Missed the latest new food news? This roundup of recent dining scene developments in Acadiana is for you.
In recent local food news, you'll find everything from a local cupcake bakery expanding out of state to a restaurant introducing a doughnut cheeseburger.
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1. Restaurant introduces doughnut burger
The Ground Pat'i Grille & Bar recently added a doughnut burger to its permanent menu.
The 100 percent choice Angus chuck burger is topped with Wisconsin cheddar and applewood bacon and sandwiched between a buttered, toasted Meche's doughnut. The burger with a side of fries costs $9.99.
Ground Pat'i owner Rick Cambre says the inspiration for the burger came from his children, and he calls the burger "a great marriage between the best beef, the best cheese and the best doughnut."
Ground Pat'i Grille & Bar is located at 2512 Kaliste Saloom Road in Lafayette. Learn more by visiting "The GROUND PAT'I" on Facebook or by calling 337-704-0070.
2. New distillery launches in south Louisiana
Baton Rouge Distilling, promoted as the city's first distillery since prohibition, recently introduced its first spirit in south Louisiana grocery stores.
The strawberry brandy is a clear spirit described as capturing "all the essence of local strawberries." Distilled from strawberry wine from a Tangipahoa Parish winery, the spirit is said to be the first brandy ever produced in Louisiana.
The distillery is also working on a white whiskey, bourbon and other fruit brandies. Tours and tastings aren't yet offered at the distillery.
Learn more about Baton Rouge Distilling or find out where to buy the brandy by visitingBatonRougeBourbon.com.
3. New Louisiana subscription box service launches
Parish Parcel recently announced plans to launch July 15 alongside services such as Cajun Crate and Louisiana to Geaux.
Jaci Russo of The Russo Group is launching Parish Parcel with a plan to deliver six to eight items each month that showcase a little bit of everything that is Louisiana. The eclectic Louisiana box will include seasonings, spices, spreads, mixes, art, music, apparel and more. Each box will also include a profile of a different Louisiana parish.
The subscription costs between $20 and $29 per month with an optional lagniappe add-on that gives subscribers a little something extra in their monthly boxes.
Learn more about Parish Parcel or subscribe to the service by visiting ParishParcel.com.
4. Acadiana cuisine featured on Food Network show
Olde Tyme Grocery, Dark Roux, Crawfish Town USA and boudin will be the subject of an episode of Food Network's "Buddy's Family Vacation."
The episode, titled Hello Bayou, Goodbye Picky Eaters airs at 7:30 p.m. June 24.
"Buddy Valastro and his family's road trip continues as they reach the Louisiana Bayou," the episode description on Food Network says. "There, they tour swamps full of live alligators and make some extraordinary food stops, starting with fried shrimp and oyster po'boys at the Olde Tyme Grocery in Lafayette. Next, Buddy takes the cooking into his own hands and prepares boudin, a Louisiana-style spicy sausage filled with rice and vegetables. The search for eccentric local foods continues with a stop at Dark Roux for elevated Southern classics, then to their last stop: Crawfish Town USA!"
Learn more about the show by visiting foodnetwork.com/shows/buddys-family-vacation.
5. Sophi P. Cakes announces plans to expand
Lafayette's sophisticated-to-punk cupcake bakery could have a presence beyond Louisiana in vending machines and grab-and-go coolers at colleges, hospitals, airports and grocery stores in just a few years.
Sophi P. Cakes introduced its express cupcake operation on the University of Louisiana at Lafayette campus more than a year ago. There are now four express Sophi P. coolers on the campus.
Within six months, Sophi P. could have express locations in colleges and hospitals across Acadiana. The plan is to have the express locations across Louisiana within a year and outside of Louisiana within two years. Sophi P. cheesecakes could be sold in grocery stores soon thereafter.
Sophi P. Cakes is located at 3211 Johnston St. in Lafayette. Learn more by visiting "Sophi P. Cakes" on Facebook or by calling 337-456-5582.
6. Local golf course recognized for top food in U.S.
Golf Digest magazine recently named the jalapeno burger served at Les Vieux Chenes in Youngsville as No. 19 in its U.S. Top 25 list of Golf Course Grub.
"The 'famous burger' at this public course punches way above its weight," the magazine writes about Les Vieux Chenes. "It's sloppy in the best way, with a giant beef patty, onions, American cheese, two strips of bacon and a pile of fresh jalapenos. It comes complete with a side of fries for less than $10."
Les Vieux Chenes is located at 340 Old Youngsville Highway. Learn more by visitinglesvieuxchenesgolfcourse.com or by calling 337-837-1159.
7. Waitr to create operations center in Lafayette
Waitr, an online mobile software-solution business that partners with local restaurants to provide delivery services through its free app, announced plans to develop a 100-job technology operations center in Lafayette.
The 100 new direct jobs created by Waitr’s Lafayette expansion will provide an average annual salary of $55,000 plus benefits for software engineers and restaurant operations professionals. The Louisiana Economic Development estimates the project will result in another 107 new indirect jobs for a total of more than 200 new jobs in Acadiana.
Additionally, Waitr will retain more than 300 delivery positions and create 100 new driver positions through the expansion.
8. CC's Coffee House coming to Carencro
CC's Coffee House is set to open in the Evangeline Court Marketplace anchored by Super 1 Foods at 3916 NE Evangeline Thruway in Carencro, according to Ben Powers of Developing Lafayette.
The coffee shop will join Fat Pat's in a new construction strip next door to Gulf Coast Bank.
Learn more about CC's Coffee House by visiting ccscoffee.com.
9. Jay Ducote's "Deep Fried America" to air on Travel Channel
Louisiana's almost Food Network Star could be the host of a new Travel Channel show called "Deep Fried America."
Jay Ducote, who began building a brand for himself through his blog and radio show Bite & Booze in 2009, will star in a 30-minute pilot episode that airs at 12:30 p.m. June 25. The network has not ordered a full season of the show, but it's a possibility if viewership is good.
"Chef Jay Ducote has a huge passion for all things fried — deep fried, to be exact," Travel Channel's blurb on the show says. "He's headed to Austin to dive into a delicately deep-fried tempura-battered burger, a deep-fried lamb meatloaf sandwich, Thanksgiving dinner fried into a ball and even a deep-fried doughnut topped with a healthy pile of fried chicken."
Ducote encourages fans to watch the pilot episode and post about it on social media with the hashtag "#deepfriedamerica."
10. Local food businesses seek funding on Kickstarter
A healthy snack subscription service and a Gulf sea salts business started by two local entrepreneurs have Kickstarter crowdfunding campaigns underway.
Jason Cohen, a local photographer, lost 125 pounds after making healthy eating a priority a few years ago. Now, he's hoping to share his homemade breakfast bars, granola, date rolls, kale chips, jams, sauces and more with others through his monthly subscription box service, Magnolia Table. Cohen set a goal of raising $20,000 by the end of the campaign July 7.
Jeremy Conner, a local chef, started the Cellar Salt Co. a year ago to provide handcrafted sea salt from the Gulf of Mexico to restaurant chefs and everyday cooks. Now, he's hoping purchase better equipment and supplies to increase production and meet market demand. Conner has set a goal of raising $12,000 by the end of the campaign July 14.
Learn more by visiting kickstarter.com.
11. New restaurant coming to Costco development
Half Shell Oyster House plans to open its ninth location in November in a 5,850-square-foot building in the Ambassador Town Center anchored by Costco.
It will be the first Louisiana location for Gulf Coast Restaurant Group, the company that owns Half Shell.
The menu features oysters, seafood, steak, pasta, burgers, po'boys and more.
A few restaurants opening in the development have experienced delays in opening. World of Beer originally expected to open in April but pushed back its opening to June and again to October.
12. Local teachers win Cake Wars
Judice Middle School teachers Kayla Trahan and Fallon Bearb took home the $10,000 first-place prize in the season three premiere episode of Food Network's "Cake Wars."
Trahan and Bearb relived the competitive experience during a viewing party of the episode titled "Captain America" at Pete's.
Both Trahan and Bearb bake, decorate and sell cakes from their own home bakeries, Trahan from The Cake Room and Bearb from Fallon Rae Cakes.
13. Food hub and for-rent commercial kitchens coming to Lafayette
A new business could revolutionize the local foods movement as the missing link between growers and consumers.
McMath Food Group at 1811 N. University Ave. 103 in upper Lafayette will serve as an umbrella business over three individual concepts: the Acadiana Food Hub, the Acadiana Incubator Kitchen and the Acadiana Commissary Kitchen.
The food hub is expected to be up and running by the end of the summer with the two commercial kitchens open and operating later this year.
14. Krystal Burger introduces Tabasco infused cheese sauce
Krystal Burger recently introduced a cheese sauce infused with Tabasco pepper sauce that is available until Aug. 7.
The fired-up cheese sauce can be added to any of the restaurant's menu items. Krystal is also offering a fired-up combo with choice of three Krystal burgers, chicken sandwiches or hot dogs topped with fired-up sauce, bacon and jalapenos and fries served with a side of fries with the spicy cheese sauce and jalapenos.
Krystal Burger is located at 1928 Rees St. in Breaux Bridge. Learn more by visiting krystal.com or by calling 337-442-1897.
15. Hardee's to open a Carencro location
A new Hardee's location is opening in the Evangeline Market Place shopping center anchored by Super 1 Foods, according to local blogger Ben Powers of Developing Lafayette.
Fat Pat's and CC's Coffee House are also opening locations in the shopping center.
The shopping center is located at 3810 NE Evangeline Thruway in Carencro. Learn more about Hardee's by visiting hardees.com.
