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…
In Acadiana, we have an abundance of fresh ingredients available year-round. If you use fresh fruits or vegetables, consider adding a few ice cubes to keep your smoothie cold. If the produce you desire isn’t in season, you can always…
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…
Much like beginning musicians learn by imitating the music and style of musical masters of the craft, chefs learn at the knees of family members and under the tutelage of expert cooks, chefs and culinary school instructors — or sometimes…
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…
Let’s face it, we are hardwired to want to eat more in winter. Although early humans might have needed to put on weight in the winter, when food was harder to come by and to stave off the cold, we…
Most of us have heard about masked revelers chasing chickens and gathering ingredients for a gumbo during Cajun country Mardi Gras, but what happens after the masks come off? Communal gumbos are a traditional end to long runs through the…
With more consumers gravitating towards healthier beverage options, Acadiana imbibers are…
If Sullivan Zant hadn’t dropped out of college his junior year, he would…
It appears that the holidays are upon us, and I have done little to nothing in preparation. I checked the pantry and freezer and the stash of liquor in the bar cabinet. Not too bad. While it was rather late…
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.…
It’s that time of year when we want to cozy up to a fire and invite friends over for a visit and an informal gathering. Here is a menu that can easily be put together. Let whatever is in season…
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…
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…
My mother was known for “putting up” okra, maque choux, figs, pears and pickled anything, but her favorite was mirlitons (she called them "mellie-tons”). Around this time of year, she headed out in search of these for her final “putting…
Spring is the season for crawfish, but it is also when locally caught shrimp becomes available. I usually head out to Cypremort Point or Delcambre for shrimp (and other local seafood) that’s brought in from Vermilion Bay. It’s an ideal…
We have so many delicious, seasonal vegetables available this time of year, what I’m about to suggest isn’t even that radical. Or painful. A little switch here, an easy swap there and removing starchy, heavy ingredients and replacing them with…
The season of…
My family has gotten so big, Christmas has become a moveable feast. Some celebrate Christmas Eve, others at noon on Christmas day and yet another…
When brisk winds blow in the land of gumbo, the sweet warming notes of bourbon invigorate guests enjoying Park Bistro’s festive signature libations…
Braising meats is a favorite cooking method, especially when heartier fare can be enjoyed…
During Louisiana’s fall harvest, our anticipation for Thanksgiving accelerates as November’s sweetest satsumas abound at roadside stands, backyards are strewn with…
When I was a youngster, my family celebrated Labor Day weekend by gathering for what we considered was the last holiday of the summer. Mama and Papa’s menu for the day never changed. Barbecued chicken, cooked long and slow on…
