Between Two Shells: Baked Brie and Bacon Oysters with an Old Fashioned

by Blair Loup

Can you feel it? Temperatures are dipping below 70 degrees, and we’re all losing our minds. Sure, we’re seeing a lot of boots, scarves, and unnecessary hats, but we’re also seeing darker, heavier beers, more whiskey than usual, and heartier flavor profiles.

My cool weather cravings usually lean toward creamy Brie cheese, bold red wines, root vegetables, whiskey, and anything cooked whole carcass style. I feel like sometimes, Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar gets me too much. It’s honestly scary how easy it is to pair great bites with a tasty beverage.

A baked Brie and Bacon oyster and Old Fashioned at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar in downtown Baton Rouge, La.

The baked Brie and Bacon oyster is easily my favorite of the baked offerings at Jolie Pearl. What’s not to love about a Gulf oyster covered in a creamy Brie cheese sauce with specks of bacon and baked? The slight sweetness of the Brie and smokiness of the pork match up nicely with the smokey/sweet flavors of an Old Fashioned.

The typical Old Fashioned is simple, but irresistible. With a bitters-soaked sugar cube muddled in orange and cherry, the classic cocktail is supposed to be served with Rye whiskey. I asked for this one to be made with bourbon for a warmer caramel flavor to marry the Brie and bacon flavors.

With the weather cooling down and the holidays upon us, I know downtown Baton Rouge will be bustling. Pro-tip, leave early for all of your downtown tomfoolery and grab a bite and some booze at Jolie Pearl!

This is a great Fall/Winter transition pairing, and you can find some of the other parings we’ve tried and approved below:

Raw Gulf Oysters and Fresh Margaritas
Oysters Rockefellar and the Louisiana Mule
Raw Gulf Oysters topped with Cucumber Mignonette with Fresh Grapefruit Margaritas
Asian Style Chargrilled Oysters with Tin Roof Tunrow Harvest Ale
Chargrilled Oysters with Gnarly Barley's Catahoula Common
Raw West Coast Gold Creek Oysters with Jay D's Blanc Du Bois
Buffalo Chargrilled Oysters with Chafunkta’s Kingfish Cream Ale

Between Two Shells: Chargrilled Oysters with Gnarly Barley's Catahoula Common

by Blair "B-Rex" Loup

There are few things in this world better than things cooked in butter. We’ve all blasted Paula Deen about her obsession with the stuff, but in our heart of hearts we know she knows what’s up.

While the list of tasty things cooked in butter goes on and on, I’d like to narrow the discussion to chargrilled oysters. Envision this: plump, juicy Gulf oysters sizzling in a small pool of buttery, garlic-y goodness at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar.

A pint of Gnarly Barley Brewing's Catahoula Common with a chargrilled oyster at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar in Baton Rouge

All of the flavor gods assemble to make this dreamy, classic bite happen. The flavor profile is super simple and allows for another element to really set things off.

Enter Gnarly Barley’s Catahoula Common. My obsession with Gnarly Barley Brewing is no secret. They are my craft beer spirit animal, but that’s beside the point.

The creaminess of the chargrilled oyster pairs perfectly with the crispy brew. The beer kind of lifts all of those strong flavors off of the tongue and is light and refreshing making it perfect for this warm Louisiana weather.

A match made in heaven, I’d say. Trust me, I’m a professional.

Below are some of the other pairings we suggest at Jolie Pearl:

Raw Gulf Oysters with Fresh Margaritas
Oysters Rockefellar and the Louisiana Mule
Raw Gulf Oysters topped with Cucumber Mignonette and Fresh Grapefruit Margaritas
Asian Style Chargrilled Oysters with Tin Roof Turnrow Harvest Ale

Between Two Shells: Raw Gulf Oysters topped with Cucumber Mignonette and Fresh Grapefruit Margaritas

by Blair "B-Rex" Loup

The Fresh Grapefruit Margarita and Cucumber Mignonette at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar

If you've stepped outside lately, you may have noticed it’s hot out. This time of year presents me with an unsolvable problem: when I get out of my car, my glasses fog up because I’m blasting the air conditioning, then my vision gets hit with 90% humidity. It’s my cross to bear, and the only respite is a fresh-squeezed margarita from Jolie Pearl.

Aside from serving fresh oysters from all over, they freshly squeeze all of the juices for their mixed drinks. When the heat gets unbearable, I hop on that citrusy-drink-and-ice-cold-seafood train.

I highly recommend dropping everything and grabbing a few grapefruit margaritas, a dozen raw Gulf oysters, and top them with Jolie Pearl's flavor-packed cucumber mignonette.

This pairing tastes like summer.

One second I’m downtown, and one bite later,  I’m by a pool with attractive people fanning me and pouring grapefruit margaritas down my throat. The sweet and spicy cucumber mignonette paired with the cool creaminess of the oyster matches up perfectly with the tangy citrus of the grapefruit and that element only tequila can bring.

It’s summer, y’all, and it’s hot outside, so treat yo self and head over to Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar. They can get your life right.

Below some of the other pairings we suggest at Jolie Pearl:

Raw Gulf Oysters and Fresh Margaritas
Oysters Rockefeller and the Louisiana Mule

Between Two Shells: Raw Gulf Oysters and Fresh Margaritas

by Blair Loup aka BRFluff

A Raw Gulf Oyster paired with a Fresh Margarita at Jolie Pearl

I remember as a child growing up in Southwest Louisiana, all of the men in my family gathered around a table slurping oysters out of shells at crawfish boils and fish fries. When my dad handed me my first Gulf oyster he encouraged me to try it without crackers and cocktail sauce. I looked at this slimy thing with a few drops of Tabasco and a squeeze of lemon cautiously, then knocked it back in true YOLO fashion (sorry not sorry). I’ve been a sucker for raw oysters ever since. When Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar opened up in downtown Baton Rouge I was excited to taste oysters from other areas for the first time.

Jolie Pearl offers a wide range of raw, baked, and chargrilled oysters and we at Bite and Booze have made it our self-serving mission to pair each of these with a delicious craft beer, wine, or one of Jolie Pearl’s stellar cocktails.

While I enjoy trying different types of oysters, the Gulf oyster tastes nostalgic to me for obvious reasons. It’s creamy, briny, and slightly murky (which is where the flavor comes from); add to that a little pop from a spicy horseradish sauce and you’ve got yourself a bite of Louisiana. Most of the time I would pair this with a beer, but I couldn’t pass up the fresh margarita. This version is made with freshly squeezed lemon, lime, and orange juices in addition to a little agave nectar. There’s something about the taste of fresh citrus and tequila with a sugar/salt rim paired with a freshly shucked Gulf oyster that makes me feel like I’m in one of those wind machines with money flying all around.

It’s a good time at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar. There’s a vinyl happy hour (because yas) Monday-Friday from 4-7pm, and live music most Thursday, Friday, and Saturday nights.

We’ve only shucked the surface with these pairings, so check back here every month for more Bite and Booze pairings from Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar!

Grubbin' and Crawlin' for a Cause

I was pretty excited when Jay told me about the first annual 3rd Street Grub Crawl happening in March. 

As a life-long Baton Rouge resident, I've spent years wishing my city would step it up and aspire to be more like Austin, Atlanta, Houston, or even D.C. Now I feel like my wishes are coming true.

This event sounds like a righteous time, totally causal and easy on my wallet. A bunch of fun downtown venues will play host to Baton Rougeans looking for a night of live music, food and drink specials. Ten bucks buys you a wristband and access to all the night's activities including food and drink specials at participating venues. For a broke college student, a night of food and drink specials coupled with live music can't be beat. 

This is really exciting not only for the BR party scene, but also for THRIVE Baton Rouge. THRIVE, created four years ago by former Teach for America corps member Sarah Broome, is a charter school for at-risk children and has been helping out local kids immeasurably since its inception. 

Not only is 3rd Street Grub Crawl a party, it's also a benefit. Your $10 wristband buys you a night of fun and helps to support a local non-profit doing its damnedest to educate kids who would otherwise be left behind by the school system. 

I can't think of a better reason to drink and eat to my heart's content. And as an added bonus, the folks at Dudley DeBosier are paying for you cab ride home. Just hop in a taxi and say this one's on Dudley DeBosier and they'll pay for your ride home from the Grub Crawl!

Come out and celebrate for a good cause on March 26, 2015, 6 to 9 p.m. We'll see you there! 

– Sydney "Brown Nose" Blanchard, intern

Jolie Pearl Sets the Bar for Oysters

Beausoleil Oysters at Jolie Pearl

Jolie Pearl, located at 315 North Blvd.

Recently I had the opportunity to check out one of Baton Rouge's newest and most hyped restaurants, Jolie Pearl. The downtown oyster bar, situated across from the North Boulevard's Town Square, serves raw and cooked oysters that delight the senses. Upon entering the old Jobe's building, it became clear that Jolie Pearl's strength is branding. We were beyond impressed with the unique custom decor, the light fixtures, the ambiance, and the amazing chalkboard art lining the walls. Sitting out for all to see are whole oysters, on ice, and labeled according to where they came from. An open Bloody Mary bar faces patrons, and during happy hour diners can choose an album from the restaurant's extensive vinyl collection to play.

Jolie Pearl's atmosphere disarms even the most timid of diners. Oysters, particularly raw oysters, can be intimidating to the untrained palate. They're salty, slimy, and hard to stab with a tiny fork. But the restaurant's transparency and emphasis on educating diners about oysters works in its favor. If you've ever had a trouble getting a whole raw gulf oyster down, perhaps you get acclimated with a smaller Atlantic or Pacific oyster. 

Corn Maque Choux Baked Oysters

Jolie Pearl offers oysters from the west, east, and gulf coasts. Vendors ship a steady supply of the freshest oysters to the downtown restaurant. Purists can order a sampling of oysters raw, with an array of flavor-enhancing toppings like Bloody Mary granita, cucumber mignonette, and rum mango salsa. The gulf oysters have always been my favorite. You just can't beat an oyster that grew up in the salty, muddy waters of the gulf. Getting to try them side by side with some New York, Canadian, and West Coast oysters presented a fun dining experience... and confirmed my evaluation though you should really try them for yourselves. For the folks who aren't serious raw enthusiasts, Jolie Pearl slings classic baked and chargrilled oysters. Our favorites off the cooked menu were the baked corn maque choux and the classic chargrilled oysters, though I'd go eat a sampling of the entire menu again and again. Amazingly, Jolie Pearl sells oysters at such a reasonable cost that it won't break the bank to try four of everything when you share them with a group of people. The imported Atlantic and Pacific oysters run a little higher at fair market prices, but they are certainly still worthy of sampling for your taste-buds' delight.

Hand-Painted Chalkboard Art

The cocktail menu had some eclectic options. Blair and I went with the Corpse Reviver, a mix of gin, Cointreau, Lillet, Corsair red absinthe, and lemon juice. Our intern Sydney opted for the fresh margarita (which she claims is the best she's ever had), a mix of lemon, lime, and orange juice, agave nectar, Silver tequila, and a half salt, half sugar rim. Classy. 

For the high-rollers, $500 buys access to an old-school liquor locker, customized with the keyholder's name. Regular customers can purchase bottles of booze from the restaurant and store them in the locker to drink with their meals. Maybe I need to go ahead and sign up for a Bite and Booze locker. They only have two left and so far they've all gone to lawyers.

At Jolie Pearl, it's the details. The record player, the chalkboard art, the colors from the wood on the ceiling and tables, even the logo set the tone of the experience you'll have. And of course, the details in the oysters. Jolie Pearl brings a unique, inspired concept that deserves attention, so check it out for after-work drinks and perfectly prepared oysters. 

Celebrity Waiters to Light Up the Night for Red Stick Revelry!

In less than a week, on Wednesday, October 29th, I'll be taking my turn as a "Celebrity Waiter" at Stroubes as Red Stick Revelry works to raise some funds for this year's New Year's Ever Fireworks Show! I'll be partnered up with one of their waiters to serve the guests that are dining that evening. Call Stroubes (225-448-2830) now to make your reservations and request to be in my section. Mayor Kip Holden will serve as the Maitre D' of the night and Paul Arrigo from Visit Baton Rouge will emcee the festivities. There will be two seatings at 6:30 and 8 PM. I hope to see you there!

9 Baton Rouge Gin Cocktails: An Uber Quest for Greatness

When the combination of sensational juniper berries, exotic limes, and the science of botanicals converge, an illustrious elixir is born. Gin, while herbal and refreshing, is the unsung hero of go-to liquors. If you have had a lover's quarrel with gin in the past, all you have to do is put down the New Amsterdam and look higher on the shelf. Gin holds the key that unlocks everything you'd want in a summer cocktail. Team Bite and Booze embarked on a quest to search for some of the best gin cocktails in Baton Rouge. With Uber in one hand and hope in the other, we set out on a gin journey. We indulged in delightful drinks, friendly conversation, and Uber, so as to not put ourselves behind the wheel, at our beckoning call. After many hours of chasing gin and daylight, here are nice cocktails that we found:

Bistro Byronz Cucumber Coupe

Bistro Byronz: 5412 Government St.

While Bistro Byronz may be better known for its vodka freezes and frozen mimosas, I found that their Cucumber Coupe made quite a splash. Muddled cucumber ribbons combined with Hendrick's (cucumber's favorite gin) and florally delicious St. Germain hit the spot. You could say it's as cool as a cucumber if it weren't rimmed with chili salt. The Cucumber Coupe is a fantastically bold drink for a warm Louisiana night.

Beausoleil Gin & Tonic

Beausoleil Restaurant & Bar: 7731 Jefferson Hwy.

The Beausoleil Gin and Tonic shakes up the classic mixed drink using Ford's Gin and Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic. Ford's gin has a strong note of juniper oil with a lingering taste of grapefruit rind and angelica roots. Jack Rudy Small Batch Tonic is intensely tart up front, but when combined with the gin evens out for a citrusy/sweet sip.

Blend's Pimm's Cup

Blend: 304 Laurel St. #1B

The Pimm's Cup is a well known cocktail in the South. Pimm's, which is born in London, has made a large name for itself in New Orleans. A gin based liqueur infused with orange and an intricate blend of spices, Pimm's is a go-to for refreshment given they typical flavor pairing with cucumber. Blend combines Pimm's with Hendrick's and St. Germain with fresh strawberries, blackberries and cucumber that gave me a second wind along our journey.

The Clover Club and The Cove

The Cove: 2561 Citiplace Ct.

When you belly up to the cocktail bar at The Cove you can expect a wonderfully crafted cocktail and perhaps a history lesson. Each cocktail on their menu has a story and if you don't get the chance to hear the tale, they have an abridged version printed in the menu. While I won't go into the history of the Clover Club, I will tell you about its deliciousness. Simply composed with gin, lemon juice, raspberry syrup, and an egg white, the Clover Club is like a puppy. It's fluffy, sweet, and I wouldn't mind being around one all day.

George Krause and the Alkonost

Doe's Eat Place: 3723 Government St.

Doe's creates two things really well (but don't order anything well done!): steak and drinks. George Krause, executive chef and bartender extraordinaire, can make any drink you can imagine despite having a smaller inventory of booze at this disposal. For our gin journey purposes, Mr. Krause whipped up an Alkonost. An Alkonost may be a mythological bird creature of sorts, but the drink has nothing out of the ordinary in the recipe. Gin with a large orange influence by way of peel, bitters, and curaçao, and a splash of vermouth forms an interesting, but totally sip-worthy Krause classic.

Olive or Twist's Blueberry Hill

Olive or Twist: 7248 Perkins Rd.

If you haven't made your way over to Olive or Twist at this point, I don't know where your priorities are. Easily one of the best cocktail bars in Baton Rouge right now, Olive or Twist specializes in hand-crafted cocktails. Every drink they create is on point, so it's hard for me to decide. I let my Chief Confusion Coordinator pick this one out and it did not disappoint. The Blueberry Hill combines blueberries and mint, fiercely muddled together, with mint liqueur and navy strength gin to form a fruity, herbal, and outright scrumptious beverage.

The Pelican House's French 75

The Pelican House: 2572 Citiplace Ct.

Home to over 100 draft beers, The Pelican House serves a wide range of customers with whiskey and cocktails as well. Where do they fit along the gin journey? We walked over from The Cove to try their French 75. The famous cocktail composed of gin, lemon juice, a little simple syrup, and champagne can never go wrong. French 75s are great for gin skeptics because the botanicals are dulled only slightly by the tartness of lemon and bubbly of champagne. Light on the palate but decent in ABV, the French 75 is a great cocktail to try on your next night out.

Radio Bar's Bandita Roja

Radio Bar: 3079 Government St.

A neighborhood bar tucked away on the Government Street hustle, Radio Bar is slinging affordable cocktails in a cool kid atmosphere. Their Bandita Roja paints the town red with a succulent hibiscus liqueur and brightens things up with the macerated citrus peel flavors in Lillet Blanc. The Bandita Roja boasts bold flavors that say, "I was here for a good time, but now I'm ready to party."

Red Star's 3rd Street Cannon

Red Star: 222 Laurel St.

Our visit to Red Star was my first time back since it came back from a brief hiatus. It's back, and it's popping. I ordered the 3rd Street Cannon which reminded me of a not-so-sweet cherry limeade in a good way. Muddled limes married with Luxardo cherry liqueur, St. Germain, and London dry gin left me wanting more. You can get it on the rocks or up. Both are tasty, but drinking it up allows for all of the flavors to stand up taller.

Month of Salads #4: Fresh Junkie

Fresh Junkie's Brick House Salad

If you're like me, you're on the go a lot for lunch throughout the week. Whether it is lunch meetings or grabbing a quick bite to hold you over, that midday meal is always a focal point. On a recent pass through downtown I made a point to hit up the new location for Fresh Junkie. You won't find any tables inside, but there are plenty places to sit in the lovely and adjacent North Boulevard Town Square. At Fresh Junkie you can build your own salad or wrap or choose one of their signature blends that are absolutely delicious. My favorite is the Brick House: romaine, mixed greens, grilled asparagus, edamame, red bell peppers, carrot sticks, grape tomatoes, parmesan, and the brick house dressing. All of their dressings are made in house and the ingredients are as fresh as the name implies. If you're ever in the area or at the Main Street Market, swing by and grab some healthy and satisfying! And if you want to see Pat Fellows, the owner, and I making some wraps on a food truck, then check out this video from last year's 225: Into the Mix series!

Chicken, Chicken, Chicken! Which Combo You Pickin', 3rd Street?

Todd Graves and Jay Ducote at the new Downtown Baton Rouge Cane's

I had a great time on May 22nd at the Grand Opening for the first ever Raising Cane's in downtown Baton Rouge! There were tons of people lined up around the block to celebrate another great happening for Red Stick's downtown development. Todd Graves and Raising Cane's have done so much for the Baton Rouge community so I welcomed the opportunity to help them break in the new fryers. The staff and eager customers gathered outside of Cane's for the ceremony complete with a proclamation and ribbon cutting. As the doors opened in the late morning sun, folks gathered over chicken fingers, fries, toast, slaw, sweet tea, lemonade, and of course that ever famous Cane's Sauce.

Not only did I attend the ceremony, but Raising Cane's actually invited me to film the events of the day with TommysTV. We had a blast talking to the likes of Mayor Kip Holden, Todd Graves, and even Cane herself! Check it out:

This Walking Tour of Downtown Baton Rouge will Leave Your Belly Full!

Roast Beef Poboy at Poor Boy Lloyd's

We all know that there's a lot happening on Third Street downtown, but that doesn't mean we really know the ins and outs of downtown dining. If you really want to see what the city's central area has to offer, take a look at the new Baton Rouge Food Tours. Recently I took a little stroll downtown with Kim Harper, who runs the shows, and my belly sure thanked me in the end.

We met at Poor Boy Lloyd's which is a staple at the corner of Florida and Lafayette. While everyone with our group was a local, Kim gave us the history of the Poor Boy (or poboy as they're more widely known) as well as the history of the ownership. We then popped in at Stroubes for a little soup tasting, which was welcomed in the chilly weather. Kim also gave us some history facts about the old buildings surrounding including the old state capitol, along with some statues near North Boulevard Town Square. You might be thinking... "But Jay, I'm not a tourist, so why should I care about taking this food tour?" While it's obviously ideal for out-of-towners, locals can also enjoy taking a walk around the area, trying places you might not visit too often, and learning a few fun facts along the way.

Crab, Corn, and Brie Soup & Duck and Andouille Gumbo
at Stroubes

Next we stopped by the Lobby Café for some mouthwatering mini muffalettas. This is a cool little spot and has an old speakeasy below the dining room that the owners turned into their apartment. We took a walk up the road to get a nice view of the State Capital before we sat down to some warm fried green tomatoes topped with lump crabmeat and hollandaise at The Little Village. There were actually a couple of people in the group who hadn't had a fried green tomato before, so that was fun!

After that, we landed a stone's throw away at Restaurant IPO for one of my favorites, the Duck Popper. Check it out if you haven't tried it. Our last stop on the chilly tour was at the Kingfish in the Hilton Capitol Center. There we had a warm bananas foster sauce with some cheesecake bites and hot coffee. It was a fun day and I definitely recommend tagging along on one of the Baton Rouge Food Tours! For more information check out their website: http://batonrougefoodtours.com/

Muffalettas at The Lobby Café

Fried Green Tomatoes with Lump Crab Meat and Hollandaise
at The Little Viallage

Grilled Duck Stuffed with Green Onion Cream Cheese,
Jalapeños & Tasso, Wrapped in Bacon,
Tossed in a House Made Roasted Jalapeño Bacon Peach Pepper Jelly
at Restaurant IPO

Beignets Foster at Kingfish in the Hilton

Chef Varnedoe to Preview James Beard House Dinner at Restaurant IPO

Chef Scott Varnedoe will be cooking at the famous James Beard House in NYC for the fourth time on March 28th, but before he leaves Baton Rouge he is giving us a preview of the meal he'll be preparing with sous chef Aaron Brown. If you'll be in New York, you can find more details about that dinner at http://www.jamesbeard.org/events/louisiana-seafood-celebration.

For those of us in Baton Rouge, our chance to feast comes on March 19th as Chef Varnedoe turns Restaurant IPO on Third Street in downtown Baton Rouge into James Beard South for the night. As of the time I'm writing this, there are still a few seats available for the dinner. The best way to book your spot is to call Restaurant IPO at (225) 302-5541 right now.




Below is the menu for the event. If you click on it you should be able to zoom in and read it better! It is going to be a lot of EXCELLENT food!

Grab Lunch at Harrington's Café

Harrington's Western Wall Painted by the BR Walls Project

Harrington's Cafe in Baton Rouge

Locally owned and operated for the past 14 years, Harrington’s Café in downtown Baton Rouge is a great little lunch spot. I first wrote about Harrington's in October 2009, the very first month of Bite and Booze. He hotspot boasts quick and easy ordering at the counter and the plates are promptly brought to your table of choice. Harrington’s is perfect for anyone working in the area that wants a quick home cooked style lunch. The atmosphere may be simple, but this old school café offers a menu everyone can enjoy. Throwback interior aside, the most striking visual feature is definitely outside of Harrington’s. As home to mural number two in the BR Walls Project series of building beautification around Baton Rouge, Harrington’s has a modern exterior facelift that definitely stands out downtown.

Harrington's always keeps a pretty rocking rotation of daily specials, and on a recent trip they were no exception. Most of the specials of the day were not available by the time I got there a little after 1 PM, so make sure you show up early because items will sell out! The shrimp and corn soup was perfect for a chilly day walking around downtown. It was the right amount of creamy and balanced out the spiciness of the blackened shrimp on my salad. 

Shrimp and Corn Soup

I have to admit, the Metten Burger intrigued me for the name despite football season being over. It was cooked just right with Swiss cheese and sautéed onions on a soft, sweet sourdough bun. I truly enjoyed it enough to want to go back to Harrington's for a burger again. I usually dabble with daily specials and poboys, but the Metten Burger hit the spot.

The Metten Burger

Cajun Cook-off Benefiting Thrive Baton Rouge

Thrive Baton Rouge, a charter school for at-risk youth in our community, is holding a Cajun Cook-off fundraiser on Thursday, December 12th. You can find much more information about Thrive at http://thrivebr.org/. Sponsored by Grace and Hebert architects, the Cajun Cook-off will be a culinary battle that you'll have the ability to enjoy. You can purchase tickets online for only $10 right here. Swing by 501 Government St. at lunch time to take part in the festivities and help support Thrive's mission in our community.

Triumph Kitchen Needs Our Support

If you haven't heard about Triumph Kitchen yet, perhaps it is time that you should. Triumph Kitchen is a new venture from Chef Chris Wadsworth and his wife Sommer. Combining their decades of experience in the culinary and education fields, Triumph Kitchen will serve as an educational venue designed to teach underprivileged and at-risk youth in the Baton Rouge community the skills necessary to secure jobs in the culinary and hospitality industry. This will not only be a game changer for the restaurants and hotels of Baton Rouge, but for the community as whole as the mission is truly to get kids off the street and give them a helping hand up and a means by which to enter the workforce.

The video below can tell you more by showing what Triumph Kitchen is all about than I can with typed word. I chose to show this video, made by video producer Dan Jones and tommysTV, because it has a little more behind the scenes footage as well as shows Dan's efforts to actually make the video. The main Triumph Kitchen video that Dan created begins around the two minute mark. Of course, you can see only that video and learn about how you can help out with Triumph Kitchen by visiting the IndieGoGo campaign at http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/triumph-kitchen.

 

Funding for Triumph Kitchen is vital to continue with construction on Third Street in downtown Baton Rouge and to be able to open up to the first class of students in early 2014. Your support is very much appreciated. If you can't make a financial commitment, please consider sharing the link to this post or to the funding campaign: http://www.indiegogo.com/projects/triumph-kitchen.

3rd Street Coffee Crawl

It's a pub crawl in downtown Baton Rouge to celebrate the release of the Tin Roof Parade Ground Coffee Porter. That's really about all you need to know! Oh, and it's only $10 to sign up then pint specials at each bar. More details are below or at http://coffeepubcrawl.eventbrite.com/ where you can also register and have a chance at some raffle prizes and a free t-shirt!

"Month of Salads" Post V: Stroubes Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Stroubes Salad with Grilled Shrimp

Stroubes has a been a great downtown dining destination for years now so it seemed fitting that went I went there for lunch recently I tried their signature salad. The Stroubes salad starts with fresh field greens, then loads on bacon-shallot vinaigrette, blue cheese crumble, spiced pecans, cherry tomatoes, and pickled okra for $8. I opted for a handful of grilled shrimp to top my leafy lunch for an additional $8. Obviously, this step could be avoided, or you could choose the chicken, sirloin, salmon, or fried oysters instead. The salad did me right for lunch as Michele was able to join me on her break from Jury Duty across the street. The bacon-shallot vinaigrette highlighted the salad because of its flavor that added a little substance to each bite. The blue cheese and grilled shrimp also played nicely with each other on the bed of greens. Another salad, another successful August lunch!

Baton Rouge's Best New Bars and Restaurants of 2012

The Baton Rouge food and beverage scene has seen a lot of growth in 2012.  It is exciting to be a part of the movement, watching a culinary culture grown right in front of us.  Baton Rouge has much more than chains, you just have to get off the gridlocked interstate to find some of them.  When I first thought of putting together a list of my top new restaurants and bars in 2012, I figured it might be a challenge to actually get to 10.  Instead, I found myself perplexed by what to omit.  Joining forces with Cherry the Dive Bar Girl, somebody who certainly cares as much as I do about unveiling the interesting places in Baton Rouge and forgetting about the chains, I increased my total to 12 for 2012.  Unfortunately, some new spots got left off the list, but here are Baton Rouge's best new bars and restaurants of 2012 (must be original to BR and must have opened in 2012)!

Have an issue or want to make a comment?  Post it here on this blog post, on Facebook, or on Twitter!

12.  Mama Della's Pizza  

I wrote about this NYC style pizza joint back in April.  The pie is delicious, and I fully respect Chef Barry Kalt's commitment to making pizza the way he wants to make it!  Cherry the Dive Bar Girl put it simply: "Fresh, top-quality ingredients, NYC represent!"

11. BB&PF

BB&PF (Bean Burger and Plantain Fries) opened up in 2012 in the building that used to house the Red Flower Chinese restaurant.  Bringing African cuisine to the North Gates of LSU is certainly a welcome addition to the cultural culinary landscape of our city.  Plus, the plantain fries are legit!

10.  Heaux Jeaux's

Heaux Jeaux's brought a neighborhood bar to Airline Highway near the Kleinpeter Dairy.  I'm often quoted as saying that Baton Rouge needs more neighborhood bars, so even though I don't live anywhere close to Heaux Jeaux's, I'm excited to see it thriving.  Live music, beer on tap (though the selection could improve), and much more add to this strip-mall bar.  It is a step in the right direction for South BR for sure.

9.  Smokin' Aces BBQ

Another area that significantly lacks in the Red Stick is good BBQ.  And this time, I won't settle for strip-mall meats.  Barbecue is meant to be independent, authentic, and original.  Smokin' Aces makes my list because they truly are a BBQ joint.  On Government Street in mid-city, this little shack puts out some of the city's best barbecue.  It is simple, straight forward, and good.  And it is far from pretentious.  It is far from being a chain.  And it is, once again, a step in the right direction.  There's still room for good barbecue in this city, but Smokin' Aces has filled part of that void.

8.  Saigon Noodles

This new Vietnamese eatery on N. Sherwood Forest gets some mixed reviews, but I found the Pho to be quite tasty when I went.  I enjoy that they are able to bring people in to experience Vietnamese cuisine.  Cherry the Dive Bar Girl, a follower of the Baton Rouge restaurant and bar scene, noted that "these restaurants aren't just for die hard adventurers anymore."  Saigon Noodles adds some international flair to our city that is best known for fried seafood.  I'm okay with that.

7.  Mud and Water

Taking over the old "L" Bar location near The Pastime and downtown, Mud and Water opened up as a live music venue and all-around great place to drink kind of bar.  Non-smoking on the inside with a nice outdoor space as well, this venue has been a great addition to BR night life.

6.  Tiger Deaux-Nuts

Speaking of adding culture, Jeff Herman's start-up donut business is EXACTLY what we need more of.  Creativity, passion, energy, originality, and spirit of adventurous risk-taking is what can elevate an ordinary food scene into a thriving one.  Tiger Deaux-Nuts currently operates two to three days a week out of a little back room off of Jones Creek, however the flavors are anything but small.  Maple bacon, key lime pie, jalapeno, and s'mores are just some of the flavors found below, and that's not even close to the pinnacle of what Jeff is doing.  You'll just have to check him out to see what else he has up his sleeve.

5.  Blend

Blend came into downtown ready to recreate a wine friendly atmosphere.  They did just that.  Transforming the space previously occupied by a different wine bar, Blend has made a name for itself with an eclectic wine list, a sultry atmosphere, and artistic cuisine.  The menu is one of the better kept secrets in Baton Rouge, especially the creative twists that Chef Eric Sibley takes to make it his own.

4.  Olive or Twist

One of the more recent additions, Olive or Twist opened up in December on Perkins Road.  The much blighted Perkins/Essen area finally got a bar to be proud of.  Specializing in hand crafted cocktails, this small bar has a intimate feel and a refreshing atmosphere.  It is a great place to escape after work or enjoy the company of friends all night.  They also have some quality food on the menu so you can keep drinking, as well as a pretty decent beer list for a Red Stick cocktail bar.

3.  Magpie Cafe

Fresh, local, and seasonal are buzz words in the food world, but it had been hard (though not impossible) to find true commitment to them in Baton Rouge for a while.  Magpie Cafe near the Perkins Road Overpass has filled the void for a casual cafe atmosphere and attention to sourcing everything from coffee to breads.  Magpie is a wonderful place to meet people, work, or just have breakfast a cup of coffee.

2.  Dolce Vita (Wood Fired Pizza BR)

Bogdan Mocanu should be celebrated.  He is a talented, colorful individual.  He is from Romania, and is a good enough chef to be anywhere in the world.  However, he is in Baton Rouge.  Making pizzas from scratch.  In a wood-burning oven.  On a trailer.  If you haven't found Dolce Vita, you are missing the best pizza in Baton Rouge.  I'm a fan of pizza.  I have Mama Della's on this list.  I often brag about BR originals like Pastime and Fleur de Lis.  But Bogdan... on man is he doing something special with pizza pie.

1.  Restaurant IPO

As far as making an impact on the Baton Rouge food and beverage scene, I don't think any new establishment has come close to doing what Chef Chris Wadsworth has done at Restaurant IPO.  Third Street desperately needed a place like this.  The interior is inviting, begging you to eat, drink, and stay.  The Louisiana inspired small plates are easily shared among a table of friends.  The taps are filled with nothing but craft brews, encouraging everyone to drink locally.  This is truly a "practice what they preach" kind of restaurant.  They pay attention to the little things.  They put thought into everything.  Chef Wadsworth creates his own whiskey and vodka infusions.  He wins cooking contests with Community Coffee.  He boasts a two page feature in Louisiana Cookin' Magazine.  And more is coming.  I know that for a fact.

Louisiana Cookin' Magazine Release Party at Restaurant IPO

Come join me at The Office and Restaurant IPO on Tuesday December 18th for a release party!  I'm excited to see the new January/February issue of Louisiana Cookin' Magazine.  I have a column in it, and local food writer Sean Rivera's first published writing in the magazine comes in the form of a profile on Restaurant IPO's own Chris Wadsworth!  For more on Chef Wadsworth, take a listen to his appearance on the Bite and Booze Radio Show presented by Calandro's Supermarket!

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