Here's a little good "Advice"
Randall Mann
Advice Advertising » Marketing » Public Relations » Promotionals

www.charleygs.com

Dear Friends,
 
     I wanted to let you know about a wonderful program Charlie Goodson at Charley G's has started.  It's called the "Club Card" and Charlie will donate 5% of your dining purchases toward your choice of participating charities.  Those charities include the Outreach Center, Stuller Place, Miles Perret Cancer Services and Faith House.  Or, you may chose to keep the 5% for yourself and use the amount toward future dining purchases.  The program has just begun and will continue indefinitely.  
 
     Charlie has included gift certificate purchases in this program, so if you're looking for the perfect holiday gift - think about Charlie G's gift certificates - ". . . the gift that gives twice!"    
 
     In addition to this great philanthropic endeavor, the food, atmosphere, and service at Charley G's remains awesome!  If you haven't been there in a while, you're really missing a great experience.  Stop by and sign up for the Club Card - it's free of charge, but will help the selected charities tremendously.
 
Happy Holidays!
 
Randall Mann
 

2009 EatLafayette Dates

The campaign will be June 22 to Aug. 15 2009. It will kick-off on June 18 at the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce Business After Hours at the Petroleum Club. Restaurants can start signing up by calling (337) 232-3737 and asking for Felicia.

Signature Showcase: Local restaurants bring their best for March of Dimes

Judy Bastien • jbastien@theadvertiser.com • October 29, 2008

Many restaurants have a signature dish - one that is almost synonymous with its name.
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For iMonelli chef and owner Brian Blanchard, that might be his Seafood Crepes.

Or, maybe not.

"I wouldn't necessarily say it's a 'signature dish,'" said Blanchard, who started out as a busboy and dishwasher at the restaurant, before buying it at the age of 23. "I've got things that have been extremely popular for 20 years. This is one of my newer creations."

But the dish, which features shrimp and crab meat and an Italian cheese stuffing, is close enough to be one of the dishes offered at the Signature Chefs Phantom Gala, to benefit the March of Dimes, whose ongoing mission is to improve the health of babies. And, like every other item on the restaurant's menu, it was created personally by Blanchard.

He will be among 14 chefs who will offer their most popular menu items at the event. Visitors to the Petroleum Club will be able to sample food from all of them.

"People will go from table to table, tasting these wonderful dishes," said Lydia Cavaness, division director of the March of Dimes. "People will not go home hungry."

In addition to the food tasting, there will be wine and silent and live auctions.

Participating chefs also have donated packages that will be auctioned off. The 17 items offered include cooking classes or full meals.

"It might be dinner for six at your home, prepared by one of the chefs," Cavaness said.
In your voice

Brian Blanchard of iMonelli Restaurant prepares a seafood crepe. Blanchard will be taking part in the March of Dimes Signature Chefs event Thursday at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette.
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Brian Blanchard of iMonelli Restaurant prepares a seafood crepe. Blanchard will be taking part in the March of Dimes Signature Chefs event Thursday at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette. (John Rowland/jrowland@theadvertiser.com)

Check it out

The Signature Chefs Phantom Gala will be held Thursday at 6 p.m. at the Petroleum Club of Lafayette. For more information, call 233-8476.

Here are the restaurants and dishes that will take part in the event:


# iMonelli, Seafood Crepes

# Poor Boys Riverside Inn, Duck and Andouille Gumbo

# Prejean's, Seafood Stuffed Mushrooms

# Russo's Old Worlds Foods, Chicken Venezia,

# Ruth Chris Steakhouse, Tomato Brochette, Pepper Crusted Tenderloin

# Tsunami Sushi, Assorted Sushi, Rolls, Sashimi, other Asian bites

# Petroleum Club of Lafayette, Crab Cake Genevieve

# Café Vermillion, Grilled Garlic Shrimp wrapped in Applewood Smoked Bacon

# Zea's Rotisserie and Grill, Roasted Pork with Apple Ginger Gravy

# a la carte, Grape Leaves

# Blue Dog Café, Crawfish Enchiladas

# Jolie's Louisiana, Pork Duxelle En Croute with a Creole Tomato Ragout

# Pamplona Tapas Bar & Restaurant, Smoked Salmon & Goat Cheese Montadillos with piquillo peppers and hot smoked paprika

# Poupart's Bakery, desserts

Look Who Is Back in Acadiana!

Chef Alex Patout returns to Acadiana
By Mary Tutwiler
Tuesday, September 23, 2008
The Independent

If you’ve eaten at Cafe Vermilionville recently, you might have noticed a subtle shift in the menu. Dishes that speak of grandma’s kitchen and black pot cooking have been appearing on the historic restaurant’s white tablecloths. The last of summer’s fresh corn is being turned into macquechoux, straight from the cob. Eggplant dressing rich with shrimp and lump crabmeat is what’s for lunch. And for all you fans of legendary dishes, the roast duck made famous at Didee’s in the 1970s in Opelousas is about to make a star return. The man behind the copper skillets? New Iberia chef Alex Patout, who is back in Acadiana after an absence of nearly 20 years.

Patout and his sister Gigi ran Patout’s in New Iberia in the 1980s. A mecca for his innovative take on local ingredients that have become standards, like the crawfish and tasso cream sauce reduction over pasta, Patout was launched onto the national stage. He opened two restaurants in New Orleans in the late 1980s, Alex Patout’s Louisiana Kitchen in the French Quarter and a sister establishment in Mandeville. Patout suffered a fire in Mandeville, then, after he rebuilt, Hurricane Katrina in 2005 wiped out his businesses. He spent some time at the tony Christabelle’s Quarter in Coconut Grove, Miami, but Louisiana’s pull proved too strong and he returned to Acadiana at the first of the year. By June, he was working for Ken Veron at Cafe V. Two weeks ago, he was named executive chef.

“My mission is to make Cafe Vermilionville into one of the fine dining experiences in Acadiana,” says Patout. “But I want to do it through the experience of authentic Cajun heritage dishes.” He makes crawfish bisque the way his grandmother did — by boiling the crawfish, cleaning out the heads and stuffing them, brewing the deep brown broth stocked with a pond’s worth of tails and serving the soup as the grandest of old school dishes. Right now, redfish are running in the bay, and Patout has a country Cajun dish, Redfish Courtboullion, on his menu. The twist? Instead of serving the fish in chunks in a tomato based stew, he is baking his fresh fish in the sauce, then garnishing the dish with shrimp and crabmeat, for a quintessential taste of summer. Look for oysters as soon as Gulf waters cool off; Patout is planning a showcase for Louisiana’s stellar bivalves, and hopefully, he'll drop some of them into his trademark duck and oyster gumbo. We can’t wait for the first cold snap, when it's gumbo weather in Acadiana. Welcome home, Alex.

Poor Boy’ s Riverside Inn and Wine Shop at Home have partnered together to bring you a wonderful event to kick off the fall. If you like wine and good food mark your calendar for Wednesday, September 10th from 6pm to 9pm in Riverside’s “Little House.“

This evening will be filed with tastings of red, white and sparkling wines along with hot hors d’oeuvres, select cheeses and fine chocolates paired to complement each wine. Everyone will leave with a better knowledge of wine and how to pair it with food. Tickets are $40.00 and must be paid in advance. To reserve your spot please call Rhea at (337) 330-2758. Space is limited to 25 people so call today! Remedial Wine Pairings

A Winning Campaign.

We celebrated the culmination of the 2008 EatLafayette campaign today at Vermilionville by picking winner for the cruise and opening a new cooking school at Vermilionville.

Word has it the winner of the cruise put her name in the drawing at Zeus on Pinhook! There were nearly 10,000 entries and eatlafayette.com had over 600,000 hits during the campaign.

MMMMMM... Southside Bakery!

Today, we ended the EatLafayette promotion on a stellar note.

While we didn't have time to throw Jeff, our web programmer, a going away shindig, we did have time to gather in the conference room to tell him how much he's appreciated. We decided we'd treat Jeff to his very first Southside burger. From the very first bite, he was hooked!

The table fell silent and everyone had their hamburgers devoured in no time flat. With all that perfectly baked bread and juicy hamburger, you can't help but wonder where you'll put it all... but then you take another bite, and that thought just seems trivial! I ate the whole thing and enjoyed it immensely, as always.

If you haven't had your first Southside burger, don't wait till next years EatLafayette promotion.
Head over there today!

Lil' Daddy's is Big BBQ!

It's located inside an Exxon station at the intersection of Pinhook Road and the Evangeline Thruway. Bar-B-Q includes ribs, chicken, brisket, and pork. Seating is available and the customer service is superb.

Every time I go, I feel so good as a person and just love the food. I eat the chicken and don't even douse it with the BBQ sauce, which by the way is awesome.

I am always amazed at how fresh the sides are. When's the last time you could even taste the cabbage in the cole slaw?

I'm just crazy about Lil' Daddy's! And, I'm so surprised that some people haven't heard of it because I'm telling you plenty of people do. It's packed and a great place for take out. Real smoked meat and sides like you'd make at home. Their food just makes me feel good. There's something they are doing that is different from everyone else. It just goes down well. The body loves it.

I just want to walk in the door and inhale the aroma! Guess what? They'll take your Exxon charge card as well.

There are no words....

okay...so there are words, but they will not do justice to how absolutely terrific 2Paul's Radically Urban BBQ is!! I know there have been a couple of posts as to how great this place is, but I have to put my two cents in.

People....GO EAT AT 2PAULS!! Adam and I went last night after I heard Julie and Chelsea raving about it all day. I just could not wait any longer. We were not disappointed! I ate the pepper jelly ribs, rice dressing and french fries. My favorite was the rice dressing. I love rice dressing and it tasted just like my great-grandma's, which is the best ever. The ribs were falling off the bone and the pepper jelly sauce was amazing, and I'm not even all that in to pepper jelly! Adam ate the St. Louis ribs and added mild BBQ sauce to them. He cleaned his plate, which is an indication of a good meal! He absolutely loved the potato salad (that was the first thing he ate). He tried the ratitos, which were fried stuffed jalapenos. But, they were so pepper that he could only eat one bite of one, and he likes jalapenos. So, keep that in mind when ordering them!! We did not have room for dessert, but Chelsea was darling enough to bring me a piece of her Tequila lime pie which melted in my mouth and made me want to eat a whole pie!

Aside from the fabulous food, the atmosphere was perfect. It was quaint and sophisticated, yet fun. It was the perfect setting for a good meal and conversation.

The moral to this story....GO EAT AT 2PAULS!!!!

Have YOU tried 2Pauls yet?

If you haven't, WHAT ARE YOU WAITING FOR?!

This morning in our production meeting, Julie was telling us about her trip to 2Pauls this past weekend and by the end of the meeting, all our mouths were watering! I'm blogging to let you all know, the crew at 2Pauls do NOT disappoint!

My hubby and I went for lunch today (What can I say? I couldn't wait!) and I had the pulled pork sandwich. It comes with your choice as to whether or not the coleslaw is on the sandwich or on the side (I chose on the side, hubby chose on the sandwich.) Either way, you won't regret it. Just make sure to smother it in any of the signature 2Pauls sauces (I chose mild bbq... delicious!) You can also order sides to your heart's content. We tried the potato salad and the onion rings and both were phenomenal! I love potato salad and this was probably the best I've ever had (don't tell Momma).

I finally got to meet the famous Ms. Marilynn whom I've traded emails and phone calls with for the last few months while getting the EatLafayette site up and running. She's just darling! So welcoming and sweet, I wanted her to sit down and have lunch with us! At her recommendation, I had to make another trip to the counter and give their tequilime pie a taste. AMAZING. Don't hesitate to order dessert!

Even the atmosphere at 2Pauls is great! The colors, art and people (not to mention the smells!) make it worth the many future trips I'll be taking there for more great BBQ! I even bought a t-shirt to help advertise because I truly believe 2Pauls has staying power. And it's not just me! From what I hear, there have been so many repeat customers since they've opened, they've jokingly toyed with the idea of honoring them with name plates for the chairs! For a new restaurant to come in and shake up Lafayette the way 2Pauls has, they must be something special!

2Pauls is a great restaurant for whenever you get a craving for exceptional BBQ. You won't be disappointed!

The Difference Between a Chef and Restaurateur.

http://themoment.blogs.nytimes.com/2008/07/25/for-the-moment-chef-inc/

I found this article on a blog through the NY Times. I think it helps us understand the high level of skill and creativity it takes to reach superstar status locally, regionally, nationally or internationally. Most restaurateurs could run just about any business.

Once you go Urban...you will go back!

We kept getting so many comments on 2 Paul's Radically Urban Barbeque, we had to go see what all the fuss was about. I walked in and saw piles of ribs on people's plate and the wonderful aroma just swept me up to the counter.

We tested 4 things. Seriously, who could do more than that in one seating (turns out we couldn't either). I got the 2 Paul's Pepper Jelly Ribs because I tried them at the Chamber kick-off event. Then and now I say - I've never had ribs so good. (I got chummy and they loaded me up with the pepper jelly sauce. Well, they really do that for everyone!)

I am a french fry connoisseur and I am the best judge of great fries. There are places I go just for the fries. Move over everyone, the Jalapeno Fries are slices of jalapeno peppers, onion crisps deep fried with curly Qs or homestyles. No one got even one fry off of my plate.

Another thing I am very discriminate about is potato salad. Creamy, eggy and mayonnaise-y with the skin on. I was toast!

We took the Ancho Encrusted, Cherry Glazed Pork Loin home because we couldn't eat anymore. Something tells me it will be gone before bedtime.

Great service. Marilyn (one of the 2 Paul's - ask her!) is pure entertainment and she'll give you a tour of the photos and art. I found my new pick up line in the ladies room!

In the Albertson's Shopping Center on Johnston Street. You can't miss it. Just look for all of the color.

Reviews of 2 EatLafayette restaurants

We like to try to give you as much information as possible about the EatLafayette restaurants. In that spirit, we have reviews of 2 of the EatLafayette restaurants. If you are not sure what to expect at either Dean-O's or Randol's, the reviews give you a pretty good idea of what you should expect from the food and the atmosphere.

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/lafayette/D48933.html - for Dean-O's

http://www.frommers.com/destinations/lafayette/D41883.html - for Randol's

Be sure to visit the EatLafayette Web site, www.eatlafayette.com for a complete listing of restaurants and specials. It is a hassle-free way to answer the age old question, "where are we going to eat?".

A night out at Antoni's

Our art director and his family went eat at Antoni's Italian Cafe this week and had nothing but positive reviews! He ate a pepperoni calzone (yes, we want you to note the word play here) while his fiancee ate the eggplant parmesan. They both thoroughly enjoyed their meals, which were very filling and fulfilling. The service and atmosphere of the restaurant were also very pleasing.

Don't forget to visit the Web site www.eatlafayette.com, for a complete listing of restaurants and specials.

Bella Figura - So Good Ahhhh!

You just have to go to Bella Figura and have one of the EatLafayette specials. It's sooo good and soooo much of it.

How is it possible to make cannelloni and almond encrusted tilapia taste so flavorful? We all started with the caprese salad and ended with the chocolate dessert (you can have bread pudding if you want).

Every time we go to Bella Figura, Jack Ainsworth is always there. That's just another sign why this restaurant continues to have great food and service.

And, if that wasn't enough, they were filming a movie right outside of our window seat. So, does that make this dinner and a movie?

My new favorite place

OMGoodness...I went to Joey's Specialty Foods and Catering for lunch today. It was my first trip there for lunch. I had looked at the menu online,www.cajun-joeys.com, before I went so that I would not be overwhelmed and hold up the line. I had decided on the House Special sandwich, which was roast beef, turkey, choice of cheese, Joey's special sauce, lettuce and pickles on my choice of bread (I chose wheat). I also elected to get the bow-tie pasta salad which had bow-tie pasta, capers, sun dried tomatoes and some sort of dressing (I am not a chef and don't know individual tastes well).

I was unbelievably impressed with my meal. The sandwich was superb. The meat was warm but not hot and the sauce was delicious. I love pasta, especially pasta salads, and this one did not let me down. It was fabulous! And the best part was that there was so much food that I was able to take half of my sandwich with me to enjoy later this afternoon.

I must also add that the atmosphere and service were excellent, perfect for a relaxing lunch.

I would recommend Joey's to anyone, anytime!

Please visit the EatLafayette Web site, www.eatlafayette.com, for a restaurant listing and specials.

Until next time...

Blue Dog Fills The Plate

First, we had a very special guest at lunch with us today - Debbie Ray - with KTDY. While we were catching up, we were pleasantly surprised by a visit with Steve Santillio, the guy who makes the Blue Dog happen. If you ever get a chance, ask him how this Lafayette lawyer ended up in the restaurant business.

Now, on to the food. I don't think Blue Dog chefs know that smaller plates exist. You should see the size of EatLafayette special portions. And just when you think they can't top the entree size, out comes the bread pudding.

Sunday brunch is still on at Blue Dog, so when that answers the question of where to go for brunch. But, go anytime and the food is as overwhelming as all of the Rodrique art. The Blue Dog shows up in blue napkins, blue straws and the subtle things that tell you they really care about getting it right. And, they do!

It's Halftime

Hey everyone. We are ALREADY halfway through this year's EatLafayette campaign. Can you believe it?! Time flies when you are eating good!

I just wanted to get on here and remind and encourage everyone to keep eating Lafayette, supporting our locally owned restaurants. Just stop by, grab a seat and ask about the EatLafayette specials!

Also, don't forget you get to register to win a cruise everytime you eat at one of the participating restaurants. How can you pass that up?

Be sure to visit the Web site, www.eatlafayette.com for restaurants and specials information.

Let's make this the most successful EatLafayette campaign yet! Get out there and EatLafayette!

Just in from Gs.

We just got this news flash in from Charley Gs. Keep checking back here because we're loading up more information from the EatLafayette restaurants.

Charley G's summer menu has begun...
Listed below are our new summer menu items created by Chef Holly and her staff. Visit www.charleygs.com for our complete menu. We look forward to serving you soon! Thanks, Charlie

Salmon Tartare sesame crisps, caviar, cilantro oil Caprese Salad homegrown tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, basil, balsamic reduction, organic salt Roasted Corn Crab Bisque Tuna Melt provolone cheese, micro greens, pickled onions, avocado vinaigrette, french fries or onion rings Pan Roasted Salmon wood grilled prosciutto wrapped asparagus, maltese sauce Blood Orange Chipotle Glazed Chicken roasted sweet potatoes, grilled broccillini Wood Grilled Yellow Fin Tuna mango roasted scallion salsa, cumin-lime crème fraiche, crispy yucca Veal Saltimbocca jumbo lump crabmeat, prosciutto, basil, gnocchi, brown butter walnut pesto Crispy Duck grilled Ruston peach glaze, roasted corn pudding, creole green beans Blood Orange Chipotle Glazed Chicken roasted sweet potatoes, grilled broccillini Allen Bros. 16 oz Bone-In Rib Eye gruyere caramelized onion gratin, broccillini, smoked sea salt

Gs It's Good!

What started out as a birthday get together for drinks and appetizers, ended up as a night at out for dinner. Once you settle into to Charley Gs, there's some magic there that creates the "dinner table" experience. Imagine super-fine food, perfect service, Charlie Goodson checking in on you and you can see how everyone at the table drops their guard and the fun begins.

I must confess that I've been going to Charley Gs since it opened in 1985 and I can never get enough of it. It remains one of my all-time favorite restaurants anywhere. Enough said, just go to Charley Gs if you haven't been or haven't been lately.

Beefy Burger Lunch

Today was yet another EatLafayette lunch at Calzone, and Jeff pulled Judice Inn out of our "hat". I cannot express how excited I was. I LOVE burgers and have NEVER had a Judice Inn burger (I know, shame on me!) Well...after eating not one but TWO cheeseburgers, I am an official fan of Judice Inn. The burgers were so yummy. The sauce was really good and the bread was so soft, not to mentioned the perfectly cooked meat. OK...my mouth is watering again! I highly recommend a Judice Inn burger to anyone! PS...prices are great too!!

For more restaurants and specials, visit www.eatlafayette.com.

Keep you posted on next fabulous meal...

Mouth-watering goodness

So today I had lunch at Charley G's with some members of the unofficial EatLafayette committee. There are no words for how wonderful this place is. For starters, the atmosphere is casual, yet elegant, the perfect place for a business lunch. Our waiter was one of the best I've ever had (but forgive me because I don't remember his name)! Everyone, except Charlie, tried the EatLafayette special. For starters was Duck and Andouille Gumbo or Caesar Salad. 2 of us had the gumbo and the other 3 had salad. It really was one of the best gumbos I have ever eaten (and I've eaten a lot of gumbo!). For the main course, 3 of us had Shrimp Florentine and one of us had the crabcakes. The pasta was delicious, ulike any you have even tasted. We even learned the secret ingredient, but you have to go eat there before I tell you what it is. There was so much that I took half home as leftovers. There is one more reason for saving room...dessert. The most unbelievable, melt in your mouth White Chocolate bread pudding you have ever eaten. I ate every last bit and soaked up every ounce of drizzled white chocolate.

In case you missed it, Charley G's is absolutely fabulous. Their EatLafayette special is a steal!!

For a listing of all restaurants and specials, visit the Web site at www.eatlafayette.com.

Until we eat again....

Sushi anyone?

Yesterday, a friend Randy and I had lunch at Tsunami Sushi. I am a lover of sushi and was very excited by the restaurant choice, and we were not disappointed. We sat at the bar, which was a first for me. It was very entertaining to watch how the chefs prepare the different types of sushi rolls. I was amazed. The atmosphere was very pleasant, as always, and the service was great.

The meal was delicious!! We started off with edamame, which is always yummy. We ordered John Breaux roll, California rolls, Crunchy roll and some raw tuna roll that he made me try (not my thing). The rolls were all delicious and we left very fulfilled and satisfied. All in all, it was a fabulous lunch.

For more information on Tsunami Sushi and other participating restaurants, visit the Web site at www.eatlafayette.com.

Until the next meal....

Calzone Eats Lafayette week 2

Today, Ashley pulled Dean-O's pizza out of our hat/envelope for our EatLafayette lunch of the week. We were all very excited about it because everyone knows just how wonderful Dean-O's is. And they did not disappoint us today. Me, Jeff and Ashley all had pizza, and we each ate until we were ready to pop. Julie had a salad that looked absolutely scrumptous, and Janice ate a chicken club sandwich that also looked yummy. We ordered lunch at 11:45 and it was ready for pick-up when I got there at 12:05. They prepared the orders impressively quickly, which is good for anyone on a one-hour lunch. Needless to say, we enjoyed our EatLafayette lunch, again.

Stay tuned for next week's selection.

In the meantime, visit www.eatlafayette.com to select your own restaurant to enjoy!

Saturday night out at Antoni's

My friend Morgan and I had a Saturday night out and decided to go out to eat, at an EatLafayette restaurant, of course. We chose Antoni's Italian Cafe, and I have to say we were not disappointed! The atmosphere was perfect for a quiet dinner. We actually stayed for an hour and a half because we were enjoying it so much. We started with the Caprese appetizer, which neither of us had had before, and we enjoyed it. It was a very light appetizer that whetted our appetite and kept us company while we were gossiping. For the meal, Morgan had the marinara with grilled chicken, which I had to take a bite of. It was delicious. But, I have to say, my pizza was absolutely fabulous! I created my own with a roasted garlic, olive oil and herb sauce, artichokes, black olives and mushrooms (I'm not a vegetarian, I just love the three things I put on the pizza!). The pizza was so good that I ate the leftovers later that night. We finished the night with triple chocolate cheesecake which melted in our mouths. I'm not the world's biggest fan of chocolate, but that was a delicious treat.

I highly recommend Antoni's for a date night or a night out with family and friends. The service was excellent, the atmosphere was cozy and the food was fantastic.

For more great restaurants and specials, visit www.eatlafayette.com.

It Was Like Eating In A Vineyard.

We checked out the website and made the decision to go to Marcello's to dine on Italian last night. We started with a glass of Kenwood Merlot at the bar and were seated before we could finish our first glass. Calamari seems to be one of our signature starters and this one was sweet and crisp with a nice tomato sauce.

I opted for the night's special of lemon fish covered in fried basil over potato salad. Fabulous! The veal Mulinciani portion was so generous, half of it had to be taken home. I would also recommend their EatLafayette Special, an italian classic of Pasta Puttanesca with Shrimp, served with Caesar or House Salad and Susanna Tutta Panna (a yummy caramel dessert).

EatLafayette is on YouTube

Calzone is bringing EatLafayette into the new century! We have posted a YouTube video for your viewing pleasure of the Business After Hours event. The video features the restaurants at the event with descriptions of restaurant atmosphere, menu options and a sneak peek at the dish they chose to serve at the event. The video is sure to get you tummy talking, encouraging you to "go get some of that" at our fabulous EatLafayette restaurants.

For your viewing pleasure:


For a listing of restaurants and specials, visit www.eatlafayette.com.

Who Says Tapas Means Small Portions?

I have a friend that I do girl's night out with at least once a month. After taking her to Pamplona, it's the only restaurant she wants to go to and I am okay with that. If you haven't been and are wondering what you would eat or order, don't worry because the wait staff are excellent tour guides.

The food is fresh, fresh, fresh and full of flavor with a definite leaning toward everything Spain. But, Chef William Annesley is very creative with all kinds of cuisine. The wine list is very diverse and the house selections are very good.

We love the calamari, the fresh fish and sides of vegetables. I've toured the menu and it's all good. And, that's the magic of Pamplona's. Everyone orders one thing and you pass it around. Talk about a great way to dine! It's brings back memories of how we used to eat at home.

Pamplona's is located in the old Chris' Poboys on Jefferson Street in downtown Lafayette. It's another one of those places that people say it's hard to believe you are in Lafayette!

Calzone Eats Lafayette!

Well...we have started a tradition here at Calzone that we will eat at one EatLafayette restaurant for lunch AT LEAST once a week. You see, it's not enough to just promote the campaign - we are going to practice what we preach! I have put all the participating restaurant's names in a hat (well, it's actually an envelope but it's more fun to call it a hat) and one of us pulls a restaurant out of the "hat" and we order lunch.

Today was our first day and we pulled Cafe Habana City. We had an elaborate blog scheme planned, complete with pictures of the food and action shots of us grubbin' down. However, due to extreme hunger and excitement, no one actually stopped eating to take the pictures of our "oh so delicious" Cuban feast. It was my first time ever eating a Cuban dish, and I was very pleased. I am sure it is safe to say we all thoroughly enjoyed our meal and are anxiously awaiting the next selection.

Stay tuned for more updates and details as we sample more restaurants! And don't forget to visit the Web site, www.eatlafayette.com, for restaurant listings and specials.

Photos from the party

EatLafayette Party Pictures
Hey Everyone! As promised, here are some party pics from Business After Hours. I would, again, like to thank everyone who participated or showed up to support EatLafayette. The food was absolutely fantastic. The restaurants really went the extra mile to make sure we got a true taste of what they have to offer. Everyone seemed to have a real good time. The event was a success and these pics illustrate just how much fun was had by all who attended!

EatLafayette is off to an incredible start!

I have to offer my sincere thanks and appreciation to everyone who participated in Business After Hours last night in any way. It was a true success that made me so proud to be a part of such a wonderful and supportive community. Everyone worked hard to make the event something special and I can truly say that everyone seemed to enjoy his/herself. This campaign has become a part of us and we are giving all we have to help it succeed. But, none of this would be possible without community support. Your involvment last night was key to getting this year's campagin off the ground, and you came through for us.

I hope you all continue to support this year's EatLafayette campaign by dining out at participating restaurants, beginning Monday, June 16. Don't forget that you can register to win a cruise each time you dine out at participating restaurants. Also, please visit our Web site, www.eatlafayette.com, for a list of participating restaurants and specials!

Please visit again next week as we will have party pics up for your viewing pleasure!

Again, on behalf of everyone who is working so diligently on this campaign, THANKS!!!

EatLafayette Business After Hours

Hey Everyone! Don't forget to attend the Greater Lafayette Chamber of Commerce's Business After Hours event next Thursday, June 12 from 5:00 P.M. to 7:00 P.M. at the Petroleum Club in the Oil Center. This month's Business After Hours is A Taste of EatLafayette. Some of the participating restaurants will be there offering samples of a menu item for all to enjoy. Please come out and support EatLafayette and the Chamber of Commerce.
We look forward to seeing you there.
Also, don't forget to visit our Web site, www.eatlafayette.com, for a list of participating restaurants and specials.
Thanks to these sponsors for making the event possible.

EatLafayette 2008 on the road to success!

So...the EatLafayette campaign for 2008 is off to a booming start. We have 33 restaurants signed up, which is more than last year, and they are offering some great specials. Enthusiasm and participation is up, which bodes well for all the locals and tourists coming to town. Be sure to check out the EatLafayette Web site, www.eatlafayette.com, to see which resataurants are participating and what kind of specials are being offered. Don't forget to check out our sponsors page too as this event would not be what it is without them.
New to the event this year is live coverage of Business After Hours by FOX 15. Be sure to watch the channel between 6:00 and 9:00 P.M. on Thursday, June 12 for the coverage. It's sure to be great. There will also be a recap on the 9:00 news.
CRUISE GIVEAWAY!! CRUISE GIVEAWAY!! This year, Travel Machine and Carnival Cruises donated a 4 day cruise to Cozumel for the EatLafayette campagin. All you have to do to enter is have a meal at one of our participating restaurants and enter to win. Some restrictions to apply, so be sure to read the contest rules before entering. Who doesn't want to win a cruise??!!
Well...that's all for now. I encourage everyone to get out and EatLafayette between June 16 and August 15. Let's show our support for local restaurants, not to mention eating fabulous food.
Until next time....

2008 EatLafayette Campaign is a Go!

Charlie Goodson, Charley Gs, Gerald Breaux, LCVC and Pam Landaiche, Calzone, met earlier this month to start planning the 2008 EatLafayette campaign. New ideas include expanding the planning group to get more input and participation from local restaurant owners. For more information call Charlie at 337.981.0108.