31 minute read
LA MAISON
This is Us
A Lafayette family home attains authenticity by mixing some things old and new
by Marie Elizabeth Oliver photos by Haylei Smith
As the owner of Southern Fete, Cassie Thibeaux has built her brand designing weddings and events that feel both personal and inviting.
“When I work with clients, the most important thing is getting to know them and their story,” says Thibeaux. “Then I bring in design elements that reflect their world.”
She relies on this same instinct when choosing and designing a home for her family.
Thibeaux says she and her husband just finished a remodel when they discovered their current four-bedroom home while on a family walk around their neighborhood near West Bayou Parkway in Lafayette.
“As soon as we walked in the doors, we knew we loved this house,” says Thibeaux, who was especially fond of the way it combined contemporary accents with Old World French and Creole architectural elements. Among her favorites are a set of hundred-year-old arched windows, reclaimed from a New Orleans church, that complement the home’s Old St. Louis basketweave brick and beamed ceilings.
“All the things I choose, whether it’s the textiles for drapery or furniture — it’s important to have that feeling,” says Thibeaux, of how she used soft finishes and estate sale pieces to make the home uniquely theirs. “If someone were to walk in my home…I would hope it would tell the story of my family.”
Moving in during the pandemic, the family knew a major renovation would not be in the cards anytime soon, but Thibeaux relied on her design savvy to infuse a sense of place and make the house feel like their own.
A self-described estate-sale-junkie, Thibeaux filled the house with some of her favorite finds, including a pair of Staffordshire
Interior Design: Paige LaVergne of LaV Designs Custom Drapery: Kelly Leger, k.e.l Designs
A double curved, ogee edge gives the kitchen’s Taj Mahal quartzite countertops an elegant upgrade. Paired with a hardworking Thermador oven and five-burner, gas cooktop, the space is both inviting and well equipped with everything the family needs to get dinner on the table.
TO GET MORE OF THIS HOME VISIT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM dog figurines she discovered with her son Neil, who has been her enthusiastic shopping buddy since he was only six weeks old. (He even requested to have an estate sale for his recent birthday, says Thibeaux.)
Though she has a soft spot for items with a past life, Thibeaux’s home is not all repurposed finds. She keeps things fresh with textiles, such as custom drapery. Playful fabrics— a colorblock print from London brand Molly Mahon and whimsical kumquats from Erika M. Powell — give the space pops of personality and allow her design style to shine through.
“All the things I choose,” says Thibeaux, “whether it’s the textiles for drapery or furniture, it’s important to have that feeling. I would hope it would tell the story of my family.” ■
Custom drapery by Kelly Leger, of k.e.l designs, adds a fresh, country French-inspired look to complement the kitchen’s antique cypress cabinetry. Thibeaux says the cafe curtains are also functional — the sun usually sets right over the western-facing window as they’re cleaning dinner dishes.
BESTof DINING
DINING
Each year, Acadiana Profile celebrates the top chefs and restaurants within the 22-parish region that encompasses 14, 500 square miles and more than 1,400,000 residents. We have explored the very heart of Acadiana to find the best of the best.
Resilience prevails, from lunch counter wizards to young rising-stars and seasoned chef-proprietors who broke ties with family dynasties to pursue their dreams in
Acadiana. They share similar ambitions and the ability to not only survive but thrive in the midst of challenges, from hurricanes to pandemics, strengthened by a love of food, family and community.
The following pages showcase just a fraction of the success stories we encountered. We hope you have a chance to enjoy their hospitality.
RESTAURANT OF THE YEAR
VESTAL
POTATOES Smashed potatoes with duck fat, taleggio and chives
Live fire fuels Acadiana’s hottest new restaurant, named for the Roman Vestal priestesses charged with keeping sacred fires blazing for Vesta, goddess of the hearth
STEAK All steaks are served with bone marrow herb butter
Gotta Eat This 1
STEAK
Sink your teeth into a juicy 40-ounce, dryaged tomahawk embellished with bone-marrow butter fragrant with fresh herbs. 2
DUCK
Few can resist Vestal’s mouth-watering koji-cured duck breast crowned by bourbon foie gras. 3
FISH
Foodies return to Vestal for the zesty whole fish tinged with olives and capers, finished with a dried tunaseaweed broth, lime and smoked chili oil. C hef Ryan Trahan is changing the way Acadiana foodies dine, one flaming dish at a time. The self-taught Crowley native ambitiously installed Lafayette’s first massive woodburning hearth at Vestal, a sleek Southern farm-to-table haven with extravagant cocktails infused with fire. “It’s designed as an interactive experience,” says the 33-year-old Cajun chef. Opened in April, Vestal radiates a palpable, Great Gatsby-esque glamour. Evocative skylit murals and plush velvet banquettes accentuate sleek Art Deco chairs and vibrant mosaics.
Lovers gravitate to the flickering flames and raw oysters, caviar and bubbly. Foodies demand ringside seats at the kitchen counter. Chef Trahan is at the open hearth, orchestrating complex live fire theatrics with a tight team of dexterous chefs.
“It’s definitely a task, to offer this type of dining experience with a 14-foot fire in the middle of a restaurant and no firewall between guests,” says Trahan. “We were able to create something Lafayette has never seen before.”
Chef Trahan’s affinity for live fire, fans and fame developed while he helmed the now-shuttered Dark Roux and Blue Dog restaurants. His 2018 King of Louisiana Seafood crown boosted myriad national connections.
ABOUT THE CHEF
A rare diamond in the rough, Chef Ryan Trahan’s culinary interests began with his foodie parents, owners of Frosto’s in Crowley and King’s Truck Stop near Port Barre. His ambitious ascent from executive chef posts to becoming Vestals’ proprietor has inspired the return of his formidable in-sync Dark Roux crew. Trahan now commutes weekly from Denver, where his wife was reassigned.
GIRLS AND CIGARS Bourbon, basil, blackberry shrub and lemon
CAVIAR Bowfin, crème fraiche, yuzu herb salad and ciabatta
“Before we closed Dark Roux in 2017, we were invited to do a 65-person live fire charity dinner,” he says. “We built a ground fire and did a six-course tasting in the middle of a yard at River Ranch. Many requests followed. We’ve been working on the live fire concept ever since.”
Trahan creates seasonally-focused regional fare designed to support his top farms and purveyors.
“My cuisine is really grounded in Cajun cooking with a classical French approach, but I also incorporate many Asian ingredients and techniques,” he says.
Trahan’s enthusiasm accelerates while describing a new dish.
“We’re taking on a four-element duck dish using Backwater Farm’s humanely raised ducks because they don’t force-feed them to make foie gras,” says Chef Trahan. “We’ll koji-cure the breasts, cook the legs down into a marmalade with vinegar, use the bones for sauce and cure the duck liver with bourbon for a foie gras, which we’ll shave atop the duck breast. It’ll melt like butter,” he adds.
“As Vestal progresses through time and our pantry grows, we’re perfecting new flavor profiles and techniques,” Trahan says. “We’re always evolving.”
Chef of the Year
Kim Nuzum
MOST FAMOUS DISH People would go crazy for my carrot cake in Colorado. They came from all over the world to have it. It’s my great- grandmother’s recipe.
WHAT'S NEW Our upcoming Acadiana Cooks series features non-professional cooks who become our executive chef for a night.
LAGNIAPPE I’m making homemade jams for brunch. I make everything fresh, from our boudin to boursin cheese.
a
culinary prodigy, Chef Kim Nuzum’s ambitions began at age 10, winning gold medals for cooking followed by more in high school at the Cajundome, with multiple wins in the Acadiana Culinary Classic’s junior division. After a degree from the Culinary Institute of America in New York and 18 years as executive chef of top Colorado resorts, she has returned to Acadiana. As Chef of Café Sydnie Mae, she is dazzling diners with new fare: boudin-stuffed quail laced with blackberry demi-glace, sous-vide pork chops with cane butter, seafood crepes cradling boursin-stuffed shrimp, lump crabmeat and craw fish blanketed in velvety lobster bisque sauce, rack of lamb with figs, crispy Brussels sprouts with bacon jam, coconut red curry snapper, tender pork shanks with rice and chef’s famous gravy (au-jus demi-glace) and gorgeous soufflés paired with various homemade ice creams (tip: bourbon roasted pecan). cafesydniemae.com Breaux Bridge
Best Patio Little Big Cup
ARNAUDVILLE You can drive your car or boat to Little Big Cup’s two-level, verdant patio overlooking Bayou Fuselier. The charming 16-seat lower deck invites intimacy while the spacious, flower-filled upper-level has majestic views. Grab a Tiger Pride cocktail and enjoy chargrilled oysters and bronzed red snapper for a breezy Cajun dinner amid twinkling lights. littlebigcup.com
BEST TAKE-OUT
BON CREOLE
New Iberia’s beloved Bon Creole lunch counter doesn’t look like much but it is serving up terrific Sunday barbecue, award-winning chicken-sausage gumbo and overstuffed po-boys. Delicious plate lunches tantalize tastebuds: pork roast with rice and gravy, baked chicken with rice dressing, stuffed catfish with angel hair and crawfish étouffée on Friday. bon-creole.com New Iberia
BEST FOR MUSIC HIDEAWAY ON LEE
Owners Wilson Savoy (Pine Leaf Boys), David Livingston (Lonesome Whistle Recording) and Line Livingston (Line ‘Em Up Music Company) renovated a 1910 building for the jamming new House on Lee. Top bands perform al fresco (see Steve Riley and the Mamou Playboys October 7 and the Savoy Family Cajun Band November 7). Try a Hadacol Boogie cocktail with a Leadbelly and poutine.
BIGGEST WINE SELECTION
VIC & ANTHONY’S STEAKHOUSE
Lake Charles Honored with Wine Spectator’s coveted “Best of Award of Excellence,” the elegant Vic & Anthony’s Steakhouse inside Golden Nugget Casino attracts oenophiles for its vast, comprehensive wine list with over 640 selections amplified by top vintages from California, Bordeaux, France and Italy. Wine Director Josh Ponthieux assists diners with recommendations for seafood and steaks. vicandanthonys.com
BEST COCKTAIL PROGRAM JAMES 710
Lake Charles Restaurateur Ben Herrera’s latest triumph is the chic, globally inspired James 710, where Blakelee Kibodeaux fashions a unique, creative craft cocktail program utilizing house-made bitters and syrups for such visually alluring originals as his spicy cucumber margarita layered with muddled jalapeño, tequila, Cointreau, orange, lime and cucumber juices, garnished with fanciful cucumber ribbons. Great with kimchi debris fries and beetroot hummus. thejames710.com
OL’SMOKEY 13 Templeton Rye, Szechuan Amaro,bitters, smoked wood chips
PROCESS Everything goes under the broiler after it is sautéed and sauced, with fresh lump crabmeat as the crowning finale.
best dish MEDITERRANEANFISH
with Gulf shrimp, artichokes, peppers, olives and lump crabmeat in a white wine lemon sauce
T
hird-generation New Orleans restaurateur Chef Nash Barreca met his wife, Jenny, in Acadi ana and relocated to open Nash’s Restaurant in an exquisite circa-1908 Queen Anne-Colonial Revival home listed on the National Historic Register. Couples celebrate anniversaries in the utterly romantic glassed-in semi- octagonal Doric front gallery. New Orleans- style barbecue shrimp, veal Orleans, shrimp fettucine and homemade cannelloni stuffed with baby spinach and veal are among local favorites. Mediterranean fish (sautéed with garlic, Gulf shrimp, roasted peppers, artichokes, ripe olives, capers and grape tomatoes in a white wine lemon sauce topped with lump crabmeat) is frequently requested during the casserole-laden holidays. “It’s one of our most popular entrees because it has the healthiest ingredients,” says Chef Barreca. nashsrestaurant.com Broussard
FISH Halibut, grouper and triple tail are among the fish favored for this light and luscious Mediter - ranean creation.
THE TRIMMINGS Chef Barreca roasts the peppers first before they are blended with the fish and shrimp medley.
FOR DATE NIGHT
HOUMAS HOUSE
Take a scenic weekend drive at dusk along River Road to Houmas House for cocktails in the storied Turtle Bar then enjoy a custom five-course feast in opulent Latil’s Landing (advance reservations required for the 1770s French House) or dine at the glass-enclosed Café Burnside overlooking lush gardens. houmashouse.com Darrow
CHEF'S SCRAMBLE Eggs with select seasonal ingredients
SPICY CHICKEN SANDWICH Breaded chicken, house pickles, whipped burrata and triple yolk aioli
best brunch FIRE & OAK
EGGS IN BRIOCHE Herbed bechamel, Gruyère, ham, Helen St. Bakehouse bread
Chef-owner Andrew Green’s wildly popular new brunch, available on a patio beneath the oaks, features eye-openers with spicy chicken and jalapeno cheddar waffles, eggs in brioche with herbed bechamel, 1910 Coulis Benicio with jalapeno corn cake, pulled pork, egg and hollandaise and amazing beignets cradling coffee ice cream, banana crème anglaise, strawber ries and chocolate sauce. facebook.com/fireandoakLakeCharles Lake Charles
CELEBRATE A SPECIAL OCCASION Riverfront
Abbeville Situated on the banks of the Vermilion River, this popular upscale seafood haven is ideal for big family reunions and special occasions. The handsome bar is separate from the dining room and a wrap-around, outdoor dining area overlooking the river. Order the fire-roasted oysters, masterful gumbos, shrimp trinity, eggplant Evangeline with crabmeat bechamel and celebration-worthy desserts. riverfrontla.com
BEST FAMILY SPOT
PETE’S
Restaurateur Charles Goodson (Charley G’s, Social Southern Table & Bar, The Taproom) acquired the circa 1968 Pete’s in 2016, renovated it and added multiple table and arcade games to the kid-friendly, sportsthemed eatery. After hamburgers sliders and shakes, kids can delve into Nascar and mini-basketball while parents relax with beer and sports on 20 HD TVs. peteslafayette.com Lafayette
Best Late Night Eats Wurst Biergarten
LAFAYETTE The open-air, dog-friendly Wurst Biergarten is a happening scene with live music, live-mic trivia, comedy night and late-night food trucks featuring Paco’s boiled crawfish in season, crab cakes, boudin, egg rolls, wraps, jerk chicken and spicy burgers. wurstbiergarten.com ■
OOctober gives us hope. The sun begins its winter descent, temperatures drop below 90 and the sounds of football fill the air. It’s still early to bring out the sweaters and we’re not out of the hurricane woods, but our hearts lift. It's time to get outside. It's time to plan a road trip.
The great weather reprieve makes it a perfect backdrop for festivals. Before COVID-19, we stressed over which ones to choose or if we could make two events in a weekend. Alas, these are unstable times and many fall festivals have been cancelled.
But that doesn’t mean fall fun isn’t possible.
Take New Orleans and the Northshore, for example, easy drives to some of the world’s best cuisine, hotels and attractions —and many of it accessible in the great outdoors.
Big Fun in Big Easy
The New Orleans hotel boom continues and each new option offers something unique. The Four Seasons took over the closed World Trade Center and International Trade Mart reopened as luxury accommodations complete with restaurants, the exquisite Chandelier Bar and river and city views from the 34th-floor observation deck. The Virgin also opened this summer, a hip boutique hotel located in the Warehouse District.
The Chloe on St. Charles Avenue combines 14 guest rooms, a restaurant and a bar within a 19th-century mansion, along with plenty of ways to grab a cocktail by the pool or patio and enjoy fall weather outside.
“October is a great time to be outside,” said Lauren Cason, director of marketing and communications for neworleans.com. “At The Chloe on St. Charles Avenue, you can sit outside and watch the streetcars go by.”
Visitors can spend hours biking and hiking the varied landscape of City Park, one of the largest public parks in America — 1,300 acres. In addition to the park’s centuriesold oak trees, recreational opportunities and the New Orleans Museum of Art, the Carousel Gardens Amusement Park reopened in July and the Children’s Museum resumes after being shuttered for most of the pandemic.
The outdoor Sydney and Walda Besthoff Sculpture Garden, as part of the New Orleans Museum of Art,doubled in size in 2019, now containing more than 90-plus
You'll find all of the cool kids at The Virgin hotel in New Orleans' Warehouse District this fall and beyond. Playful design and see-andbe-seen bars, eateries and other spaces round out the signature experience people have come to expect from entrepreneur Sir Richard Branson.
artworks. In addition to its whimsical and more traditional 19th-, 20th- and 21st-century works, the expanded site includes fascinating — and Instagram worthy — water features amid a lush landscape.
“The sculpture garden is one of the great prides of New Orleans,” said Susan Taylor, director of the New Orleans Museum of Art. “It’s considered one of the top sculpture gardens in the country.”
Best of all, it’s free.
Dining options have also expanded since the pandemic began, with restaurants creating more outdoor seating to allow for social distancing. Lilette on Magazine Street, for example, now has charming sidewalk and patio seating. Vals in the uptown Freret neighborhood offers a beautifully designed patio with lush tropical landscaping. The Columns Hotel, always an ideal location for imbibing cocktails overlooking St. Charles Avenue, has been restored but be sure to bring proof of vaccination.
Even though many events have been postponed this fall, “P.5: Yesterday we said tomorrow,” the fifth iteration of Prospect New Orleans' citywide contemporary art triennial opens in October and remains on view through Jan. 23, 2022. The event features 51 artists in approximately 20 venues throughout New Orleans.
Plans are in the works for Holidays New Orleans Style, Cason said, but some events may be postponed; check the tourism website for updates. Annually, the holiday promotion features hotel specials, historic Creole Reveillon dinners, home tours and more.
“Hopefully we’ll have caroling in Jackson Square this year,” Cason said. (Editor's Note: Proof of vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test is required for New Orleans restaurants, bars and some other businesses. Please check before visiting.)
Across the Lake
Years ago, New Orleans residents referred to traveling across the 23.83-mile Causeway Bridge to St. Tammany Parish as “going to the country.” The Northshore has grown up quite a bit since those days, but a trip to Mandeville still feels like a world away from the bright lights of New Orleans. There are several historic bed and breakfasts to choose from, boutique shopping on tree-lined Girod Street, great dining options, many of which are in historic properties, and lots of ways to enjoy Lake Pontchartrain and the surrounded rural countryside.
After rising from a good night’s sleep at Mandeville’s many accommodations, rent a bike fromBrooks' Bike Co-op and take the Tammany Trace toward either Covington or
Slidell or conquer the entire 31 miles. For a lazier ride, scoot along Lakeshore Drive and watch pelicans darting in the lake waters. Pause for locally roasted Flamjeaux coffee at the quaint The Book & The Bean coffee shop, lunch at Liz’s Where Y’at Diner and top off the afternoon with dessert at The Candy Bank.
One of the oldest and largest state parks in Louisiana lies a short drive from the heart of Mandeville — or by bike since the Tammany Trace runs through its 2,800 acres. Fontainebleau State Park owns a unique history, as well, once a sugar plantation of Jean-Bernard Xavier Philippe de Marigny de Mandeville. The park offers cabins and glamping tents right on the water; nature trails lead visitors into lush oak forest and remnants of Mandeville’s old mill site.
For dinner, take a short drive over to Madisonville for seafood at The Anchor, a casual eatery that’s perfect for families, or upstairs at Tchefuncte, a fine dining restaurant helmed by Chef Michael Gottlieb. Both overlook the Tchefuncte River, providing great backdrops to meals, especially at sunset.
For more information on fall and early winter trips to New Orleans and the Northshore, visit neworleans.com and louisiananorthshore.com. ■
(facing page, top) fall assortment at The Candy Bank (facing page, bottom) Tchefuncte's soft shell crab with local heirloom tomato, sweet corn and charred onion salad (left) Lillette restaurant's salad with heirloom tomatoes, melons, radishes and cucumber vinaigrette
Ties that Bind
In the wake of Hurricane Ida Acadianians band together to recover and rebuild
by Kevin Rabalais photos by Joseph Vidrine
TWO WEEKS AFTER HURRICANE IDA’S LANDFALL, buckled trees and downed telephone poles jut into Highway 24 south of Houma, forcing traffic into a single lane. Enter the land of sugarcane and blue tarps, fleets of bucket trucks from which cherry pickers lift linemen in ceaseless work, boarded gas stations where hurricane-stunned locals lumber through parking lots. Out of this destruction rises a homemade sign: “Please Don’t Forget Us.”
Along Bayou Pointe-aux-Chênes, where some have lost everything, many have lost most, and power and water services remains rumors, tribal members at the Pointe-auChien Indian Tribe Community Center persevere with the grace of those who have lived on this edge before. At the top of the steps sits Theresa Dardar in a Pointe-au-Chien T-shirt and colorful dangling earrings.
“We’ve got everything anybody needs,” she says of what has become ground zero for relief efforts in lower Pointeaux-Chênes. Yet a full week passed before essential items — water, food, clothing, toiletries, baby formula, feminine products, MREs and first aid kits — began to arrive.
“All the work here has been because of locals and volunteers,” Dardar says. “The roads are clear because of locals. We’ve had no government assistance. We’re just a little fishing community.”
“That’s what they say,” says tribal member Geneva LeBeouf, completing Dardar’s thought. Around them swarm several of the two hundred volunteers organized by Glass Half Full, an entity that converts recycled glass into sand to aid coastal restoration.
“We’re going to come out every Saturday until we get everybody back to a better place,” Says Glass Half Full cofounder Franziska Trautmann. Behind her, more volunteers park along the bayou, where an alligator swims past a partially submerged shrimp boat.
Farther south along the nearly impassable Highway 665, Greg Beuerman and volunteers from Rebuilding Hope in
"Everybody covers New Orleans, but they’re ignored down here." says Mark Porter, who owns a camp at Isle de Jean Charles. "People here are so used to not getting assistance, they don’t even ask for it. They just deal with it,” New Orleans (RHINO) have set up supplies at Live Oak Baptist Church. RHINO started after Hurricane Katrina to offer relief to disaster-stricken areas of Louisiana and, eventually, other regions in the United States in need.
“There’s been recent debate at church [St. Charles Avenue Presbyterian] about whether RHINO has outlived its purpose,” Beuerman says. “Then came Ida.” Looking from debris piled beside the bayou to a pallet of bottled water, he says, “It’s exhilarating to do this work.”
Several miles south on Island Road, Texans Mark Porter and his son Wesley have been, for the past week, the sole nighttime occupants on the ravaged Isle de Jean Charles. “We’re feeling lucky,” Porter says from his fishing camp deck, 14 feet high, as he surveys his neighbors’ losses. The house next door, on eight-foot stilts before Ida, now squats on the ground, bedroom exposed to the sun. On the other side of Porter’s camp, nothing but a concrete slab remains of the house destroyed last year during Hurricane Zeta.
A week passed before Porter learned about the extent of damage.
“There was no news outside of Pointe-aux-Chênes,” he says. “This is exactly what the [tribal members] complain about. Everybody covers New Orleans, but they’re ignored down here. People here are so used to not getting assistance, they don’t even ask for it. They just deal with it.”
Few of the island’s inhabitants have insurance or can afford to rebuild, Porter says.
“Nobody really knows what’s going to happen to the island. I’m going to stay until they run me off or until I can’t rebuild anymore.” He pauses to watch Wesley wade through shin-deep mud slathered over the cul-de-sac. “This place has become part of my life. This is the kind of hospitality you don’t get anywhere.”
Back at the Community Center, Batman Baumgard, a volunteer from Earth Angel, a company that focuses on sustainability in the film industry, says, “It’s hot. It’s hard to tell someone to do something for the environment. This hurricane went all the way to New York. We can’t keep doing this. This is the time for community and communication. People can help in any way.” ■
Boots on the Ground
There are many worthwhile mutual aid organizations working to provide relief and resources throughout the region to people affected by Hurricane Ida. If you are looking for ways to help, consider a donation to your favorite group or one of the below entities:
Pointe-au-Chien Indian Tribe pactribe.tripod.com Glass Half Full glasshalffullnola.org Rebuilding Hope in New Orleans rhinonola.org Bayou Fund bayoufund.org Second Harvest Food Bank no-hunger.org Cajun Navy Relief cajunnavyrelief.com United Houma Nation unitedhoumanation.org/donate
Acadiana Profile magazine’s Kingfish section acknowledges accomplished businessmen of Acadiana. Generous, durable and unflinching in character, these Kingfish give more to others than to themselves, and for this they are recognized in this issue of Acadiana Profile magazine.
We would like to thank Mr. Frank Camalo with F. Camalo’s for styling and providing the clothing, Danley Romero with Romero & Romero photography for the photography, and River Oaks Catering for being our venue host for the photo shoot.
Steve Dupuis
OWNER ASPEN CLINIC
Over 30 years, Steve Dupuis has grown the Aspen Clinic—a weight loss and wellness company— from one to nine Louisiana clinics. Leading the weight loss industry, the program utilizes both medical and holistic solutions, including nutritional guidance, vitamin injections, and its own natural supplement line.
“The joy of my career has been to see clients transform into happier, healthier versions of themselves,” says Steve. “There’s enormous reward in knowing that a person will live longer and possibly help their family do the same. "
A local philanthropist and active supporter of Hospice of Acadiana and St. Jude Children’s Hospital, Steve has served on the Board of Directors for the Lady of the Oaks Catholic Men's Retreat, Safari Club International Acadiana, and Coastal Conservation Association.
JD Pierce
PRESIDENT GULF SOUTH GROUP KELLER WILLIAMS REALTY
Leader of an Acadiana-based real estate group, JD has directed growth from a small, single-location real estate office to a multimillion-dollar organization with locations all across the Gulf South, from Lake Charles to Orange Beach, Alabama.
“I am committed to the personal, professional, and financial growth of all of our Keller Williams associates,” says JD. Under JD’s leadership, each location is now the top performing office in its respective community. “I am blessed to be in business with amazing people and am grateful they’ve trusted my leadership for the last 14 years,” he says.
Highly involved with KW Cares, Keller Williams’ disaster relief nonprofit, JD sets up commands centers, directs volunteers, and ensures delivery of funds and supplies to associates and their families in need.
Coy R. Watson
PRESIDENT WATSON WEALTH MANAGEMENT
For two decades, Coy Watson has served fellow Acadians, helping them envision their future and laying out concise plans to get there. The New Iberia native founded Watson Wealth Management in 2019 and has steadily grown the company to offer a variety of services, including financial, retirement, investment, and insurance planning.
Coy has served the community in many ways, including being a part of the Lafayette Airport Commission and through international faith-based outreach.
Securities and Advisory Services offered Through Prospera Financial Services, Inc. Member FINRA, SIPA Prosperafinancial.com
Noah G. Brandon, MBA
CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER UNITECH TRAINING ACADEMY
As a leader, Noah Brandon holds a firm belief that prioritizing quality growth, innovation, and integrity while giving back to those in need is key to success. Since becoming CEO of Unitech Training Academy, Noah has spearheaded positive growth and change throughout the organization, which offers six training campuses and two early learning centers located across Louisiana. Offering online and in-person hybrid learning models, Unitech has approximately 200 employees and educates thousands of students annually.
On a community level, Noah serves on the boards of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Acadiana and the Louisiana Association of Private Sector Colleges. He is also a member of the Leadership Institute of Acadiana’s Leadership Lafayette Class XXXIV, ULL Alumni Association, RCAF, and Downtown Lafayette Unlimited.
Kenneth J. Cochran, DSc, RN, FACHE
CEO OPELOUSAS GENERAL HEALTH SYSTEM
With over 20 years of hospital experience, including clinical expertise as a registered nurse, Dr. Kenneth Cochran is an enormous asset to Opelousas General Health System as President/CEO.
Dr. Cochran has extensive involvement in local, state and national level organizations and has been recognized for exceptional skills in financial and operations management, clinical outcomes, and physician recruitment. Since beginning his tenure at OGHS in 2015, he has been instrumental in driving initiatives to reduce hospital acquired conditions by 92 percent, increase employee engagement by 65 percent, and improve customer satisfaction by 46 percent.
Dr. Cochran’s greatest passion is working with the community to improve health outcomes. He contributes his success at OGHS to his leadership team, physicians and staff that he works alongside every day.
Jesse Luquette, Jr.,
DEALER/OWNER SERVICE CHEVROLET CADILLAC
In the automotive business since the early 1970s, second generation Dealer Jesse Luquette, Jr. has developed a healthy respect for the hardworking, top-caliber employees at Service Chevrolet Cadillac who not only give their all for the company but who also work hard for the community.
“What I witnessed of our staff immediately after the hurricane was amazing—they donated hard-earned money, gathered supplies, and cooked for hundreds of hurricane victims who had nothing left,” says Jesse. “It is people like this who have made the company what it is today, and I feel blessed to work with these individuals.”
Jesse is also proud to know that the company they’ve helped build supports around 200 families in the community every year.
Of Whiskey and Whimsey
A new drinkery and eatery designed to uplift patrons with witty art and creative cocktails opens at the former site of Bon Temps Grill
by Lisa LeBlanc-Berry photo by Romero & Romero
The hotly anticipated Mercy Kitchen in Lafayette (mercy-kitchen.com), opened in September, is an “elevated casual” concept that was birthed during the pandemic by owner Stuart Ottinger (founder of Oxford Provisions Group) “to provide an escape from the madness.”
He engaged designer Kelly Sutton (Four Seasons, Effervescence in New Orleans) and artist Ellen Macomber (known for the wild, whimsical murals at Justine restaurant in New Orleans, and her caftans and carnival headgear).
Macomber playfully embellished the interior with 3-D murals incorporating velvet birds and a painting of Elvis in a white suit, bedazzled with Swarovski crystals and three feet of fringe, with birds perched atop his head and arms.
In the courtyard, the artist drolly bedazzled the interior of a 1955 pickup truck, painted it with her trademark evil eyes and transformed it into an Instagrammable cocktail bar with fold-out ledges and comic pink figurines.
“In South Louisiana, we love to be with friends, have crawfish boils, eat out and drink good wine,” says Stuart. “With COVID shutting down restaurants, we were itching to get back with friends and get together. We needed some mercy in our lives so we created Mercy Kitchen coming out of the pandemic. We want you to feel like you’re in someone’s living room, eating creative food, having great wine and a great time.”
“We purchased a special Japanese snowball machine so we’ve got boozy snowballs,” says Colleen Ottinger, Stuart’s wife. “There’s nothing like it in Lafayette.”
Patrons linger near the vintage truck beneath the cypress trees and enjoy such shareables as charcuterie and whipped cheese boards paired with cauliflower bread, truffle fries, Gulf shrimp lettuce wraps and BBQ shrimp, chased by craft cocktails like the "Lil’ Jean Lafitte," and the "Whiskey Wabbit," a tangy, energizing concoction that’s a favorite among Mercy’s imbibers. ■
RECIPE
Whiskey Wabbit
Combine 1.5 ounces rye whiskey, .75 ounce sherry, .5 ounce ginger and .75 ounce carrot juice with ice and stir to chill. Strain into a cocktail or a coupe glass, garnish with fresh dill and serve.
Answering a Call
Area 337 in Lake Charles celebrates vibrant Latin flavors
by Eric Cormier photos by Joseph Vidrine
(above) Fried pork belly accompanied by authentic Latin side dishes like rice and beans and fried plantains is featured on the menu at Area 337. (right) A traditional Cuban mojito. (facing page) A taste of the Latin and Caribbean world via fish, beef and vegetables. Latin foodways are on full display at Area 337 (facebook.com/area337), one of Lake Charles' newest restaurants.
Dominican Republic-born restaurant owner Gus Garden celebrates Puerto Rico, Columbia, Honduras, Venezuela and his homeland with plates full of flavor, color, meat and love.
Owning a restaurant is more than just a desire for Garden. This 33-year-old decided to find his way back to happiness by opening the restaurant.
Garden's work life began when he was a teenager with stops in Miami, Puerto Rico, Virginia and many Central and South American countries.
He realized cooking and serving the public was a calling. That realization hit him after almost five years of working in the petrochemical industry.
“Part of me was empty. I want to make people happy and meet their expectations,” he said.
So one day, Garden decided to quit his job with steady income. He sold lots of personal items and even cut his Netflix subscription to save money. Eventually, Garden found a weathered building in Lake City's mid city area which had a restaurant history that included fried chicken and soul food, along with a few other interesting ventures over 40 years.
FOR MORE IMAGES OF AREA 337 VISIT ACADIANAPROFILE.COM
