Best Restaurant | Park Bistro

Park Bistro has been open a little more than two years and it already has become the Hub City’s go-to culinary venue for New American cuisine.

Chef Peter Cooke — a  French Culinary Institute graduate — uses his penchant to create high-level dishes without the pomp and circumstance of a high-dollar restaurant.

The 34-year-old moved to the Lafayette area with his wife (who was born in the Hub City) from New York.

“I was here two weeks when my brother-in-law told me the Saints Street Inn location was available,” Cooke explains. “I did not plan on opening a restaurant but then decided to.”

Food lovers are all in for the new American cuisine with a tinge of Italian influence being served at Park Bistro in Lafayette.

Park Bistro is located in the Saint Streets section of Lafayette. A mellow vibe permeates the restaurant. Dishes that come out of the kitchen inspire and satisfy diners.

Cooke likes to pay homage to a bygone culinary era with dishes like chicken Kyiv. A crumbled chicken breast is stuffed with garlic butter sauce and served with mashed potatoes, broccolini and pickled shallot.

Another dish that stands out on the menu is pork chop au poivre. A 16-ounce cowboy cut chop is prepared and served with cauliflower pureé and roasted kale.

The restaurant’s brunch menu is worthy of a chef salute.

The decision between lemon ricotta pancakes (blueberry compote, maple mascarpone and candied pecan) or a flatiron steak with home fries and two eggs (any way you like them) is not easy.

Cooke is the quintessential New York- area cook. While in culinary school, he interned at Chef Tom Colicchio’s eateries and continued there before venturing out to a New York area bistro. At the age of 25, he became the executive chef.

He is proud of the fact that the restaurant (Krupa Grocery in Brooklyn) received a Michelin recommendation along with media coverage from The New York Times, Eater and the New York Post.

Cooke’s foray into the culinary arts stems from his youth. He watched and experimented with recipes from the Food Network. Those viewing habits were bolstered by his father’s meal preparation.

“Every Sunday was gourmet night. Herb-crusted lamb chops, bacon-wrapped scallops, wasabi-crusted salmon. It was all food we saw on the Food Network,” he said.

His ultimate goal at Park Bistro is to always provide consistent flavors.

“And we do it with ingredients and a price that is approachable for the public,” Cooke said.

The Chef

Chef Cooke was born to cook.

“And I am good at it,” he says. “Cooking gives me quick satisfaction. If I were not a chef, I would be doing something else with my hands.”

He did not intend to start a restaurant upon moving to Lafayette. Now that he has, Cooke loves being part of the vibrant Hub City restaurant scene.

“We fit the need for retro ‘70s style food with an Italian influence,” he said. “I like to prepare food people may not be able to make at home.”

Try This

Risotto Balls
Biting into one of these delicious appetizers is a wonderful way to start a supper at Park Bistro. Basil, mozzarella and Parmesan are the key ingredients.

Eggplant Parm Lasagna
Chef Cooke gets a little excited when describing the process of constructing his take on the Italian classic. Shaved fennel, chili garlic crunch, basil pesto, tomato sauce and eggplant should get your attention.

Potato Gnocchi
Oh my! Pork and beef Bolognese that has been cooked for six hours. Wilted kale and Northern Italy’s famous Grana Padano cheese all combine for a special kind of deliciousness.

407 Brook Ave.  //  Lafayette
337-534-4443
parkbistrolafayette.com

Seasoned flour – It starts with a few sprinkles of salt, black pepper and seasonings the chef won’t share; The gravy – Anybody who loves tradition on the plate will dive into this simple, hearty and flavorful creation; Mashed potatoes – Prepared daily with loving precision. They are moist and creamy. Perfect for chicken fried steak.

Best Dish | Rikenjacks’ Chicken Fried Steak

Leave it up to somebody with Louisiana bloodlines to master the preparation of what some consider to be the national dish of Texas. Yet, there it is, all juicy, fried and accompanied with mashed potatoes and gravy. Rikenjacks Brewing Company’s Chef Kaddie LeJeune  is all smiles, knowing she has mastered the Lone Star State’s chicken fried steak.

“My grandmother taught it to me,” explains the 44-year-old chef. “We lived in Abilene.”

Her grandparents are originally from Louisiana, and her home was in Texas due to work.

Flour, milk wash, grease and timing are what make LeJeune’s dish worth driving to Lake Charles for.

“I have never had the opportunity to get this dish on the menu at any restaurant I worked at,” she said.

Food lovers are ecstatic that Rikenjacks decided to let a little Texas sit on the plate.

3716 Ryan St.  //  Lake Charles
337-602-6635
rikenjaks.com

Asian cuisine is celebrated at Jane’s Seafood & Chinese Restaurant in New Iberia. The eatery proudly serves scrumptious Chinese- inspired fare like beef lo mein, consisting of noodles, carrots, celery, cabbage and broccoli.

Best Family Spot | Jane’s Seafood & Chinese Restaurant

Sometimes, to satisfy a family, options are warranted. Jane’s Seafood & Chinese offers soups and salads, boiled seafood, seafood platters, po’boys, a kid’s menu and Chinese food. Bayou Teche-area residents flock to the eatery because the food is good and everyone is welcome.

1201 Jane St.  //  New Iberia
337-365-5412
janesseafood.com

Biggest Wine Selection | Cuveé

The owners of Cuveé believe a good bottle of wine in the right setting can smooth out the rough spots of a day or enhance the successes of life. Blending good food, cocktails, hospitality and wine is the goal of the Cuveé team. Wines from California, France, Washington, Oregon, Italy and Spain are on the menu.

116 Rue Angelique  //  Thibodaux
985-387-1980
enjoycuvee.com

Best Place to Celebrate a Special Occasion | Ruffino’s On The River

The river view is spectacular. The bar service is superb. The staff greets you with a smile. Meat, seafood and Italian dishes are the main draw. This restaurant was created specifically for sharing good vibes. The Ruffino’s team developed a place to, “celebrate life, regardless of the occasion.”

921 Camellia Blvd.  //  Lafayette
ruffinosrestaurant.com/lafayette

Best Patio | Antoni’s Italian Cafe

Nestled in the Oil Center, this Italian eatery is tucked in the far end of a strip mall. When a person walks up to the front door, they will be hard-pressed not to fill the urge to eat outside. A patio-deck surrounded by plants and flowers offers a peaceful dining experience.

1118-A Coolidge St. //  Lafayette
337-232-8384
antonisitaliancafe.com

Best Cocktail Program | One80 Downtown

Sipping a signature cocktail a few steps away from the Atchafalaya River is the type of experience people write books or film movie scenes about. The One80 Downtown team prides itself on not being a “fast drink” spot. This is a hideaway worth checking out … the martinis are wonderful.

180 Canton St. // Berwick
985-397-0793
facebook.com/one80downtown

Best Date Night | The Little Big Cup

Whenever a list is made of “must visit and eat” places in South Louisiana, The Little Big Cup is on it. This small-town restaurant with a big-city menu provides an intimate setting. The flavors of the food, aroma from Bayou Teche and the service set a romantic mood.

149 Fuselier Road  //  Arnaudville
337-754-7147
thelittlebigcup.com

Best Music | Panorama Music House

Owner Jay Ecker loves music and the two-story music house known as Panorama was designed by him. Ecker made sure the acoustics in the venue are the best. That ensures other music lovers get to enjoy drinks, food and clearly hear all the words singers belt out.

331 Broad St.  //  Lake Charles
337-990-5361
panoramamusichouse.toast.site

Best Brunch | The Southern Spread

Abbeville is home to the Giant Omelette Celebration. It would stand to reason that people living around Vermilion Parish know a little something about brunch. The Southern Spread is proof. Shrimp and grits, grits and grillades, omelettes, seafood scramble and a boudin egg roll are crowd pleasers.

400 Charity St.  //  Abbeville
337-243-5550
thesouthernspread.com

Best Late Eats | Caffé Cottage

It is nice to start the day at a favorite haunt and if the day’s activities last a little longer than you want, well, you can go right back to the same place after midnight. Caffé Cottage offers coffee cocktails, coffee, breakfast, salads, finger food and burgers. The place closes at 2 a.m. Monday thru Saturday and 12 a.m. on Sunday.

1013 E. St. Mary Blvd. // Lafayette
337-235-4199
caffecottage.com

Best Chef | Gustavo Garden, Area 337

Lake Charles Area residents are going wild over the Caribbean flavors being generated at Area 337 restaurant.

Owner/executive chef Gustavo Garden has tailored a menu that showcases spices and cooking techniques from the Dominican Republic, Puerto Rico, Cuba, Colombia, Venezuela and Central America.

Whether it is the stewed chicken or oxtail, fried pork arepa, Cuban sandwich or tres leches, Garden insists patrons’ palates are satisfied.

Garden, 36, is a self-taught chef. For years he worked in Florida and around the Caribbean. He watched, tasted and went home to experiment.

“And I like to travel. So I go somewhere and learn a dish. Then, I go back to my kitchen to put my flair on it,” he said. “From the flavor profile to the presentation, it is all me.”

His creations led to Area 337 outgrowing its original location on Kirkman St. in Lake Charles. Now the restaurant is located on Dr. Michael Debakey Drive in a more spacious building.

Q+A

What island cuisine influenced you the most?
In Puerto Rico, my food experience grew. I worked in hotels, a Cuban restaurant and even a French bistro.

What is your strongest trait as a restaurant owner and chef?
My drive for knowledge. I love to learn. I love to travel. I will use my imagination after I see a dish and make it my own.

How did you start in the food industry?
I worked in a Kentucky Fried Chicken in the Miami area. Then I moved to a Kentucky Fried Chicken/Taco Bell. I even worked at a McDonald’s.

710 Dr. Michael Debakey Dr.  //  Lake Charles
337-488-8464
facebook.com/area337

Sushiboxx in Lake Charles has become the city’s go-to location for delicious Asian prepared food using fresh ingredients. The doors to this restaurant are constantly revolving, with the number of people entering to purchase food from the cooling box or freshly prepared in the kitchen.

Best Takeout | SushiBoxx

This eatery has become the go-to place for sushi, hand-crafted rolls and poke bowls. You can request to-order Asian-inspired delicacies, but if time is of the essence, a broad array of prepared dishes await. The staff is attentive, quick, and the quality of the ingredients is next-level good.

4720 Nelson Rd., Suite 130 // Lake Charles
337-602-1096
sushiboxx.com