July is National Grilling Month, and hamburgers are finding their way onto grills all over Southwest Louisiana! However, the simple acts of picking a meat, choosing a grilling method, and mixing ingredients can all contribute to radically different flavors. For best results, keep these tips in mind.
Summertime is peak season at area farmers’ markets. Fresh produce, meats, jams and jellies, locally-roasted coffee, fresh milk, kombucha, herbs, fresh-made prepared foods, local honey, baked goods, meats, fresh-pressed juices, tamales, homemade candles and soaps, and other crafts comprise a short list of all the fantastic items you might find on market day. There are a multitude of reasons why you might want to shop at these bastions of bounty.
Take a short drive down I-10 to Welsh, LA, and transport yourself back to your childhood in this cool retro confectionary.
Good food is easy to find in Lake Charles. Great food – now that’s a different story. Great food is not only tasty, but also leaves you healthier. It helps you work, play, and live better. Food is meant to be enjoyed but also to nourish.
Summer is here! Caregivers and students get a mental break from homework, uniform washing, and carpool lines. This is a perfect time to get the kids away from the TV and into the kitchen and garden with you! One of the best ways to encourage "picky eaters” is to involve them in the process of preparing the family’s meals. So, get out and grow something—even if it is just a small pot of herbs. Kids are more willing to try foods they have had ownership in growing, selecting, or cooking.
Eggs are a staple of our kitchens, yet few ingredients have faced such a rollercoaster of opinions. With their nutritional value and health benefits constantly in question, eggs are a controversial – and essential – element of almost all cuisines.
Here in Southwest Louisiana, we love the convenience of a mom-and-pop drive-thru, be it for crawfish, po-boys, snowballs, or daiquiris. Recently, several new shops have opened, each with their own unique flair.
Looking for a great cup of coffee? You’re in the right place. Louisianians love their morning cup, most having grown up on "coffee milk.”
Whether you like it black or loaded with cream, sugar, flavorings, and whipped cream on top, read on for places to satisfy your coffee cravings. Most of these establishments are open for breakfast and lunch and offer some combination of pastries and baked goods, homemade soups, salads, and sandwiches. So go there hungry!
There’s nothing we Louisianans have in common more than our food and drink. Regardless of age, gender, or race, most all of us all love our crawfish, our boudin, our jambalaya, our gumbo, a good Sazerac, or a cold Abita Strawberry. But there’s one staple we share more than any, and that’s a hot cup of Community Coffee in the morning.
Everyone knows someone who can’t make it without their daily coffee. Maybe it’s you, a loved one, a co-worker . . . or all of the above!
Tumeric has been trending lately, and it’s no surprise. This yellow-gold spice, used for over 4000 years in Asia and India, is a key ingredient in curry and purportedly boasts numerous health benefits. But first, let’s talk about taste and how to use this versatile spice.
May is National Barbeque Month and nothing says summer quite like outdoor grilling. For eons humans have cooked and smoked food over an open flame on beautiful warm evenings. It’s a summertime tradition and maybe one of the oldest human customs in history. Slow smoking meat is the purest version of the ancient tradition we call barbeque, and while it can take years to master, it’s much easier to get started than you think. You don’t need a fancy smoker, and you don’t need to do any complicated DIY project. All you need is the grill you’ve already been using!
According to pizza.com, 94% of Americans eat pizza "regularly.” While somewhat vague, it is nonetheless good news for Scott McClaskey, who opened Pizza Artista at Prien Lake Mall last October with his wife, Cynthia, and their partner, Kirk Miller. The success of this pizza parlor is evident from numerous online review sites. Both buzzfeed.com and onlyinyourstate.com rate Pizza Artista as the number one pizza restaurant in Louisiana. Social media sites collectively give Pizza Artista 4.9 out of five stars.
What makes a perfect, relaxing picnic? Location, good weather, lovely company, great food, and because this is Southwest Louisiana, lots of mosquito spray. Picnics are an excellent way to enjoy the company of someone you care about or someone you would like to get to know better, but there are a few elements required in the planning stage to ensure your picnic is flawless and fun.
Whether it’s juggling baseball practice and gymnastics, or just a long day at the office, nothing can put a damper on the evening like realizing its 8 o’clock and your cupboards only hold half a block of Velveeta cheese, a can of cream of mushroom soup, and a sleeve of saltine crackers. Before you throw your hands up in defeat, there is another mealtime option that doesn’t require multiple trips to the supermarket or tons of planning.
If you’ve driven along Highway 14 in Lake Charles, just north of E. McNeese St., you likely have seen a herd of cows idly grazing in a large pasture along the side of the road. What may surprise you is that the farm is owned by McNeese State University and the cows, as well as pigs and lambs, are all part of the education for the 400-some students in McNeese’s School of Agricultural Sciences program. This farm is the first step in the program’s Center for Advancement of Meat Production and Processing (CAMPP). From the McNeese Farm, the animals spend some time "beefing up” at Fuller Farm in Kinder, and from there they go to CAMPP’s meat processing and packaging facility in Lacassine for "harvesting.”
Fusion cuisineisa style of cookingthat combines elements of different culinary traditions into one innovative, creative, often daring dish. The variations of fusion food are basically limited only by a chef’s imagination. California cuisineis considered a fusion culture, taking inspiration particularly fromItaly,France,Mexico, along with the culinary ideas of the Europeandelicatessen, easternAsia, and creating traditional dishes from these cultures with non-traditional ingredients - such asCalifornia pizza. Tex-Mex, possibly one of the first recognized fusion foods, combinesSouthwesternUnited StatesandMexican cuisines. Asian fusion combines foods and flavors from various Asian countries.
"We are all mortal until the first kiss and the second glass of wine.” These words from Eduardo Galeano seem to reverberate like a fine mist creating a tangible atmosphere within the newest Lake Charles harbor for wine lovers. From the moment you step through the door of Bodega Wine Dive, the black-and-white-tiled walls and the Charlie Chaplin dance numbers floating across the television screen make you feel as if you have entered some magical world where Zelda Fitzgerald or Alice in Wonderland might suddenly appear and share a glass of Dom Perignon (which is sold by the glass) with you.
Southwest Louisiana has experienced a significant population increase over the past several years. The more people who come here, the more resources we need; new neighborhoods, new roads, new stores . . . and new restaurants! The lake area is following several new food and restaurant trends, especially when it comes to ethnic foods. Seventy-seven percent of Americans eat ethnic foods while dining out at least once a month, and more than 38% order ethnic food weekly, according to Chicago-based research firm, Technomic. Locally, diners have numerous ethnic choices – Asian, Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, even Irish.
Ordering a cocktail used to be so simple. "Vodka and tonic with lemon, please.” Those days are essentially gone. Over the past several years, craft cocktails have become complex, sophisticated, and oh so delightful. This year, look for several continuing trends, such as the popularity of classic cocktails from the Prohibition Era, as well as some newcomers to the bar scene.
It seems most people have at least one kind of food they dislike. But it is hard to find someone who does not like cheese.
Wine has a way of warming your body from the inside out. It can be the perfect accompaniment to the soothing hearty meals we call comfort food in cold weather. Whether snacking by a crackling fireplace, hosting a crowd around the supper table, or dining out with friends, local experts can help you choose a wine that compliments your winter cuisine.
As cool winter weather settles over Southwest Louisiana, our morning appetites turn to warm comfort food. Oatmeal often finds its way into our breakfast bowls, though we may not always have time to cook oats the old-fashioned way. Instant oatmeal to the rescue! Here is a roundup of several brands you will find in lake area cereal aisles.
Two hurricanes could not keep Jim Brown and his family from sticking with their friends and serving their customers. Though buildings and products were lost, they rebuilt their business, Browns Food Center, and continue to thrive, learning along the way what it takes to serve their community.
Study a still life of Southern cuisine and a bowl of grits will be on the table next to the fried chicken, sausage gravy, and deviled eggs. A corn based dish that had its origins with Native Americans, grits are so connected with Southern eating, they can be found on menus from breakfast diners to catered upscale events.
Michael and Shelly Migues are nearly set to open their new Great Harvest Bread Company franchise at the corner of Lake and Sale Sts. in Lake Charles. This locally owned bakery and cafe will offer fresh whole grain breads, baked goods, and made-to-order sandwiches, salads, and grain bowls. Future outdoor seating beside the bayou, beneath oak and cypress trees, promises to become a popular lunch spot.
There is nothing more American than a Thanksgiving feast laid out on a table surrounded by loved ones. From oyster dressing to apple pie, there is sure to be one dish that you, your friends, and family cannot live without this Thanksgiving holiday. The dishes you most anticipate all year are likely influenced by your family heritage, as well as the region where you live. (Or once lived!) Culinary traditions vary from coast to coast.
Halloween is a favorite holiday for kids and adults alike. Unfortunately, the season does not invoke visions of healthy snack foods. But sugar need not reign supreme in this candy focused time of year.
