Acadiana Profile June/July 2022

TOP DENTISTS P.46 ACADIANA PROFILE

COSMETIC INNOVATIONS P.42 JUNE/JULY 2022

25 Fun Things

Cosmetic Innovations

THINGS TO DO THIS SUMMER

T-Rex at Prehistoric Park in Henderson

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Top Dentists

25 FUN

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features J U N E / J U LY 2 02 2

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Get out and about

The top 3 noninvasive procedures in the region

25 Fun Things To Do This Summer

Cosmetic Innovations

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Top Dentists 116 dentists in 7 specialties

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june/july VOLUME 41 NUMBER 03

14 NOTE DE L’EDITEUR

Editor’s Note

18 NOUVELLES DE VILLES

News Briefs

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La Maison

Two former UL athletes resurrect a historic Victorian home in Sterling Grove 24 LETTRES D’AMOUR

Admiring Acadiana’s tradition of culture sharing

26 L’ART

Lafayette artist Dusty Reed combines folk art and cubism to create works drawn from Cajun life in South Louisiana

56 RECETTES DE COCKTAILS

A global tale of a classic cocktail as an ironic catalyst for Ukrainian solidarity

64 EN FRANÇAIS, S’IL VOUS PLAÎT

La ténacité au bout du monde.

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De La Cuisine

Burgers and all the trimmings

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Dîner Dehors

Spoonbill Watering Hole in Lafayette combines cooler-than-cool vibes with avant garde eats

Acadiana Profile (ISSN 0001-4397) is published bimonthly by Renaissance Publishing LLC, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005 (504) 828-1380 and 128 Demanade, Suite 104, Lafayette, LA 70503 (337) 235-7919. Subscription rate: One year $10; no foreign subscriptions. Periodicals postage paid at Lafayette, LA, and additional mailing entry offices. POSTMASTER: Send address changes to Acadiana Profile, 110 Veterans Memorial Blvd., Suite 123, Metairie, LA 70005. Copyright © 2022 Renaissance Publishing LLC. No part of this publication may be reproduced without the consent of the publisher. The trademark Acadiana Profile is registered. Acadiana Profile is not responsible for unsolicited manuscripts, photos and artwork, even if accompanied by a self-addressed stamped envelope. The opinions expressed in Acadiana Profile are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the magazine or owner.

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E D ITO RIA L Managing Editor Art Director Associate Editor Copy Editor Lead Photographer Web Editor

Melanie Warner Spencer Sarah George Ashley McLellan Liz Clearman Danley Romero Kelly Massicot

A DV E RT ISIN G Sales Manager Rebecca Taylor

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(337) 235-7919 Ext. 230 rebecca@acadianaprofile.com

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For subscriptions call 877-221-3512

128 Demanade. Suite 104. Lafayette, LA 70503. 337-235-7919 ext. 230 110 Veterans Blvd. Suite 123. Metairie, LA 70005. 504-828-1380. 877-221-3512 acadianaprofile.com

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N OT E DE L’E DIT E U R AWARDS

International and Regional Magazine Association

E

ven as a list-making aficionado, there’s no good reason for it, but I dislike the phrase “bucket list.” Not because I have a problem with allusions to mortality. It’s just a personal preference, I suppose. A phrase I love is “to-do list.”

While for many people that phrase conjures an endless catalog of (probably arduous) tasks, for me it can mean that or lists of fun things to do, such as travel destinations to visit, restaurants to try or ice cream flavors to get the next time I go for a scoop. These are the kinds of lists I’m consistently working on and don’t need the idea of my eventual demise to keep me on track.

Now that you know how much I love lists, you probably understand why I get such a kick out of offerings like our “25 Things to Do This Summer” feature for this issue. Last year we did a similar article and I still refer to it when the hubby and I are looking for a new activity to try. The angle this year was to focus on things that every Acadianian absolutely must do. While I can boast an awful lot on the list, there are quite a few I still haven’t checked off my personal list.

For example, I am ashamed to admit I haven’t yet gone to Avery Island, toured a crawfish farm or visited the Chauvin Sculpture Garden. I know, it’s unforgivable. Thankfully, Art Director Sarah I have all summer long to get George and her these excursions under my daughter Ella take in belt once and for all and, so the Prehistoric Park do you! I know we can do it if during the cover shot. we set our minds to it.

Speaking of to-do lists, have you been to see your dentist yet this year? If not, we have a great reminder for you in the way of a new feature we’ve added to our annual lineup, Top Dentists.

In addition to the list of the best-of-the-best dental pros in the region, we have a feature about the most popular non-invasive cosmetic procedures in Acadiana. It may come as no surprise that one of them is dental veneers.

Learn more about all of the above in this issue and then go check “make dentist appointment” off of your to-do list. After you make the appointment, of course.

No cheating.

The magazine includes regular favorites, too, so if you really just want to read about homes, art, food and French culture, dive on in and get that off your to-do list.

More than anything we just want you to have a fun and fabulous summer.

There is always a lot to celebrate during a hot Acadiana summer and these days probably more than usual. Get out there and have a great time. Say hi if you see me at Avery Island. We can chat about what’s on your fun things to do list.

Cheers!

2021

Gold Art Direction of a Single Story Silver Covid Related Story Silver Food Feature Bronze Overall Art Direction 2020

Gold Overall Art Direction Silver Art and Culture Feature Silver Recreation Feature Bronze Food Feature Bronze Profiles Bronze Art Direction of a Single Story 2019

Winner Magazine of the Year Gold Overall Art Direction Gold Art Direction Single Story Gold Photo Series Silver Photographer of the Year 2018

Gold Overall Art Direction Gold Magazine Photographer Gold Art Direction of a Single Story Gold Food Feature Gold Department Silver Magazine Writer of the Year Silver Hed & Dek Silver Photo Series 2017

Melanie Warner Spencer Managing Editor Melanie@AcadianaProfile.com

Gold Overall Art Direction Gold Magazine Photographer of the Year Gold Art Direction of a Single Story Gold Food Feature Silver Cover 2016

GET MORE ACADIANA PROFILE AT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM AND BY FOLLOWING US ON INSTAGRAM AND FACEBOOK

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Gold Overall Art Direction Gold Magazine Photographer of the Year Gold Art Direction of a Single Story Silver Photo Series

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ÉQ U I P E DE V E NT E

Rebecca Taylor Sales Manager (337) 298-4424 (337) 235-7919 Ext. 230 Rebecca@AcadianaProfile.com

Coming Soon!

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3 KITCHENS COOKING IN STYLE PG 26

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021 The Home Issue Best Neighborhoods Kitchens

Where to Live Next The best neighborhoods for every buyer's needs PLUS a listing of the region's Top Real Estate Professionals

Lafayette’s Saints Streets district is our pick for the Best Neighborhood for Young Professionals

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2021

AugSept.indd 1

7/16/21 1:04 PM

AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2022

The Home Issue

PLUS

Top Real Estate Pros

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N O U V E L L E S DE V IL L E S

by Lisa LeBlanc-Berry

Affordable Housing Underway LAKE CHARLES New Orleansbased HRI Properties announced plans for Woodring Apartments, a new 130-unit mixed-income housing development in downtown Lake Charles.

Designed to provide more affordable housing (with green building standards emphasizing hurricane disaster resiliency), the $35 million project is set to break ground by the end of 2022.

Thanks to tax credits, rent for one-bedroom apartments will be around $600; amenities include a fitness center, park, community garden and grilling areas (hriproperties.com).

YOUNGSVILLE

More Sports, New Hotel The 70-acre Youngsville Sports Complex is expanding with an additional 46 acres that will soon bring collegiate baseball fields, an amphitheater, cornhole and pickleballl courts, jogging trails and a fitness station, plus a large dance floor (youngsvillesportscomplex. com). Youngsville’s first hotel will be located across the street from the Sports Complex as part of a $25 million, 14.4-acre mixed-used project by the XAG Group, a Houston-based development firm (xaggroup.com).

Music Museum in the Making Lafayette Acadiana Center for the Arts is launching a public capital campaign this summer to raise exhibition and curatorial funds for its new 10,000-square-foot Louisiana Music Museum, to be housed in the former 130-year-old Lafayette Hardware Store. Pending AcA’s (nonprofit) funding success, the construction phase will launch this fall. Acadiana’s diverse musical styles and stories spanning generations will be showcased, with the added allure of a traditional dance hall. AcA supports art, music and festivals across Acadia, Evangeline, Iberia, Lafayette, St. Landry, St. Martin, St. Mary and Vermilion parishes (info@acadianacenterforthearts.org).

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Summer Animal Fun

FOR MORE NEWS BRIEFS VISIT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM

BROUSSARD Hop on the Safari Express Train at Zoosiana to see baby Gabriel the giraffe showing off his new home in the new Giraffe Center.

Then visit two new tiger cubs, brothers Michael and Mitchell, fight-playing as they purr and growl in their roughly 12,000-square-foot enclosure that includes a tiger swimming pool with two sun tanning ledges (facebook.com/ZooFan/).

PHOTO COURTESY ACA

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N O U V E L L E S DE V IL L E S

by Lisa LeBlanc-Berry

New Center Underway BROUSSARD McClain Companies’ second location of Market Eatz, the popular Lafayette-based indooroutdoor eatery, is expanding with the new mixed-use Sabal Point development currently under construction in Broussard along with other commercial spaces and three-bedroom homes (priced in the $200,000s). An outdoor patio will overlook a pond in the center of the development, which is slated for completion mid to late fall 2022 (facebook.com/ MarketEatz).

NEW IBERIA

Kids Reading to Cats The LIT (Librarians in Training) Crew of middle schoolers has been raising funds for Angel Paws Adoption Center to help keep it up and running while also stocking needed supplies via a new literacy event benefitting both the kids and the cats. The children are reading to (orphan) cats while also petting and brushing them, which is to help the kitties to become more comfortable around people, thus giving them a better chance of being adopted (angelpawsiberia.com).

New Nurse Practitioner Clinic

Novel Dining Concept Lafayette Using farm-direct American Wagyu beef (aged and smoked) and locally sourced seafood, the new Lucky’s Fire & Smoke (locally owned by Eddie Khoury and Rene Colina) sends diners on taste adventures through licks of fire and wisps of smoke. Situated in the former Zuhause Bakery & Coffee Bar, the new fine dining venue (founded in Detroit by three-time James Beard-awarded Chef Jimmy Schmidt and partners) utilizes slow cooking techniques for signature dishes and handcrafted signature cocktails. Opening in June (facebook.com/luckyslafayette).

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YOUNGSVILLE Cypress Health + Wellness, a new family nurse practitioner clinic, recently opened for primary care, sick visits and management of all types of disease processes. They can write prescriptions, do bloodwork and offer in-house testing for COVID-19, flu and strep.

Services include Botox, chronic allergy treatment, weight loss services, joint injections, abscess drainage and laceration. To verify insurance: 337-450-3047 (cypresshealthclinic.com).

PHOTO COURTESY LUCKY’S FIRE & SMOKE

N O U V E L L E S DE V IL L E S

by Lisa LeBlanc-Berry

Cheers to 30 Years NEW ORLEANS Acadiana foodies and chefs are heading to New Orleans June 7-12 for the 30th annual New Orleans Wine and Food Experience (NOWFE), kicked off by a glitzy gala honoring Chef Frank Brigtsen (Lifetime Achievement Award) at the posh Four Seasons Hotel, where NOWFE is also bringing back its International Wine Competition (tip: check out the 34th floor’s new $30 million Vue Orleans observatory). Meet New Orleans’ hottest chefs, top winemakers and celebs at the Grand Tastings, NOWFE’s flagship awards event (nowfe.com).

LAFAYETTE

Momentum for Startups Fueled by Lafayette’s current ranking as one of Louisiana’s top 15 cities for entrepreneurship, a new state-of-the-art Opportunity Machine has opened downtown, designed to reach the high-growth startup community of budding entrepreneurs (with an emphasis in tech and STEMfocused areas). The renovated 22,000-square-foot office building’s amenities include community and private office spaces, conference and training rooms, 24-hour key card access and audio visual equipment (opportunitymachine.org).

Cobbler Craze

Pampering Furry Friends Lafayette The Dog Stop, known for its luxury boarding accommodations and spa-like pet grooming, is undergoing its largest renovation since opening in 2015. An upgraded lobby for better shopping and check-in experiences, an additional 26 kennels with six suites and new air-conditioned play areas for socializing, enhanced by coolers full of raw food for dogs with specific nutritional needs are among the perks (thedogstop. com). Tip: As a cooling summer reward, visit Tchoup’s MIDCITY Smokehouse and ask for their doggie beer menu, then chill out with suds and smoked cocktails on the back porch (eatmidcitybbq.com)

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ABBEVILLE, YOUNGSVILLE Grammynominated Christian recording artist, Koryn Hawthorne, debuts the second location of her popular Abbeville dessert shop, The Cobbler House, in Youngsville’s Metairie Center, with plans to launch “multiple locations not only in Louisiana but across the U.S.” Savory cobblers are being added to an ever-expanding menu that includes fresh peach, sweet potato pecan and cinnamon praline cobblers, rolls with ice cream and cobbler-stuffed waffles (facebook.com/ peachcobblerfactoryabbeville).

PHOTO COURTESY THE DOG STOP

LE T T R E S D'A MO U R

Teaching Artists Admiring Acadiana’s tradition of culture sharing

By Bree Sargent illustration by Sara Willia

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There are so many reasons to love you, Acadiana. I love the food and the festivals (I’ve danced my heart out at several recently).

I love the natural beauty that surrounds us, and of course I love the people. But for me, it’s arts and culture that are especially rich here. Our artistic history runs deep, through music, dance, visual arts, theater, poetry and creative writing, culinary talents and so much more. Arts and culture have a long history in Acadiana, and I know that it will continue to

thrive because of the rich community of artists who not only must make art, but also seek to pass it along.

Passing on traditions is something deeply ingrained in our culture — we hand down recipes and share stories and family photos.

From the families of Cajun and Zydeco musicians passing their musical styles from generation to generation, to fine artisans who apprentice themselves to learn an art form, this community is rich with teachers.

This practice is hidden in plain sight in our public schools, where professional artists work to teach children in, through and about the arts. Through a decades-long partnership between Acadiana Center for the Arts and Lafayette Parish School System (and more recently with St. Landry and Vermilion Parish schools), practicing artists work in classrooms teaching children of all ages. Local musicians who perform on stages around the world spend their days teaching music to students in our public schools. Visual artists and dancers integrate their art forms into academic subjects, bringing science and math to life for young students, engaging them in new ways and making learning exciting.

When children learn the arts, they don’t just learn to draw or dance or BREE SARGENT play an instrument. They is the education learn creativity, confidirector at dence, problem-solving, Acadiana Center for the Arts. Her perseverance, focus, other passion is non-verbal communibaking beautiful cation, collaboration, and delicious receiving constructive desserts to share.

Born in New feedback, dedication and Iberia, she lives accountability. in Lafayette with I feel so fortunate her husband. that this is the work I am immersed in every day. I am surrounded by excellent, passionate teachers who began their careers as artists and who have found an additional path, passing on what they love to the next generation. These teaching artists give their all, creating engaging lessons that give students the opportunity to make choices and to take an active role in their own learning.

For these teachers, this isn’t just a job but a calling — something that inspires their own work as practicing artists.

That’s why I know that this rich, artistic culture in Acadiana is here to stay. This community of teaching artists has grown in so many ways. They feed the souls of their students and themselves and have found real meaning in this work. They add to the beauty and continuity of Acadiana, and for that, I am ever grateful. ■

L’A RT

Visual Vocabulary Lafayette artist Dusty Reed combines folk art and cubism to create works drawn from Cajun life in South Louisiana

by John R. Kemp

“One look at Dusty Reed’s paintings filled with fragmented, angular imagery and you’ll know why he’s called the Cajun Picasso. Like Pablo Picasso, who drew inspiration from African tribal art, Reed’s art is in a sense a “tribal art” drawn from Cajun life in South Louisiana.

That similarity begs the question — did Picasso directly influence his painting style?

No, Reed says, it came to him naturally. It was a visual vocabulary that arose from his imagination and experiences growing up in a Cajun family. A musician’s frottoir, a shrimp boat, faceless eyes staring out from a canvas, and other elements of his visual vocabulary appear

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on canvas as somewhat familiar yet obscured in a mass of abstract juxtapositions. Like earlier Cubists, this is Reed’s way of telling stories and portraying Cajun culture from multifaceted perspectives.

“I didn’t go to art school,” says Reed, “but I knew everybody loved Picasso. I didn’t know any more than that. That was just a way to paint something Cajun in my language. I didn’t want to do what everyone else did. And that’s how I wanted to tell the story of Louisiana through the Cubist lens. The only thing similar to Picasso is the Cubist nature.”

Born in Lafayette in 1981 and with undergraduate and graduate degrees in education and communications from the University of Louisiana Lafayette, Reed began his career not as an artist but as a teacher. In 2006 he decided to be a painter. He liked the “freedom of expression” art gave him. While in graduate school, he painted more and more to develop his own distinctive style while selling his work in a local gallery. That’s when he got the name “Cajun Picasso.”

“The gallery director came up with the name,” Reed says. “I was painting this little figure I call the Bowtie Guy, a man with a top hat, no face and a bowtie. The gallery owner told the director that I had to paint something more Cajun. It was Cajun to me. I was kind of put off by that and that’s when I started painting in straight lines in that Cubist style.

When I showed up with two of my paintings, the gallery director said it’s like Picasso but like Cajun, Cajun Picasso. And that stuck.”

Pleased with the title, Reed has another name for his mixed-media paintings and

found-object assemblages. He calls them “Colk Art” — a combination of Cubism and folk art that “brings folk art to a fine art level while using the tendencies of the folk artist.”

After a decade of owning his own gallery, Reed now shows his “Colk Art” at the Lafayette Art Association & Gallery, where he has his studio, and at eight other locations in Louisiana and Mississippi. He also likes to do art festivals such as the Festivals Acadiens et Créoles in Lafayette and the Peter Anderson Festival in Ocean Springs, Mississippi. Such outings enable him to talk with people, to

reveal “little secrets” in his paintings and to see their reactions to his work.

“I don’t have to sell it,” he says. “The comments they make are validation and a drive for me to produce more. In my heart I know what I’m doing is right and feels right but hearing that from someone else is so great. I love sharing the stories of Louisiana. Being an artist is lonely. It’s part of you and you just can’t turn that off.”

Lonely, yes, but knowing his art is in homes across the country lessens that loneliness. In a sense, Reed says, “I’m part of their lives.” ■

TO SEE MORE OF DUSTY REED’S WORK VISIT CAJUNPICASSO.COM OR ACADIANAPROFILE.COM

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LA MAISON

Saving the Best for Last Two former UL athletes resurrect a historic Victorian home in Sterling Grove

by Marie Elizabeth Oliver photos by Haylei Smith

If you drove toward Opelousas from Lafayette in the early 1900s, chances are the last home you’d pass would be a gingerbreadlaced Victorian.

“Everything north of it was just cattle ranch,” says architect Stephen Ortego, of SO Studio Architecture.

Dubbed, “The Last House,” this historic Sterling Grove property originally spanned an entire block, according to the Preservation Alliance of Lafayette. But over the years, the home fell into disrepair. When Leigh and Mark Robson purchased it in 2016, the only residents were a family of raccoons.

The Robsons weren’t fazed. The transatlantic couple already owned a home in Scotland they had converted from an old cow barn.

They immediately vowed to restore The Last House to its former glory, bringing in Ortego to lead the historic preservation. Ortego says

his experience with Victorian-era buildings helped him unearth the original builders’ intentions.

“When you start peeling back layers, you can start seeing the story,” says Ortego.

He explains the previous owners divided the home into multiple units, likely during the Great Depression. Without any original

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(above) The Robsons chose a cool gray exterior paint color and white trim to accentuate the home’s gingerbread detailing. Though it originally had a 270-degree wrap-around porch, they reduced the porch’s footprint to 180 degrees to add more living space. (facing page) Leigh says their goal was to have the interior of the house imitate the exterior.

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(left) The couple added a bright, modern kitchen in the back of the house, complete with a wine fridge. (bottom) The ceiling in the entry features the home’s original lath boards.

Magnolia painting by the late Ruth Hennessy, Leigh’s mother. (right) Leigh, a world champion trampolinist and accomplished Hollywood stunt coordinator, has competed and performed across the globe. Mark wanted to include her accolades and memorabilia in the home’s decor.

Architect Stephen Ortego SO Studio Architecture sostudioarchitecture.com 337-541-1144

TO GET MORE OF THIS HOME VISIT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM

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blueprints to fall back on, Ortego had to put the pieces back together like a life-sized jigsaw puzzle. He says once he discovered the faint outline of the original staircase (which had made its way to the home’s exterior), things started coming together.

But the restoration process wasn’t all smooth sailing.

On New Year’s Day of 2017, someone broke into the construction site and stole the home’s disassembled doors, transoms, casings and stair banister. Thankfully, the story doesn’t end there. One viral Facebook post and a gracious Sunset antique dealer later, Leigh reunited with every last one of the stolen items.

Today, the sturdy, old-growth cypress home stands as an architectural time capsule.

The Robsons even managed to incorporate some original lath boards in the entryway as a tribute to James McNaspy — a plasterer by trade — who built the home for his oldest daughter at the turn of the century.

The Robsons’ connection to McNaspy goes beyond the house itself. Although they’ve lived all over the world, Leigh, a world-champion trampoline gymnast, and Mark, a college soccer player, first met at the former McNaspy Stadium. The stadium bore the name of James’ son, CJ, who was the athletic director at thenUSL. For the Robsons, this was just one more sign from the universe they were meant to end up in Lafayette at “The Last House.” In Scotland as in Sterling Grove, homes are known for their names instead of their addresses.

Mark and Leigh created a logo for the house that now adorns the front door. They say the Last House moniker still fits.

“We’ve both lived in so many places,” says Mark. “This is it, we’re never moving again.” ■

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2 F

25 FUN

THINGS

TO DO THIS SUMMER

BY CHERÉ COEN SELECT PHOTOS BY HAYLEI SMITH AND JOSEPH VIDRINE

A1 Acadiana is bursting with fun things to do. There are so many attractions to enjoy in Acadiana, including outdoors activities, historical sites and museums. Then, of course, there’s the food! If you’re looking to get out and about this summer, but need a road map, here are 25 must-see places to visit.

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SEE DINOSAURS Dinosaurs roam through 12 acres in Henderson, but don’t worry, they won’t bite. It’s all part of Prehistoric Park, where visitors can stroll through finding dinosaurs (lifelike replicas) hiding in the woods. There’s also gem mining, digging for dinosaur bones and the Fast Track amusement park with more than 68,000 square feet of indoor games, go-karts, refreshments and more. cajunpalms.com/prehistoric-park

SHOP FOR ANTIQUES

Historic Grand Coteau dates back centuries and is home to several Catholic establishments such as St. Charles Borromeo Church and the Academy of the Sacred Heart but it’s also an antique lover’s heaven. There are numerous shops to choose from, and just down the road, on the other side of Interstate 49, lies Sunset with its collection of antique shops as well as artist galleries and boutiques.

PHOTO: HAYLEI SMITH; JOSEPH VIDRINE

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Get Spicy Hot Since the mid-1800s, the McIlhenny family has created its world-famous Tabasco sauce on Avery Island outside New Iberia. Take a factory tour to learn how the pepper sauce is made, have lunch at Restaurant 1868 or enjoy Tabasco ice cream in the gift shop.

Don’t miss driving through the magnificent Jungle Gardens with its unique landscaping and abundant wildlife. tabasco.com

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4

Eat Crawfish There are so many great places to enjoy crawfish in all its incarnations, from étouffée and poboys to boiled crustaceans.

And for good reason — Acadiana loves crawfish! Try Cajun Claws in Abbeville and Duson, Crawfish Town USA in Henderson, Dwight’s in Lafayette and Seafood Palace in Lake Charles, to name only a few. Over in Houma, they offer a “Crawfish Trail” listing 30 places to enjoy crawfish dishes. crawfishtrail.com

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CHAT IN ANOTHER LANGUAGE

Louisiana is fortunate in that French is still spoken here and efforts are ongoing to keep it alive. There are numerous “French Tables” held throughout Acadiana, gatherings where folks can practice their French in good company, and sometimes enjoy food and coffee in the process. For a list of meetings, visitlafayettetravel.com/explore/ language/french-tables.

6 PHOTO COURTESY CRYING EAGLE

LEARN ABOUT CRAWFISH

South Louisiana produces the country’s crawfish in farm ponds and throughout the Atchafalaya Basin.

For those who want to see how it’s done, Jeff Davis Parish Tourist Commission offers field trips and group tours to a crawfish farm and the Interstate 10 Crawfish Cooperative.

Tours are $8 per person (ages 3 and up); call the Jeff Davis Parish Tourist office to book one at (337) 821-5521. jeffdavis.org/tourism

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Enjoy Zydeco Breakfast

GET SPIRITED

We’ll leave the wineries for other regions, but that doesn’t mean Acadiana doesn’t offer distilleries and breweries — some of the best and definitely the most creative. Yellowfin Vodka in Sulphur creates its spirits from sugarcane, J.T. Meleck in Branch from rice and Bayou Terrebonne Distillers in Houma cook up a corn whiskey. Rum lovers may prefer Wildcat Brothers in Lafayette and Bayou Rum Distillery in Lacassine. The Louisiana Brewery Trail consists of the following in Acadiana: Crying Eagle Brewing Company in Lake Charles, Parish Brewing in Lafayette and Bayou Teche Brewing in Arnaudville, all offering tap rooms and special events.

Follow a Pirate’s Footsteps There are six units to the Jean Lafitte National Historical Park and Preserve — two in the New Orleans area, one in Barataria where Lafitte hung out and three in Acadiana. Each one focuses on unique aspects of its region, with a nod here and there to the famous privateer.

There’s the Prairie Acadian Cultural Center in Eunice, the Acadian Cultural Center in Lafayette and the Wetlands Acadian Cultural Center in Thibodaux. nps.gov/jela/index.htm

There’s live music during the week to complement the Cajun and Italian fare at Buck & Johnny’s, a restaurant located inside the renovated Domingue’s Motors building in downtown Breaux Bridge.

But things get really rockin’ on Saturday mornings for the weekly Zydeco Breakfast. Arrive early to nab a good seat because the place fills up fast. buckandjohnnys. com

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VIEW UNIQUE ART

Head “down the bayou” to Chauvin where bricklayer Kenny Hill created unique concrete sculptures throughout his property, many featuring Biblical references and angels. It’s truly a sight to behold, including a 45-foot lighthouse. The Chauvin Sculpture Garden is open to the public during daylight hours Monday through Sunday, with docents on site 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. weekends. For more information, or to arrange a docent-led tour during the week, contact Nicholls State University Division of Art at (985) 448-4597.

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VISIT SOMETHING ANCIENT Standing sentinel to the Cathedral of St. John the Evangelist in downtown Lafayette is a live oak tree believed to be almost 500 years old.

According to its historical marker, the tree is 126 feet high with limbs spreading 138 feet across. The St. John Cathedral Oak serves as second vice president of the Live Oak Society (yes, the trees are members). The society was created by Dr. Edwin Lewis Stephens, first president of Southwestern Louisiana Industrial Institute, now the University of Louisiana at Lafayette. saintjohncathedral.org

Jam with the Best

Pioneer accordion builder and musician Marc Savoy hosts a popular Saturday morning jam session at his Savoy Music Center in Eunice.

It’s one of many places in Acadiana where musicians may “jam” with others. “It isn’t a performance because no one is ‘performing,’ rather it’s a get-together of friends to enjoy playing the music of their heritage.”

Savoy writes of the jam sessions in his new book, “Made in Louisiana: The Story of the Acadian Accordion.”

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12 TAKE A WALK

Stroll through the historic district of Franklin with its trademark lampposts lining Main Street and 400 properties on the National Register of Historic Places.

The town named for Benjamin Franklin was also home to four governors, three U.S. senators, a chief justice of the Louisiana Supreme Court and other dignitaries. For a walking or driving tour brochure, visit cajuncoast.com.

13 14 Drive the Creole Nature Trail

CATCH A SWAMP TOUR Wetlands, marshes and the expansive Atchafalaya Basin provide outdoors enthusiasts hours of fun and one way to get on the water is with a swamp tour, kayak or airboat ride. Tours leave out of Henderson near Lafayette, Morgan City and in the Houma-Thibodaux area. louisianatravel.com/articles/louisiana-swamp-tours

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LEARN CAJUN AND CREOLE HISTORY

The historic town of St. Martinville dates back centuries, with the Chitimacha Native Americans residing here before Cajuns, Creoles and Africans arrived. Visitors may learn of its history at the St. Martinville Cultural Heritage Center, home to the African American Museum and the Museum of the Acadian Memorial, or pause by the Evangeline Oak, a reference to Henry Wadsworth Longfellow’s poem “Evangeline” that details the Acadian diaspora. stmartinville. org/attractions.html

The Creole Nature Trail All-American Road makes a horseshoe loop from Interstate 10 east of Lake Charles, down to the Gulf of Mexico and up again toward Sulphur. Hike its boardwalks and catch a variety of wildlife, pause at the Gulf’s edge on sandy beaches and fish waters teeming with seafood. Along the way, visitors are bound to see gators, some resting alongside the main roads.

“When the sun is out, the alligators will be out sunbathing,” said Kathryn Shea Duncan of Visit Lake Charles. visitlakecharles.org/creolenature-trail/

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Park an RV and Dance RV resorts in South Louisiana are becoming today’s dancehall/ entertainment hotspots, according to Herman Fuselier, coauthor with Philip Gould of “Ghosts of Good Times: South Louisiana Dance Halls Past and Present.” There are numerous places along Interstate 10 in the Lafayette/Breaux Bridge area that fill up on the weekend and offer live music.

Cajun Palms, Cajun Heritage RV Park and Lakeview Park are three. Some have cabins and swimming pools. cajunpalms.com, cajunheritagervpark. com teeming, lvpark. com

RELIVE HISTORY

There are several places in Acadiana that not only teach history, but also allow visitors a chance to experience history. There’s Acadian Village and Vermilionville in Lafayette, which also offer events in addition to their collection of historical properties, and Le Vieux Village in Opelousas, which includes the Venus House, one of the oldest Creole homes west of the Mississippi River.

19 Go Birding at Lake Martin Folks in the Lafayette area adore Lake Martin for its hiking trails, boat launches and sightings of gators. It’s also a hot birding spot in spring and fall, when migratory birds fly through and egrets and spoonbills nest.

More than 200 different species have been spotted at Lake Martin, according to the Nature Conservancy of Louisiana, which oversees part of the lake.

Take a hike along the levee and look for eagles, ospreys, owls and a wide variety of water fowl. lafayettetravel.com/thingsto-do/outdoor-adventure/ lake-martin/

21 GET YOUR GREEN ON

20 PET A GATOR

Visitors to the “Gator Chateau” inside the Jeff Davis Parish Visitor Center (Louisiana Oil and Gas Park at Interstate 10 at Exit 64) can hold baby gators, receive a lesson from an alligator handler and watch them get fed, depending on the time of day. The Gator Chateau is open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday through Saturday and is free, although donations are accepted. Any purchase at the nearby gift shop helps the parish alligator rescue program, and folks may also take advantage of the park’s stocked fishing pond, playground and hiking trails. jeffdavis.org/ gator-chateau/

24 Burn Up the Dance Floor

Acadiana is lucky to contain several Louisiana state parks. Chicot State Park and Louisiana Arboretum offer hiking trails through woods, while Cypremort Point, Lake Fausse Pointe and Palmetto Island State Park are more water-centric.

All offer camping options. For a history lesson on Cajun and Creole life, Longfellow-Evangeline State Historic Site near St. Martinville includes historic buildings. Sam Houston Jones State Park north of Lake Charles and Grand Isle State Park have been closed due to recent hurricanes, but check the parks website for updates. lastateparks.com

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23 Catch Rayne Frogs

Travel through the city of Rayne and visitors will notice frogs everywhere — murals, that is, although statues and other frog oddities may pop up as well. It all hearkens back to Rayne’s early days when residents hunted frogs for restaurant use, sending them as far away as New York City. There’s even a Rayne Frog Festival, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year. But don’t miss the murals. It’s why Rayne has been designated the official Louisiana City of Murals.

TAKE IN A FESTIVAL

Louisiana hosts 400-plus festivals a year, many of which occur in Acadiana. There’s the world-famous Festival International de Louisiane, Festivals Acadiens et Créole, Shrimp and Petroleum Festival, Voice of the Wetlands Festival and much more. louisianatravel.com/festivals-eventslouisiana

Dancehalls used to dot the Acadiana landscape, but some remain, boasting live music and a dance floor. Historic La Poussiere in Breaux Bridge serves up Cajun tunes and Lakeview Park & Beach in Eunice utilizes its barn for dances. In Lafayette, the Blue Moon Saloon brings in bands of many stripes but there’s dancing, too. It’s Acadiana, after all. lvpark.com, lapoussiere. com, bluemoonpresents.com/web

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Take in a Show

The Acadiana Center for the Arts, which keeps expanding its footprint in downtown Lafayette, offers concerts, film screenings, art exhibits and dance performances. A few blocks away, Cité des Arts offers much of the same. The Grand Opera House of the South in the heart of Crowley was built to provide top entertainment from traveling shows making their way across the South. acadianacenterforthearts.org, citedesarts. org, thegrandoperahouse.org

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THE TOP THREE NONINVASIVE

Cosmetic Innovations IN THE REGION THIS YEAR B Y E V A F E D D E R LY I L L U S T R AT I O N S BY C A R I B AY M . B E N AV I D E S

NONINVASIVE aesthetic treatments are on the rise. Just last year, this market was estimated at $52.57 billion worldwide and is predicted to grow even more this year. People from various age groups are indulging in these treatments, but the number of millennials and Generation Z-ers investing is on the rise, mainly because these treatments don’t typically require recovery or downtime. They’re also buying into this market for visual kinds of effects these treatments can create.

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In Acadiana, there is a long roster of doctors specializing in noninvasive cosmetic procedures, including injectables, skin resurfacing techniques (also known as lasers) and noninvasive tissue lifting.

These noninvasive innovations are popular because they typically don’t create scars and cost relatively less than more invasive procedures. They don’t require an incision or removing tissue. With a growing consumer base wanting to garner a certain type of look, local doctors are offering a plethora of these types of services.

Lafayette’s Dr. Kevin Duplechain, who has 25 years of surgical experience doing cosmetic and reconstructive procedures, said that some of the most popular requests at his practice in Lafayette are Botox injections. “I think of Botox and noninvasive because there’s no healing time. For all practical purposes it’s non-invasive because you don’t need anesthesia.” Duplechain said. “With Botox, it’s about reducing wrinkles and improving the skin. Neurotoxins, also known as Botox, basically slow down nerve function.”

The doctor continued that he considers the recent uptick in Botox requests partially due to the pandemic and the rise of Zoom meetings.

“I’m seeing it in all age groups really.

There’s this Zoom phenomenon where people see themselves in the Zoom picture and think, ‘I don’t want to look the way I look.’ This Zoom phenomenon and COVID phenomenon are driving a lot of people to look at themselves and see what they can fix,” said Duplechain, whose credentials include diplomate of the American Board of Otolaryngology — Head and Neck Surgery, the American Board of Facial Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and the American Board of Cosmetic Surgery.

Duplechain also attributes the Botox uptick to popular culture and pervasive images consumers see in the media. “Botox is preventative for wrinkles, but it’s also for effect, for bigger lips, bigger cheeks … The Kardashians get a lot of mention for that effective look; they have

B E A U T Y C E R T A I N LY DOESN’T REQUIRE COSMETIC PROCEDURES, AND CAN RADIATE FROM THE I N S I D E O U T. A daily routine of preventative measures, that are both refreshing and enjoyable, can help one lead a more beautiful life. Colleen Breeckner, East Coast-based yoga teacher and wellness coach, provides her own beauty wellness routine here. These tips can be implemented daily for a healthier, brighter lifestyle:

1 2

Upon waking up, before drinking coffee or eating food, drink water with lemon.

unique features. Because of their popularity, you see that in the younger group of patients.

It’s mostly women, but some men, too. At our office though it’s about 95 percent women.”

The doctor noted that in this group of patients, many of them are still too young to have wrinkles, with some of them being in their early 20s. He said while the noninvasive treatment of Botox helps with wrinkle prevention — “They see their parents and don’t want to get wrinkles” — it’s really about this new aesthetic effect they see being cultivated on Instagram and with celebrities like the Kardashians.

HydraFacial is another popular innovation being requested in the region, according to Duplechain. Using a patented technology, HydraFacial cleanses the skin, while extracting impurities and nourishing with a super serum that replenishes the skin with nutrients. “It’s like a vacuum cleanertype device that gets your skin clean. [It] extracts and removes impurities. It also moisturizes. HydraFacials give you pretty skin. It’s an incredibly popular treatment,” Duplechain said.

In addition to Botox and HydraFacials, dental veneers are making a splash, making smiles brighter, whiter and more aligned. A veneer is typically made of custom-made,

tooth-colored porcelain, since porcelain is a more durable, natural-looking material.

It’s a thin shell of porcelain that’s designed to cover the front of the tooth. These types of dental ceramics can produce naturallooking teeth, and can cover yellowing teeth, chips, cracks, misalignment, and other perceived imperfections. The porcelain is said by doctors to retain its glossy look for a long period of time.

CoolSculpting is also a popular nonivasive choice in the region. This treatment is said to help with areas, such as the “love handles” and double chins, according to Acadia Women’s Health. Since 1999, this practice in Acadiana offers women a female-centric facility to receive an array of treatments, including both noninvasive cosmetic innovations, one of them being CoolSculpting, which is a creative way to contour one’s body by freezing body fat away. There is no surgery or downtime. Globally, about 3.5 million CoolSculpting treatments have been performed.

With the rise in popularity of these treatments, it’s important to recognize it’s one’s personal choice whether or not to use noinvasive procedures. Always work with a trusted doctor and get all of the information before moving forward with treatments. ■

Always try and get eight hours of sleep. Sleep is essential and not always easy. Melatonin, 5-HTP (Note: This does not mix with antidepressants), lavender, magnesium glycinate and an eye mask can help with some delicious, deep sleep. These are methods to ensure that I get a full night’s sleep.

Also, try using the Pillow app.

3

Do yoga and gyrotonics. Walk in nature. I like to also surround myself with inspiring women and prioritize healthy relationships and fun new experiences.

4

Use chemistry, meaning apply the ordinary acids and serum routine, daily. I wash my face with CeraVe, then niacinamide and copper peptides, caffeine around the eyes, a spritz of rose water (you can use any brand without a lot of alcohol), hyaluronic acid, and Caudalie Resveratrol-Lift serum, under eye cream and finally, a superfood sunblock.

5 6

I always invest in facials once a month, including a facial massage and red light therapy.

Diet is key: I invest in an 80 percent plant-based, anti-inflammatory diet, with lots of natural collagen via organic bone broths, collagen chews and biotin.

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T 116 DENTISTS IN 7 SPECIALTIES

TOP DEN 46

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T

This list is excerpted from the 2022 topDentists™ list, a database, which includes listings for more than 115 dentists and specialists in the Acadiana area. The Acadiana list is based on thousands of detailed evaluations of dentists and professionals by their peers.

The complete database is available at usatopdentists.com. For more information call 706-364-0853; write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; email info@usatopdentists.com or visit usatopdentists.com.

SELECTION PROCESS "If you had a patient in need of a dentist, which dentist would you refer them to?"

This is the question we've asked thousands of dentists to help us determine who the topDentists should be. Dentists and specialists are asked to take into consideration years of experience, continuing education, manner with patients, use of new techniques and technologies and of course physical results.

The nomination pool of dentists consists of dentists listed online with the American Dental Association, as well as all dentists listed online with their local dental societies, thus allowing virtually every dentist the opportunity to participate. Dentists are also given the opportunity to nominate other dentists that they feel should be included in our list. Respondents are asked to put aside any personal bias or political motivations and to use only their knowledge of their peer's work when evaluating the other nominees.

Voters are asked to individually evaluate the practitioners on their ballot whose work they are familiar with. Once the balloting is completed, the scores are compiled and then averaged. The numerical average required for inclusion varies depending on the average for all the nominees within the specialty and the geographic area.

Borderline cases are given careful consideration by the editors. Voting characteristics and comments are taken into consideration while making decisions. Past awards a dentist has received and status in various dental academies can factor in our decision.

Once the decisions have been finalized, the included dentists are checked against state dental boards for disciplinary actions to make sure they have an active license and are in good standing with the board. Then letters of congratulations are sent to all the listed dentists.

Of-course there are many fine dentists who are not included in this representative list. It is intended as a sampling of the great body of talent in the field of dentistry in the United States. A dentist’s inclusion on our list is based on the subjective judgments of his or her fellow dentists. While it is true that the lists may at times disproportionately reward visibility or popularity, we remain confident that our polling methodology largely corrects for any biases and that these lists continue to represent the most reliable, accurate, and useful list of dentists available anywhere.

DISCLAIMER This list is excerpted from the 2022 topDentists™ list, which includes listings for more than 115 dentists and specialists in the Acadiana area.

For more information call 706-364-0853; or write P.O. Box 970, Augusta, GA 30903; by email (info@usatopdentists.com) or at usatopdentists.com. topDentists has used its best efforts in assembling material for this list but does not warrant that the information contained herein is complete or accurate, and does not assume, and hereby disclaims, any liability to any person for any loss or damage caused by errors or omissions herein whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause. Copyright 2011-2022 by Top Dentists, LLC, Augusta, GA. All rights reserved. This list, or parts thereof, must not be reproduced in any form without permission.

No commercial use of the information in this list may be made without permission of topDentists. No fees may be charged, directly or indirectly, for the use of the information in this list without permission.

Endodontics Casey B. Bargas Bargas Endodontics 2640 Country Club Road, Suite 300 Lake Charles 337-564-6885

Benjamin Ber Southern Endodontic Specialists 1211 Museum Drive Houma 985-917-0084 Brent M. Chauvin Advanced Endodontics of Lafayette 221 Rue De Jean, Suite 214 Lafayette 337-769-0999

K. Shane Fowler Acadiana Endodontics 4906 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Building O Lafayette 337-981-0144

Steven M. Gaudet, Jr. Southern Endodontic Specialists 1211 Museum Drive Houma 985-917-0084 Blair P. Gremillion Ascension Endodontics 17563 Old Jefferson Highway Prairieville 225-677-5000 John E. Levin Levin Endodontics 312 West University Avenue, Suite A Lafayette 337-236-9880

Michael J. Marcello II Premier Endodontics 117 Saint Michael Street Thibodaux 985-625-3636

Kenneth W. Parks Lake Area Endodontics 636 West McNeese Street Lake Charles 337-477-6124 Anthony B. Rainwater 3909 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Suite B Lafayette 337-233-7113

General Dentistry Melanie J. Andrews Plantation Road Dental Care 103 Plantation Road Destrehan 504-764-1148

C. J. Ardoin II Lake Area Dentistry 4985 South Highway 27 Sulphur 337-583-2756 John K. Aycock 317 Redfern St Lafayette 337-578-0738

Brock J. Barras Barras Family Dentistry 1700 Kaliste Saloom, Building 4 Lafayette 337-443-4912 Peter T. Bayles Lake Area Dentistry 824 West 4th Street Dequincy 337-786-6221 D. Sheard Ber 1711 Himalaya Avenue Thibodaux 985-446-5031

Charles A. Bernard III 2726 Kaliste Saloom Road Lafayette 337-984-9414

ENTISTS

TOP DENTISTS Gerard M. Beyt Beyt Family Dentistry 509 North Main Street Saint Martinville 337-394-3768 Mark J. Bilello 399 Bayou Gardens Boulevard Houma 985-872-9470 Gary J. Blanchette Sulphur Dental Associates 2920 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-2671

Natalie B. Brasseaux 107 Oak Way Lane, Suite A Lafayette 337-456-3925

Charlie Buller III 206 North Thompson Avenue Iowa 337-582-7225

Rebecca Charpentier Charpentier Family Dentistry 600 Rue de Onetta New Iberia 337-369-6587 Carl W. Churchman, Jr. 3640 Common Street Lake Charles 337-478-5070

James R. Churchman Churchman Family Dentistry 150 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles 337-478-1700

Mary S. Churchman Churchman & Roberts Dentistry 3632 Common Street Lake Charles 337-478-4022 Robert C. Cochran Moss Bluff Family Dental Care 1434 Sam Houston Jones Parkway Lake Charles 337-855-7748

Christy G. DrumAmmons 214 West McNeese Street Lake Charles 337-478-0870 Lige F. Dunaway III 121 Representative Row Lafayette 337-264-1890 Rachel A. Durel 335 Doucet Road, Suite B Lafayette 337-981-8144 Robert J. Foret Roundtree Family Dentistry 120 Rue Colette Thibodaux 985-446-8821

Matthew D. George 627 West College Street Lake Charles 337-478-3646

Laurie R. Glaser Glaser Family Practice 13270 Highway 90 Boutte 985-785-0123 Joshua R. Guidry Guidry Family Dentistry 809 North Canal Boulevard Thibodaux 985-449-0611 Sara R. Guidry Guidry Family Dentistry 809 North Canal Boulevard Thibodaux 985-449-0611

Herbert M. Hamilton, Jr. 406 West McNeese Street, Suite B Lake Charles 337-477-9790 Scott M. Hannaman 1540 Country Club Road Lake Charles 337-474-4892 Edward J. Hebert 1540 Country Club Road Lake Charles 337-474-4892

Jeffery A. Hennigan Lake Area Dentistry 700 West McNeese Street Lake Charles 337-478-8470 Craig S. Landry 350 Doucet Road, Suite 100 Lafayette 337-981-9242

Michelle M. Leblanc 10950 Highway 3125, Suite C Lutcher 225-869-6223 Lance Lege 904 North Cushing Avenue Kaplan 337-643-7766 Dean L. Listi 904 David Drive Morgan City 985-384-4044

Trace L. Lynn Lynn Family Dentistry 3107 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-9911 Brett David Madere 190 Central Avenue Reserve 985-536-3193

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Bryan Manning Manning Dental Associates 1910 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-8787

Daniel J. Melancon Melancon Melancon & Theriot 102 Mystic Boulevard Houma 985-873-8451 David L. Melancon Melancon Melancon & Theriot 102 Mystic Boulevard Houma 985-873-8451 James P. Mire 102 Mystic Boulevard Houma 985-868-5337 E.M. Moody II 404 East Texas Avenue Rayne 337-334-2967

Lorie A. Moreau Houma Dental 600 Valhi Boulevard Houma 985-872-3677

Benjamin M. Ory Ory Family Dentistry 430 West 5th Street La Place 985-652-9616

G. Kyle Slaven Smile Design Orthodontics 3913 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-0008

James J. Stafford 2670 Highway 20 Vacherie 225-265-3026

Michelle SwiftCorcoran Fresh Dental Boutique 632 West McNeese Street Lake Charles 337-478-2960 R. Roy Vaughan 1402 Oak Park Boulevard Lake Charles 337-478-2850

Paul D. Vidrine Friendly Dental Care 108 Executive Drive, Suite B Lake Charles 337-433-1306

Lamar E. Waguespack , Jr. La Vie Dental 109 Johnny Dufrene Drive Raceland 985-532-5303 Jerome M. Walker 600 Liberty Street Houma 985-851-2653

Robert D. Ory , Jr. Ory Family Dentistry 430 West 5th Street La Place 985-652-9616

Ryan A. Walker 1092 Valhi Boulevard Houma 985-851-1633

Daniel M. Perry 4301 Lake Street Lake Charles 337-478-0812

Stephanie B. Weaver Center for Restorative Dentistry 715 West College Street Lake Charles 337-478-3123

James A. Pearce 121 Representative Row Lafayette 337-269-0564

Jason R. Ray 698 East 1st Street Thibodaux 985-446-8037

Katie Roberts Churchman & Roberts Dentistry 3632 Common Street Lake Charles 337-478-4022 Lance N. Savoie Lance Savoie Family Dental 105 Rue Centre Street Abbeville 337-892-4774

Daniel A. Weaver Center for Restorative Dentistry 715 West College Street Lake Charles 337-478-3123

C. Leonard Wise 1200 North Victor II Boulevard, Suite 100 Morgan City 985-384-0926 Oral and Maxillofacial Surgery

Robin C. Ardoin Oral & Facial Surgery Center 203 A Energy Parkway Lafayette 337-234-1780

David G. Baughman Oral-Facial Surgery Center 1608 Polk Street Houma 985-879-1972

Donald P. Boudreaux, Jr. Southern Oral & Facial Surgery 606 Rue De Brille New Iberia 337-560-0131 Clay S. Chandler Lafayette Oral Surgery 3839 West Congress Street, Suite C Lafayette 337-984-0403 G. Rawleigh Fisher Lake Charles Oral & Facial Surgery 1624 Wolf Circle Lake Charles 337-478-0468

Harold D. Kennedy Oral & Facial Surgery Center 203 A Energy Parkway Lafayette 337-234-1780 Nickolas S. Maskas Louisiana Oral & Implant Surgery 4720 Lake Street Lake Charles 338-888-4771

Christopher J. Saal Oral Facial Surgery Center 1608 Polk Street Houma 985-879-1972 Orthodontics

Donald B. Balhoff Balhoff Orthodontics 3909 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Suite E Lafayette 337-761-7070 Craig H. Crawford Crawford Orthodontics 701 West College Street Lake Charles 337-478-7590

John C. Daire 858 Kaliste Saloom Road, Suite A Lafayette 337-291-9141 Danielle A. Dore 1144 Coolidge Boulevard, Suite F Lafayette 337-267-7645

Albert P. Ellender Ellender Orthodontics 102 Ramey Road Houma 985-851-1234

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TOP DENTISTS Jude P. Fairchild Lake Charles Orthodontics 1837 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles 337-478-2805 Guy W. Favaloro Favaloro Orthodontics 416 Belle Terre Boulevard La Place 985-652-2178

Charles Fontenot 401 Settlers Trace Road Lafayette 334-783-1278

Check out our NEW website Get the magazine’s award-winning articles and photography, plus digital exclusives including videos, recipes and more. acadianaprofile.com

Melanie M. Fowler Dr. Melanie Fowler Orthodontic Studio 4906 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Building O Lafayette 337-981-4350

David A. Guidry Guidry Orthodontics 1301 Victor II Boulevard Morgan City 985-372-2399 Allison A. Hamada Hamada Orthodontics 131 Ormond Center Court Destrehan 985-725-0509

Mark B. LaHaye LaHaye Orthodontics 100 Pecan Street Thibodaux 985-446-0988 John F. Moffett , Jr. Moffett Orthodontics 1509 West McNeese Street Lake Charles 337-479-0300 John M. Oubre Oubre Orthodontics 1605 Kaliste Saloom Road Lafayette 337-988-2025

Alan C. Perry Lake Charles Orthodontics 1837 West Prien Lake Road Lake Charles 337-478-2805 Paul C. Perry 3109 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-5330

Stephen E. Searcy Searcy Orthodontics 3839 West Congress Street, Suite B Lafayette 337-984-0178

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Donovan P. Soignet Houma Family Dental 5683 Highway 311 Houma 985-645-2820

S. Jay Waguespack IV Waguespack Orthodontics 4906 Ambassador Caffery Parkway, Suite 1200 Lafayette 337-233-3677 Pediatric Dentistry Amanda Begue 159 Longview Drive, Suite A Destrehan 985-307-0072

Kennell P. Brown , Jr. 306 North Lewis Street, Suite 2 New Iberia 337-369-7654 Bradley S. Comeaux Associates in Pediatric Dentistry 17534 Old Jefferson Highway, Suite C-1 Prairieville 225-673-9600 N. Paige Gaudet Bayou Children’s Dental 4752 Highway 311, Suite 115 Houma 985-868-8331 Anita J. Gouri Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry 350 Doucet Road, Suite 101 Lafayette 337-378-0081

Roger G. Grimball, Jr. Grimball Pediatric Dentistry 1570 Maplewood Drive Sulphur 337-625-2212 William A. Keaty Lafayette Pediatric Dentistry 350 Doucet Road, Suite 101 Lafayette 337-981-9242

S. Troy Miller Quest Pediatric Dental Group 210 Beaullieu Drive Lafayette 337-347-7365 Philip D. Moses 631 West College Street Lake Charles 337-474-2563

Danielle Robinson Lake Area Pediatric Dental Specialists 631 West College Street Lake Charles 337-474-2563 Eric A. Sanders Sanders Pediatric Dentistry 2620 Country Club Road Lake Charles 337-433-5437

Paige Sigsworth Associates in Pediatric Dentistry 17534 Old Jefferson Highway, Suite C-1 Prairieville 225-673-9600

Elizabeth A. Thorson Thorson Dentistry for Kids 159 Longview Drive, Suite A Destrehan 985-307-0072 Scott L. Worley The Dental Depot 4600 Lake Street Lake Charles 337-474-0240 Periodontics M. Randal Comeaux Perio One 3839 West Congress Street, Suite D Lafayette 337-989-0267 Bryan S. Pearson Periodontics Associates 3839 West Congress Street, Suite D Lafayette 337-989-0267

Murray L. Rabalais, Jr. Progressive Periodontics 236 Progressive Boulevard Houma 985-872-2218 Raymond J. Steiner 4550 Lake Street Lake Charles 337-478-1000 Prosthodontics Conrad F. Frey III Frey Prosthodontics 185 South Beadle Road Lafayette 337-354-0004

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RECET T E S DE CO C K TA I LS

All in a Name A global tale of a classic cocktail as an ironic catalyst for Ukrainian solidarity

by Lisa LeBlanc-Berry photo by Romero & Romero

I n J a n u a r y, Drinks International released its list of the most-ordered cocktails around the globe after surveying the world’s top 100 establishments. The 81-yearold Moscow mule ascended to the “top 10” rank among “The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails in 2022.”

A few weeks later, the popular summertime cocktail and its copper mule mugs had oddly vanished from bars and Russian vodka was being poured into the streets.

Bartenders from Broussard to Bethesda began showing their support for Ukraine by renaming the classic vodka-ginger-lime drink with monikers that are still evolving: Caddies Sports Bar in Bethesda replaced Moscow mules with Kyiv mules; San Francisco’s chic Madrone Art Bar switched to Ukrainian mules for its collector cognoscenti; Em Chamas Brazilian Grill came up with Snake Island mules for Kansas City’s flamboyant carnivores; Atlanta’s farm-to-table Deer and the Dove created Buck the Invasion; and the Russian House of Austin permanently changed its name to simply House for Ukrainian patrons.

In Acadiana, where Cajun humor and nicknames often prevail during moments of political turmoil, bar manager Jamie Maurin cleverly concocted the tasty Tee-Donk (little donkey) at Misfits Dine and Drink (misfitsdineanddrink.com), a creative Italian haven in Broussard named for the Island of Misfit Toys “who are just like us,” she says.

“It’s my twist on a classic Moscow mule, but I substitute local Wildcat Brothers white rum for vodka, blended with fresh basil, lemon and blueberry puree.” Filled to the brim of a frosty copper mule mug, the refreshing drink has the power to repel heat waves and hurricanes after a few rounds.

As to the renaming of the Moscow mule in protest, names are often deceptive. The cocktail has no Russian roots whatsoever but was dreamed up in Hollywood at the Cock ‘n’ Bull English pub, a hangout for Hollywood elite. In 1941, a couple of American entrepreneurs got tight experimenting with their surplus booze and a new star was born amid the grit and glamour of Sunset Strip. ■

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HOME BAR

Tee-Donk Mule

TO GET THE RECIPE FOR THE TEE-DONK MULE AND TO SEE A VIDEO OF THE COCKTAIL CREATION VISIT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM

1

Place 2 ounces Wildcat Brothers Sweet Crude rum, ½ ounce fresh lemon juice and 1-ounce Monin blueberry puree in a shaker filled with ice and shake well.

2

Strain into a copper mule mug over ice and top with ginger beer. Garnish with a fresh basil leaf and a lemon wheel.

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D ÎNE R DE HO R S

Gulf Coast Twist Spoonbill Watering Hole in Lafayette combines cooler-than-cool vibes with avant garde eats

by Eric Cormier photos by Joseph Vidrine

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Lafayette Chef Jeremy Conner had one stipulation prior to joining forces with two other investors and concocting a plan to open up a new restaurant in Lafayette. Based on his personal experience — which like most kitchen professionals consists of time working in great, OK and dubious working conditions — Conner wanted to make sure that any enterprise into which time and sweat would be invested was “the perfect situation.”

Based on the delicious food, cool location and customer satisfaction levels observed at

T’ Spoon: Chamomilelemon tea infused Buffalo Trace Bourbon, Campari, St. Germain

T RY T H I S !

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Crab Quesadilla

Seared Tuna: Rare seared Gulf tuna over avocado crema with cast iron roasted poblano and red onion topped with green dragon sauce and chili oil.

Subtle seafood flavor emanates from this dish consisting of Louisiana blue crab, herbs and cheeses tucked neatly between flour tortillas.

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Burger Order one, most patrons do. Aside from a great flavored patty, the potato roll may actually be the secret of this Spoonbill kitchen creation.

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Street Corn Salad Thoughts of exotic locales may percolate in the mind after eating this flavorful treat.

4 the Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant, Conner got his wish.

The short version of what makes the Spoonbill a place inquiring foodies should visit: • Cool decor that features the roseate spoonbill bird (a natural creation that is pink, stately and wonderful to look at in the bayou) along with a patio dining area that provides a full view of downtown Jefferson Street.

• An attentive front-of-the-house staff that understands the menu and will recommend dishes.

Sunday Brunch: Brie Toast Visit the Spoonbill website, look at the picture, and chances are you have decided this dish is a must have.

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A casual atmosphere which emphasizes what restaurant partner Stephen Verret refers to as “party up’ which means either before or after a night out, the whole Spoonbill staff wants to make sure a patron is satisfied outwardly and internally.

• Dishes that come out of the kitchen are creative and feature big and bold international flavors with a Gulf Coast twist.

One dish that deserves attention from a Spoonbill Watering Hole patron is the seared tuna. According to the restaurant menu, the dish is “rare seared Gulf tuna over avocado

crema with cast iron roasted poblano and red onion topped with green dragon sauce and chili oil.”

The green dragon sauce is a creation from one of Conner’s former staffers. “We used to make candied jalapeno relish in the past. We had a cook named Pavena (family from Laos, who lived in New Iberia) who moved on, but she liked to play around in the kitchen. Basically, she made a batch of jalapeno sauce but pureed it. I have to give her credit. We named it green dragon sauce to go along with our red dragon sauce,” Conner said.

Visitors to the restaurant will notice a number of menu items that seem different and even a bit avant garde. Such is the flavor experience that Conner and his business partners (Stephen Verret and Adam Loftin) want patrons to experience.

Conner admits that there are a plethora of excellent home cooks in the Acadiana region which raises the stakes for his kitchen crew.

His team’s mindset is to introduce flavors and cooking techniques that take eaters on a trip.

“I have a little advantage from an outsider’s perspective. I was born in Alabama, but

Commander in Beef: 6 oz Black Angus beef patty on a Martin’s potato roll with American cheese, grilled onions, bacon, and Rosie sauce, served with fries (below) Cucumber Mint Limeade: Cucumber juice, lime, mint simple syrup (Suggested liquor: gin or vodka)

spent time working in restaurants in Pensacola, Florida. Over there, we have a lot of Gulf Coast influence. Pensacola seafood is very important on the plate. I bring that style of cuisine along with influences from Asia and Central America which are presented on our plates,” Conner said.

Visit the restaurant’s website. Look at the menu items and corresponding images. You will be tempted.

In the Bayou region, this James Beard-nominated restaurant is the epitome of epic atmosphere and flavors served in a casual setting. ■

Spoonbill Watering Hole and Restaurant 900 Jefferson St. Lafayette 337-534-0585 spoonbillrestaurant.com

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DE L A C U IS INE

Grill Baby Grill Burgers with all the trimmings

by Marcelle Bienvenu photo & styling by Eugenia Uhl

M. F. K. Fisher once wrote “Almost every person has something secret he likes to eat.”

My very favorite secret thing to eat is a good hamburger. I like a traditional beef burger on a sesame seed bun, but when I really want to treat myself, I let my imagination run wild.

But my routine remains about the same.

While I make my hamburger patties, I sip on a martini and listen to Ray Charles. The sides to my burger meal are usually baked beans and coleslaw, or oven roasted potatoes, but there are other choices, like marinated vegetables and a potato salad tweaked with garlic.

I also have some tips for a perfect, juicy, beefy burger.

Whenever possible, I get my butcher to grind my beef when I purchase it. My personal preference is a combination of sirloin (to give it a tender texture) and chuck (to add some fat and flavor). About 15% fat gives the burger a good beef taste, and I like a medium-course grind to give it texture.

I don’t add too many seasonings and herbs to the meat. Salt and pepper (no chopped onions, breadcrumb or Worcestershire sauce) is about all that is needed to bring out the flavor of the beef. Don’t overmix the beef when mixing in the seasonings as it will make it tough. Also, I don’t make a big, thick patty. I think a patty weighing about six to eight ounces is fine, but keep the patty fairly thin (about three-fourths-inch thick) so it can cook evenly and quickly. ■

MAIN COURSE

D E S S E RT

Roquefort Burgers

A Strawberry Cobbler

I like to cook a burger on the grill, but that will cause valuable juice to escape, so I usually cook mine in a heavy, cast-iron skillet because the burger then cooks in its own fat, keeping the meat juicy.

Serve the cobbler with vanilla ice cream or vanilla yogurt if you wish.

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

2 ½ cups trimmed and sliced strawberries

2½ pounds ground sirloin ½ pound ground chuck 1¼ teaspoons salt ¾ teaspoon freshly ground black pepper ¾ pound Roquefort cheese, crumbled 8 hamburger buns, toasted thinly sliced yellow onions (optional) COMBINE beef, salt, and pepper and mix well. Divide mixture into six to eight equal portions. Form into patties. Make a pocket in the center of each patty and fill with cheese. Cover cheese with meat.

HEAT a griddle or skillet over high heat until very hot. Lay burgers in the pan without crowding them. Reduce heat to medium-high and cook for 4 to 5 minutes. Flip burgers and cook until meat feels firm, but gives slightly in the center, about 2 minutes.

MAKES 6 TO 8 SERVINGS

¾ stick butter, melted 1 ¼ cups sugar

¼ teaspoon ground cinnamon ¾ cup all-purpose flour 2 teaspoons baking powder Pinch salt ¾ cup milk PREHEAT oven to 350 F. POUR melted butter in a 9-inch square baking dish and set aside. Toss strawberries with ¾ cup of sugar and cinnamon in a bowl and set aside.

IN ANOTHER BOWL, combine the remaining ½ cup sugar, the flour, baking powder, salt and milk. Stir to blend. Pour batter over the butter in the baking pan.

(Do not stir.) Arrange berries over the batter and bake until batter is golden, about 45 minutes.

REMOVE from oven and cool a bit before serving.

ON THE SIDE

Potato Salad With Garlic Mayonnaise I’m a big fan of potato salad and this one has a little kick that I particularly like.

MAKES ABOUT 4 SERVINGS

2 pounds small boiling potatoes 3 garlic cloves, minced and mashed with 1 teaspoon salt You can put the cast-iron skillet on your grill and get the heat up to cook the burgers.

3½ tablespoons fresh lemon juice 1/3 cup mayonnaise 1/2 teaspoon Creole mustard 1/3 cup chopped chives salt and freshly ground black pepper BOIL potatoes in lightly salted water until just tender. Drain and cool. In a large bowl, combine garlic paste, lemon juice, mayonnaise and Creole mustard.

Whisk to blend well.

WHEN the potatoes are cool, peel and

cut in half. Add potatoes and chives to the mayonnaise mixture and toss to coat evenly. Season with salt and black pepper.

TO GET THE RECIPE FOR THE MARINATED MIXED VEGETABLES VISIT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM

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EN FRA N Ç A I S, S’I L VO U S P L A Î T

De la Pointe-aux-Chênes à la Pointe-au-Chien

Le lien entre l’érosion des côtes et la disparition des cultures locales est indéniable. L’état de Louisiane et le gouvernement fédéral promettent des sommes faramineuses pour inverser la tendance de ce premier, de l’argent qui est cependant insuffisant selon certains. Mais quel est le prix de la culture? Pendant trop longLa ténacité au bout du monde. temps, nous avions un embarras de richesse.

On pensait bénéficier d’une source inépuispar David Cheramie illustration par Sara Willia able d’artistes, d’artisans et de musiciens. Il est temps qu’on arrête de traiter notre culture, et surtout la langue française comme si elles seront toujours là, ou pire, que leur disparition n’aura pas de conséquences néfastes. Le Quand le monde à la télévision a dit que Malgré la fermeture de l’École élémenmoment est venu de lancer, à l’instar des prol’Ouragan Ida avait touché à terre près du Port taire Pointe-aux-Chênes qui servait cette jets de reconstruction des côtes, un programme Fourchon, malgré l’horreur de cette terrible communauté principalement amérindiambitieux qui ne se contenterait pas de ralentir annonce, j’ai dû un peu rire. « La terre? À Port enne, un nouvel effort pour ouvrir une école ou de stopper l’hémorragie de la perte de FranFourchon? Il n’y a pas eu de terre là depuis au d’immersion française prend forme et cette cophones, mais qui rebâtira la fondation de moins cinquante ans. » Le sol louisianais n’a forme est solide. Les membres de la comnotre culture et de notre identité. Il ne suffit offert de résistance à l’assaut du vent et des munauté, épaulés par des activistes pour pas de prolonger l’arrivée de l’inévitable, mais eaux qu’après Houma et Thibodaux. Entre l’environnement et pour la culture, poussent de ne plus accepter l’assimilation complète cette ligne presque imaginaire qui constitue pour la création de l’École Pointe-au-Chien, comme un destin inexorable. Les chênes, la côte et un terrain plus robuste existent les marquant un désir de faire valoir le nom que comme les chiens, ont plus ou moins disparu pratiquants de notre riche culture dans les les locaux utilisent pour se désigner. À la suite depuis longtemps en bas du bayou. On doit paroisses de Lafourche et Terrebonne. Parmi de la visite de la Consule générale de France, replanter des chênes et élever des chiens qui ce labyrinthe de canaux et l’invasion de l’eau l’élan vers l’établissement de cette vont chasser. À défaut de garder salée qui affaiblit la terre, droit dans le passage école s’accélère. Avec le soutien la terre, on peut non seulement de l’œil de l’ouragan, se trouve un des derniers du CODOFIL, il se peut qu’elle garder les langues et les cultures, bastions d’une culture indigène francophone ouvre ses portes en août. Les promais les faire prospérer de noude la Louisiane. Comme les estuaires nourricgrammes d’immersion ont fait veau. La fondation est encore iers qui les entourent encore, c’est la terre de leurs preuves ailleurs; il est temps là pour asteur. Il suffit de bâtir FOR AN ENGLISH prédilection pour faire pousser la prochaine que le peuple indigène bénéficie TRANSLATION VISIT plus haut dessus avec ambition génération de porteurs de notre culture.

ACADIANAPROFILE.COM de cette même éducation. et fierté. ■

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