Pizza, pot roast po-boys, tuna tarts and more: Best things we ate this week

Cast-iron redfish and bluefin tuna tart from Library Wine and Provisions 

People tend to throw around the phrase, "Worth the drive." I mean serious business when I say Library Wine and Provisions in Gonzales is absolutely worth the drive. Look at it like a quick, mini adventure.

First, the ambiance in the restaurant is cozy yet sophisticated, with velvet seating, dim lighting and a gallery wall that features legendary writers. The interior alone is reason to visit, but the food is worth it, too. 

My friends and I started with the bluefin tuna tarts, which featured tart, soy, wasabi, nori, Asian pears and crushed avocado in a fried shell. The ingredients were bursting with flavor from spicy to sweet with the wasabi and Asian pears. The crushed avocado balanced it all. 

For my entree, I decided on cast-iron redfish with risotto, spinach, crawfish and a spicy butter sauce. Oh. My. Gosh. The redfish melted in my mouth with the butter sauce, and the risotto complemented it perfectly. They weren't stingy with the crawfish, and I'm grateful for it, considering the season we've had. 

I can't wait to go back and try something new. 

Library Wine and Provisions, 7530 S. Burnside Ave., Gonzales. (Lauren Cheramie, features writer) 

Pot roast po-boy from Iverstine Farms Butcher

The pot roast po-boy is served with a copious amount of slow-braised, melt-in-your-mouth chuck roast, caramelized onions, Provolone cheese, horseradish mayo, shredded lettuce and beef au jus on French bread.

Not being a huge fan of horseradish, I asked for the horseradish mayo on the side so I could add to my liking. This resulted in the perfect balance of tang that complemented the delicate flavor of the roast. The po-boy is large, and I could only eat half, but the leftovers were just as delicious.

Iverstine gives customers the option to add a drink and fries or chips to order. I chose the fries, which were crunchy on the outside, soft on the inside and seasoned to perfection. If you're looking for good fries, these are a must-try.

In addition to sandwiches, Iverstine offers daily lunch specials and brunch. Be sure to check out the butcher shop which offers hand-cut and trimmed cuts of meat sourced from small-scale local farms.

Iverstine Farms, 7731 Perkins Road, Baton Rouge. (Ellen Ducote, project manager/publisher’s office)

The Mediterranean veggie at Diversion Pizza

It was a stroke of serendipity that put us at Diversion Pizza on a Thursday night. We had set out for Marlie's, the French Settlement seafood and steak restaurant so popular in Livingston Parish.

As we drove through Marlie's large parking lot, I remarked that no one must have been eating at home that night. Groups of hungry-looking folks gathered in bunches, others in their cars, all waiting for a seat at the table. With zero expectation of getting inside before closing, we headed to nearby Maurepas for our first visit to Diversion Pizza.

This place was almost full, too, but we were seated promptly. Perusing the extensive menu of appetizers, lettuce wraps, salads, pasta, cheese and veggie boards and of course, pizza, narrowing it down took a moment.

I settled on the Mediterranean veggie pizza (9 inch, $11.50) and what a great choice. The crust, of medium thickness, was baked perfectly, browned without being scorched on the bottom, which I prefer. A tasty marinara sauce was topped with a blend of mozzarella and feta cheeses, slices of Roma tomatoes, chunks of artichoke, sliced red onions and Kalamata olives. A drizzle of olive oil was the finishing touch. A colorful presentation, all the veggies tasted like they had just been picked and prepared — the slightly sweet onions playing off the savory olives, the juicy tomato and artichoke sections — all adding up to bursts of flavors with each bite.

Maybe next time, Marlie's.

Diversion Pizza, 18773 La. 22, Maurepas. (Judy Bergeron, features assistant editor)