Did I mention I dined at Cafe Vermilionville?

Cafe Vermilionville, "Cafe V," really forged the way for fine dining in Acadiana. It was one of the first to combine high-quality cuisine in an intimate environment nearly 25 years ago.

The former Judge Roy Bean's watering hole and historic site of Vermilionville (Lafayette's first name as a city), has a soothing view of gardens, an cozy bar and world-class cuisine.

Cafe V sometimes is mistaken for a special occasion restaurant only. Not true. It's also a cool place for a power lunch, lunch with the girls or dinner with friends. With plenty of free parking and a location just around the corner from S. College Road and Pinhook Road, it's easy to get in and out of any time of the day.

There's a fresh new chef there and it's worth sampling what he's offering in addition to the classics like turtle soup!

Riverside Inn is "the Acadiana tradition."

When a friend of mine suggested we go to Riverside Inn for dinner one Friday night, I couldn't but help but say yes. How many times has anyone in Acadiana been asked - "where do I go for an authentic Cajun/Acadiana experience?"

The answer is Poor Boy's Riverside Inn. Family owned and operated since 1932. Serving fine Cajun cuisine and specializing in Gulf Coast seafood, choice steaks, live Maine lobster, and exotic meats in a casual yet fine-dining atmosphere. It's the one restaurant that anyone who's been Lafayette for any amount of time remembers as their first "authentic" dining experience.

I had my favorite, the stuffed flounder. And, unless you are ready for the to-go box, never mind, you need to make that discovery yourself. The service is very good and the portions are generous.

I need to remind myself to go more often. It's cozy. It's encourages conversation. It's just good food.

Charlie Goodson Inducted in LRA Hall of Fame.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) inducted Charles Goodson of Charley G’s in Lafayette into its Hall of Fame during the annual President’s Reception and Grand Awards Banquet on Aug. 6.

Goodson has been an LRA member for almost 21 years, and during that time served as a chapter president, state president, state board of director and chairman of the association’s Legislative, HostPAC and Membership Development committees as well as the Chapter President’s Council.

Goodson served on the National Restaurant Association’s Board of Directors and received the LRA’s “Active Member of the Year” award in 1993 and the “Restaurateur of the Year” award in 2001. Goodson is also a founder and chairman of the EatLafayette campaign that promotes local eateries in Lafayette, LA.

Other members of the LRA Hall of Fame include Ralph Brennan, Virginia & Savare DeFelice, Gregory Hamer and Shirley Deluzain.
###
To view our news release archive, or for more information about the restaurant industry,
please visit our Press Room at www.LRA.org.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association is one of the largest business organizations in the state, representing more than 7,000 restaurant operations and related businesses. The restaurant industry in Louisiana is the state’s largest private employer with 130,000 employed directly and another 55,000 indirectly employed. Restaurants in Louisiana are expected to generate sales of $4.8 billion in 2006.

Guama's for lunch.

I told you I wasn't done with this EatLafayette thing. Today was lunch at Guama's in downtown Lafayette. If you work downtown or anywhere downtown, Guama's is a good place to socialize or conduct that power lunch. Make sure to ask if Julietta is in the house with her new daughter. (Julietta has the biggest smile and it's easy to see why her family and her business does so well). Her son was outside babysitting a new puppy. Ruben made the rounds to make sure everything was good and it was. The service is good and the food - well you just have to taste it yourself. I know you won't be disappointed.

Bailey's.

This week we were hungry for take out and we chose Bailey's because we weren't able to find time to make it there for the dine-in experience.

Let's see - crawfish fettucini, garden and caesar salads and a variety of other menu items including a shrimp poboy. We took a vote and it was agreed that Bailey's is a definite do it again place.

Some of us have experienced the restaurant as a dine-in venue and we all had great experiences each and every time. It's a casually elegant restaurant with a unique blend of South Louisiana (Cajun-Creole) flair and Lafayette style. We especially recommend experiencing their award-winning dishes from Gumbo and Seafood-stuffed Speckeled Trout to Eggplant Acadiana.

It's Not Over.

I truly admire Debbie Ray and Bernadette Lee for sampling 22 out of the 28 restaurants in the lasat month. I made it through 11 (12) if you count eating at El Potrillo twice.

I am committing myself to the remaining 17 on the list even though I have dined at most of them in the past.

EatLafayette blog will stay alive. I encourage everyone to keep patronizing the restaurants who participated in this year's promotion. www.eatlafayette.com will stay online, so keep watching for more about local Lafayette restaurants.

First Cuban Restaurant in Lafayette is Foremost.

Cafe Habana City is one of the reasons that Lafayette has an international flair. This was my first time to experience what I now know is a jewel in the Lafayette restaurant landscape.

What is Cuban Cuisine ? Cuban Cuisine has been influenced by Spanish, French, African, Arabic, Chinese and Portugues cultures. It's that a more. This intimate restaurant has fabulous service and an eclectic crowd. The food is beyond authentic; it's quite tasty. The mojitos are probably the best in town. I ought to know. I've tried them everywhere.

Cafe Habana is kid-friendly as well. Our four-year old guest chowed down on empanadas, which she called mini-hamburgers. She's actually quite adventuresome. She was offerd the standard chicken nuggets and opted for the real deal. We tried the tilapia, tostones and the habanas mixed plate.

We will all be back. That's the great thing about EatLafayette. You try places you have never been to in the past.

Joey's Is An EatLafayette At Home or Eat In Experience

I am a long time Joey's shopper. I think I've had the entire experience that this local landmark eatery has to offer. I've had lunch in and out of the restaurant. I've shopped for groceries and wines for regular fare at home and definitely cheated by getting those wonderful prepared meals (and showcasing them in my own dishes so company thought I cooked it). I've even hosted a special event in the Fireside Room.

It's all good. If you can't make it to lunch fo the special, go shop. Start at the dessert counter. Go. You'll see what I'm talking about.

Townhouse Restaurant Tasty Experience

If you haven't been to the Townhouse Restaurant since it was renovated and re-opened last August, you are missing one of the new gems on the local restaurant scene. Located on Auditorium Place directly across the street from the Heymann Performing Arts Center, the Townhouse Restaurant's former history as a private club is what old Lafayette remembers.

No more. We met at the bar on the second floor for a drink before dinner. With chair, couches and tables, the intimate environment encourages conversation. They will even serve dinner if you get too comfortable there.

We dined downstairs and can only say that the service (Jamie) and the food was fabulous. We tried the sauteed soft shell crab and tuna. The wine list has a good variety and is moderately priced. Chef Lonnie Pope takes time to visit guests on breaks from the kitchen. It's nice to see a Chef make sure his guests are enjoying their meals.

We saw several couples who were meeting for dinner at the Townhouse. But that doesn't mean you need to be a couple to go there. We chose Townhouse for our "girls night out." The exclamation point on our evening was the chocolate creme brulee.

Times Two.

So, I had a friend who wanted to eat Mexican and we were downtown. That explains my second trip to El Portrillo during this promotion period. I can't apologize because I really like eating there. We were greeted by a bench full of enthusiastic patrons - all under the age of 8. Needless to say they set a festive tone for us. The margaritas are generous and very tasty. One of us had the El Portrillo Special and the other had the Garden Quesadillas, which looked large enough to have a whole garden in it. My friend said, "this is his new favorite Mexican restaurant."

Without Lafayette local restaurants, we'd be Shreveport.

That was the saying of the night as we dined at another great Lafayette restaurant, Charley Gs. We all ordered the EatLafayette special, which was over the top. We sampled the soup, gumbo, pecan encrusted catfish dish, crab cakes and white chocolate bread pudding. All of us highly recommend everything on the menu, but at $25 the EatLafayette special is a real deal at this fine dining establishment. The portions were very generous and we want to thank Director of Operations, Courtney Vincent for bringing us a bottle of Blanco wine.

Charley Gs has been a staple in the local scene since 1985. The owner, Charlie Goodson, spearheads the EatLafayette promotion for the restaurants. His commitment to the local scene goes beyond his own doors. Look for more news as Executive Chef Holly Goetting celebrates her 2005 award as one of the up and coming Louisiana chefs. Holly will be part of an extravagant fare at the James Beard Foundation in July. The event was postponed and relocated after Hurricane Katrina.

Debbie Ray and Bernie Dining Around Lafayette

Tune into KTDY to listen to Debbie Ray and Bernie talks about their EatLafayette experiences. These top talk radio personalities are dining at all 28 restaurants that are participating in the campaign. They did the same thing last year, but had to do it in 10 days. At least they have a whole month this year. Rumor has it they might be at Charley Gs Tuesday night.

Eating My Way Through Lafayette Part 2

Tsunami

Anyone who's tuned into the Lafayette dining scene has had a Tsunami experience. If you are not sure about sushi, don't let that stop you. I can't tell you how many people I have introduced to sushi at Tsunami and are now leading others into this tasty and singular experience. My EatLafayette experience was for a friend's birthday and we ate our share - spicy tuna roll, Zach Roo, Sunflower, Dynamite Roll, Micheal Doumit, eggplant miso and more. In addition to being a good place to eat, Tsunami owners fueled the development of downtown Lafayette when they converted the old Abdalla's department store into an L.A. (LA) experience.

Zeus

We ate lunch at the downtown location. Guess this week was my time EatLafayette - downtown. The founders and owners started with their first location on Pinhood Road and have managed to replicate the food and fun experience at all of their locations. The food is always good and I haven't found anyone yet who can't find something they "love" on the menu. A favorite Saturday night birthday party celebration for a group of my friends is Zeus on Pinhook because of the belly dancing. The kitchen staff is always a surprise on the dance floor.

Eating my way through Lafayette.

I must be honest. I got a head start on sampling the 28 restaurants that are partipating in EatLafayette. I started about 10 days ago.

A la carte
I joined a couple of business friends for an early morning breakfast. A la carte is probably best known for its catering services, which founder Michael Doumit excels at. However, there is usually a packed house for breakfast and lunch Monday through Friday. The breakfast menu had a variety of options and all 3 of us has something different. We powered our way through our meeting and it wasn't hard to notice that there were several other tables doing the same. In an area where breakfast out of the house options are limited, a la carte is an affordable and yummy option.

Bella Figura
Jack & Mickey Ainsworth's success is due to their constant presence at their restaurant. The food and service is always something to talk about and I mean in a good way. Anyone in business can take a lesson from Jack who knows his customers personally. I know he and Mickey take vacations, but it seems like they are always there doting on you. And, we love it. We made our EatLafayette stop at lunch. Salads and pasta dishes were the fare of the day for us. Of course, we woofed down uncounted loaves of bread dipped in that fabulous olive oil concoction.

El Portrillo
This is one of my favorite casual dining experiences. The food is "authentic" Mexican, which is something relatively new to Cajun Country. The margueritas are dangerous. Bring a designated driver. The chips and salsa take you South of the Border.
It's authentic. It's plenty of food. You'll see families, couples and friends dining. And, there's plenty of parking. Located on Moss Street across just past the Northgate Mall.

Hub City Diner
This was a stop for a late lunch. The sweet potato fries, the hamburger and the company were wonderful. This is truly the "diner" experience in Lafayette. Owner/operator Jimmy Guidry has really kept this food concept on target and on the radar. Breakfast, lunch and dinner leave you with that comfort food experience. Sunday's are a nice stop on the breakfast and brunch circuit. Like I said before, there are not many places for before lunch dining experiences. Keep this one on your list.

La Fonda
Fortunately, this was a lunch experience. Anyone old or new to Lafayette has more than one La Fonda story to tell. I am always amazed at the wide range of people who patronize this restaurant. They are every age and of just about every demographic. So, the word is you don't go for the food. You go for the cocktails. If that were true, why do so many people order off the menu. It's got to be more than to soak up the alcohol. There's a new lunch menu and I sampled the grilled shrimp. They were served on skewers that were so hot, I had to use my fork to get them off. There wasn't anything left on my plate when Ronnie came to pick up our plates. If you want to get Ronnie talking, just say one word - "golf."

Only 23 more to go.

Taste Buds: Prepare to Be Tantalized!

Taste Buds: Prepare to Be Tantalized!
EatLafayette Campaign Promotes Local Restaurants

(Lafayette, LA) – One of the great things about Lafayette is its wide variety of culinary options, but when hunger pains strike, it can sometimes be hard to decide where to grab a bite. To make those dining decisions a little easier, local restaurants are banding together in a month-long celebration entitled EatLafayette.

In its second year, EatLafayette strives to support those locally owned restaurants which give Lafayette its flavor and Acadiana its culture. Beginning June 19 and lasting until July 16, restaurants throughout the city will be offering special discounts and featured menu items to everyone who wishes to sample the variety of local cuisine that Lafayette has to offer. Hungry patrons can visit www.eatlafayette.com to discover what delight each eatery has in store before deciding where to satisfy their cravings.

EatLafayette is coordinated by Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission Executive Director Gerald Breaux and led by local restaurant owners Charlie Goodson of Charley G’s, Jack Ainsworth of Bella Figura, Jimmy Guidry of Hub City Diner and Ken Veron of Café Vermilionville.

“The inaugural campaign in 2005 was a huge success and prompted even more participation this year. We feel it is important to remind everyone how vital our local restaurants are to our community,” said Breaux. “The campaign is a reminder of just how lucky we are to have so many quality, hometown places to choose from when it comes to dining out.”

“When it comes to eating out, most people have a handful of restaurants that they frequent regularly,” said Goodson. “The object of EatLafayette is to encourage people to try new places, and what better way to do that than with special menu offerings and enticing savings?”

From baklava to boudin, EatLafayette has something for every taste bud. Patrons can enjoy burgers at Judice Inn, Pete’s Family Sports Grill and Southside Bakery, or they can taste local Cajun cuisine at Café Vermilionville, Poor Boy’s Riverside Inn, Randol’s Restaurant, Townhouse Restaurant and Vermilionville’s La Cuisine de Maman.

If restaurant goers have an appetite for cultural cuisine, EatLafayette offers several options including Antoni’s Italian Café, Bella Figura, Café Habana City, El Potrillo Mexican Restaurant, Guama’s Restaurant, La Fonda, Tsunami and Zeus Café.
Those who are hungry for home cooking can check out A La Carte, Ema’s Restaurant, Hub City Diner and Lil’ Daddy’s Bar-B-Q.

One of EatLafayette’s great lunch spots is Joey’s, and diners can enjoy steak and seafood at Bailey’s Grill, Blue Dog Café, Boulevard Grille, Charley G’s, Fezzo’s Seafood and Steakhouse, and Nash’s Restaurant.
“After reviewing the specials offered and the variety of participating restaurants, I encourage everyone to get out and EatLafayette,” said Breaux.

EatLafayette is an annual campaign conducted by the Lafayette Convention and Visitors Commission (LCVC). Sponsors include Atmos Energy, Bellsouth, Coca-Cola, Konriko, Louisiana Gold, Mello Joy and Midsouth Bank.
For more info on EatLafayette or to view a complete list of participating restaurants and their specials, please visit www.eatlafayette.com.

EatLafayette

EatLafayette is a four-week celebration, June 19 - July 16, 2006, showcasing the restaurants that make Acadiana culture so appetizing. It is an attempt to boost the success of locally owned businesses for the good of the Lafayette community.

The idea is to expose residents to the wide variety of restaurant options available in and around Lafayette. Dining enthusiasts will enjoy discounts and specials at each of the featured locations, and restaurant owners will receive abundant advertsing and promotions.

Last year's EatLafayette campaign was successful with an excellent response from the Lafayette community, and this year's extended promotion efforts are expected to be even more rewarding.

For a complete listing of this year's participating restaurants and their specials go to www.eatlafayette.com.