Cajun rhythms, expertly crafted cocktails and genuine hospitality converge at Naq’s N Duson, one of Acadiana’s most enticing new no-frills destinations. Since opening in 2025, Naq’s has quickly earned acclaim for its Cajun and zydeco weekend brunch, generous plate lunches,…
There’s nothing sadder than the sight of a pooch watching you walk out the door, keys in hand and no leash. But it doesn’t have to be that way. Acadiana offers many pet-friendly spots these days, from well-developed dog parks…
By day, the scent of blueberry muffins, double chocolate cranberry scones, pecan-studded cinnamon buns, freshly baked breads and boudin-stuffed croissants drifts out of Lizzie’s on Main, the new European-style bakery from pastry wiz Elizabeth “Lizzie” Hansen, prized for her intricate,…
DANIEL BAROUSSE Daniel Barousse was five years into working what he thought was his dream job. An avid skateboarder, he was working as a sales rep for a major skateboard brand. It was 2015 and he was sitting on a…
Now celebrating its first anniversary, the long-awaited Shucks Louisiana Seafood House in Lake Charles emulates the spirit of the original Shucks in Abbeville. Opened in 1995, the iconic Abbeville landmark has been beloved for its fresh local oysters, Gulf seafood…
As Lent settles in following the indulgent whirl of Carnival season, Houma's Ember Kitchen + Cocktails has unveiled a new entrant in the city’s fast-rising zero-proof movement. Bar manager, Deanna Scott, leans into that trend with her latest creation, the…
When the Christmas lights are still twinkling and Twelfth Night rolls in to crown Carnival season, sports fans enjoy that golden overlap of holidays and high-stakes football. The Midori Transfusion cocktail is festive enough for a holiday toast yet fiery…
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…
As summer wanes and September ushers in the peak of hurricane season, Ruffino’s Back Porch cocktail provides a perfect counterpoint to the lingering heat. Bright, zesty notes offer a crisp, refreshing first sip. The bracing libation includes a hibiscus ice…
It’s way past happy hour and the blistering sun is melting into twilight. You’re by the pool or on the porch, craving a sweet, ice-cold cocktail and some fresh seafood. Consider the Coastal Berry Crush, a fruity summertime sipper from…
Tiffany Lowery The Nature's Clay, Moss Bluff As a freshman working toward a journalism degree at McNeese State University in Lake Charles, Tiffany Lowery was talked into taking an elective pottery class. “I was against it,” says Lowery, a Moss…
It’s time to raise your glass to spring with a new tequila cocktail from Spoonbill Watering Hole’s bar manager, Tanner Dimmick. A revered mixologist, Dimmick is also known as one of the celebrated Gravy Boys, partnered with Vestal’s chef Sullivan…
With more consumers gravitating towards healthier beverage options, Acadiana imbibers are…
When considering a memorable cocktail to enliven chilly winter gatherings, the cozy warmth of holiday spices and indulgent desserts often come to mind. Le Grenadier’s Banana Wars cocktail adds a festive, sweet element that will spark conversations during any celebration.…
Bourbon’s robust, warming flavors of oak and caramel heighten the pies and cocktails of Thanksgiving. A holiday favorite for generations, the potent old fashioned celebrates bourbon in its purest form. Drinks International rated the versatile, timeless tipple as the second…
On any given Saturday, a red food trailer with the image of a tall chef hat-wearing culinarian with the company name — Southern Kreole Cravings & Pastries —can be found at Parc De Oaks in Lafayette. A few feet from…
In the days leading up to a rapidly intensifying hurricane, we anxiously await the updates, wondering if it’ll be the next Big One. Should we ride it out or hit the road before it’s too late? When there’s no time…
Elevated comfort food, seasonal craft cocktails and daily brunch served until 3 p.m. are central to the allure of Peter Sclafani’s chic new SoLou (short for South Louisiana) near River Ranch. The stylish neighborhood eatery recently joined the growing list…
“History is burning in my gut,” John Warner Smith told me. Smith is known in many circles in Louisiana. Whether he’s writing books and being the Poet Laureate of Louisiana from 2019-2021, or working for the Urban League of Louisiana,…
As spring edges into summer, the mere mention of a tall, cool mojito evokes images of tropical vacations and white-sand beaches. Few cocktails have survived the test of time better than the minty-sweet, fizzy libation laced with lime. One of…
There’s something about a toothpick that starts the creative bloody mary juices flowing. Over the years, the spicy tomato-vodka-citrus concoction has risen from a curiosity at Harry’s Bar in Paris to a social media phenomena of outlandish garnishes. “You don’t…
When brisk winds blow in the land of gumbo, the sweet warming notes of bourbon invigorate guests enjoying Park Bistro’s festive signature libations…
During Louisiana’s fall harvest, our anticipation for Thanksgiving accelerates as November’s sweetest satsumas abound at roadside stands, backyards are strewn with…
The enticing Enzoni cocktail, created by bartender Vincenzo Errico of Milk & Honey in New York in the early 2000s, is…
Watermelon is the ultimate summertime treat. Whether it’s blended into a spritz, margarita, punch or daiquiri, it goes well with just about everything to…
As the story goes, guitarist Robert Johnson transformed into a blues virtuoso with a shocking mastery of the six-string after a few weeks’…
Palmyre 201 Settlers Trace Blvd. at River Ranch in Lafayette thepalmyre.com…
Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn 240 Tubing Road Broussard 337-837-4011 poorboysriversideinn.com There is something undeniably nostalgic about holiday traditions. Family yuletide feasting at a favorite restaurant, helping mom twine the turducken, chilling the flutes and making classic cocktails with friends can…
When considering party drinks that could benefit from the oomph that vodka brings, Chef Andrew Green’s Get Lucky highball is a perfectly balanced sweet-and-sour sipper that marries small-batch honeysuckle vodka with blackberries, lemon, barrel-aged bitters and orgeat, an increasingly popular…
Lucky’s Fire & Smoke 6774 Johnston St., Lafayette 337-349-0957 luckyslafayette.com In the ancient hilltop village of Sault, known worldwide as the birthplace of lavender, the salubrious mountain air of Provence is filled with the intoxicating fragrance of lavender fields…
In January, Drinks International released its list of the most-ordered cocktails around the globe after surveying the world’s top 100 establishments. The 81-year-old Moscow mule ascended to the “top 10” rank among “The World’s Best-Selling Classic Cocktails in 2022.” A…
Conservation Anne Darrah had rarely volunteered in New Iberia until she got the idea of improving her neighborhood by planting trees. She is a retired designer and art director who won numerous awards for her work at The Times of…
The Lafayette music-club scene, like its patrons, rarely sits still. Hideaway on Lee has emerged as a homey new hangout in the fertile downtown landscape. Converted from a circa 1905 residence leased by musicians, Hideaway’s growing popularity as a nostalgic…
Por Mi Amante Add 2 ounces of strawberry-infused Verjus Blanc, 1 ounce freshly-squeezed lemon juice, 1-ounce Demerara simple syrup and 2 dashes of Pamplona’s Housemade Hot Sauce into cocktail shaker. Add ice, shake and strain into a chilled Nick and…
Cinclare Southern Bistro takes guests on a festive cocktail ride with a party-perfect potion for making spirits bright When it comes to throwing a stand-out holiday party or a festive winter-themed soirée, greeting your guests with a memorable signature drink…
Punk Rock Vamp up your look for a grunge-meets-glam aesthetic. 1. Skinny gold bangles, M…
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…
There may be a debate over who created the cosmopolitan, but the sweet-tart, rosy-hued cocktail that remains inextricably linked to the 1990s “Sex and the City” HBO show has been making a comeback. Call it nostalgia. Its ubiquity has spurred…
Summertime cocktails have a singular purpose: They must make you feel cool. For wanderlust weekenders awaiting tropical holidays, a well-crafted summer libation can help assuage yearnings for pristine beaches and emerald waters, poolside luaus and moonlight swims. When…
In the spirit of complete transparency, Arnaudville artist and social sculptor George Marks feels it’s prudent to point out that this — a shining example of creative placemaking done right — wasn’t exactly what he had in mind back in…
A look at the health of Louisiana women over the past 10 years, challenges, solutions and why it matters in the first place
Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Craig Walker became interested in the medical field at just 8 years old. The youngest of nine children, the Bourg, Louisiana native was inspired by his two oldest brothers, who are also physicians. “They would show me…
As a general and bariatric (weight loss) surgeon, Dr. Philip Gachassin, who works for Lafayette General Medical Center, has performed thousands of difficult and life-saving procedures over the course of his 19-year career. “I was always good at science when…
It’s difficult for New Iberia-based urologist, Dr. David C. Benson, to choose which of his cases has been toughest. That’s because the Shreveport native finds each case to be uniquely challenging and personal. Part of being a physician, he believes,…
As a general and bariatric (weight loss) surgeon, Dr. Philip Gachassin, who works for Lafayette General Medical Center, has performed thousands of difficult and life-saving procedures over the course of his 19-year career. “I was always good at science when…
Interventional Cardiologist Dr. Craig Walker became interested in the medical field at just 8 years old. The youngest of nine children, the Bourg, Louisiana native was inspired by his two oldest brothers, who are also physicians. “They would show me…
It’s difficult for New Iberia-based urologist, Dr. David C. Benson, to choose which of his cases has been toughest. That’s because the Shreveport native finds each case to be uniquely challenging and personal. Part of being a physician, he believes,…
Fresh recipes; new fitness routines; and cool, casual restaurants abound
In Acadiana, we have an abundance of fresh ingredients available year-round. Thanks to freezers, we can also save produce to use at a later date. If you use fresh fruits or vegetables, consider adding a few ice cubes to keep…
