In the know
The Baton Rouge Blues Festival, scheduled for April 19-21, has 24 food vendors for the weekend: All Star Catering; Vel’s Mobile Cafe; Phat Mama Kajun Kitchen; Best Boilers; A&G Snack Shop on the Geaux; The Smokin Pitt; The Frying Station; Jakes Tacos; Boo's Best BBQ; City Roots Coffee Bar; Carnival Food Creations; Best Burger Lafayette; Archie's Hot Dog Island and Catering; Asian Outdoor Kitchen; Valley House Market; JuicyJ's; Iverstine Butcher; Jambalaya by Shake; NFA Grill; Hollywood Catering and Events; Chef Key’s Country Kitchen; Etalian Happy Ice; Leroy's LipSmack'n Lemonade and Ammazin Colorz.
If you haven't heard, Tsunami at Highland, opened last week. Located at 1 Smart Way in Baton Rouge, the long-awaited, gorgeous new restaurant doesn't disappoint. We like the dramatic, big open main dining room and the cozy, smaller semi-private rooms in back. Plus, the upscale sushi restaurant has lovely outdoor dining, and could the weather lately have been any better for outdoor dining? It's open for lunch and dinner seven days a week.
Chef Kevin Foil at The Queen Baton Rouge, 1717 N. River Road, Baton Rouge, was named one of Louisiana's best chefs by The American Culinary Federation New Orleans Chapter. This is the second ACFNO Best Chefs recognition for Foil, who received the same honor in 2020.
Food Truck Fiesta: 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, April 20, at Denham Springs Main Street, 115 Mattie St., Denham Springs. Guests can order dishes from a variety of favorite food trucks and shop downtown with Denham Springs Main Street.
Kite Fest Louisiane 2024: April 27-28 at West Baton Rouge Soccer Complex, 3235 Rosedale Road, Port Allen. Bring the entire family and enjoy a day of kite flying, kite making, Louisiana food booth and fireworks. Find more information at westbatonrouge.net/kite-fest-louisiane/247.
New food on the block
There's a new board at Bldg 5, 2805 Kalurah St., Baton Rouge. The stracciatella board features light and creamy burrata, garnished with olive oil, honey, pistachios, rose petals, lemon zest, salt and pepper — served with rustic grilled bread.
There's a new board at Bldg 5, 2805 Kalurah St., Baton Rouge. The stracciatella board features light and creamy burrata, garnished with olive oil, honey, pistachios, rose petals, lemon zest, salt and pepper — served with rustic grilled bread.
Jed's Local, 672 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge, introduced the April po-boy of the month. For every order of the $13 shrimp banh mi — made with grilled shrimp, chili garlic mayonnaise, pickled carrots, sliced jalapeños, cucumbers and fresh cilantro — Jed's will donate $1 to the Kid's Orchestra. Serving elementary-age students across the city, the mission of Kids' Orchestra is to build a community of creative, confident and socially engaged students through music education.
For its 10th anniversary, Gnarly Barley Brewing, 1709 Corbin Road, Hammond, has introduced a new beer: "Haus Marg Margarita Gose." Haus Marg begins as a 5% ABV German-style gose and blended with lime and tangerine juices.
"After years of honing sours in and releasing them in the taproom, we decided it was time to introduce one in distribution," says co-founder and vice president Cari Caramonta in a news release. “Who doesn’t love a margarita? So we designed Haus Marg as a refreshing beer for year-round enjoyment in Louisiana. Haus Marg has the heart of a traditional German Gose but the tangerine, salt and lime combination bring the party!”
Wine and spirits
Tequila tasting: 4:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, at Alexander's Harvest Market, 12513 La. 73, Geismar. Prepare for Cinco de Mayo with a tequila and margarita tasting, as well as food from Jake's Taco Truck and Zoey's Fresh Queso. The menu from Jake's includes carne asada street tacos, chicken quesadillas, nachos and more.
An Evening at Windrush: 6:30 p.m. to 9:30 p.m. Friday, April 26, at LSU Rural Life Museum, 4560 Essen Lane, Baton Rouge. Enjoy an evening of magic, music, cocktails and food at Windrush Gardens with a menu from renowned chef John Folse. Tickets are $175 per person, available for purchase at bontempstix.com.
All proceeds benefit the Friends of LSU Rural Life Museum. For event and table sponsorships, contact the Museum directly at (225) 765-2437 or rlm@lsu.edu.
Food adds so much to the equation of living well. It can be all the things — luxurious, cheap, communal, intimate, simple and complex. In Baton Rouge, the culinary scene ranges the complete spectrum of senses.
This weekly space brings you insider foodie news, helpful tips and details of food/wine events for all of your bon vivant aspirations. Email Lauren Cheramie with food news at lauren.cheramie@theadvocate.com.