531 Liberty Café’s Twist on a Classic Old Fashioned

Brings together the best of fall flavors in Houma

The seasonally inspired Banana Nut Old Fashioned is the perfect cocktail for crisp autumn days. Created at 531 Liberty Café by mixologist Gina Domangue, it echoes the warm and inviting flavors of fall baking with cinnamon, brown sugar, nuts and bourbon. Like many Thanksgiving desserts, a pinch of salt is used to balance the cocktail’s sweetness from the banana liqueur perfumed with Cognac.

“We infuse bourbon with roasted walnuts,” says Chef-owner David Sonnier. “It pulls out that rich, nutty flavor. We’re always adding creative new cocktails and mocktails for our customers in recovery.”

The former executive chef of Milano, Houma’s shuttered upscale Italian haven (now Ember Kitchen + Cocktails) and line cook under New Orleans Chef Brian Landry at John Besh’s Borgne (now Rizzuto’s Prime), Sonnier was previously a chemical engineer who traded spreadsheets for sauté pans.

“I always wanted to do something I loved,” he explains. “I opened Liberty Café nine years ago and we’re still evolving.”

Chef Sonnier’s passion for fresh local ingredients shines with his farm-to-table menu. The cozy 75-seat café and 25-seat Kingfish Tavern, known as Houma’s hidden gem, has the buzz of fervent foodies and cocktail fans.

“A lot of people come for our seasonal specials,” says bar manager Leah Rogers. “We’ll be running the new Banana Nut Old Fashioned for the holiday season.”

In a shaker, combine 11/2 oz. house-infused walnut Maker’s Mark bourbon, 1 oz. Giffard Banane du Brésil liqueur, 1 pinch salt and ½ oz. homemade brown sugar cinnamon simple syrup. Fill with ice and stir with a bar spoon until chilled. Strain into a large rocks glass with a large ice cube. Garnish with 2 dashes Angostura aromatic bitters and a cinnamon stick.

531 Liberty Café
531 Liberty St., Houma
531liberty.com
985-223-2233
@531liberty