is another crowd, with children and grandparents in tow. Friday and Saturday nights bring a crush of people awaiting tables at ...

Plantation Pleasures: Dining with history

On a sun-dappled spring morning we set out to revisit the great plantations of River Road. We embarked on the winding two-lane highway that follows the banks of the Mississippi River between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, where several beautifully restored plantations reside. Before the Civil War, this stretch of the river was home to more than four hundred ...

The World According to FOLSE: His culinary universe

Writing about food and drink and those who create it is a privilege. The finest perk is that people allow us into their worlds. One Louisiana chef has a virtual universe gravitating around his gastronomic talent: John Folse, the state’s homegrown culinary ambassador who dabbles in everything from plantations to a culinary school, product lines, a pastry ...

A Taste of Paris: Another John Besh success

Walking past the revolving doors of Luke on a recent cold winter night, I felt as though I was back in Paris, entering an old-fashioned brasserie in the seventh arrondissement on the Left Bank. It was Saturday and the place was packed. Pressed tin ceilings enhanced the echo of lively conversation. Wooden partitions between table groupings held rods with ...

Dining in Style: Beignets on the Bayou

As the weather grows warmer by the day, and gardens blaze with color, spring arrives with celebrations throughout Louisiana. For many of us, this means hosting family dinners. In addition to traditional ham, turkey or spring lamb, pasta with shellfish may serve as a nice alternative for a spring feast. Chef Ken Veron’s recipe for Kahlua grilled shrimp ...

A Small Plate Sanctuary: A Hip New Restaurant Serving Tapas with Flair

Acclaimed restaurateurs Kenneth LaCour and Kim Kringle of the elegant Cuvée and Dakota restaurants (popular with wine connoisseurs) have rolled out their latest hit, Rambla. The Basque-influenced restaurant, located just off the grand lobby of the International House hotel on Camp Street in New Orleans, has jewel-tone furnishings, soft lighting, and large ...

Prime Time: Mouthwatering Steaks and Superb Seafood at Mr. Lester’s

Established in 1995 and located within Cypress Bayou Casino and Shorty’s, Mr. Lester’s Steakhouse offers grand dining in style. Located in Charenton between Baldwin and Jeanerette, Mr. Lester’s is known throughout the state for its prime beef, generous portions, extensive wine offers and cigar selection, exceptional service, friendly staff, and enticing ...