[225] Magazine - December 2020 by Baton Rouge Business Report

DECEMBER 2020 • FREE DIY HOLIDAY DECOR 21 HEALTH CARE HEROES 27 FOODIE GIFTS 65 225BATONROUGE .COM

OUTDOOR DINING 200+ eateries to enjoy during the season’s nicest weather

+ Cocktails &

dishes to try al fresco

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Issue Date: December Ad proof #5

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

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UPFRONT //

Celebrate outdoors WOW! WE MADE IT. 2020 has certainly been a challenging year for our community and our country. I don’t know about you, but I’m tired of stressing about politics, COVID-19 and hurricanes! The good news is that we are finally in December—a month to cherish our friends and family, spread love and positivity, and refl ct on the year’s lessons. And as many of us prep for intimate holiday gatherings this season, the pandemic has encouraged some families to shift their dinners and events outdoors. In parts of the country, harsh winters might make outdoor entertaining tough. But we’re so fortunate to have mild winters here in Baton Rouge. December’s average high is 64 degrees, and on clear days sitting outside just feels good for the soul. Around town, we’ve seen restaurants capitalize on the increased interest in al fresco dining. Some restaurants, like DiGiulio Brothers BY JULIO MELARA and The Overpass Merchant, have expanded their outdoor seating spaces into their parking lots. Others, like Thai Kitchen and Los Reyes, have welcomed the opportunity to show off heir spacious patio seating and amenities to newly enthused audiences. For this month’s cover story, we’ve prepared a guide to outdoor dining in the Capital Region. We researched and compiled a list of more than 200 restaurants that offer open-air seating across greater Baton Rouge. We interviewed restaurant owners to ask about their patio seating plans, and many shared with us that they plan to add extra heaters to keep their tables comfortable and cozy all season long. We also offer advice on warm dishes and drinks to order on chilly days. Some restaurants feature dining with a view of vibrant murals or Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #1 festive holiday decor, while others host • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. music and entertainment. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are receivedlive within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subjectAnd to production fees. keep in mind this is not a

comprehensive list—it’s just a slice of our region’s outdoor offerings. If you’re interested in open-air dining, be sure to call your favorite restaurant to ask if they’ll be seating diners outside this winter. And send us tips about al fresco dining experiences that we may have missed to editor@225batonrouge.com. Many businesses have also continued offering dine-in and takeout food, drinks and prepared meals. So this season, consider supporting our restaurant industry however you feel most comfortable and able. We know it means a lot to our local business owners. Turn to page 38 for our cover story.

New in town Speaking of restaurants, it’s been pretty inspiring to see so many local places launch despite this year’s economic challenges. The Vintage has brought its beignets, cocktails, coffee and trendy decor to downtown. In Mid City, Gov’t Taco opened its political-conspiracy-themed brickand-mortar; Millennial Park brought exciting new fl vor with its restaurant stands; and Sweet Society and Boru Ramen made Electric Depot an even hipper place to hang out. In the LSU area, Modesto Tacos Tequila Whiskey introduced its authentic Mexican fare, and Texas’ Torchy’s Tacos finally brought its wildly popular concept to Baton Rouge. In Willow Grove, Bistro Byronz rebranded the former Flambee Cafe into Pizza Byronz. And we can’t forget the new breweries and distilleries that debuted: Istrouma Brewing in St. Gabriel; Cypress Coast Brewing Co. in Mid City; and Sugarfiel Spirits in Gonzales. Despite all the challenges in 2020, it’s been an incredible year for our growing food scene. Turn to page 22 to eye all the openings.

to spread across our region, hospital workers have been working so hard to keep staff nd patients safe and healthy. One team in particular has been critical to protecting everyone: the environmental service technicians who keep medical facilities clean. Since the pandemic began, the use of disinfectants at local hospitals like Ochsner Medical Center and Our Lady of the Lake has drastically increased. Workers tackle every surface and corner to eradicate virus germs— sometimes repeat-cleaning the same spot several times in one hour. They work with cleansers like Virex 256 and tools like germ-zapping robots to sanitize waiting rooms, restrooms and patient rooms. We spoke with some of these hospital workers about what their jobs are like during the pandemic. Turn to page 27 to read their stories.

Live music I don’t know about you, but one of the things I’ve missed the most this year is concerts. There have been a handful of shows around town since pandemic restrictions began loosening this summer, but still not nearly as many as we’ve seen in a typical year. Beauvoir Park is one of the exceptions. The music venue has been a hidden gem since it opened in the spring of 2019. This year, the large outdoor venue has become particularly special, as it’s been one of the only spots in town consistently hosting live events. The backyard-like venue under the Perkins Road overpass has hosted local and touring music acts, as well as twice-weekly yoga sessions. Learn all about it by turning to page 71. From all of us at 225, we wish you a happy and healthy holiday season. See you in 2021. The best is yet to come!

Health care heroes While COVID-19 has continued

Del Rio Real Estate, Inc. is a team of Baton Rouge natives who have a lifetime of experience learning the area and being a part of its communities. 6

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[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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CONTENTS //

Features 22 The most exciting new

restaurants that opened in 2020

38 Agave Blue Tequila & Taco Bar

36 How one local baker won two

reality TV competitions

53 All about the fun designs and clay earrings of Modern Lulu

74 Louisiana books released this

year to add to your holiday list And much more…

Departments 14 What’s Up 27 Our City 36 I am 225 38 Cover story 53 Style 59 Taste 71 Culture 78 Calendar

ON THE COVER

Outdoor dining

COLLIN RICHIE

WITH THE POPULARITY of outdoor dining booming this year thanks to the pandemic, there are more places than ever to enjoy a meal while getting some fresh air. One of the spots we checked out was Los Reyes Mexican Grill, where you can drink margaritas next to a fountain decorated with tiles imported from Mexico. For our cover shot, Collin Richie captured the restaurant’s patio right before sunset. And you might recognize a few faces. Mixed in with the diners who were already at the restaurant that evening, a few 225 staffers popped in to enjoy the patio.

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: December Ad proof #2

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[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: November Ad proof #1

A S K T H E S TA FF

What has been your silver lining for 2020? Publisher: Julio Melara

EDITORIAL

“I got engaged! Ironically, the exact same day my now-fiancee found out she had COVID…” —Mark Clements

Editorial director: Penny Font Editor: Jennifer Tormo Managing editor: Benjamin Leger Staff writer: Cynthea Corfah Digital content editor: Mark Clements Staff photographer: Collin Richie Contributing writers: Julia-Claire Evans, Tracey Koch, Elle Marie, Kayla Randall, Maggie Heyn Richardson, Stephanie Riegel, Jeff Roedel Contributing photographers: Ariana Allison, Catrice Coleman, Sean Gasser, Amy Shutt, Haskell Whittington

ADVERTISING

Sales director: Erin Palmintier-Pou Account executives: Manny Fajardo, André Hellickson Savoie, Jamie Hernandez, Kaitlyn Maranto, Brooke Motto Advertising coordinator: Devyn MacDonald

CORPOR ATE MEDIA

Editor: Lisa Tramontana Content strategist: Allyson Guay Multimedia Strategy Manager: Tim Coles

“I’ve gotten really good at my multiplication facts and writing compound sentences during athome school with my third grade son.” —Erin Palmintier-Pou

MARKETING

“My silver lining for 2020 has been to really appreciate the restaurant industry! They’ve done so much this year, and it really makes me want to support all of my local favorites.” —André Hellickson Savoie

Chief marketing officer Elizabeth McCollister Hebert Marketing & events assistant: Taylor Floyd Events: Abby Hamilton Community liaison: Jeanne McCollister McNeil

ADMINISTR ATION

Assistant business manager: Tiffany Durocher Business associate: Kirsten Milano Office coordinator: Tara Lane Receptionist: Cathy Brown

PRODUCTION/DESIGN

Production director: Melanie Samaha Art director: Hoa Vu Graphic designers: Melinda Gonzalez, Emily Witt “I’ve started taking the time to improve my skills as an artist to help further my career. I’ve also started personal art projects again, which hasn’t happened since I graduated college.” —Emily Witt

WHAT’S ON THE OUTSIDE MATTERS

“We managed to dodge five hurricanes.” —Hoa Vu

AUDIENCE DEVELOPMENT

Audience development director and digital manager: James Hume Audience development associate: Jordan Kozar Audience development coordinator: Ivana Oubre A publication of Louisiana Business Inc. Chairman: Rolfe H. McCollister Jr. President and CEO: Julio Melara Executive assistant: Kathleen Wray

9029 Jefferson Highway, Suite 300 Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-214-5225 • FAX 225-926-1329 225batonrouge.com

7620 Old Hammond Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225.926.6892 | w w w.carriagesbr.com

©Copyright 2020 by Louisiana Business Incorporated. All rights reserved by LBI. Reproduction in whole or in part without permission is strictly prohibited. Business address: 9029 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, LA 70809. Telephone (225) 214-5225. 225 Magazine cannot be responsible for the return of unsolicited material—manuscripts or photographs—with or without the inclusion of a stamped, self-addressed return envelope. Information in this publication is gathered from sources considered to be reliable, but the accuracy and completeness of the information cannot be guaranteed.

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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F E E D B AC K / / W H AT ’ S O N L I N E / /

DIGIT

About adding local citrus to cocktails this holiday season:

Foodies unite

“Oohhh, I’ll have to give one of these a try instead of Wine Wednesday for my next live painting night!”

OUR FOOD COVERAGE always draws the most comments online. Check out what readers have said recently, and find out more about the biggest restaurant openings of the year on page 22.

—Morgan Tanner Art

Ramen at Boru

About Beausoleil reopening in early November through City Group Hospitality:

“Looks incredible! Can’t wait to visit.”

LI SO N

“So excited that they are opening again. Our favorite restaurant. Can’t wait to try the new dishes.”

AN ARI

About Boru, the new ramen restaurant that opened in Electric Depot in November:

—Megan Bella

—Linda Colligan Roy

ARIANA ALLISON

“This place looks legit! Can’t wait to slurp down some noodles on a cold winter’s night with my boo!”

The revamped Beausoleil includes a raw bar.

ARIANA ALLISON

—Austin William Guntz

Clever design elements abound at Gov’t Taco.

About Gov’t Taco’s new Mid City spot, which opened on Election Day:

“Across the street from me! Dangerous!”

—Angela Delaroderie-Brabham

“BR is making leaps and bounds. I can get behind this.”

Number of outdoor activities we suggest in our ‘225 Things to Do in a Pandemic’ special online publication. That includes mountain biking at Comite River Park, communing with nature at Tunica Hills or learning about our native trees and shrubs at the LSU Hilltop Arboretum. With the holidays approaching, you might need an excuse to get outside. Find the full list under the “Things To Do” tab at 225batonrouge.com.

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Issue Date: December Ad proof #4

• Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. twitter.com/225batonrouge facebook.com/225magazine • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

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step into the holidays with style

@ a r i a b a t o n r o u g e | w w w. a r i a o n l i n e. c o m | @ a r i a l a f ay e t t e 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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December

Paintings of the stars Local artist and LSU student Cora Barhorst paints lively nature-inspired portraits of animals, celebrities and icons

COLLIN RICHIE

ART RUNS THROUGH Cora Barhorst’s blood. The Baton Rouge native was raised by her art historian mother. Growing up, she participated in art camps, took private painting lessons and ultimately received art scholarships to LSU. Since she can remember, the 22-year-old has always enjoyed painting. But it wasn’t until she went to LSU that she realized she could turn her passion into a profitable business In December 2019, she started offering custom portraits, dog and house drawings and digital art to make extra money for Christmas. Before she knew it, she was swamped in commissions. Now, Barhorst owns an online art business, Cora B. Gallery. She sells original paintings, prints, mini card sets and stickers. In addition, she makes custom portraits and art for customers upon request. Her creations are bright, realistic and colorful. The history and classical studies major likes to experiment with different media and styles. She enjoys making iconography and nature-inspired pieces using acrylic paints. “I make portraits of people that I would want to have paintings of in my house,” Barhorst says. Barhorst wanted to offer something different from the average rectangular canvas, so circular canvases have become her signature style. On round canvases, she has painted portraits of musicians like Dolly Parton with a butterfly background and Harry Styles surrounded by sunflowers She has also painted women leaders like Ruth Bader Ginsberg on a pink flo al backdrop and Mother Teresa surrounded by beams of light and blue butterflies And this winter, her collection will be nothing like what her audience has seen from her before. She was inspired by Japanese watercolors, which she’s been interested in since she was in the eighth grade, and how subtle strokes of paint can make animals look feminine and delicate. The upcoming collection is centered around animals, nature and gold hues. The decorative paintings feature cloudy, gold backgrounds with animals like butterflies birds and tigers elegantly painted on the canvas. Barhorst wanted to make a new art series that people could use to accessorize their spaces. Though her business is still new, Barhorst is off to an explosive start. She sells her work at Mid City Makers Market and in three galleries: Life Designed in Lafayette; Speakeasy Art in New Orleans; and Decor List, an online gallery based in London. All of her art is created from her home studio. In the future, she hopes to have a separate studio space and art gallery. “By next year I want to have a studio and production space where I can go to consistently, manage myself, photograph my work and have a little place where people can come see my work in person,” Barhorst says. “In two to five y ars, I have a vision to open my own gallery of work.” corabgallery.com —CYNTHEA CORFAH

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

Season’s greetings

WINNERS

10 ways to make the holidays more affordable this year

1. Buy a gift card: Have a strict budget for gifts? No problem. Buy a gift card with a set amount of money to avoid overspending. Plus, the recipient gets the freedom of choosing how they want to spend the card. 2. Browse the sale racks: Just because it’s out of season doesn’t mean it’s not stylish. Dig through the sale bins and racks of your loved one’s favorite stores to find a fordable and fashionable clothes. 3. Hand make thoughtful gifts: The best gifts are the ones that come from the heart. Get crafty and make something unique. Brainstorm some of your skills like sewing, painting, drawing, writing, film or photog aphy. Hunt for craft ideas on Pinterest.

4. Give the gift of words: You don’t have to buy people presents to make them smile. Write a handwritten letter, card or poem to wish your loved ones well. Note: Don’t forget to date the letter in case they want to save it as a keepsake.

8. Thrift something special: Thrift stores are full of hidden gems. Whether you’re looking for a unique mug or vintage T-shirt, carve some time out of your day to browse the racks and shelves at a local secondhand shop. You never know what you might discover.

5. Host potluck dinners: Don’t carry the burden of cooking and buying all the dishes for your holiday party. Make it a potluck and have everyone bring a different dish.

9. Reuse bags or gift boxes: If you gently store gift bags and boxes from previous holidays, they can be as good as new for years to come. Shoe boxes and other cardboard boxes can also be reused to package gifts.

6. Set up a group gift exchange: Instead of feeling pressured to buy each of your friends pricey gifts, play White Elephant or Secret Santa. Assign each friend or family member a person in the group to give a gift to. That way, everyone leaves happy.

10. Volunteer: Helping another person is priceless. Lend a helping hand at a local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, youth center or nonprofit o ganization. If you are able, consider sponsoring a local family and providing gifts for those who can’t buy their own.

7. Make your own wrapping paper: Recycle old newspapers, magaOTO PH K STOC zine pages or other reusable paper to wrap gifts. You can even use kraft paper and draw on it with markers or colored pencils for your own custom wrapping paper.

225 GIVES, a 24-hour online fundraising campaign by Baton Rouge Area Foundation and Capital Area United Way, launched this fall to provide local nonprofits with financial aid especially after being economically hit by the pandemic. On Dec. 1, nonprofits will have their own page on 225gives.org, where prospective donors can learn about the organizations, their mission and programs. (Editor’s note: Although the campaign shares our name, it was not created by 225 magazine—but we are a media sponsor.)

STOCK PHOTO

HOLIDAY SEASON DOESN’T have to break your bank. Instead of stressing about gift ideas or overspending, here are a few ways you can cut back your expenses while still having a jolly good time—and supporting local businesses, if you are able.

Farm to table WHY SHOP AT big-box grocery stores for produce when you can buy fresh fruits and vegetables from local growers? For decades, Baton Rouge has dealt with a food desert problem. But locals are providing their own solution with new fresh-food stands, open-air markets and community farms all over town. Shop local produce from one of these businesses for your holiday meals.

Community and urban farms Baton Roots Community Farm | thewallsproject.org Front Yard Bikes’ gardening program | frontyardbikes.com CAMILLE DELAUNE

Farmers markets The Market at the Oasis | themarketattheoasis.com Red Stick Farmers Market | breada.org Scotlandville Saturdays | Find it on Facebook Jasiri Basel launched the Fresh Cube in 2018.

CAMILLE DELAUNE

Produce stands The Fresh Cube | growbatonrouge.com Grow Dirt | growdirtbr.com Phirst Bite | phirstbite.us

COLLIN RICHIE

Local community farms, markets and fresh food stands to source local produce in Baton Rouge

Mayor Sharon Weston Broome partnered with Build Baton Rouge’s Christopher Tyson to restore the Plank Road corridor.

BUILD BATON ROUGE was one of eight recipients of JPMorgan Chase’s 2020 AdvancingCities Challenge award, a $5 million grant that helps developing cities turn growth and development plans into reality. Build Baton Rouge aims to use the grant to implement the Imagine Plank Road master plan, which includes a grocery-anchored mixed use development that will feature more than 40 affordable housing units along a rapid-transit bus line. buildbatonrouge.org

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

W H AT ’ S N E W

Buzz feed By Julia Claire Evans

COMING SOON

Big Chicken

Shaquille O’Neal’s Las Vegas-based fried chicken restaurant is opening a new location in Baton Rouge. The restaurant serves fried chicken, barbecue dishes and adult milkshakes, and will be in the new landside Hollywood Casino. This will be the first riverbo t casino to move onto land, following new 2018 legislation. bigchicken.com

INNOVATIVE coastal cuisine at your neighborhood bistro

BEAUSOLEIL COASTAL CUISINE

NOW OPEN! 7731 Jefferson Hwy, Baton Rouge, LA 70809 225-926-1172 — beausoleilcoastal.com

Sharks attack! AN AQUARIUM IS opening in the Mall of Louisiana. Yep, you read that right. Blue Zoo is an aquarium chain that mostly operates in shopping malls across the United States. Opening in April or May, it will feature everything from sharks to stingrays to starfish and some aquatic species will even be available for customer interactions. batonrouge.bluezoo.us

The Hive Pizza

Rotolo’s founder Mitch Rotolo Sr. has new plans for Baton Rouge. His buildyour-own style pizza restaurant, The Hive Pizza, will open next to Burgersmith on Siegen Lane. It will offer custom or off-themenu, personal-size pizzas. hivepizza.com

Cafe Petra

Cafe Petra, a St. Francisville favorite, is coming to Baton Rouge. The new location, Cafe Petra Express, will be a fast-casual Greek restaurant that offers Greek and Lebanese foods like hummus, chicken shawarma and lamb kebabs. The new location will open in the former Smoothie King in Ichiban Square. sfcafepetra.com

Popeyes. Chocolate. Beignets. DOES IT GET any better? Popeyes is testing out chocolate beignets at select locations. First the fried chicken sandwich, and now chocolate beignets? Popeyes sure knows how to get our attention, and we aren’t complaining. Be on the lookout for these baked sweets coming to a location near you sometime soon. popeyes.com

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: December Ad proof #1 W H AT ’ S U P / /

Dyslexia is NOT my Disability, it’s my

Superpower! At The Brighton School, we prepare and empower students with dyslexia and other language-based learning differences to succeed. Baton Rouge’s leader in the field of educating students with dyslexia.

Grades K-12 In the kitchen

In case you haven’t noticed, Red Stick Spice Co. has amped up its virtual cooking classes over quarantine, and it just got a new kitchen space to create even more. The extra large dinner table and island are perfect for cooking, and the kitchen itself has built-in broadcasting equipment, studio lighting and overhead cameras for optimal angles. Red Stick hopes to broadcast even more cooking videos and virtual classes, and the new kitchen itself is available to be rented out to other cooks. redstickspice.com

12108 Parkmeadow Ave. Baton Rouge, LA 70816 thebrightonschool.org

225.291.2524 •

Issue Date: December Ad2 proof #4

DIGITS

7.1%

PHOTOS BY: ARIANA ALLISON; STOCK IMAGES

UNEMPLOYMENT IN THE Baton Rouge area as of August. This was a promising decrease from July’s 9.2% unemployment figu e. However, layoffs in restaurants and hospitality services across south Louisiana are still happening, despite decreases in restrictions during Phase Three. Baton Rouge’s P.F. Chang’s China Bistro posted 75 layoffs in September. Meanwhile in New Orleans, staples like Pat O’Brien’s were reporting similarly large layoffs.

‘Tis the Season to

SUIT UP!

Road to recovery Raising Cane’s owner Todd Graves is up to something new: shooting his docuseries, Restaurant Recovery, which will feature him helping restaurants who are struggling or even on the verge of closing due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Poor Boy Lloyd’s on Florida Street downtown will be featured in the show. Graves and his film c ew were spotted shooting at the po-boy and seafood restaurant in October. poorboylloyds.com

225-752-0062 16645 Highland Rd. Suite A Baton Rouge, LA 70810 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #4

Wishing you a Safe Holiday Season

Being an injured worker is difficult enough… Call in the Comp Guy to navigate your claim with a specialist

225-960-4449 212 Laurel Street | Baton Rouge, LA

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

YOUR FLAVOR Your 2020 in one word

Humbling

DiGiulio Brothers. I love their food and the setup.

Renewing

Zorba’s Greek Bistro

Tough to Treat has been my go-to podcast.

Lauren Luke Woman’s health physical therapist 36

Keion Givens

CEO, By Design Imaging 30

Turbulent Acme Oyster House

Mona Gills-Collins Jury coordinator, 19th Judicial District Court 54

Your mostlistened-to song or podcast of 2020 “Respect” by Aretha Franklin. We play ‘70s and ‘80s music in my restaurant, and everyone sings when it comes on.

Stephanie Phares Owner, Zeeland Street 60

Favorite spot for outdoor dining

Loss

The Francis is beautiful.

MASK NOW so we can

Gift you love to give during the holidays

Best book, movie or show you enjoyed this year

Cookbooks

Seat Yourself: The Best of South Louisiana’s Diners by Alex V. Cook and The Queen’s Gambit

Massage and self-care packages

The Power of Now by Eckhart Tolle

“Father Stretch” by Kanye West’s Sunday Service Choir

Money

“My Name Is Prince” by Prince and The New Power Generation

Special ornaments

One thing we couldn’t Google about you I like gardening. I’m turning my backyard into a Mediterraneaninspired garden.

I travel with my own pillow and sheets because I’m a sheet snob.

I am an avid anime fan.

Lovecraft Country

The Haunting of Bly Manor

I own a 1964 white Cadillac Hearse.

‘Tis the season for parties and celebrations. With the holidays upon us, let’s work together so we can get back to the life we love in Louisiana. Wear a mask now to protect yourself, your family and neighbors—so we can party later!

01MK7441 09/20

Learn more about ways to protect yourself at bcbsla.com/covid19

later! 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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PRESENTED BY

A HOLIDAY TRADITION

A mile-long trail through the Zoo with more than 50 illuminated sculptures of animals and traditional holiday displays! Closed Christmas Eve + Christmas Day

NOV 27- DEC 30

NIGHTLY

ADMISSION GATES: 5:30-8 PM GROUNDS CLOSE: 9 PM

BRZOO.ORG

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W H AT ’ S U P / /

TRY THIS

Home for Christmas A new DIY holiday design kit wraps up the season’s decor in one festive, easy-to-use box By Kayla Randall // Photos by Collin Richie

THIS IS THE season for fans of the most wonderful time of the year to shine. Jessica Clouatre and Brittney Vance want Baton Rouge homes to shine, too. They are the local creative minds behind Blanc Box, a new DIY home design service launching this winter. It’s meant to help turn your living space into a winter wonderland. The pair has been professionally decking homes with boughs of holly for more than a decade. “I’ve always done Christmas decorating with Brittney,” Clouatre says. “We have been best friends since third grade.” During Christmastime, she says, they decorate three to four houses a day for clients, designing trees, mantles, tablescapes and more. People reach out to them for help. “I don’t know how much to buy,” they’ll say, or “I’m not sure this looks good” or “I don’t know how to do it.” They created Blanc Box with the DIY holiday spirit in mind. The idea first came to them last November as they decorated trees, Clouatre says. “We were just brainstorming as we were decorating and talking about it, like, ‘We could have these different boxes, and we could do different tiers for each box. Maybe people have a smaller budget, or if your tree is smaller you don’t need as many things. We could have different options for you to choose from.’” After running their idea by a few people, they got great responses and were off to the races putting it together in time for 2020’s holiday season. The Christmas tree is often the centerpiece of holiday home design, and so Blanc Box will offer options

Brittney Vance and Jessica Clouatre are launching Blanc Box this winter.

for customers to make their tree look exactly how they want. From ornaments to ribbons to tree skirts—and a video explaining how to put the look together—it’s all delivered to customers’ doorsteps in white boxes. For Clouatre and Vance, Blanc Box is an expansion of their many years working together and curating holiday design. Now, they’re giving people the confid nce to design and decorate themselves.

“[Even if] they can’t afford to have a designer come in and help do it all for them, like some of our clients, people want help,” Clouatre says. Families might also be busy and unable to take time for the potentially overwhelming and intimidating experience of decor shopping, she says. Blanc Box was born to help. “You don’t have to go to the store; you don’t have to figure out how much you need of everything; you don’t have to stress about how to cut your ribbon and

what to do with it. We provide it all.” As of press time, Clouatre and Vance expect to have fully launched the service before Thanksgiving, and they want to expand in the future. In the meantime, holiday revelers can get a dose of their festive goodies on Instagram @shopblancbox. Clouatre likens Blanc Box to being “the HelloFresh” of Christmas. Except instead of delivering meal kits, they’re delivering holiday cheer. shopblancbox.com

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The “Governor’s Room”

The New Orleans-born, beignet-themed restaurant took over the former Magpie Cafe space downtown. Its opening coincided with Louisiana’s Phase One reopening, and its sophisticated style felt like a breath of fresh air after a spring cooped up at home. Black leather booths, a vintage piano and lots of wood and velvet finishes dot the interio . Patio seating lines Third Street. Serving breakfast, coffee and sandwiches, it’s a solid daytime spot. But it’s also been one of a handful of downtown restaurants that’s remained open in the evenings this year, with a fun menu of beignet flights craft cocktails, charcuterie and cheese boards, and other light bites. thevintagebr.com

The Vintage

May

Young developer Cameron Jackson is the visionary who brought Louisiana’s first shipping container park to Florida Boulevard. The mixed-use, mural-covered venue kicked things off with a Juneteenth Block Party, and it quickly became the go-to spot for drive-in movie nights and outdoor lunches. Debut food stands included Jive Turkey, Royal Taste of Jamaica and Memphis Mac BBQ (which also opened a separate brick-and-mortar in February). Planned future openings include The Daiquiri Spot and a build-your-own pasta stand. Jackson’s next venture is a produce market, slated to open in 2021 at North Street and North Acadian Thruway. Find it on Instagram

Millennial Park

June

The year was off to a strong start when this Louisiana staple opened on Constitution Avenue after nearly five y ars of planning. The former FYE store was transformed into a New Orleans-style restaurant and bar, complete with a live-entertainment stage. If you think you’ll sneak a peek of a local celeb at this institution, though, think again. Its “Governor’s Room” is accessible by a private entrance designed with politicians and LSU coaches in mind. On the menu: rich seafood dishes like lobster mac & cheese, fried catfish and the big draw: charbroiled oysters. dragosrestaurant.com

Drago’s Seafood Restaurant

January

—COMPILED BY JENNIFER TORMO FROM ‘225 DINE’ REPORTS

cards, ordering take-out, organizing fundraisers and finally venturing out during phased eopenings. But here’s the most inspiring thing: This roller-coaster year has not stopped Baton Rouge’s restaurant scene from growing. Many restaurateurs braved uncharted waters to keep one dream alive: providing special new concepts to the Capital Region. Have a look at a few.

KRISTIN SELLE

LET’S GIVE THREE cheers to our local restaurant industry. There’s probably never been a year as tough on them as 2020. Think about all they’ve had to endure since mid-March. They’ve faced shutdowns and capacity restrictions. Owners and workers have felt the stress of layoffs and lost revenue—all while trying to keep staff and diners safe in the middle of a global pandemic. Customers were quick to offer support by buying gift

A look back on some of this year’s biggest restaurant openings

Made in 2020

ORDER THIS

W H AT ’ S U P / /

KRISTIN SELLE

Sweet Society

Even as bars were closed for nearly half the year, we still got to celebrate the long-anticipated launches of new craft beer and spirits producers. Istrouma Brewing opened its “art farm”themed space at Sugar Farms in St. Gabriel. Cypress Coast Brewing Co. launched with five b ews, including a collab with French Truck Coffee, at its rustic spot in Mid City. And in Gonzales, Sugarfield Spirit opened with bottles of vodka, rum and bourbon, plus craft cocktails. Its January opening was serendipitously timed. It enabled the distillery to help with muchneeded hand sanitizer production in the early days of the pandemic.

BREWERIES AND DISTILLERIES

Sugarfield Spirits

Other big openings

KRISTIN SELLE

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CATRICE COLEMAN

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CATRICE COLEMAN

After White Star Market’s March closure shuttered Gov’t Taco’s booth, owner Jay Ducote and his team kept their eyes on the prize: making their first bric -and-mortar a showstopper. After a year and a half in the works, the Government Street restaurant debuted on Election Day—with American government-themed tacos and a political-conspiracy-inspired interior to match. In different hands, the theme might have felt gimmicky. But the design, led by Kenneth Brown’s firm and designer Jake Loup, is moody, playful and chic. And yes, it is one of the best new spots in town to take a selfie govttaco.com

Gov’t Taco

November

With authentic Mexican fare, a colorful tiled bar and a string-light-strewn patio, Modesto became one of the most buzzed-about new spots in the LSU area. The project is courtesy Ozzie Fernandez, the local restaurant giant behind Rocca Pizzeria, Izzo’s Illegal Burrito and Lit Pizza. This menu is personal for Fernandez, who is of Mexican descent and incorporated recipes belonging to his mother and grandmothers. Find it on Facebook

Modesto Tacos Tequila Whiskey

September

Ronnie Wong and Patrick Wong (both also part of the Ichiban Sushi Bar & Grill team) opened their ramen concept in Electric Depot. The decor and menu were inspired by the brothers’ training at and travels to Japanese-style ramen spots in Tokyo and New York. Its noodles and broth are made from scratch. The bar serves Japanese whiskey, sake flights and Asian-inspired craft cocktails. Patrick also owns neighboring dessert shop Sweet Society. boruramen.business.site

Boru Ramen

October

One of the year’s most wildly popular openings arrived from Austin. The highly (highly!) anticipated fast-casual restaurant lives up to the hype. As summer turned to fall, its long lines out the door were visible from across the street at Tiger Stadium. It’s all about the impossible-to-resist queso and “damn good” breakfast and specialty tacos. There’s even a taco you can only get in Baton Rouge: the Bayou Pirate, with local fried crawfish tails andouille sausage, cabbage slaw, pickled relish, and chipotle and Diablo sauces. The expansive margarita menu and colorful, modern interior don’t hurt, either. torchystacos.com

Torchy’s Tacos

July

HASKELL WHITTINGTON

LEMA

N CE CO CATRI

The constantly changing economic environment kept restaurants on their toes and ready to adapt. Perhaps that’s partly why so many restaurants changed hands or priorities in 2020. In Willow Grove, the Bistro Byronz team rebranded its Flambee Cafe into Pizza Byronz. City Group Hospitality acquired Beausoleil, giving its design and menu a coastal refresh while honoring customer favorites. With its Port Allen dining room closed during the shutdown, Cou-yon’s BBQ grew its food trailer fleet parking in three different spots around Baton Rouge. Smokin Aces BBQ came under new ownership and moved to Denham Springs, and Batch 13 moved downtown. And with its White Star Market booth no more, Thaihey Thaifood opened its first bric -andmortar on Lee Drive.

THE YEAR OF THE REBRAND

Cou-yon’s

New boutique sweets shops proved dessert can be a main event, too. Electric Depot’s Sweet Society introduced Mid City to taiyaki (fish-shaped wa fle cones stu fed with ice cream) and Asian-style desserts, lemonades and teas. Over on Essen Lane, Bonjour serves French pastries and crepes. And on Highland Road, Boom Box Pops provides a sweet dose of nostalgia with ’80s decor, arcade games and Louisiana-themed popsicles.

ROOM FOR DESSERT

Sweet Society

E RIC IN LL CO

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ARIANA ALLISON

AD V E RT I SE ME N T

Dudley DeBosier recognizes those who

4LA oRight4

REBECCA GARDNER • HANDS PRODUCING HOPE Rebecca Gardner is a busy lady. She is a wife and mother of three, and she is the founder of Hands Producing Hope, an organization focused on helping impoverished communities around the world. This passion was sparked in 2010, when she spent six months in Costa Rica. There, she discovered the discrimination and hardships a group of native people, the Guaymi, faced. Despite facing oppression and extreme poverty, they shared her passion for learning and creating. Rebecca realized they needed a marketplace for their work, and that’s how Hands Producing Hope was first launched. Hands Producing Hope provides dignified work, education and resources to disadvantaged groups in Baton Rouge and around the world. The organization provides artisanskill training programs, an adult literacy school, a maternalhealth education program, and supplemental income to disadvantaged groups by providing a market for their artisan

goods to be sold in the US. Hands Producing Hope recently opened its first retail store, The Hope Shop, on Government Street in Baton Rouge. People can also shop for Hope’s goods online at handsproducinghope.org or at the permanent pop-up shop in Lighthouse Coffee. In the future, Rebecca plans to continue to grow Hands Producing Hope’s local refugee and immigrant program, which brings women in the Baton Rouge community together with refugees to provide training and work. She would also like to use her new store front, The Hope Shop, to host events and launch classes on sustainability, creativity and fair trade. She has big plans to grow and impact the Baton Rouge community, and she invites people to shop, donate and volunteer on her website, handsproducinghope.org.

Do you know someone “doing right?” Submit their name to promos@dudleydebosier.com

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AD V E RT I SE ME N T

MAKING A

Difference

DUDLEY DEBOSIER ADOPTS A SHELTER In honor of October being Adopt-A-Dog Month, Dudley DeBosier wanted to encourage new adoptions and help find fur-ever homes for Louisiana shelter pups! So what better way to bring awareness to dog adoptions and all the hard work that rescues and shelters do for our furry friends, than for Dudley DeBosier to “adopt” an entire shelter! With the large number of organizations that are out there, Dudley DeBosier asked their Facebook followers to nominate their favorite shelter/rescue by tagging them. The love shown for these organizations and all the hard work they do was enormous with more than 2,700 nominations rolled in for 82 shelters across Louisiana!

Responsible Attorneys

During the first week of October, the top 10 shelters with the most shares on their “Adopt-A-Shelter” post received a bucket of Dudley DeBosier red tennis balls. The new toys definitely made some pups very happy! At the end of October after 11,355 people voted, Dudley DeBosier announced that with nearly 1700 votes, Northshore Humane Society was their “Adopt-A-Shelter” winner! For being the top shelter, they received a check for $4,444.44 to aid in their adoption efforts! Scott Bernier, CEO of Northshore Humane Society, along with one of their pups available for adoption, Touchdown, visited Dudley DeBosier’s office to talk to them about all the great work they are doing and share some puppy love! To find out more about Dudley DeBosier’s community involvement and future contests, make sure to follow them on Facebook! For more information about Northshore Humane Society, please visit them at northshorehumane.org.

444-4444

1075 GOVERNMENT STREET BATON ROUGE, LA 70802 WWW.DUDLEYDEBOSIER.COM

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I N S I D E : Baton Rouge’s biggest news moments of 2020

Essential workers

Ochsner Medical Center environmental services technician Brittany Jones works with tools like Xenex robots to disinfect the hospital during the pandemic.

During a global pandemic, some of the most important health care workers are those keeping hospitals clean B Y JE N N IFE R TO R MO

2,720

Gallons of the Virex 256 cleaner the environmental services team uses to disinfect Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center per week

COLLIN RICHIE

WHEN SHE CLEANS, Brittany Jones thinks of her uncle. Darrel Guy died on a Tuesday. He had been sick all weekend, sweating and burning up with a fever. On the last day of his life, he was rushed to the emergency room and diagnosed with COVID-19. Within a few hours, his heart stopped beating. That September day, Guy—a pastor, husband, father and uncle—was added to the pandemic’s death toll. It’s his face Jones sees as she scrubs the walls of the COVID-19 unit at Ochsner Medical Center. It’s his voice she hears as she disinfects each room’s curtains, mattresses and medical equipment. She pictures her aunt and two cousins, who each faced their own three-week battles with the virus after Guy’s death. Jones misses her uncle every day. “More than anything,” she says. It’s a cool October morning, one month since her uncle died, and Jones speaks wistfully about what could have been— should have been. Guy was supposed to bless her new house this year. Now, he’ll never get that chance. Long before the pandemic affected Jones’ life personally, she’d been working in hospitals. She’s been an environmental services technician at Ochsner for two years. She says she’s always loved to clean. And when a family member who works at the hospital sent her the application, she “jumped right on it.” Jones enjoys interacting with the patients and her coworkers, and even volunteers to work extra on the weekends when she’s off.

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OUR CITY //

LA KE

“Cleaning the hospital is more serious now than some people might think.”

R COU

LIN COL

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—Elizabeth Parker

—Brittany Jones

UR YO TES

E HI RIC

She caught COVID-19 at the beginning of March. It was before anyone in Baton Rouge realized the virus was spreading in our community, back when it was hard to even get a COVID test. She was sick for two and a half weeks. She had unrelenting body aches, loss of smell, a sore throat and a 102.9 degree fever that just wouldn’t go away. “It was actually life changing for me,” she says. “It’s so many phases your body goes through when you have COVID. It was like an up-anddown roller coaster. One minute, you’ll feel OK. The next minute, it’s like a crash and burn.” Parker was worried she would pass the virus on to her fiance and her young kids, so she separated from her children for two weeks. The scariest part by far, though, was watching one of her friends fight the virus at the same time as her. A certifi d nursing assistant who works on her unit was on a ventilator for three months. “The toughest thing,” Parker says, “was seeing her intubated and really sick every day.”

After Parker recovered from the virus, she was asked by her manager if she felt up to working on the COVID unit. The decision was one of the most difficult she’s ever had to make. But she accepted because she wanted to play a part in keeping everybody safe. Outside of work, the 27-year-old has dramatically altered her social life. Before, Parker says, she was a “get-upand-go person.” She liked to go out. Now, all she does is work, come home and stay home. She limits where she goes, how long she goes there and who comes to visit her house. She does not want to get the virus again—or risk spreading it to someone else. She knows what it feels like to clean a room a patient has died in. It’s the hardest thing, she says, to go from seeing that person alive in the unit every day to watching as they’re carried away in a body bag. “I feel like people outside hospitals’ COVID units, or who have not had the virus, don’t see the virus like I see the virus,” she says. “I’ve seen how it actually affects a human. How somebody could be OK one minute, and the next minute they’ll feel horrible.”

COURTESY OUR LADY OF THE LAKE

In normal times, she’d clean the patient rooms, waiting rooms and hallways; polish windows; and pick up trash outside the hospital. Since the COVID-19 outbreak reached Baton Rouge, though, her job has been more critical than ever. She arrives to work at 6 a.m. each day to begin her cleaning rounds. She and her coworkers wear heavy PPE to protect themselves. When they enter a room that has been occupied by a COVID-19 patient, they put on a mix of protective scrubs and gowns, gloves, goggles and/or face shields, surgical hats and N95 masks. Cleaning while wearing the equipment is grueling. It’s hot and hard to breathe in. But Jones doesn’t complain. She and her coworkers are also armed with Virex 256 surface cleaner; disinfectant misting sprayers that disperse chemicals; and Xenex, a germ-zapping robot on wheels that’s about half Jones’ height. Since the pandemic began, Ochsner’s use of Xenex robots has increased by more than 70%, and the use of disinfectants has jumped by approximately one-third. The environmental services team dedicates more than 2,200 hours per week to keep the hospital clean. Over at Our Lady of the Lake Regional Medical Center, the 222-person environmental services team also cleans and sanitizes the facility 24 hours a day, seven days a week. They clean more than 15,000 patient rooms monthly, not to mention all the waiting areas, bathrooms and operating rooms. The cleaning and re-cleaning amounts to more than 2 million square feet per day. Elizabeth Parker, an environmental services technician at Our Lady of the Lake, repeats her rounds every 15 to 30 minutes. She disinfects everything from IV posts to computer desks. And like Jones, Parker has her own haunting memories of the virus.

“A lot of people don’t have the bravery or the heart to work on the COVID unit throughout the whole pandemic.”

Elizabeth Parker disinfects everything from bedding to medical equipment during her rounds.

Parker has watched patients die within three hours of arriving at the hospital. She has heard the calls to families telling them their loved ones will never come home again. Jones shares similar feelings, especially when she worries for her 17-year-old son. She always encourages him to remember his mask. She doesn’t want either of them to get sick. “That’s why we [clean] every surface, every wall, every item in the room,” Parker explains. “We have to be more cautious about how we clean and how thoroughly we clean.” When asked what she wishes people knew about her job, Jones becomes pensive. “A lot of people make it seem like housekeeping or cleaning is not a good job,” she says, “but I really don’t mind what I’m doing. I enjoy my work days here.” The most rewarding thing for environmental services workers has been getting recognition from their coworkers. It’s acknowledged that they’re tackling some of the toughest work imaginable on the frontlines of a global pandemic. “It’s really a blessing to have the group of individuals that I have today working for me. They truly care about providing a safe environment and quality patient care,” says Johnathon Calvey, Ochsner’s director of environmental services. “Everyone on my team is passionate about what they do.” And that passion is the very key to keeping the hospital running properly during the pandemic—and saving lives. “A lot of people don’t have the bravery or the heart to work on the COVID unit throughout the whole pandemic. But without the environmental services team keeping everything clean and disinfected, the hospitals would be a lot less safe,” Parker says. “We prepare for the worst, but give our best. We are essential.”

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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OUR CITY //

Inspiring future doctors How a local medical student is inspiring students and health care workers all over the globe RUSSELL LEDET TOLD his story all over the news this summer. Ledet is a third-year student at Tulane University School of Medicine and is currently spending his rotations at Baton Rouge General Medical Center— which happens to be the same hospital where he worked as a security guard 10 years ago. The Southern University and New York University alum shared his journey with Good Morning America, CNN, The Washington Post, Southern Living and countless other publications. Now, he’s using his platform to combat racial disparities in the medical fiel .

COURTESY RUSSELL LEDET

Russel Ledet is also the president of the 15 White Coats, an organization that began in 2019 with this viral photo of Black medical students in front of Whitney Plantation. Now, the group raises scholarship funds for students of color applying to medical school and hopes to encourage youth to make their own dreams come true.

—AS TOLD TO JENNIFER TORMO ANSWERS EDITED FOR CLARITY AND BREVITY

Russell Ledet is spending his third year of medical school rotations at Baton Rouge General Medical Center.

What’s been the reaction to all the coverage your story has gotten? It’s a whole lot of gratitude. I think what’s been most heartwarming is being recognized by old ladies at grocery stores. I was actually at a restaurant in Baton Rouge yesterday eating lunch, and this old man walked up to me. He was a Vietnam veteran, and of course, I’m a Navy veteran. He was like, ‘How does it feel to be a celebrity?’ And I said, ‘I just want to make people like you proud.’ And he said, ‘Young man ... I tell my grandkids about you.’ So it’s that kind of thing that keeps me going. I think a part of the reason the press coverage has lasted so long—it started in July, and here we are in November—is because this is a genuine, heartwarming American story that doesn’t have any extra tangles or caveats. This is just me being me.

COURTESY RUSSELL LEDET

What do you love about the medical field and working in a hospital se ting? Being a clinician is the ultimate opportunity to be human. When a patient walks into the hospital, they’re telling you: ‘I am about to trust you with the one thing we can’t mess up. Because if we mess up, I don’t get another chance.’ You become a part of people’s lives, help them get better, and you protect their most priceless, precious entity. I never take it for granted. How has the pandemic impacted your approach to medicine? I try to sum it up in two parts. COVID-19 makes for a very new environment, where you can’t see a patient smile, and you’re weary of them taking off their mask. It’s harder because you can’t connect with or be as close with patients as you used to be. But the other thing always running through the back of my mind is the pandemic’s health disparities. I come from a small community in Lake Charles and now live

in a small community in Gretna, and I’m seeing COVID-19 disproportionately affect communities I come from. It’s eye-opening to see the racial health disparities and recognize all the occupational, educational, wealth and housing gaps that have played a role in this reality. In a pandemic that is present for everyone, who has the highest risk of infection, hospitalization and death? It’s marginalized communities. Your organization, the 15 White Coats, began with a viral photo of 15 Black medical students on the steps of Whitney Plantation. Now, you’re raising scholarship funds for medical students of color and inspiring the next generation. Tell us how the effort began. It started as a conversation. My daughter and one of our very best friends, Dr. Phillip Thomas, visited Whitney Plantation. From the backseat, she said, ‘Dad, I finally understand why being a Black doctor in America is such a big deal. We just left a plantation, and back then, Black people were only allowed to be slaves. They couldn’t be doctors and lawyers or accountants. And here I am now, riding in the car with two doctors. We’ve come a long way.’ I thought, ‘There’s a whole lot of people in this world who should have this perspective.’ And just as far as we’ve come, we have a long way to go. After we did the photo shoot, we decided to blow it up into poster-size and distribute it for free to 5,000 classrooms worldwide. The photo has now gone as far as Scotland, Lithuania, Kenya, South Africa, England, South America and Central America. What kind of messages have you received about 15 White Coats? I’ve been told a million times over: ‘You all don’t know how important this work is. You won’t understand it until you’re like 67 years old. You are changing the

minds of young people.’ And it’s not just young people from marginalized communities. There are two sides of the coin. A kid from a non-marginalized community might not have the perception that somebody from a marginalized community can become a doctor. The other side of that is: The person from the marginalized community also has that same viewpoint. I read 2,000 books before I graduated high school and didn’t know I could go to college for free. No one told me that. You don’t know what you’re capable of if no one tells you what’s possible. The world was so enamored by these photos because the world doesn’t see that many Black people in white coats on a regular basis. But that should be the norm. We need the kids from marginalized and non-marginalized communities to see that, because my colleagues and classmates right now didn’t grow up with that backdrop. Now that you have this momentum, what’s next? I plan on becoming a triple-boarded psychiatrist. I’ll be a pediatrician, a general psychiatrist, and a child and adolescent psychiatrist, with the hopes of opening a mental health services center in New Orleans. I think the child mental health space needs some bolstering in Louisiana. And I don’t mind being the person to do that, because I don’t shy away from challenges. The second thing for us is how we contribute to the pipeline, so that these kids not only think they can become physicians, but they leave high school with tools to position them to succeed in college and get through medical school. Building a high school [aimed at starting this training] would be the best way for us to do that. Opening a new high school will be challenging, but doesn’t mean that it’s impossible. It will be part of our history at some point. the15whitecoats.org

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OUR CITY //

Joe Burrow throws beads to fans during a celebration parade at LSU.

TIMELINE

The year that was A look back on some newsmaking moments in Baton Rouge in the midst of all the chaos Compiled by Benjamin Leger WHILE MANY OF us might consider 2020 a year we’d like to do over or completely forget, we can’t ignore the fact that so much has happened even if we spent a lot of time at home. And so much of it was shaded by the impacts of COVID-19, too. But in order to move forward, we have to take a moment to look back. Here are some highlights of the year that was in the Capital Region.

JANUARY

The culmination of a historic LSU football season came with a national championship win against Clemson Jan. 13—in the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, no less. What was arguably one of the biggest success stories in college football history was followed by a celebratory parade through LSU’s campus Jan. 18.

FEBRUARY

KRISTEN SELLE

Mardi Gras season was a simpler time, with locals enjoying all the Carnival revelry while hearing murmurs of coronavirus cases popping up far away. One bright spot: The inaugural Krewe of Oshun Mardi Gras parade and festival took place Feb. 8 in north Baton Rouge, adding to a growing list of Fat Tuesday celebrations around the city.

MARCH

With COVID-19 cases becoming an alarming trend nationwide, we started seeing the ramific tions in Baton Rouge. The city canceled the March 14 Wearin’ of the Green Parade, which would be the first of many major event cancellations this year. Gov. John Bel Edwards issued a stay-at-home order for Louisiana residents beginning March 23, which officially kic ed off quarantine for many of us. Meanwhile, St. George’s legal drama continued, with an early March court ruling allowing Mayor Sharon Weston Broome’s lawsuit against the proposed incorporation to go forward.

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OUR CITY //

Statewide hospitalizations for COVID-19 peaked this month, with around 2,000 per day in mid-April. Businesses around the Capital City pivoted to helping with pandemic relief. Distilleries made hand sanitizer. Restaurants provided meals to hospital workers putting in long hours. Raising Cane’s paid its employees to sew masks. Banks and CPA firms rushed to get PPP loans together for struggling small businesses. And the stay-at-home order got extended until May 15.

—Angel Lombrage, chef and co-owner of The Bullfish Bar and Kitchen, from our May 2020 cover story

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“It’s challenging right now, but we are making the best of this situation. We miss talking to guests in the dining room the most.”

“We’re working so hard, around the clock. As somebody who has seen how bad the virus can be firsthand This is real. This is a threat. It’s not being overblown.” —Nicole Allen, nurse practitioner, intensive care unit at Ochsner Medical Center Baton Rouge, for our June 2020 cover story

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The state allowed outdoor seating at restaurants in early May, followed by the announcement of Phase One reopenings allowing for 25% capacity in most businesses. Baton Rouge was already starting to see permanent closures of restaurants such as The Rum House and Rama. East Baton Rouge Parish led the state in new coronavirus cases. The month ended with news of George Floyd’s death at the hands of police officers in Minn apolis, sparking peaceful protests in downtown Baton Rouge organized by local Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #2 high school students. • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

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“I just want equity, unity and to make sure that everybody gets a taste of the American dream. Admit we got a problem. Assess it, and address it.” —Lael Montgomery, Zachary City Council member, in our July 2020 issue

SHOP LOCAL! WE’VE GOT SOMETHING FOR EVERYONE

Baton Rouge location - Open 7 Days a Week | 8630 Perkins Rd, Baton Rouge, LA 70810 | 225.766.1200 Natchez location - Closed on Sundays | 135 US-61, Natchez, MS 39120 • Lake Charles location | Coming in Spring 2021

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OUR CITY //

DIGIT

JUNE

-22.5%

This was a busy month. Louisiana moved to Phase Two as the state continued to deal with a strain on hospitals. Baton Rouge General reopened its Mid City campus’ emergency room, which had shuttered in 2015. The ramific tions of George Floyd’s death saw an outpouring of support for local Blackowned restaurants and businesses, as well as name changes for Troy H. Middleton Library at LSU and Lee High School. East Baton Rouge Parish School Board member Connie Bernard fought off calls for her resignation amidst the controversy over the Lee High vote. On the development side, the Amazon deal to buy Cortana Mall fell apart with Dillard’s refusing to sell. And the downtown River Branch library finally opened a ter years of construction woes.

Drop in small businesses open in East Baton Rouge Parish at the end of July compared to January

OCTOBER

Bars began reopening with limited capacity. The state legislature began an attempt to remove the governor’s virus protocols. East Baton Rouge Parish School System’s new superintendent Leslie Brown announced her resignation for medical reasons after only a few months on the job.

NOVEMBER AUGUST

Performing arts groups recalibrated their fall season announcements with many moving to virtual events or postponing until 2021. D-D Breaux announced she would retire as LSU Gymnastics head coach after 43 seasons. Funding was finally secu ed for the LSU and City Park lakes project. Hollywood Casino announced plans to move off river in 2022, the first in the egion to do so after 2018 legislation. The devastation of Hurricane Laura sent evacuees from Lake Charles to Baton Rouge. It was one of several tropical weather events we dodged during hurricane season.

JULY

Face coverings were mandated inside all Louisiana businesses following White House coronavirus task force suggestions. Baton Rouge was tapped to be one of three surge testing sites for COVID-19 (not the best time to be in the top three). The police union made headlines with its billboards warning people to “enter at your own risk” because of an alarming number of homicides in the parish. The state signed a contract with an engineering firm to begin planning a new Mississippi River bridge in Baton Rouge. Artists painted a massive Black Lives Matter mural in the parking lot of Boil & Roux.

A tumultuous election season came to an end with record turnout across the state. Incumbent Mayor Sharon Weston Broome now faces off against challenger Steve Carter in a runoff. In all, some 16 races in the Capital Region will be decided Dec. 5. Get more information about the runoffs at sos.la.gov.

SEPTEMBER

STOCK PHOTO

Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #1

LSU announced a ban on campus tailgating and that Tiger Stadium would allow 25% capacity for fall football games. Louisiana finally moved into Phase Three with more leniency for businesses. As lawsuits were flying during the mayor’s race, one candidate did not emerge: former Metro Council member Tara Wicker was disqualified over issues with her tax returns.

OUR WARMEST WISHES TO YOU & YOUR FAMILY FOR A

Healthy & Joyous Holiday Season As we celebrate this holiday season, we pause to offer sincere thanks to our neighbors and friends for their continued trust and support.

MAIN CLINIC

7373 Perkins Road

(225) 769-4044

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PEDIATRICS AT PERKINS

7373 Perkins Road

(225) 246-9290

PEDIATRICS AT INDUSTRIPLEX

12351 Industriplex Blvd (225) 926-4400

PEDIATRICS NEUROLOGY

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PSYCHIATRY

3401 North Blvd, Ste 100

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8160 YMCA Plaza Dr, Ste C 4860 Bluebonnet Blvd (225) 246-9240

INTERNAL MEDICINE AT NEW ROADS 230 Roberts Dr, Ste 1 (225) 638-4585

DERMATOLOGY IN ZACHARY

4727 West Park Dr, Ste B (225) 246-9240

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Give the Gift of Give theFuture Giftof of the Gift a Great aGiveGreat Future Great Future this Season The simple things mean everything for kids who are struggling right now; a healthy snack,Season a device to participate in school, an adult who Give this will therethings no matter Th sfor holiday season, your donation to The be simple mean everything kids who areare struggling rightright The simple things meanwhat. everything for kids who struggling the Boys & Girls Clubs is a simple act that in will make a big impact now; healthy snack, aadevice totoparticipate school, an adult whowho now; aa healthy snack, device participate in school, an adult for kids in our community who are counting on us. When so much will be be there there no season, your donation to will no matter matterwhat. what.Th Ths holiday s holiday season, your donation to feels complicated right now, your donation is an easy way to help kids the Boys & Girls Clubs is a simple act that will make a big impact the Boys & Girls Clubs is a simple act that will make a big impact for kids in community who are us.toWhen sothat much through theour challenges they’re todayon and great for kids in our community whofacing arecounting counting on us.ensure When so much feels complicated right now, your donation is an easy way to help kids futures are still possible tomorrow. feels complicated right now, your donation is an easy way to help kids

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nonprofit leaders.

the highest recognition's presented to nonprofit leaders. Award Staff We're proud to Winning have three of our Youth Development Professionals We're proud to have three of our Youth Development Professionals represent the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge at the Trirepresent the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Baton Rouge at the TriState Virtual conference which included YDPs from across Louisiana, We're proud conference to have three of our YouthYDPs Development Professionals State Virtual which included from across Louisiana, Mississippi, and Alabama. Karli Carpenter won the High Mississippi, Alabama. won the High Yield represent theand Boys & GirlsKarli ClubCarpenter of Greater Baton Rouge atYield the TriActivities Award, JustinVance Vance won the Star Rookie Award and Activities Award, Justin won the AllAll Star Rookie Award and State Virtual conference which included YDPs from across Louisiana, Sergio won theMVP MVP Award. We so proud of our Sergio Villegas Villegas the Award. We areare so proud of our hardhard Mississippi, andwon Alabama. Karli Carpenter won the High Yield working staff. working staff. Activities Award, Justin Vance won the All Star Rookie Award and

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225.383.3928 WWW.BRCLUBS.ORG 225.383.3928 WWW.BRCLUBS.ORG working staff. 225.383.3928 26-35 OC.indd 35

| [225] December 2020 WWW.BRCLUBS.ORG 225batonrouge.com

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I AM 225 //

Holly Broussard with her children, Paisley and Peyton

Holly Broussard Broussard loves to push the envelope. She enjoys making suspended cakes; photo booth cakes (where the cake doubles as a photo prop and dessert); and baked goods with intricate designs, like a desert-themed cake atop a bed of edible sand with hand-painted cacti and edible flowers She has also made cakes in the shape of a Freddy Krueger head and an exotic nature scene with a light-up river. Since the COVID-19 outbreak began, the 28-year-old mother of two has spent more time at her Prairieville home with her daughters. Just before the pandemic, she launched a seasonal

baking subscription box for children and families. Each box is themed and comes with different baking and decorating supplies. Past boxes have included s’mores pie pops, cookie dough-sicles, Christmas tree cupcakes and sugar cookie pops and sandwiches. They are the perfect at-home activity for families who enjoy making sweets. But there’s more on the horizon. Broussard hopes to continue building her brand, including future plans to launch her own cake tools and apparel line. shopsweetelizabeth.com

—CYNTHEA CORFAH

“I want to make cakes that are the focal point at an event and not something that just sits in the corner. I love having that aha moment and making things people haven’t seen before.” 36

COLLIN RICHIE

DID YOU KNOW one of the winners from Food Network’s Cake Wars and Cooking Channel’s Freakshow Cakes is from the Capital Region? Holly Broussard, a Prairieville native and the owner of Sweet Elizabeth Cake Designs, took her cake-making skills to California and the Big Apple for the nationwide TV competitions. Her team won $10,000 on Cake Wars for a Charlie Brown-themed cake in 2016. Three years later, she won the Freakshow Cakes competition with a larger-than-life vanilla cake in the shape of a blue-haired, fi e-eating woman and took home another $10,000.

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Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #2

Sweeten Your Holidays with FREE Library Resources!

WHETHER YOU’RE TRAVELING OR GATHERING WITH FRIENDS AND FAMILY AT HOME, YOUR LIBRARY’S GOT SOMETHING FUN FOR YOU: Fun & Interactive Online Learning Platforms for All Ages • E-books for Reading on the Go Popular Digital Magazines • Music Downloads of Popular Artists Streaming Videos & Concerts • Recipes & Craft Tutorials • AND MORE!

All you need is your Library card! Visit www.ebrpl.com/DigitalLibrary 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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74%

Amount of full-service restaurants nationwide that offered some sort of outdoor dining option this fall, according to the National Restaurant Association.

Agave Blue Tequila & Taco Bar’s outdoor dining space in Prairieville

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OUTDOOR DINING 200+ eateries to enjoy during the season’s nicest weather

PHOTOS BY COLLIN RICHIE RESEARCH BY Brittney Forbes and Cathy Brown INTERVIEWS BY Cynthea Corfah, Julia-Claire Evans, Maggie Heyn Richardson and Jennifer Tormo

N RESTAURANT PATIOS this summer, outdoor fans worked overtime. They buzzed madly in an attempt to cool patrons on the season’s hottest days. Now, as fall gives way to winter, local restaurants are pulling out heaters and dreaming up hearty dishes to keep customers warm on chilly nights. Because whether temperatures rise or fall, many diners still want to eat outside, say the owners of local restaurants like Bistro Byronz and Los Reyes. And if you’ve had a chance to dine at a restaurant this year, you’ll understand why. “I haven’t seen you all year,” is a commonly overheard refrain as friends clink glasses, happily catching up over cocktails. After months of social distancing, people are eager to see loved ones—and to get back to their favorite spots—however they can. Thanks to the CDC’s COVID-19 safety guidelines encouraging restaurant owners to

prioritize outside seating, Baton Rouge is one of many cities that has seen a massive increase in outdoor dining options. Restaurants have added bistro tables on sidewalks, planted chairs in gravel parking lots, and invested in dining-hall-sized tents. Many eateries have upped the ambiance with colorful umbrellas, string lights, custom murals and other amenities. For patrons at high risk for complications of the coronavirus, it’s meant the world to be able to feel safe sitting in a spacious parking lot at a restaurant like DiGiulio Brothers. And it’s provided relief for owners of restaurants like Cocha, too, who say the increase in outdoor dining has made spacing out their indoor dining rooms easier. With hope for an eventual end to the pandemic in 2021, there will be plenty of elements of our “new norm” we’ll be happy to bid farewell. But this outdoor dining trend is one we can hope sticks around for the long run.

Send us outdoor dining options! We’ll keep this list updated at 225batonrouge.com, so be sure to send tips about restaurants we may have missed to editor@225batonrouge.com.

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Cocha's parklet dining space downtown

DOWNTOWN Batch 13 Biscuits & Bowls 555 Lafayette St. / eatbatch13.com

Pastime Restaurant & Lounge 252 South Blvd. / pastimerestaurant.com

Bengal Tap Room 421 Third St. / bengaltaproom.com

Poor Boy Lloyd’s Seafood Restaurant 201 Florida St. / poorboylloyds.com

Capital City Grill 100 Lafayette St. / capitalcitygrill.net

Schlittz & Giggles 301 Third St. / schlittzandgiggles.com

Chow Main 501 Main St. / Find it on Facebook

Tsunami Sushi Baton Rouge 100 Lafayette St., Sixth Floor servingsushi.com

Cocha 445 N. Sixth St. / cochabr.com Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar 315 North Blvd. / joliepearloysterbar.com

T&T Cafe 320 Third St., Suite 101 ttcafebatonrouge.com

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MID CITY Anthony’s Italian Deli 5575 Government St. / bestmuffoletta.com Bistro Byronz 5412 Government St. bistrobyronz.com

On outdoor dining

Boru Ramen 1509 Government St. Find it on Instagram

Saskia Spanhoff, co-owner and founder of COCHA

Brew Ha-Ha 711 Jefferson Highway, Suite 2A brewhahabr.com

What makes your outdoor dining area unique? We have an outdoor parklet in front of the restaurant decorated with planters with culinary herbs and edible flowers It’s a very comfortable space that customers tell us feels like Europe. It’s got some tree canopy, and there’s a view of a mural right across the street.

La Carreta 4065 Government St. carretarestaurant.com

Monjunis Italian Cafe 711 Jefferson Highway monjunis.com Reginelli’s Pizzeria 684 Jefferson Highway reginellis.com Simple Joe Cafe 3057 Government St. simplejoecafe.us Soji: Modern Asian 5050 Government St. / eatsoji.com Superior Grill 5435 Government St. batonrouge.superiorgrill.com

City Roots Coffee Bar 1509 Government St. Find it on Instagram Curbside Burgers 4158 Government St. curbside-burgers.com Elsie’s Plate & Pie 3145 Government St. / elsiespies.com French Truck Coffee 2978 Government St. / frenchtruckcoffee.com

How has the pandemic changed Cocha’s dining experience? We were already working on the parklet, so the timing was perfect when COVID-19 hit. It has the ability to seat about 38. Because we’re able to seat a lot of people outside, we’ve kept things very spread out inside.

Hannah Q Smokehouse 4808 Government St. hannahqsmokehouse.com JED’s Local Poboys 672 Jefferson Highway / jedslocal.com Millennial Park - various restaurants 3829 Florida Blvd. / Find it on Instagram

Mid City’s Millennial Park is home to several shipping-container restaurants, including Royal Taste of Jamaica. The restaurant’s co-owner, David Suarez, is pictured above.

What kind of response to your outdoor dining area have you had from diners this year? People absolutely love it. Sitting outside changes their energy and makes them feel more relaxed. It’s like a respite. What plans do you have to make outdoor dining cozy and comfortable through the winter? We purchased a few heaters and will add a few more.

CATRICE COLEMAN

—INTERVIEW BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

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On outdoor dining Emelie Alton, CEO of BISTRO BYRONZ and PIZZA BYRONZ What does outdoor dining look like at your different restaurants? At Bistro Byronz Willow Grove, we have two- and four-tops that wrap around the building, and at Pizza Byronz, we have a courtyard. At the Mid City Byronz, we have an outdoor patio. These are all permanent outdoor spaces, but since COVID-19 we’ve also added a parking lot patio at Mid City to give diners more outdoor seating.

Bistro Byronz’ outdoor terrace in Willow Grove

What kind of response to your outdoor dining areas have you had from diners this year? Very positive. A large portion of the population wants to eat outdoors. At Pizza Byronz, for example, we’ve had nights where we’re 75% full outside and 25% inside.

—INTERVIEW BY MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

BLUEBONNET

Pizza Byronz 8210 Village Plaza Court, Suite 1B / bistrobyronz.com

Another Broken Egg 9655 Perkins Road / anotherbrokenegg.com

Rouj Creole 7601 Bluebonnet Blvd., Suite 100 / roujcreole.com

Bin 77 Bistro & Side Bar 10111 Perkins Rowe, Suite 160 / bin77.com

ESSEN & PERKINS AREA

Bistro Byronz 8200 Village Plaza Court / bistrobyronz.com

Ava Street Café 5207 Essen Lane / avastreetcafebatonrouge.com

Brew-Bacher’s Grill 8415 Bluebonnet Blvd. / brewbachersgrill.com Casa Maria 7955 Bluebonnet Blvd. / casamariabr.com Jinya Ramen Bar 10000 Perkins Rowe, Suite 160 / jinyaramenbar.com Louisiana Lagniappe 9990 Perkins Road / louisianalagniapperestaurant.com Mi Padre’s Mexican Grill & Cantina 7750 Bluebonnet Blvd., #100 / mipadresmexicangrill.com

Bao Vietnamese Kitchen 8342 Perkins Road / baovietkitchen.com Blue Corn Modern Mexican 7673 Perkins Road, Suite A5 / bluecornrestaurant.com

La Carreta 9828 Bluebonnet Blvd. carretarestaurant.com LIT Pizza 9770 Bluebonnet Blvd., Building 1, Suite 1 lit.pizza Olive or Twist 7248 Perkins Road / oliveortwistbr.com Rotolo’s Pizzeria 8342 Perkins Road / rotolos.com Zorba’s Greek Bistro 5713 Essen Lane, Suite B / zorbasbistro.com

Burgerim 7673 Perkins Road / burgerim.com

SIEGEN LANE

Counter Culture Frozen Yogurt 7711 Perkins Road / counterculturebr.com

Fiery Crab Juicy Seafood and Bar 6900 Siegen Lane, D / fieryc abseafood.com

Heads & Tails Seafood, Inc. 2070 Silverside Drive headsandtailsseafood.com

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Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #3

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Cosmetic • Family

Beautiful smiles begin here ARIANA ALLISON

The Overpass Merchant’s Rye Tai

Sidewalk sips

House Cider at The Overpass Merchant Overpass’ cider is made in house and kept hot, so it’s one to come back to all winter long. And to make it even better, there are three types of liquor you can add to yours—mezcal, sweet and dark rum and brown sugar bourbon. Yum! Rye Tai at The Overpass Merchant You may have already tried Overpass’ popular Mai Tai, a summer favorite served in tiki cups. Its Rye Tai is a nice fall update. The drink features heavy rye whiskey, pineapple, lemon juice, orgeat syrup, Angostura bitters and a little mint for garnish. Citrus Ginger Smash at Eliza Restaurant & Bar This fizzy drink is crisp and refreshing, with Effen Yuzu Citrus vodka, lemon and soda. The soothing notes of ginger and mint will help you combat flu s ason.

I’M DREAMING OF A WHITE CHRISTMAS

Smile

In-office Power Whitening Special!

2 treatments for the price of 1!

Fall and winter cocktails to try outdoors, even if the weather outside is frightful A Bitter Good Morning at The Vintage Featuring iced chicory coffee, Nocello and mezcal, this drink packs a caffeinated punch without being too overpowering. And its cozy, warm flavor is just wh t you’ll need now that it’s getting darker earlier.

Dentistry • Implant

(reg. $500 each)

The Frenchman at BLDG 5 A sharp pear brandy and spiced simple syrup are just right for the transitioning seasons, balanced by mezcal and citrus flavors from Combier and lemon.

Gift Cards Available

Rosemary Mule at Bin 77 Bistro and Sidebar An herby mule will get you in the mood for the holiday season. This one is made with vodka, rosemary, lime and ginger beer. I Yam What I Yam at Olive or Twist This concoction conjures visions of warm backyard fi e pits on cool nights. Zaya 16 rum and Amaro Nonino, a bittersweet Italian liqueur, are blended with cinnamon-vanilla house syrup, toasted almond bitters and muddled canned yam. It’s all garnished with a torched marshmallow. The Gift that Keeps On Giving at Olive or Twist Christmas meets a pisco sour in this drink, which the Olive or Twist team created to mimic a Christmas fruitcake. It’s made with pisco, lemon, almond-y orgeat, whole egg, Chinese five spice and toasted almond bitters. —BY JULIA EVANS AND JENNIFER TORMO

FREE SMILE ASSESSMENT Submit your smile to drbruni@pearldentalgroup.com

Drs. Andre’ and Jessica Bruni

CALL US TODAY FOR A FREE CONSULTATION TO DISCUSS YOUR SMILE! (225) 256-1163 4450 Bluebonnet Blvd, Suite C Baton Rouge, LA 70809

PEARLDENTALGROUP.COM 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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On outdoor dining Mike Johnson and Skylar Johnson of DIGIULIO BROTHERS How have you made outdoor dining safe and comfortable? We’ve got tables and chairs in our parking lot spread more than 10 feet apart. The tables are two tops that can be converted to four tops. The parking lot has shade during the day on one part, so we move the tables there, and we also have an awning. How did y’all expand into the parking lot? We pushed back where people can park, and there’s two rows of tables in the front of our gravel lot. Do you plan to keep the outdoor dining in place, even if we move to a more-open phase? We’re going to stay where we’re at. We want people to feel safe, and we have enough tables inside to meet our quota. We used to have 13 tables inside, and now we have nine. What kind of response to the outdoor dining area have you had from customers? People are enjoying it. We have a lot of older customers—some people have been coming here for 33 years—and they’ll come and sit in the gravel lot, just so no one will get too close to them.

—INTERVIEW BY JULIA-CLAIRE EVANS

This year, DiGiulio Brothers expanded its outdoor dining into its parking lot in response to COVID-19.

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LSU Atomic Burger 5909 Creek Centre Drive theatomicburger.com

On outdoor dining

The Bullfish Bar+Kitche 4001 Nicholson Drive, Suite D thebullfishba .com

Sam Sanguanruang, owner of THAI KITCHEN

Caliente Mexican Craving 1072 W. Lee Drive calientemexicancraving.com

Tell us about your outdoor dining area. We have live music every Thursday night on the stage if it’s not raining. We are adding a retractable awning over the patio for covered seating. We have a waterfall, a lot of TVs for sports games, and we can turn the stage into a projector screen for sports games, as well. We have cabanas for people to sit down, drink and chill. We also have our own garden, where we grow our own herbs, and an outdoor bar.

The Chimes 3357 Highland Road / thechimes.com City Slice 124 W. Chimes St. / cityslicepizza.com Fat Cow 4350 Highland Road, Suite B1 fatcowburgers.com Fuzzy’s Taco Shop 220 W. Lee Drive / fuzzystacoshop.com Highland Coffees 3350 Highland Road highlandcoffeesbr.com

How has the dining experience at Thai Kitchen changed since COVID-19 began? Since March, our dine-in is down. But our takeout has increased about 300%. ... We lost a lot of revenue March to June, but in July we started breaking even. We lost half of the staff during COVID, so we’re trying to gain that back.

Lakeside Bar & Daiquiris 7490 Burbank Drive / 767-8705

Light House Coffee 257 Lee Drive / lighthousecoffeebr.com LIT Pizza 3930 Burbank Drive / lit.pizza Louie’s Cafe 3322 Lake St. / louiescafe.org MID Tap 660 Arlington Creek Centre Blvd., Suite D midtapbr.com

What plans do you have to make outdoor dining comfortable through the winter? We’re trying to put a big commercial heater in the middle of the patio to keep people warm.

Modesto Taco Tequila Whiskey 3930 Burbank Drive / eatmodesto.com Our Mom’s Restaurant & Bar 250 W. Lee Drive ourmomsrestaurant.com

—INTERVIEW BY CYNTHEA CORFAH

Enjoy a meal alongside the soothing sounds of Thai Kitchen's waterfall.

Playa Bowls 660B Arlington Creek Centre St. playabowls.com Rita’s Italian Ice & Frozen Custard 1082 W. Lee Drive / ritasice.com

Yogurtland 4250 Burbank Drive / yogurt-land.com

Rotolo’s Craft + Crust 411 Ben Hur Road, Suite D / rotolos.com

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 3838 Burbank Drive / walk-ons.com

Smalls Sliders 4343 Nicholson Drive / smallssliders.com

PERKINS ROAD OVERPASS

Chow Yum Phat 2363 Hollydale Ave. / chowyumphat.com

& COLLEGE DRIVE

Coffee Call 3132 College Drive / Find it on Facebook

Superior Grill 7333 Highland Road batonrouge.superiorgrill.com Umami Japanese Bistro 3930 Burbank Drive / umamibr.com

BLDG 5 2805 Kalurah St. / bldg5.com

Bumsteers 3109 Perkins Road / bumsteersbr.com CC’s Coffee House 4161 Perkins Road / ccscoffee.com

DiGiulio Brothers 2903 Perkins Road / digiuliobros.com

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COMING IN JANUARY 2021

WELLNESS A GUIDE TO HEALTHY LIVING

Start the year off right with the ultimate guide to fitness and overall wellness in Baton Rouge.

In addition to a large tent in its parking lot, The Overpass Merchant has a mural- and plant-covered patio.

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The Overpass Merchant added a tent to its parking lot this year to accommodate more diners who want to sit outdoors.

On outdoor dining Bryan Messina, beverage director of THE OVERPASS MERCHANT You added dining tables to your parking lot this year! We wanted a tent atmosphere. We used part of our parking lot since we don’t have a lot of space inside. We wanted to make the tent as nice as possible, so we got greenery and plants, and put a bunch of picnic tables out there. We hung some LSU banners so it doesn’t feel like you’re sitting in a parking lot. We wanted to get the tailgate vibe, too, so people can sit outside and watch the game.

(continued from page 45)

Thai Kitchen 4550 Concord Ave. / thaikitchenla.com

Frankie’s Dawg House 2318 Cedardale Drive frankiesdawghouse.com

Vegan Friendly Foods 4608 Bennington Ave. / veganffoods.com

The Green House Salad Co. 3617 Perkins Road / greenhousesaladco.com

Zeeland Street 2031 Perkins Road / zeelandstreet.com

It seems like the tent is always packed. Oh yeah, it’s the perfect time of year right now. The weather couldn’t be better for outdoor dining.

The Jambalaya Shoppe 3617 Perkins Road, Suite 1E thejambalayashoppe.com

Zippy’s Burritos Tacos & More 3155 Perkins Road / zippysburritos.com

What are your plans to keep outdoor dining in place? Our goal is to keep it up until we ride out the virus. For the foreseeable future, the outdoor dining space is staying out there.

Kalurah Street Grill 2857 Kalurah St. / kalurahstreetgrill.com

TOWNE CENTER &

La Divina Italian Cafe 3535 Perkins Road / ladivinaitaliancafe.com

JEFFERSON HIGHWAY

Magpie Cafe 3205 Perkins Road / magpiebrla.com

AREA

How will you make it cozy in the winter? We do have tent walls coming in. We have a company installing some heating. We’re going to get it turned into an indoor dining hall.

—INTERVIEW BY JULIA-CLAIRE EVANS

Mary Lee Donuts 12640 Perkins Road / maryleedonuts.com The Overpass Merchant 2904 Perkins Road theoverpassmerchant.com Parrain’s Seafood Restaurant 3225 Perkins Road / parrains.com

Albasha Greek & Lebanese 2561 Citiplace Court / albashabr.com Beausoleil Coastal Cuisine 7731 Jefferson Highway beausoleilcoastal.com Brew-Bacher’s Grill 3554 Drusilla Lane / brewbachersgrill.com

Red Zeppelin Pizza 4395 Perkins Road / redzeppelinpizza.com

Cafe Americain Restaurant and Catering 7521 Jefferson Highway cafeamericainrest.com

Rock N Roll Sushi 3627 Perkins Road, Building 2 rocknrollsushi.com

City Pork Brasserie & Bar 7327 Jefferson Highway / citypork.com

Rock-n-Sake 3043 Perkins Road / rocknsake.com

Dearman’s 7633 Jefferson Highway Find it on Facebook

Ruby Slipper Cafe 3535 Perkins Road / therubyslippercafe.net

District Donuts Sliders Brew 7415 Corporate Blvd., Suite 900 districtdonuts.com

Southfin Southern oke 4321 Perkins Road / southfinpo e.com 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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On outdoor dining Khalid Saleh, co-owner of LOS REYES Describe your outdoor dining area. We were inspired by the ambiance of courtyards in Mexico, so we incorporated a tiled fountain with a flower bed It eliminates noise from the road and gives diners privacy. The tiles were imported from Mexico, and they’re all hand crafted. We have multicolored twinkle lights overhead, which we change seasonally—at Christmas, they’re red and green, and during the Fourth of July, they’re blue, red and white. How has the dining experience changed at Los Reyes since the pandemic began? We have seen more people want to sit outside than inside. We can seat up to 65 people outside. What plans do you have to make outdoor dining cozy through the winter? We are planning to add more heaters. We’ll do our yearly Christmas decorations. We always put up a tree and reindeer. We try to keep it elegant but as festive as possible at the same time.

Los Reyes’ outdoor patio off oursey Boulevard

What do you recommend diners order on a chilly day? Fajitas. They come on a sizzling skillet, and our tortillas are hot and fresh. Our homemade tortilla soup is also popular in the wintertime.

—INTERVIEW BY JENNIFER TORMO

The Chimes 10870 Coursey Blvd. / thechimes.com The Legacy 1655 Sherwood Forest Blvd. / thelegacybr.com Little Saigon Vietnamese 11224 Florida Blvd. / 273-2445

(continued from previous page) Drusilla Seafood Restaurant 3482 Drusilla Lane, Suite D / drusillaplace.com Eliza Restaurant 7970 Jefferson Highway, Suite J / elizabatonrouge.com

Pho Cafe 3851 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd. / Find it on Facebook Los Reyes serves a variety of frozen margaritas.

Los Reyes 11333 Coursey Blvd. / losreyesbr.com

Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar 7321 Corporate Blvd. / flemingsst akhouse.com Gourmet Girls 1660 Lobdell Ave., Suite 100 / gourmetgirlsbr.com LIT Pizza 7474 Corporate Blvd., Suite 101 / lit.pizza New York Bagel Co. 8210 Jefferson Highway / Find it on Facebook Palermo Ristorante 7809 Jefferson Highway / palermobr.com Portobello’s Grill 7622 Old Hammond Highway / portobellos.net Serop’s Cafe 7474 Corporate Blvd. / seropscafe.com Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 7425 Corporate Blvd., Suite 810 / walk-ons.com

El Rancho Mexican Restaurant 10820 Florida Blvd. / elranchomexicangrills.com

The Velvet Cactus 7655 Old Hammond Highway / thevelvetcactus.com

El Rio Grande Mexican Restaurant 8334 Airline Highway / Find it on Facebook

VooDoo BBQ & Grill 3510 Drusilla Lane / voodoobbq.com

Roman’s Greek & Lebanese Restaurant 9634 Airline Highway / Find it on Facebook

FLORIDA BOULEVARD &

Viet Garden 11990 Florida Blvd. / vietgardenbr.com

SHERWOOD FOREST AREA

Willie’s Restaurant 11260 Coursey Blvd. / williesbr.com

Albasha Greek & Lebanese Restaurant 4520 Sherwood Forest Blvd., Suite 102 / albashabr.com

AIRLINE, OLD JEFFERSON

Bistro Italia 11903 Coursey Blvd. / Find it on Facebook

& HIGHLAND ROAD

Boil & Roux 11777 Coursey Blvd. / Find it on Facebook

The Blue Rose Cafe & Bakery 11950 Cloverland Ave., Suite A / thebluerosebr.com

BRQ Seafood & Barbeque 10423 Jefferson Highway / brqrestaurant.com

Burgersmith 18303 Perkins Road E., Building 1, Suite 100

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C OV E R S T ORY

French Market Bistro 16645 Highland Road frenchmarketbistro.com Jabby’s Pizza 18303 Old Perkins E., Suite 116 jabbyspizza.com Just Wingin It 18181 Jefferson Highway, Suite 106 justwinginitla.com Las Palmas Mexican Restaurant 18340 Highland Road / 756-7878 The Little Village 14241 Airline Highway / littlevillagebr.com

Baby, it’s cold outside Comforting dishes from local restaurants to keep you warm this winter By Cynthea Corfah // Photos by Ariana Allison THERE’S NOTHING LIKE a warm, homey meal during the winter. From gumbo and red beans and rice to crawfish etou fee and jambalaya, we know how to whip up comfort food in Louisiana. Whether you’re more of a soup person or prefer something heavier like fried chicken or grilled cheese, Baton Rouge is home to many restaurants serving hot dishes to feed your soul. Here are a few must-try menu items around town.

SEAFOOD GUMBO

from Boil & Roux

What is a Louisiana winter without gumbo? Get your seafood gumbo fix t this Baton Rouge soul food restaurant. Its version is made with shrimp and crab legs served with rice on top and crackers on the side. Find Boil & Roux on Facebook

Mason’s Grill 13556 Jefferson Highway / masonsgrill.com Pimanyoli’s Sidewalk Cafe & Catering 14241 Airline Highway, Suite 105 pimanyolisbbq.com Wildwood Pizza 9659 Antioch Road, Suite 105 wildwood-pizza.com

JONES CREEK & MILLERVILLE Ahuuas Mexican Restaurant 4733 Jones Creek Road / Find it on Facebook George’s 15321 George O’Neal Road / georgesbr.com

RED BEANS AND RICE with FRIED CHICKEN BREAST from Elsie’s Plate & Pie

Fill up on these essential comfort foods at the Mid City eatery. This hearty dish may be simple, but it’s the perfect meal to enjoy during a cozy night on the patio. elsiespies.com

ROUGE RED TONKOTSU RAMEN from Boru Ramen

Spice things up with ramen from this brand-new spot. The Rouge Red Tonkotsu dish provides warmth, spice and flavo . It includes tonkatsu (pork) broth, spicy chili oil and thin noodles topped with pork chashu (braised pork), kikurage mushrooms (also known as wood ear), spinach and ajitama (soft-boiled eggs soy-cured for two days). Find Boru Ramen on Instagram

Jasmines on the Bayou 6010 Jones Creek Road jasminesonthebayou.com

PUMPKIN CURRY with TOFU

Jones Creek Cafe 15005 Market St. / jonescreekcafe.com

Plant-based and pumpkin? Say no more. This vegan-friendly dish is a warm hug in a bowl. The curry soup is served with rice on the side and made with red curry, pumpkin kombucha and tofu. Non-vegan customers can add beef, chicken, pork or shrimp. While the restaurant doesn’t offer outdoor dining, you can get it to-go to eat on your home patio. thaiheythaifood.com

JoVi’s Tacos 13214 Coursey Blvd., Suite A / jovistacos.com Portobello’s Grill 15440 George O’Neal Road / laportobellos. net Rotolo’s Pizzeria 2985 Millerville Road, Suite B / rotolos.com

NORTH BATON ROUGE

from Thaihey Thai Food

CHELSEA’S FAMOUS GRILLED CHEESE & TOMATO BASIL SOUP from Mid City Beer Garden You can’t go wrong with a classic. Especially when it’s this tasty and harkens back to the Chelsea’s favorite we’ve all missed. This gourmet grilled cheese is made with six cheeses on homemade focaccia served with a side of spicy tomato-basil soup. midcitybeergarden.com

Mary Lee Donuts 9833 Florida Blvd. / maryleedonuts.com Memphis Mac BBQ 2785 Larkspur Ave. / memphismac.com The Smokey Pit 1916 Dallas Drive / thesmokeypit.com

MARISCOS

(Seafood Paella)

from Solera

Take a trip to Spain with this seafood paella. The Spanish rice dish is made with jumbo shrimp, grilled Gulf fish Spanish chorizo, snap peas, piquillo peppers and Calasparra rice. It is traditionally cooked over an open fi e and served on a steaming pan for optimal heat and freshness. Solera can setup an outdoor table for you by request, or you can enjoy it for dine-in or to-go. solerabr.com 225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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C OV E R S T ORY

WEST BATON ROUGE Rotolo’s Pizzeria 3857 LA Hwy. 1 South, Suite A, Port Allen / rotolos.com Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 437 Oak Plaza Blvd., Brusly / walk-ons.com

BAKER Ruffins I 14522 Plank Road / Find it on Facebook

CENTRAL Cafe Phoenicia 5647 Main St., Suite A / cafephoenicia.com Caliente Mexican Craving 14455 Wax Road, Suite F calientemexicancraving.com Central City Steak & Seafood 9550 Hooper Road / Find it on Facebook Las Palmas 14790 Wax Road / 261-0700 Nagoya 14455 Wax Road, Suite A nagoyasushihouse.com

Stab’s Steak and Seafood 13438 Magnolia Square Circle stabscentral.com

ZACHARY Cafe Phoenicia 14319 Wax Road / cafephoenicia.com Cajun Catch 4317 High St. / Find it on Facebook El Agave Zachary 5647 Main St., Suite F / Find it on Facebook LIT Pizza 1189 Americana Blvd., Unit 2110 / lit.pizza Papi’s Fajita Factory 5810 Main St., Suite 5 / Find it on Facebook Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 1100 Americana Blvd. / walk-ons.com

WALKER Hebert’s Cajun Meats 9360 Florida Blvd., Suite E hebertscajunmeats.com Rotolo’s Pizzeria – Walker 29050 Walker South Road / rotolos.com

You can’t wrap food. But you can get a gift card.

Agave Blue co-owners Sergio and Stephanie Rubio, enjoying their restaurant’s patio.

buy $50, get $10! For a limited time, buy $50 worth of Walk-On's gift cards, and receive a $10 bonus card. Online or in-store while supplies last.

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[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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On outdoor dining Stephanie Rubio, co-owner of AGAVE BLUE What makes your outdoor dining area special? We have a side patio that usually stays pretty full. I’ll still [book] live music out there depending on the day, so it still sort of feels like normal, even though it’s not 100%. How has the overall dining experience changed at Agave Blue since COVID-19 began? We have definitely had mo e takeout. We also sold more gallon margaritas to-go than I have since I opened. Have you made any other changes to your restaurant this year? I have a person who comes and sanitizes the restaurant twice a week, and we all wear our masks. Because of COVID, I’m thinking about redoing our patio to have it a bit more covered—because if it rains, it messes everything up.

—INTERVIEW BY CYNTHEA CORFAH

WATSON Casa Maria 33939 LA-16 / casamariabr.com Duke’s Seafood and Steakhouse 33920 LA-16 / dukesseafoodandsteakhouse.com The Seafood Shack 51662 LA-16 / Find it on Facebook

DENHAM SPRINGS Don’s Seafood 136 Rushing Road, Suite E donsseafoodonline.com Duke’s Seafood and Steakhouse 2591 Range Ave. dukesseafoodandsteakhouse.com The Jambalaya Shoppe 7755 Magnolia Beach Road, Suite E thejambalayashoppe.com Locals Bar and Kitchen 7755 Magnolia Beach Road, Suite A Find it on Facebook Maria’s Mexican & American

Issue Date: December 2020 Ad proof #1587 Florida Ave. SE / mariasmex.com • Please respond by e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees.

P-Beau’s 121 Bass Pro Blvd., Suite F p-beaus.com

Rotolo’s Pizzeria 17530 Airline Hwy., Suite C rotolos.com

Randazzo’s Italian Market 240 Capitol St. randazzositalianmarket.com

GONZALES Brew-Bacher’s Grill 909 E. Ascension St. brewbachersgrill.com

Sarita’s Grill & Cantina 151 Bass Pro Blvd., Suite A saritasgrill.com

Casa Maria 1210 N. Airline Highway, Suite 1 casamariabr.com

Smokin Aces BBQ 141 Aspen Square, Suite B smokinaces.com

Don’s Seafood 2405 W. Cabela’s Parkway donsseafoodonline.com

Zea Rotisserie & Bar 27186 Crossing Circle zearestaurants.com

Ichiban 217 N. Airline Highway ichibanbr.com

PRAIRIEVILLE Agave Blue 17097 Airline Highway agavebluela.com

The Jambalaya Shoppe 1542 N. Airline Highway thejambalayashoppe.com

Mi Padres 37460 Ultima Plaza Blvd., Suite G 673-6434 Nooley’s Poboys, Wings & Curley Cues 17134 LA-44 / nooleys.com

Walk-On’s Sports Bistreaux 14569 Airline Highway / walk-ons.com

ST. FRANCISVILLE The Francis Southern Table & Bar 6747 Highway 61 thefrancissoutherntable.com

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225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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GAME-CHANGING GROWTH All rising professionals, executives, and small business owners are invited to join us in taking their leadership up a notch. Business Report’s Executive Leadership Academy is a transformative program that will take your career and your organization to new levels of success.

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[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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I N S I D E : Holiday handbags

Ear

candy

Lynsey Klein is the creator behind local jewelry brand Modern Lulu.

Modern Lulu, a Baton Rouge jewelry brand, makes artsy clay earrings and face masks to match

BY CY NTH EA COR FAH // P HOTO S B Y CO LLIN RICHIE

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STYLE //

arrings are to outfits what cherries are to ice cream sundaes. The best earrings can complete an ensemble—or be the star of an outfit. For some, earrings are a part of their self expression. This was the case for LSU alumnus Lynsey Klein, who always loved wearing them. In recent years, she noticed clay jewelry trending on Instagram. So the summer before she graduated college, she started making earrings out of polymer clay. She fell in love with blending clays to create new colors and conceptualizing themed collections. In the summer of 2019, the Baton Rouge jewelry business Modern Lulu was born. Before COVID-19, the brand was solely an earring company. Since the pandemic, Klein expanded the business and added coronavirus-friendly accessories. Today, Modern Lulu sells fashionable, geometric, clay earrings and stylish face masks, as well as complementary decorative mask chains. “I am more of an introvert, but I like to make statements with my clothing and accessories,” Klein says. Customers can browse a lineup of everything from modern, earth-toned, wave-shaped earrings to festive, purple and gold tassel earrings. The pieces are crafted in a number of other shapes, including squares, circles, rectangles, stars, fl wers and arches. Modern Lulu releases new collections seasonally. Klein launched a mini collection, Spooky Szn, this October to celebrate Halloween with

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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To be the exception, I need exceptional care. Exceptional care rises beyond one city, one hospital, one clinic. Exceptional care reaches for something groundbreaking, life-changing. Our Lake of the Lake Childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s Health believes connected healthcare across Louisiana helps build a stronger, healthier generation. Now is the time to be exceptional for Louisianaâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s exceptional kids. Visit ololchildrens.org/believe for more.

Believe in me. 52-57 Style.indd 55

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STYLE //

“With my jewelry, I hope to make women feel beautiful, unique and like they can stand out.” —Lynsey Klein

out-of-this-world styles and shapes. The earrings featured a crescent moon, twinkling stars, snakes, Pac-Manstyle ghosts, bats and black daisies. Many of the designs were made from a special blend of black clay with a gold iridescent sparkle and realistic marble

effect. In the past, she’s released Mardi Gras styles, patriotic ensembles for July Fourth and Christmas-inspired pieces for the winter holidays. Though the New Orleans native plans on moving back to her hometown this fall, she still expects

to remain a part of the Baton Rouge creative community. Modern Lulu can be purchased online or at Mid City Makers Market. Klein gets design inspiration from architecture, illustrations, graphic art, fashion and Pinterest. She tries to stay

away from looking at other examples of clay jewelry so her ideas can be as original as possible. “With my jewelry,” Klein says, “I hope to make women feel beautiful, unique and like they can stand out.” modernlulu.com

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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STYLE //

So clutch Designer-inspired handbags to accessorize a holiday outfi Styled by Elle Marie // Photos by Catrice Coleman

THE MID CITY apparel shop reopened last month at 449 Hearthstone Drive. Owner and designer Brad Jensen moved the shop from its 4556 Government St. outpost into his old Bricks & Bombs shop near Elsie’s Plate & Pie. “To say a lot has changed in the last six months would be an understatement,” Jensen wrote on Instagram. “Of course, online ordering is still encouraged and local pickup is an option. … [But] I’m here, I’m open.” Find Jensen’s hip Baton Rouge-themed T-shirts, hats, pins, posters and masks at the new spot—just in time for gifting season. timsgaragebr.com

Styled with a small succulent for scale.

COURTE

SY TIM

SMALL BAGS CAN be statement makers, too. And Tamaya Lewis’ Baton Rougebased online shop, Collective Luxuries, packs a big dose of style into its collection of tiny, handheld purses. Structured shapes, silver and gold buckles, and crocodile- and snakeskin textures nod to high-end brands like Chanel and Hermes. But with prices starting at $26, they are more approachable for any budget. The clutches come in fall- and holiday-ready shades like mustard and hunter green and neutrals like nude and black. Shop them on Instagram and collectiveluxuries.com.

Tim’s Garage makes a move

AGE ’S GAR

H O L I D AY I D E A S

There’s more HOLIDAY FUN in Ridgeland where you can enjoy 150 restaurants and retail shopping districts committed to safety. For more information about visiting Mississippi, explore visitmississippi.org, #VisitMSResponsibly. Save the Date for Art, Wine & Wheels Weekend: April 30 - May 2, 2021

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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I N S I D E : Local gifts for the foodie / Homemade goodies for your loved ones

A different kind of

Comfort food

COLLIN RICHIE

Filling up on all the warm and spicy flavor at Curry N Kabab

225batonrouge.com | [225] December 2020

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TA ST E / /

GET SPECIAL OFFERS ON FOOD AND DRINKS AROUND THE CAPITAL REGION SAVE UP TO 50%! Sign up for free and we’ll deliver to your inbox.

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Our secret reviewer called the creamy Butter Chicken a “revelation.” Paired with basmati rice peppered with cumin seeds, it makes for a flavorful and filling entree.

R E S TA U R A N T R E V I E W

Curry N Kabab B Y D. J. B E AU TI C I A / / P H OTO S B Y CO LLIN RICHIE

Visit 225BestEats.com to sign up for your FREE email and SAVE!

Our food critic’s name may be false, but the credentials are not. This gastronome has studied the history, cultivation, preparation, science and technology of food for more than 30 years. currynkababbr.com 11904 Coursey Blvd. Tuesday-Friday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5:30-8 p.m. Saturday, noon-8 p.m. Closed Sunday and Monday

YOU CAN EVEN FIND US IN THE NEW 225 APP!

I’VE PASSED CURRY N Kabab countless times with curiosity. A friend eats there probably once a month and has always raved about its Pakistani and Indian food and delightful staff. But until my partner came home expounding on the restaurant’s delights after a lunch outing, I had never ventured a stop. So on a recent night, we decided to take the plunge for dinner at the quaint Coursey Boulevard spot. For starters, we had Vegetable Samosas and Papadum. I was surprised by the sneaky spice of the slightly smoky, crisp and addictive

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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Issue Date: November 2020 Ad proof #4 TA ST E / /

Caring for Women Creating Life

Preparation is key for a healthier COVID-19 pregnancy experience Consulting & Training Services • Doula Support Services

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| (337)356-2516 • Please respond byACARINGSEASONDOULA.COM e-mail or fax with your approval or minor revisions. • AD WILL RUN AS IS unless revision requests are received within 24 hours. • Additional revisions must be requested and may be subject to production fees. Carefully check this ad for: CORRECT ADDRESS • CORRECT PHONE NUMBER • ANY TYPOS This ad design © Louisiana Business, Inc. 2020. All rights reserved. Phone 225-928-1700 • Fax 225-926-1329

Papadum. Thank goodness these thin fl tbreads are so airy, as I usually gorge myself on them. I will always appreciate fried dough stuffed with anything, and the large triangular samosas were super crisp on the outside with soft, mild potatoes and peas inside. These were excellent starters, but the real stars were yet to come. Of our entree orders, the first up was Vegetable Jalfrezi, which had a tartness that surprised us. We requested medium spice, and the heat was a perfect complement to the fresh vegetables of cauliflower, broccoli, snap beans, peppers and onions. This would make a delightful and hearty meal for meat and meatless lovers alike. Channa Masala consisted of tender, earthy chickpeas with bright chunks of green bell pepper, tomatoes and crunchy sautéed onions. The sauce had a slight kick with wonderful

THE BASICS: Curry N Kabab opened its doors on Coursey Boulevard in October 2012 and has been a quiet stalwart of the local Indian and Pakistani cuisine scene ever since. The menu offers lunch specials and vegetarian and vegan options, as well as takeout and delivery. WHAT’S A MUST: Start with some flaky egetable Samosas, then move on to one of the comforting entrees like Channa Masala, with tender chickpeas in a tomatoey sauce, or the outstanding Butter Chicken. Be sure to order some naan or the restaurant’s fragrant rice to sop up all the flavorful and spic sauces.

warm spices. If every beans-and-rice dish were as good as this, I could eat it for every meal. Next up, the Butter Chicken was a revelation. Tender chunks of breast meat were swimming in a rich and creamy sauce inundated with what I suspect was ghee and layered with a satisfying heat. If you only get one entree here, I’d suggest this. Nothing in the meal surprised us more than the rice. Called Plain

The Perfect Fit

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TA ST E / /

Rice on the menu, we expected the usual simple, steamed basmati. One mouthful told us the rice was far from plain. Specks of whole cumin seed peppered the extra long grains with gratifying bursts of fl vor. Rice is so often just the forgotten partner, but here it is elevated to great heights. I’m always interested in stuffed breads, so we completed our meal with Cheese Naan and Tandoori Aloo Paratha. I constantly find myself disappointed by other restaurants’ stuffed naan, but not here. The cheese naan was lightly charred with plentiful cream cheese inside and a soft texture. The Aloo Paratha naan was more charred and smokey—and almost a meal in itself. Stuffed to overfl wing with potatoes, this whole-wheat, toothsome bread was perfect for sopping up all the luscious sauces from our entrees. Curry N Kabab’s website notes that all the food is fresh and made from scratch. With each new bite, we realized this was no idle boast. As the owner explained to us, he opened this establishment several years ago for the sole purpose of providing an unprocessed, handcrafted culinary experience. And provide he did. Gloriously.

Stuffed with potatoes and peas, the flaky and crisp Vegetable Samosas are a perfect starter to the meal.

For vegetarians or those uninitiated with Indian-style cuisine, Channa Masala is a great introduction, with its chickpeas stewed in bell peppers, tomatoes and onions.

Curry N Kabab’s Shahed Khan says the restaurant aims to prepare each dish to the diner’s specifications or dietary needs using fresh and natural ingredients.

With our area nonprofits supporting the community through recent events, it’s more vital than ever to give back. That’s the reason 225 GIVES exists—to help local organizations thrive. On December 1, join us for a day of giving back during our powerful online fundraising initiative. Together we can reunite the Greater Baton Rouge Area and inspire action throughout our region.

DECEMBER 1, 2020

Build Community. Ignite Action. Find a nonprofit to support on December 1 at 225GIVES.org.

[225] December 2020 | 225batonrouge.com

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EGGIE SALON STUDIO NOW OPEN Book your Holiday appointment today

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TA ST E / /

FOR THE KITCHEN

Foodie finds Local gifts for that culinary-minded loved one

HOMEGROWN CULINARY GIFTS are the best kind in any year, but that’s especially true in 2020. This holiday season, throw small businesses some support by buying local. Talented food producers have given you lots to work with—there’s an endless bounty of products the food lovers in your life will relish. Here are a few of our favorites.

—MAGGIE HEYN RICHARDSON

Berry well

C is for cookie YOU’VE SEEN “PAPA Tom” Bonnecaze’s products at the Red Stick Farmers Market: a lineup of stoneground goods that includes grits, cornmeal, corn flou , polenta, fish fry and s asoning mix. The familyrun business has also created Cookie Mix jars made with Papa Tom’s rice flour and f esh-crimped oatmeal (whole oats that have been pushed through an oldfashioned crimping machine). It keeps the oats whole, and gives them a unique texture. Each jar includes flou , baking soda, baking powder, salt, sugar, brown sugar and oats, and comes in one of several fun flavors including chocolate chip, butterscotch, cranberry and others. Add wet ingredients, and off you go. bonnecazefarms.com

Portable potables ON BACKPACKING TRIPS, local cocktail enthusiast Cliff Couvillon used to bring along space-saving homemade powder mixes to make cocktails around the campfi e. The exercise planted the idea for a more refined p oduct. Add water and booze to Couvillon’s Leisuremann’s Cocktail Mixes, and poof, you’re holding a Margarita, Cosmo, Bee’s Knees or some other adult beverage. The mixes are available in tins or single-serving envelopes—we found ours at BLDG 5—and are great for the cost-conscious cocktail fan, the tailgater and the road tripper. leisuremanns.com

A CUSTOM HERBAL formulary right down the road in Walker makes and sells seasonal elderberry syrup blends to keep your respiratory system in tip-top shape. What timing, right? Except that Andi Lynn’s has actually been producing natural health remedies for nearly a decade through its store and website and in 200 stores across the country, including more than a dozen groceries and shops around Baton Rouge. The company is the brainchild of Andrea Leyerle, who first developed the elderberry remedy when her family came down with a lingering respiratory virus several years ago. Products not only address coughs and colds, but also help with sleep issues, allergies and other ailments. andilynns.com

COURTESY LSU AGCENTER

Box combo Here’s your chance to give a gift box packed with artisan, hyper-local items made by food entrepreneurs at the LSU AgCenter Food Incubator. The incubator, which helps culinary microenterprises get products to market, assembles different seasonal gift boxes curated with its tenants’ products. The Deluxe Gift Box, for example, includes two varieties of Hanley’s Foods salad dressing and a package of its Po’Boy Croutons; a package of City Gelato mix to make at home; D’Agostino Pasta made with oldworld dyes; and sweets by Mama Roos and Cane Land Distillery. lsuagcenter.com

Eating his words WELL-KNOWN RESTAURATEUR AND radio host Jay Ducote can now add cookbook author to his list of job titles, a lineup that also includes competition chef, product manufacturer and blogger. His Jay Ducote’s Louisiana Outdoor Cooking, co-written by Cynthia LeJeune Nobles and out now on LSU Press, includes 150 festive Cajun- and Creole-influenced ecipes. It also features engaging narratives about how this former LSU student tailgater ended up a frequent participant on national culinary reality TV shows. Recipes include Crawfish Etou fée Arancini, Coconut Chili-Chocolate Tarts and Blackberry Bourbon Bone-In Boston Butt. jayducote.com

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DINING IN

Delicious gifts Use local ingredients—even from your backyard—to create something special to share with loved ones this holiday season BY TRACE Y KO CH A N D ST E PH A N IE R IE G E L PHOTOS B Y A M Y S H UT T

EVERYONE CAN LIKELY agree 2020 has been quite a year, and very few of us will be sad to see it go. As it comes to a close, though, we’re able to find a few silver linings that have been hidden in the dark clouds of the past 12 months. We have both been grateful for the time we were able to spend in the kitchen with our teenage and 20-something kids, creating fun meals during the stressful pandemic. We have also had an opportunity to slow our pace a bit, and learn to be more creative and resourceful. We’ve also enjoyed things like planting backyard gardens, organizing family gatherings on Zoom and taking staycations. These unexpected gifts have made us realize we still have much to be thankful for, even when we’re pushed outside our comfort zones. And now we find ourselves in the midst of the holidays. Family budgets are tight and celebrating may look a little different this year, but it’s more important than ever to show loved ones how much we care.

With that in mind, we decided this month to focus on fun gifts of foods that can be made without breaking the bank. You can utilize ingredients you may even have growing in your own backyard—those little gems you may have overlooked, like Meyer lemons, satsumas and pecans. These gifts using locally sourced ingredients are the perfect way to celebrate the good that 2020 has brought ... and to send the year on its way.

On the menu • Homemade Limoncello • Satsuma Cranberry Quick Bread • Sweet Potato Brown Butter Spice Cookies • Pecan Praline Sauce (Find the praline sauce recipe at 225batonrouge.com/ recipes)

Recipes by Tracey Koch

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Homemade Limoncello This lemon-flavo ed liqueur is mainly produced in southern Italy. Its bright yellow hue and sweet lemon flavor is enjoyed all over the world. Limoncello is also quite easy to make at home. We usually have Meyer lemons growing in the yard and like their mild flo al flavo . If using store-bought lemons, opt for organic or ones that don’t have a thick white pith. A good vodka is important. The hardest part of the process is waiting the week or so it takes for the lemon to infuse. Once the wait is over, mix the infused vodka with a little simple syrup and pour it into festive bottles for gifting. Serve neat and chilled in cordial glasses, or try it in a cocktail.

Servings: Yields 32 fluid ounce 12 Meyer lemons 1 750 milliliter bottle of good-quality vodka, 80-100 proof 1½ to 2 cups sugar 1½ cup water

1. Use a vegetable peeler to peel the lemons. Try to avoid as much of the white pith as possible.

2. Place the lemon peels into a quart glass container with a tight-fi ting lid. Pour the vodka over the lemon peels until completely covered.

3. Close the container

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score went up 10 points! ” — MADISYN M.

and set it on the counter out of direct sunlight to allow the lemon peels to infuse with the vodka. Infuse for 5 days or up to 2 weeks. The longer it sits, the more intense lemon flavor you wi l get.

4. In a small sauce pot, combine the sugar and water. Heat until the sugar is dissolved. Remove from the heat and cool completely. 5. Line a strainer with cheesecloth or a coffee fi ter, and strain the vodka/lemon zest mixture into a 2-quart container. Add in the simple syrup ¼ of a cup at a time or until your desired sweetness. 6. Use a funnel to pour the Limoncello into 12- to

16-ounce glass bottles fi ted with a stopper. Keep the Limoncello refrigerated until ready to give as gifts. The Limoncello will keep in the freezer for up to 6 months.

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Satsuma Cranberry Quick Bread If you have access to a satsuma tree, you know how plentiful they are this time of year. They are one of our favorites of the citrus fruits, and we cannot get enough of them. Tracey came up with a delicious quick bread using satsumas and dried cranberries that is yet another reason for us to love this winter citrus. It is moist and rich and a tasty treat to enjoy along with your coffee in the morning or on a crisp afternoon with a nice cup of tea. It is great to have on hand over the holidays and makes an even greater gift to share with friends and neighbors.

Servings: Yields 2 loaves 2 tablespoons softened butter 2¼ cups sugar 4 cups flou 2 tablespoons baking powder 1½ teaspoons salt 1 cup dried cranberries ¼ cup satsuma zest 1 tablespoon lemon zest 4 eggs 1½ cups vegetable oil 2 tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1 tablespoon vanilla 1 cup sour cream 1½ cups fresh satsuma juice 2 tablespoons powdered sugar

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 2 loaf pans with the softened butter and sprinkle each pan with 2 tablespoons of the sugar.

2. In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flou , baking powder and salt. Mix in the cranberries, satsuma zest and lemon zest. Set this aside.

3. In a separate mixing bowl, whisk to-

gether the remaining sugar, eggs, oil, lemon juice, vanilla, sour cream and ½ cup of the satsuma juice until well blended.

4. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry and fold everything in until the batter comes together. 5. Transfer the batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake in the preheated oven for 45 to 55 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. 6. Remove from the oven and pour the remaining satsuma juice over the two loaves. Sprinkle each hot loaf with the powdered sugar. Cool for 5 minutes.

7. Run a knife around the edges of each

pan and turn the satsuma cranberry loaves onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Wrap the satsuma cranberry loaves in plastic wrap, and store in the fridge for up to 1 week or in the freezer for up to 3 months.

Thank You!

Thank you for making this year’s Mediathon a success!