Rolling in the Deep...Fryer: Our Power Rankings of the Best LSU Rolls in Baton Rouge

by Sydney Blanchard & Blair Loup

I'm a Baton Rouge native, and if there's one thing I can say about this city, it's that its people are passionate. I theorize that living so close to the state's seat of government rubs off on us. Our opinions, on everything from LSU football to where to find the best sushi, are about as polarizing as our politics.

Thus, an idea was born.

We decided to do some research and find out which local sushi places had football themed rolls. At first, we thought we'd stumble across a few, but after poring over dozens of menus, we discovered that almost every sushi restaurant in town offers some play on an LSU inspired roll.

There are Tiger rolls, Geaux Tiger rolls, Death Valley rolls, LSU Tiger rolls, and of course, a number of LSU rolls.

It would have been nearly impossible to try to write about all of these, so we narrowed our focus on the LSU rolls and got to eating. One pattern emerged: at least one fried element is present in nearly all of these rolls.

Go figure.

Here's our rankings of the best LSU rolls this town has to offer, with photos for reference.

Rock-n-Sake Bar & Sushi

Shrimp, cream cheese, snow crab, red tuna, avocado at Rock-n-Sake (3043 Perkins Rd #A).

Rock-n-Sake's roll was by far the standout. Colorful, inventive, and tasty, we had no problem gobbling down this roll. This interpretation of the LSU roll consisted of battered shrimp and cream cheese in a traditional rice roll and snow crab topped with ruby red tuna and avocado slices.

Sushi Masa

Snowcrab, crawfish tails, cream cheese, and spicy mayo and eel sauce at Sushi Masa (5837 Essen Ln).

Sushi Masa's LSU roll fell in line with some of the other rolls on this list, but we think their interpretation was the best. Snowcrab, crawfish, and cream cheese combine in a rice roll that's battered, fried, and topped with spicy mayonnaise and eel sauce. The crunchy fried shell plays well with the cool cream cheese in the center.

Ichiban Hibachi Grill & Sushi Bar

Fried oyster, snow crab, avocado, asparagus at Ichiban (5741 Essen Lane).

Ichiban's LSU roll confused then pleased our tastebuds. The combination of fried oyster, snow crab, avocado, and asparagus topped with crunchy and purple and gold sweet sauce was uniquely Louisiana. I'm not a huge oyster fan, but the choice to include fried oysters in a roll earned Ichiban some extra points.

Omi Hibachi Grill & Sushi Bar

Snow crab, cream cheese, battered and fried at Omi (7951 One Calais Ave).

It was Blair's and my first time at Omi, and we were excited to see what it was all about. We were pretty disappointed this roll was so similar to Sushi Masa and Koi's LSU roll (snow crab, cream cheese, rice roll, battered and fried), but Omi's choice of batter made this one of our favorites. The texture of the batter reminded us of beignets, and it worked well with the other ingredients.

Drunken Fish

Spicy tuna, cucumber, salmon and eel at Drunken Fish (4410 Highland Road).

Blair and I were impressed with how different Drunken Fish's take on the LSU roll was compared with the others, but for us the flavor just wasn't there. Spicy tuna and cucumber nestle together in a rice roll topped with fresh salmon and barbecue eel. Drunken Fish was my spot in college, but this roll was a miss for me.

Koi Sushi Restaurant

Crawfish, Snow crab, cream cheese, all fried at Koi Sushi (Koi Sushi Restaurant).

Koi's interpretation fell in line with that of Omi and Sushi Masa, but the biggest turnoff for us was the value. This was the most expensive roll we had, and we couldn't figure out why. The components were the same as the LSU roll as Omi and Sushi Masa, but Koi's batter just didn't hold up as well as the others.


Do you agree with our rankings? Did we miss a must-try LSU roll? Let us know in the comments!

Louisiana Seafood, Uprooted

by Sydney Blanchard

Each month, our Uprooted series will highlight local chefs, restaurants, organizations, and farmers who are spearheading the farm-to-table and local foodways movements in South Louisiana.

In 2010, after the explosion of the Deepwater Horizon oil rig caused 4.9 million barrels of oil to spill into the Gulf of Mexico, BP vowed to clean up the mess for which they were responsible.

Apart from removing oil from the Gulf, BP allotted money to be used for a PR campaign that would not only clean up their image but would clear up the idea that the Gulf’s seafood was tainted by the spill.

Six years and millions of dollars later, the Louisiana Seafood Board is still working to do just that.

Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Seafood Board

The Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board, considered part of the office of tourism, moved to Baton Rouge from New Orleans two years ago. Since their founding in 1984, their goal has been to promote and educate people about Louisiana’s rich abundance of seafood.

Following the 2010 oil spill, the Seafood Board was handed a $30 million dollar check to be used on, among other things, aggressive public relations campaigns to rebuild the lost confidence in Louisiana’s seafood industry.

According to the agency’s Executive Director Karen Profita, the state is the second largest seafood producer in the nation, right behind Alaska. The challenge Profita and her small team face is that 90 percent of seafood consumed in the United States is imported. Of that 90 percent, less than three percent of it gets tested, she said. And according to recent research that tested imported seafood from local grocery stores, 90 percent contained chemicals banned in the United States.

Local shrimpers take pride in their superior product. Photo courtesy of the Louisiana Seafood Board.

Before the LSU alum became the board’s Executive Director less than two years ago, Profita knew next to nothing about the state’s seafood industry, and she said it’s been a steep learning curve from her background in non-profits.

“There’s a lot more to it than I would have guessed,” she said.

Profita said her agency is tasked with ensuring Louisiana’s seafood industry is getting the support it needs. The board is comprised of representatives from the Alligator Industry, the Wild Catfish Industry, the Oyster Task Force, and the Louisiana Shrimp Association, to name a few.

Day to day, Profita plays a role in representing the board members’ interests and working with legislators to come up with compromises that benefit both the fishermen and consumers.

Despite hurricanes and oil spills and rising gas prices that greatly affect their margins, Profita said she is continually impressed and inspired by the state’s shrimpers and oyster farmers and crab fishers.

Karen Profita, the board's Executive Director, is inspired by the fishermen she interacts with. Photo courtesy of the Seafood Board.

“I think that’s what so amazing to me,” she said. “I have a great respect for them because they keep coming back. It has just been challenge after challenge for them.”

One of the main challenges for local fishermen is an uneven playing field, Profita said. Imported seafood, mainly from overseas, isn’t required to pass the rigorous inspection or uphold the ethical labor standards domestic seafood producers do. Much of the seafood the United States imports isn’t tested for antibiotics or other banned chemicals, and reports of countries using slave labor to process seafood have increased.

This makes imported seafood cheaper for restaurants and for consumers, often at the cost of the domestic seafood industry.

"We kind of like to get people mad about it,” Profita said. “And it’s important the people in Washington know.”
So why buy domestic? The Seafood Board has spent the last few years (and a few million dollars of BP money) explaining to the public why insisting on Gulf seafood is so important.

Their strategy has mainly been one of education so far. Profita explained that educating consumers about the Gulf’s diverse ecology and showing them the superior quality of its seafood is a major part of the approach.

“We know the purity of our product and the safety of it is going to win out,” Profita said.

The Louisiana Seafood board also stresses the seafood industry’s huge economic and cultural impact in the state. One of the many reasons tourists flock to Louisiana is for culinary tourism. And according to Profita, visitors are impressed not only by Louisiana’s seasoning but by the quality of the seafood itself.

Commercial shrimping, crabbing, and fishing are also part of the culture here. Entire communities were founded upon the commercial fishing industry. Any hit the seafood industry takes hurts local fisherman trying to make a living off their catch.

Profita said she often finds herself asking, “How do you preserve that and make sure they can still make a living from that?”

One of the ways the Louisiana Seafood Board tries to preserve this way of life is with their grocery co-marketing program. Their goal is to sell large volumes of seafood to grocery chains across the country to get loyal fans in other markets. If the grocery chain agrees to buy a certain amount of seafood, the board agrees to put 10 percent of the cost of the seafood toward helping the stores market the seafood with things like social media campaigns.

Their co-marketing program has already seen success in a grocery chain in the Northeast, and they’re hoping to continue to grow it across the country.

Profita explained the farm-to-table movement, or in this case, the “dock-to-dish” movement, often overlooks seafood.

"I don’t know why that hasn’t registered with people,” she said. “It’s really fascinating that they’ll spend forever picking out the tomato that goes in the dish and not think about the shrimp they’re putting it on.”

For consumers, Profita said, it boils down to “know better, eat better.”

When purchasing local seafood in grocery stores, Profita said, closely inspect the package. Labels on imported seafood may include an American flag or even a Louisiana name, but they’re not always from the United States or from Louisiana.

Profita also encourages Louisianans to demand domestic seafood in their grocery stores and in restaurants they frequent.

“They’re willing to sell it if they know you’ll buy it,” she said.

Find out more about the Louisiana Seafood Board by exploring their gorgeous website and keeping up with them on social media.

Read more Uprooted here:

Nino's Italian, Uprooted
Indie Plate, Uprooted
Red Stick Farmers Market, Uprooted
Iverstine Family Farms, Uprooted
Murder Point Oysters, Uprooted
Southern Foodways Alliance, Uprooted

Fullness Farms, Uprooted

A Night at the Taproom: A Local Pair & Their Local Pairings

by Blair Loup

Tin Roof Brewing Company can always give you something tasty to sip on, but if you pop by the brewery every now and then, you might find yourself in the middle of a good time.

Since the opening of their taproom, Tin Roof has played host to pop-up dinners, home brew competitions, yoga classes, crawfish boils and more.

Recently, I enjoyed a five-course beer dinner prepared by Chef Kelley McCann of Galatoire’s Bistro and Jesse Romero of MasterChef Season 6 at the taproom. Pro tip: keep up with Tin Roof on their social media channels to hear about local chefs cooking up seriously delicious stuff.

The dishes were well thought out and paired deliciously.

Whether it’s a five-course beer dinner or Jesse serving greens out of a cast iron cauldron on the loading dock, you won’t want to miss it.

First Course: Oyster Mignonette with the Blonde Ale

Gulf Oysters with Satsuma Mignonette

I’ve had a lot of raw Gulf oysters and some good mignonettes, but this Satsuma mignonette with fresh parsley had me feeling incredibly Louisiana. It’s a really good feeling.

Jesse and Kelley mixed in some gelatin to firm up the mignonette so it would stay on the oyster and not get lost in the oyster juices that eventually spill out of the shell. I really appreciated that little flex of technique.

Second Course: Citrus Poached Louisiana Shrimp with Turnrow Harvest Ale

Citrus Poached Louisiana Shrimp with Turnrow Beurre Blanc

Who knew a single succulent Louisiana shrimp could be so exciting? The Turnrow beurre blanc really set this dish off. Tin Roof’s Turnrow, originally intended to be a seasonal brew, became so popular they now brew it year round. It is hands down my favorite Tin Roof beer.

The coriander in the Turnrow came through beautifully in the beurre blanc, and incorporating the beer into a beurre blanc is one of the most delicious ways I’ve experienced it.

Third Course: Geaux Local Soup with the House Series English Brown Ale

Smoky Tomato Soup with Basil Oil

This dish, named after one of the brewery’s commonly used hashtags, gave me the feeling the mean food critic in Ratatouille got when he first tasted the mouse’s ratatouille.

Cold-smoked tomato soup with the slightest creaminess drizzled with basil oil may rival that of Chelsea’s. As a longtime lover of soup, it’s hard for me to get wowed by a tomato soup, but it had the most perfect (and I don’t say that lightly) consistency and balance of flavor.

The new House Series English Brown brought some roasty notes to the table to compliment the smoky soup.

Fourth Course: Lamb Two Ways with Rougarou

Seared Lamb Lollipop, Lamb & Risotto Cake and Greens

A mash up of Kelley’s fine dining background and Jesse’s Louisiana sportsman flare, this dish proved to be a true collaboration. I would have been happy with the savory greens and seared lamb lollipop, but the fried risotto and lamb “boudin ball” was the star of the dish.

Creamy risotto, bits of lamb all fried into a ball? It’s like someone slipped a tuxedo onto a boudin ball: genius. The pairing of the Rougarou, an Imperial Black Ale, was a bold choice. I find the Rougarou to be very rich, roasty, toasty, and smoky with a hint of hops, but it worked out nicely and added a little jolt to the creaminess of the risotto.

Fifth Course: Parade Mousse with the Parade Ground Coffee Porter

Parade Ground Coffee Porter Mouse, Candied Bacon and Port Cherries

Chocolate mousse topped with port cherries and candied bacon? Yes. This dessert speaks for itself. Decadent chocolate and candied bacon with a side of Tin Roof’s coveted coffee porter sounds like the best decision anyone could ever make.

Baton Rouge is kind of having a moment right now. With Jay’s success on Food Network Star, Jesse receiving national attention on MasterChef, and Avery Kyle nearly snagging the MasterChef Junior title, I think Louisiana, and more importantly Baton Rouge, has a lot to be proud of.

(You can catch all three of these cool cats this weekend downtown at the Red Stick Roux Rally! Jay will be one of the judges for the gumbo competition, and Jesse and Avery will teaming up to take all the stellar gumbos out there! Stop by, give them a high five, and snap a picture because these folks are bound for great things!)

Between Two Shells: Buffalo Chargrilled Oysters with Chafunkta's Kingfish Cream Ale

by Blair Loup

Buffalo Chargrilled Oyster and Chafunkta's Kingfish Cream Ale at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar in Baton Rouge

It’s fall, and sports are happening. If fall means sports, then sports means spicy food and beer. There’s something about watching sports ball something covered in buffalo sauce in one hand and a crisp craft beer in the other. It really gets me in the (team) spirit.

Yet, I can get bored with the battered chicken wing. I find myself craving that buffalo flavor without all the bones and mess. And I don’t know, when I’m eating in public, I don’t want to need a roll of paper towels to keep myself in check.

Conveniently, Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar now has a buffalo chargrilled oyster.

Jackpot.

These buffalo-style chargrilled oysters are simple but delicious: Gulf oyster, Tabasco’s Buffalo Style Hot Sauce, and creamy bleu cheese. It’s a recipe for scrumptious-ness. Pair with Chafunkta’s Kingfish Cream Ale, and you’re looking at a good time.

The Kingfish Cream Ale is crisp, but flavorful with a slight maltiness. It’s definitely a go-to oyster beer for me, and combined with the buffalo flavors, it’s a W.

Some of my best times in downtown Baton Rouge include indulging in some Gulf oysters with a Louisiana craft beer in hand.

Below are some other pairings we suggest at Jolie Pearl:

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

Between Two Shells: Asian Style Chargrilled Oysters with Tin Roof Turnrow Harvest Ale

by Blair "B-Rex" Loup

A pint of Tin Roof Brewing's Turnrow Harvest Ale and the Asian Style Chargrilled Oyster at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar

All this hot weather has me constantly in the mood for spicy food. Then again, I’m always down for any bite with a kick. 

I know I can always get my heat fix at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar by dousing any raw oyster that comes my way with habanero hot sauce, but I recently discovered another spicy menu item at my favorite downtown spot.

The Asian Style chargrilled oysters are everything you’ve wanted oysters to be. Seafood and ponzu sauce just works. It’s like ponzu sauce walked into the oyster bar, arms wide open (lookin’ at you Creed) and said, “I’m here. Love me.”

Ponzu sauce has everything an oyster needs: a little citrus, a little sweet, and just enough vinegar to compliment the briny taste of the oyster. Top that puppy with some Sriracha sauce and I’m a happy girl.

I chose to pair this tasty morsel with a Tin Roof Tunrow. Turnrow is a harvest ale brewed with fresh ground coriander (aka cilantro). This means it's citrusy, spiced, and light, which translates to a “perfect for hot, humid days” brew.

This is what ‘Between Two Shells’ is all about: separately yummy, but magical together.

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

Raw Gulf Oysters and Fresh Margaritas

Oysters Rockefellar and the Louisiana Mule

Raw Gulf Oysters topped with Cucumber Mignonette and Fresh Grapefruit Margaritas

Barbecue Bites: Jay D's BBQ Shrimp

We are so fortunate to live in a state with direct access to Gulf of Mexico seafood. There’s nothing like a fresh Louisiana shrimp, all plump and pink and perfect for popping in your mouth.

Luckily, Indie Plate saved us the trouble of hopping on our shrimp boat and heading out to sea. Indie Plate, a Baton Rouge-based grocery delivery service, sources food items from local producers (including these gorgeous shrimp). 

Jay D's BBQ Shrimp, photo by Maria Do from Indie Plate

For this recipe by Chef Eusebio Gongora, we brought together our beloved Gulf shrimp from Indie Plate and Jay D’s Barbecue Sauce to make a delicious and simple summer seafood dish, perfect for enjoying outdoors with a chilled glass of wine. For more tasty recipes featuring local ingredients, check out HugJayD.com.

BBQ Shrimp

1 lb large head-on shrimp, marinated (see recipe below)
½ cup BBQ butter, divided (see recipe below)
½ cup heavy whipping cream 
1 tbsp Jay D's Barbecue Rub (available at Red Stick Spice)
1 loaf French bread
¼ cup green onion, chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cut the French bread into 1/2" crostinis and spread 1 tsp of the BBQ butter. Place crostinis on a sheet pan and bake for 5-7 minutes until slices are golden brown. Heat a large skillet over medium high heat, and add marinated shrimp to cook for 3-4 minutes. Flip the shrimp and add the cream. Reduce cream by half and add the remaining BBQ butter and the Jay D's Barbecue Rub. Continue to cook the shrimp and stir in the butter until the sauce reaches a creamy consistency. Plate the shrimp on a platter and garnish with green onions and crostinis.

Shrimp Marinade

¼ cup Jay D’s Louisiana Barbecue Sauce
¼ cup canola oil
¼ cup garlic, minced 
1 tbsp freshly ground black pepper
½ tsp cayenne
1 tbsp Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce

In a mixing bowl, combine Jay D's Barbecue sauce, oil, garlic, black pepper, cayenne, and Slap Ya Mama Cajun Pepper Sauce. Place shrimp into gallon Ziploc bag and add the marinade mixture. Allow shrimp to marinate for 4 hours in the refrigerator.

BBQ Butter

½ lb unsalted butter, divided
¼ cup garlic, minced

1 tbsp fresh rosemary, minced
1 tbsp fresh oregano, minced
¼ cup Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce
1 tsp freshly ground black pepper

Heat a skillet over medium heat. Place 2 tbsp of butter in the skillet and allow it to melt. Add the garlic, rosemary, and oregano and cook for 2-3 minutes until the garlic is soft. Add Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce and cook for additional 2 minutes. Pour the contents of the skillet into the mixing bowl of stand mixer and allow it to cool. Once cool, add the remaining butter, black pepper, and whip butter for 4-5 minutes. The mixture should double in size.

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: Oysters Rockefeller and the Louisiana Mule

by Blair "B-Rex" Loup

The Louisiana Mule and Rockefeller Oyster at Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar in Downtown Baton Rouge

I’m not a girl of many talents. There are some that may contest this, but I feel like I have a small skill set that consists of things that are relatively useless with only a few exceptions: I tend to find good parking spots, I have the patience and determination it takes to tackle an entire season of a television series in one day, and I have a knack for pairing drinks with food. Having that said, at Jolie Pearl, when it comes to pairings, the world is your oyster…get it?

Now that you’re done laughing, let’s explore the harmonious flavor profiles of the Louisiana Mule and Rockefeller Oyster.

The Louisiana Mule at Jolie Pearl is prepared with Louisiana White Lightning Whiskey instead of vodka. This gives the drink an extra layer of boozy flavor. With slight moonshine notes from the whiskey, the concoction is spicy, herbaceous, and refreshing. I paired it with the Rockefeller because of the licorice flavors of the Pernod and earthiness of the spinach.

The more grounded flavors of the oyster are like the moms (or dads) of your friend groups. They keep you from getting carried away, but you’re still allowed to party. While the flavors in the Louisiana mule work together, they are separately extremely strong flavors, so it pairs deliciously with a toned down, classic, and scrumptious Rockefeller oyster.

Whether you’re eating them raw, baked, or char-grilled, you’re going to want to run, don’t walk, to Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar. Check back here for more pairings each month, and take a look at this pairing that we've already tasted and tested:

Raw Gulf Oysters and Fresh Margaritas

Munching on a Monday: Mole at Mestizo

by Blair "B-Rex" Loup

Mole (mow-lay) is one of those foods on a menu I can never pass up. It's a personal rule, you know, like when a Spice Girls song pops up on my playlist, I listen to it. Last Monday, Jay and I were talking about a green mole dish that Jim Urdiales' Mestizo presented at Crawfête and decided to head there for lunch. Jim happened to be there and we all started talking about moles. One thing lead to another, and Jim wound up putting us in a food coma for the rest of the afternoon. 

We tried a green and red mole with two different proteins and I honestly can't tell you which one I enjoyed more.

The red mole, served over a grilled chicken breast, had that slightly bitter ever-so-sweet sweet balance working with a velvety texture; in the words of Jay Ducote, it was "money." A mound of Spanish rice, pico, and sautéed onions laid on the plate, but who has time to think about rice when there are pieces of fried plantain all over the place? The sweetness of the the fried plantain combined with the bold flavors in the mole left me satisfied...but wait, there's more!

Mole con Pollo at Mestizo

Just like Jim, the food at Mestizo is fun. The green mole topped this crazy fresh stacked enchilada/Mexican lasagna-type dish. Instead of being rolled inside of the tortilla, the flavors were stacked: fresh spinach, chunks of feta, and succulent shrimp. It was all so fresh and light, totally different from the richness of the red mole, but totally flavorful. I loved the fresh spinach inside, it just brightened the entire dish with the zesty tomatillo in the mole.

Green Mole at Mestizo

Jim and his executive chef, Stephany Novoa are creative, fun, and full of personality, and you can taste it in the dishes they create. Sometimes it's nice to step out of the Tex-Mex slump and try some of that same "south of the border" flare fusing with Louisiana cuisine.

Louisiana Culinary Trails: Delta Delights

Chef Cory Bahr and Jay Ducote filming
at Restaurant Cotton in Monroe.

The Louisiana Culinary Trails crew made its way up to North Louisiana to dig into Delta cuisine for the final video in the series. From Louisiana wine to Ruston peaches, we learned a few things from Chef Cory Bahr at Restaurant Cotton, Joe Mitcham, Jr. of Mitcham Farms, Chef Mark Smith from Restaurant Sage, Mike and Katie Coullard of Panola Pepper Company, Jeff Landry from Landry Vineyards, and Log Cabin Grill's Chris Garriga. There's a lot to be said for traveling within the state. There's much more than Cajun/Creole cuisine in Louisiana, so grab a fork and start exploring!

Jay Ducote, Dan Jones, and Fred Mince filming an interview with Jeff Landry

Tommy Talley and the tommysTV crew about to roll on the Mitcham Farms interview

Louisiana Culinary Trails: Bayou Bounty

Jordan Lewis sipping a Swamp Pop at Bread & Circus Provisions in Lafayette

When Louisiana's marshes and the Gulf of Mexico are your backyard, you can't help but capitalize on the amazing bounty of food at your fingertips. A trip to this part of the state means you're in store for a spectacle of Louisiana seafood like you've never experienced! From local sodas to clawing crabs, the Bayou Bounty installment of the Louisiana Culinary Trails video series shows eateries defending the world from bland food one bite at a time. This trail represents the heart of Acadiana, Lafayette, and follows the bayous and spillway down through New Iberia to Morgan City. Take a minute to listen to Chef Brian Blanchard of Cafe Jo Jo's, Chef Jeremy Conner of Village Café, Chef Richard & Lori Hurst from Little River Inn, Cecil Hymel from McIllhenny Co., and Abi Falgout of Bread & Circus Provisions boast their Cajun flair.

Jay Ducote interviewing Chef Brian Blanchard at Café Jo Jo's

Chef Richard Hurst and his wife Lori flaunt their fresh catch morning delivery

The crew from tommysTV films the Louisiana Culinary Trails
in front of a wall of aging Tabasco barrels

Louisiana Culinary Trails: Capital Cravings

Rolling cameras on Iverstine Family Farms with Galen Iverstine,
Jay Ducote, Fred Mince, and Dan Jones

The Louisiana Culinary Trails crew had more of a home-field advantage for the filming of the fourth video in the series. We took a trip to Kentwood to talk to local, first generation farmer, Galen Iverstine, about the bustling Red Stick Farmer's Market. Chef Jeremy Langlois shed some light on his farm-to-table practices at Houma's House Plantation and local food enthusiast Julie Laperouse and myself give a little commentary on the current Baton Rouge food and beverage scene. The Capital Cravings video would not have been complete without a trip to Tony's Seafood and to talk to Bill Pizzolato about their incredible Gulf seafood selection and those amazing boudin balls!

Fred Mince climbing counter tops while Jordan Lewis and Dan Jones grab some shots of Chef Jeremy Langlois in the kitchen

Louisiana Culinary Trails: Northshore Sampler

Jay Ducote and Chef John Besh at La Provence

The Louisiana Culinary Trails crew moved from New Orleans to Louisiana's Northshore in order to film our second video in the series. We crossed Lake Pontchartrain to shoot in Mandeville, Covington, and Slidell. We also ran into Chef John Besh at La Provence where he gave us a great interview to start the entire series, then cooked for us in the kitchen. We filmed some amazing seafood while on the Northshore and had interviews with Vanessa Gomes of Champagne Beverage, Tom Gregory from Go Coast: Louisiana, Chef Louie Finnan from Louie & the Redhead Lady, Vinnie LeDonne from Palmetto's on the Bayou, and Chef Erick Loos from La Provence. All in all, the Northshore really impressed and is definitely worthy of a visit!

Dan Jones films Chef John Besh creating one of his signature dishes

Vanessa Gomes discusses food on the Northshore as Jay Ducote, Dan Jones, Jordan Lewis, and Fred Mince produce

Louisiana Culinary Trails: Creole Crescent

Chef Matt Murphy and Jay Ducote share a laugh with a microphone

The Louisiana Culinary Trails video series kicks off in New Orleans with the Creole Crescent Trail. The Big Easy boasts one of the premier culinary scenes in the country, and I really can't imagine a better place to film food. Along the way through New Orleans we interviewed Chef Matt Murphy at The Irish House, Chef Michael Gullota at MoPho, Louisiana Cookin' Magazine editor Daniel Schumacher, Wendy Waren from the Louisiana Restaurant Association, and Chris Hannah at Arnaud' French 75 Bar. We also got to experience some of the best food and cocktails that the Crescent City has to offer. I hope you enjoy watching this video as much as I enjoyed producing it with tommysTV. If it doesn't leave you wanting a poboy in your taste buds, something is wrong with you!

Jordan Lewis, Fred Mince, and Dan Jones prep gear to film at Joey K's

Daniel Shumacher, Jay Ducote, and Michael Gulotta smile after filming at MoPho

Chris Hannah makes cocktails for Dan Jones's camera at Arnaud's French 75

Louisiana Culinary Trails Taste-umentary

Throughout early 2014 I helped produce a gastronomic video series with tommysTV for Louisiana Travel called Louisiana Culinary Trails. This project spans across the entire state of Louisiana highlighting the cultural stomach lining of our state's different delectable regions. From Prairie Home Cooking to the Creole Crescent Trail, we came across a gumbo of characters and learned the culinary blueprints of our neighbors. The most important takeaway from this video series is that there's a lot to be said about traveling within the state, especially through your taste buds! There are eight regional videos to come, but to get things started take a look at this overview video of what the Louisiana Culinary Trails has to offer: