a la carte - Spring 2026 Edition

A LA CARTE

ADVOCACY IN ACTION: ADVANCING THE FUTURE OF RESTAURANTS

SPRING 2026

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

1

ISSUES WITH

SALES TAX

ISSUES WITH

QUICKBOOKS

ISSUES WITH

PAYROLL

WE CAN HELP. ASU helps restaurant owners like you take control and build a stronger business.

2

Expert Advice

Clear Comunication

Call Today 504-838-7140

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

www.asu-llc.com

Growth Insights

Letter from the Chair Dear LRA Members, Springtime has been generous with the weather and marks peak season across Louisiana. As restaurateurs, we look forward to this time of year—the days are milder, patios fill up, and people are out and about, gathering with friends and family. From Mardi Gras to festival season, graduations, and Mother’s Day, we have a unique opportunity to welcome our communities into our restaurants and create memorable experiences.

LRA APP AVAILABLE!

March was especially active for both the National Restaurant Association and the Louisiana Restaurant Association. From the NRAEF Balestreri Golf Classic and the NRA Public Affairs Conference to the start of the Louisiana Legislative Session, our industry was well represented. Here at home, we also celebrated the next generation of hospitality leaders through the LRA Education Foundation Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational, the Serving the Future Scholars event, and the Greater Baton Rouge Golf Tournament. These moments reflect the strength, passion, and continued investment in our industry’s future.

Spring at the LRA is synonymous with education and advocacy.

It’s a time when we come together to elevate our workforce, champion our industry at the Capitol, and ensure our members have a strong voice in shaping policies that impact your businesses.

Please know that the LRA team is committed to keeping you informed and connected. Whether it’s through our weekly e-newsletter, The SnapShot, our quarterly À La Carte magazine, chapter events and fundraisers across the state, or our growing social media presence, we are working to meet you where you are. Our goal is to support you with meaningful tools, timely resources, and opportunities that help your business thrive.

Thank you for your engagement and for trusting me to represent you. It is an honor to serve as your Chair.

Wishing you a successful and vibrant spring season.

Follow the LRA on social media for updates on the restaurant industry, advocacy issues, and news about YOU, our members!

LaRestaurantAssoc Louisiana_Restaurant_Assoc

Octavio Mantilla 2026 Chair, Louisiana Restaurant Association Co-Founder & Owner, BRG Hospitality

LaRestAssoc LaRestaurantAssoc Louisiana Restaurant Association

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

3

Letters to the Editor Dear LRA Hospitality PAC, Thank you and the members of the LRA, for your generous contribution to my Senate District 19 campaign. With your support, I can bring my message to the people of District 19 that I will represent their interests of our community and will continue to work as their Senator to build a strong Louisiana that will benefit all of us.

With kindest regards, Greg Miller State Senator, District 19

Dear LRA Hospitality PAC, I would like to thank you for your generous contribution to my campaign fund. Your continued support of my work in the State Legislature is greatly appreciated. I look forward to working with you for the good of the State of Louisiana and its citizens.

Sincerely, Ed Larvadain III State Representative, House District 26

Dear LRA Hospitality PAC, Your generous contribution to my campaign was more than financial support. It’s an expression of trust in the belief that Louisiana’s best days are still ahead. My focus in the 2026 session will be on improving the insurance landscape, investing in reliable infrastructure, ensuring government services are efficient, accountable and accessible. Should you ever have matters to which I may offer assistance, do not hesitate to connect with me.

With much gratitude, Annie Spell, Ph.D. State Representative, House District 45

4

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Louisiana Restaurant Association 2700 N. Arnoult Rd. Metairie, LA 70002 www.lra.org President & CEO Stan Harris Editor-In-Chief Wendy Waren wwaren@lra.org

8 NRA Public Affairs Conference Louisiana led the nation with the highest number of attendees at the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference in March. Our strong presence underscored the state’s commitment to advancing the restaurant industry through advocacy and engagement.

Communications Specialist: Quinton Williams qwilliams@lra.org Multi-Media Specialist Trevor Norris tnorris@lra.org à la carte (USPS 1920) is the official publication of the Louisiana Restaurant Association. Published quarterly by the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

Advertisting: Want to reach restaurants to use your products or services? Inquire about advertising in à la carte.

Call Wendy Waren at (504)636-6518.

Subscriptions: Rates are $25 per year.

LRA members: $25 of your membership dues go toward your yearly subscription.

12

Louisiana Legislative Session The Louisiana Legislative Session is underway, with key issues impacting restaurants and hospitality under review. Stay informed on the policies and priorities shaping our industry’s future.

16 Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational Students from across the state gathered for the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational to showcase their skills and talents. The event highlighted the next generation of industry leaders in both culinary and management competitions.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

5

National State of the Industry

By the National Restaurant Association

Fueled by an increase in sales and strong pent-up demand to dine out, the restaurant industry is cautiously optimistic about 2026.

Consumer spending is expected to push industry sales to a projected $1.55T nationwide, with real (inflationadjusted) gains of 1.3% projected. Moreover, the desire to visit restaurants as budgets allow will drive that growth.

4. The 2026 State of the Restaurant Industry report is the authoritative source for industry sales projections and trends. It is based on analysis and forecasts by National Restaurant Association economists and surveys of restaurant operators and consumers conducted throughout the year. The report examines key factors that impact the industry, including economic, operations, workforce, and food and menu trends, to forecast sales and market shifts in the year ahead.

Operators say they’ll add approximately 100K jobs, bringing total industry employment to 15.8M and fueling economic growth in their communities. They also say they’re looking to invest in more technology that boosts efficiency and strengthens guest connections.

Takeaways for 2026: 1. Operators are dealing with a challenging business environment. Persistent cost pressures, such as uneven traffic and rising costs, will continue to affect revenue and profitability.

2. Consumer resilience will be tested. Lingering inflation and a cooling labor market are tightening household budgets, particularly among low- and middle-income consumers. Operators will need to respond with more creativity and technology to deliver value, the experiences customers seek, and improved productivity.

3. Increased focus on workforce development, tech improvements. This will create future-ready employees; breakthrough efficiencies in the areas of digital ordering, automation and data analytics; and cultivate tomorrow’s talent by developing a skilled, adaptable workforce that delivers exceptional service while embracing innovations that drive long-term competitiveness.

6

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

National Reach,

Local Service.

OUR CUSTOMERS ARE AT THE HEART OF EVERYTHING WE DO.

We understand what it means to be on the front lines of foodservice, and we’re here to help you find the best products to meet your individual needs. We don’t just help feed people, we feed dreams.

For more information, visit PerformanceFoodservice.com today.

PERFORMANCE – NEW ORLEANS 918 Edwards Ave., Harahan, LA 70123 800-488-3988

A National Labor and Employment Law Firm Serving U.S. Restaurants The attorneys at Fisher Phillips are ready to help you with all of your labor and employment legal issues.

We help prevent legal problems by auditing payroll and personnel records to assure compliance with applicable laws, reviewing I-9 forms and procedures to assure compliance before a surprise government inspection, training managers on effective techniques for hiring and firing employees, ADA compliance and avoiding harassment claims. In addition, we draft and review effective employee handbooks and provide day-to-day advice and consultation to hospitality employers on every aspect of labor and employment laws.

Fisher Phillips is a national labor and employment law firm representing employers in labor, employment, civil rights, employee benefits, and immigration matters. Our lawyers are joined by more than 500 attorneys in 37 offices and we are continuing to expand. Our range of experience enables us to bring efficient and practical solutions to today’s labor and employment problems.

LABOR AND EMPLOYMENT COUNSEL TO THE LOUISIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION 201 St. Charles Avenue | Suite 3710 | New Orleans, LA 70170 | Phone: 504.522.3303 | Fax: 504.529.3850

Michelle Anderson

Steven R. Cupp

Partner New Orleans 504.529.3839 manderson@fisherphillips.com

Partner New Orleans 504.522.3303 scupp@fisherphillips.com fisherphillips.com

Atlanta | Baltimore | Bethesda | Boston | Charlotte | Chicago | Cleveland | Columbia | Columbus | Dallas | Denver | Detroit | Fort Lauderdale | Gulfport Houston | Irvine | Kansas City | Las Vegas | Los Angeles | Louisville | Memphis | Minneapolis | Nashville | New Jersey | New Orleans New York Orlando Philadelphia | Phoenix | Pittsburgh | Portland | Sacramento | San Diego | San Francisco | Seattle | Washington, DC | Woodland Hills 7 Louisiana RestaurantTampa Association | a la carte | Spring 2026 Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Winter 2026

31

Louisiana Leads the Nation in Public Affairs Attendance

By Wendy Waren

Louisiana made a powerful showing at the National Restaurant Association Public Affairs Conference, held March 10–12 in Washington, D.C., with a record-setting 31 registered attendees—the largest delegation in the country. Led by LRA President and CEO Stan Harris and Chapter Coordinator Britney Ford, the group of restaurant operators and industry leaders brought Louisiana’s voice to Capitol Hill in a big way, outpacing the next closest state by eight participants.

Brad Watts. “It’s great to see new members stepping up and getting involved in advocacy at this level,” Watts said. “That’s how we continue to grow our voice and ensure our industry is represented.”

By showing up in force, LRA members reinforced the importance of a unified voice and ensured that the needs of Louisiana’s restaurant and hospitality industry remain front and center in national policy conversations.

Throughout the conference, LRA members met directly with Louisiana’s Congressional delegation to advocate for the most pressing issues facing the restaurant industry. Top priorities included comprehensive immigration reform— specifically the creation of an H-2C visa program tailored to hospitality—along with swipe fee reform to address rising credit card processing costs, and protecting the U.S.–Mexico–Canada Agreement to avoid tariffs that could drive up food and supply expenses.

In addition to their advocacy efforts, attendees gained valuable insight from national leaders shaping federal policy.

Featured speakers included James Blair and Senator Cory Booker, who shared perspectives on the current legislative landscape and opportunities for bipartisan progress.

Louisiana’s strong turnout also included four first-time attendees, a milestone highlighted by LRA Director and State Whip

8

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

LRA GNO Chapter members, Stan Harris, and National Restaurant Association staff meet with Congressman Troy Carter during the Public Affairs Conference.

2026

RESTAURANT INDUSTRY ISSUES FOR ACTION

LOWER SWIPE FEES Why should Congress act? Passing the Credit Card Competition Act (CCCA) will help bring down costs for small business owners being squeezed by high swipe fees.

• America’s swipe fees are among the highest in the world.

• Unchecked by competition, U.S. swipe fees have more than doubled in the past decade.

• Two companies control 80% of the U.S. credit card processing market.

• Processing credit cards is a top operating expense for restaurant operators.

• High swipe fees drive up prices by more than $1,200 a year for the average family.

The CCCA is bipartisan legislation that creates competition in the broken credit card processing market, which would drive down the exorbitant swipe fees restaurant operators pay on every credit card transaction.

If passed, the CCCA would save U.S. businesses—including restaurants—and consumers an estimated $17 billion a year.

RESTAURANT.ORG/ADVOCACY

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

9

COMPREHENSIVE IMMGRATION REFORM Why should Congress act? Comprehensive immigration reform will provide a foundation for restaurant operators to hire the staff needed to grow a people-first industry—one that fuels local economies, supports communities, and enhances the dining experience.

• Restaurants are the nation’s second-largest private employer, with 15.7 million employees and contribute $3.5 trillion in total economic impact nationally.

• The industry had nearly 900,000 open jobs each month in 2025.

• 22% of the restaurant workforce and 36% of owners were born outside the U.S. • Without reform, operators may be forced to cut hours, postpone growth, and reduce service, impacting restaurants and their supply chains.

The industry needs comprehensive immigration reform that stabilizes its current workforce, creates new visa pathways for industry jobs, and aligns immigration laws with future labor market realities.

Every year of inaction compounds the problem. With around 150,000 new jobs projected in the restaurant and foodservice industry in 2026, reform is not just a policy priority—it’s an economic imperative.

UNITED STATES-MEXICO-CANADA TRADE AGREEMENT (USMCA) Why should Congress act? Food costs have risen 38% since 2019 amid inflationary pressures and global supply chain challenges.

Preserving the import protections in the USMCA is essential to keeping prices stable and maintaining affordable, diverse dining options for consumers. Acting now helps restaurant operators stay competitive in a volatile economic environment.

• Canada and Mexico are the restaurant industry’s top food trading partners, supplying billions of dollars in essential ingredients and beverages.

• The USMCA ensures duty-free access to many food and beverage products, reducing costs and keeping menus diverse.

• Restaurants depend on North American supply chains to source ingredients that cannot be grown year-round or in sufficient quantities in the U.S. • Removing the USMCA protections or imposing tariffs would add tens of millions of dollars in costs, increase menu prices for consumers, and make it even harder for restaurants to be profitable.

Preserving the USMCA is critical to keeping food costs stable amid inflationary pressures and global supply chain challenges. Acting now ensures consumers continue to enjoy affordable, diverse dining options and helps restaurants remain competitive.

10

RESTAURANT.ORG/ADVOCACY

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

11

Advocacy in Action: Tracking the 2026 Louisiana Legislative Session

By Will DuBos

Louisiana’s restaurant industry operates in one of the most highly regulated business environments in the state—often more complex than many legislators fully recognize. While other industries may focus their advocacy within one or two committees, restaurantrelated legislation regularly spans multiple areas of government, including Insurance, Labor, Natural Resources, Commerce, Health and Welfare, and Agriculture. That means a single restaurant operator can be impacted by bills moving through several different committees at the same time, each shaping a different part of daily operations—from staffing and safety regulations to food sourcing, insurance costs, and business compliance requirements.

That complexity is why the LRA Advocacy Team remains deeply engaged throughout the legislative session in Baton Rouge—monitoring hundreds of bills, testifying in committees, and working directly with lawmakers to ensure they understand the real-world impact of policy decisions on restaurants across the state.

Workforce & Labor Policy Workforce remains one of the most active and important areas of legislation this session. The LRA is supporting efforts to modernize hiring processes and improve flexibility for employers, particularly in addressing outdated requirements that make it harder to onboard employees during peak seasons.

One key proposal, House Bill 232, streamlines the employment certification process for minors. Instead of requiring school-based approval, the bill allows parents, with consent, to authorize and submit employment certificates directly to employers.

12

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

This update reduces administrative barriers and helps restaurants hire young workers more efficiently while maintaining appropriate safeguards.

At the same time, the House and Senate Labor Committees continue to consider broader workforcerelated legislation, including employment regulations, unemployment insurance policies, and workplace rules that directly impact restaurant operations and staffing stability.

Workers’ Comp Reform Workers’ compensation remains one of the most significant and long-standing policy challenges for Louisiana employers. The system, particularly the medical fee schedule that governs treatment costs for injured workers, has not been meaningfully updated in over two decades. That lack of modernization has contributed to higher and less predictable costs for businesses compared to other states.

This session, lawmakers are considering multiple proposals aimed at improving the system. The LRA is supporting legislation that brings greater structure and consistency to medical reimbursement, clarifies employer rights in disputed claims, and removes outdated or inactive advisory bodies that no longer serve a functional purpose.

While there is broad agreement that the system needs reform, workers’ compensation legislation continues to require careful negotiation among employers, providers, and policymakers.

Insurance & Business Costs Insurance continues to be a major focus of the legislative session, particularly as it relates to the broader cost of doing business in Louisiana. Lawmakers are considering updates to existing frameworks that govern coverage requirements, claims processes, and system efficiencies.

For restaurants—where margins are often tight— changes in insurance policy can have a direct impact on operating costs, hiring decisions, and long-term business sustainability. The LRA continues to engage on these issues to ensure reforms strike a balance between stability in the insurance market and affordability for employers.

Commerce & Payment Processing Another key area of focus this session is legislation impacting payment systems and transaction fees.

Swipe fees and surcharge policies remain a significant concern for restaurant operators, as credit and debit card processing costs continue to rise.

Several proposals under consideration would limit or prohibit surcharges on debit card transactions or cap the ability of businesses to recover processing costs. The LRA is actively engaged in these discussions, emphasizing that restaurants—many of which operate on thin margins— need flexibility to manage rising payment processing expenses in a competitive marketplace.

Health, Safety & Workplace Protection Beyond regulatory and economic issues, lawmakers are also considering legislation aimed at workplace safety and employee protection. One emerging initiative, the “Behind the Counter Protection Act,” seeks to strengthen penalties for individuals who commit acts of violence against employees in customer-facing roles.

This proposal reflects growing concern about safety in service environments and highlights the importance of protecting frontline hospitality workers.

Looking Ahead As the session progresses, legislation will continue moving quickly through committees and onto the House and Senate floors. With more than a thousand bills filed, the scope of issues affecting restaurants remains wideranging and deeply interconnected across multiple policy areas.

Through it all, the LRA Advocacy Team remains actively engaged at the Capitol—monitoring legislation, working with lawmakers, and ensuring the restaurant industry’s voice is represented in every committee where decisions are being made. In a regulatory environment this complex, that advocacy is not just important—it is essential to protecting and strengthening Louisiana’s restaurant community.

Agriculture & Seafood Policy Agriculture and seafood legislation is especially important in Louisiana, where restaurants are both major purchasers and key partners in promoting the state’s culinary identity.

This session, the LRA is supporting efforts to expand the use of state seafood safety funding to include marketing and promotion of Louisiana seafood, helping strengthen both demand and visibility for local products.

The LRA is also backing measures that expand industry representation on advisory boards such as the Louisiana Oyster Task Force, ensuring restaurant perspectives are included in shaping the future of the seafood industry.

At the same time, the LRA has worked to improve or oppose legislation that would impose new recordkeeping or compliance burdens on restaurants, particularly when existing enforcement mechanisms are already in place and functioning effectively.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

13

LOUSIANA RESTAURANT ASSOCIATION MEMBERS! Take advantage of these great offers!

DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS WANTS TO REMIND YOU THAT 2026 IS A HUGE YEAR FOR SPORTING EVENTS ON THE WORLD STAGE AS WELL AS PROFESSIONAL AND COLLEGE ACTION! COMMERCIAL XTRA™ PACK

MUSIC CHOICE® PREMIUM

$147

$29

.89

/MO.

185 20% OVER CHANNELS OFF RETAIL PRICING!

Including All 5 ESPN Channels

A subscription to any of the above packages includes:

.99

/MO.

84 40% OVER CHANNELS OFF RETAIL PRICING!

LIMITED TIME OFFER

Get a

.00 $250 credit

DJ and Comercial Free

• Up to 5 HD Receiver Included • HD Access Included

OR —

ALL THREE!

SEC Network, Big10 Network & ACC Network

INCLUDED

for the rest of 2026.

Offer valid 3/15/26-6/30/26

• Local Channels^ • Complimentary Standard Installation

24-month DIRECTV programming agreement required. Offer ends 6/30/26. New commercial customers only.

For more information, please contact:

Brian Watkins 404.643.4252

brian.watkins@directv.com DTV.BIZ/NATIONAL ^Local channels eligibility based on service address. Not all networks available in all markets. Offer ends 6/30/26. COMMERCIAL XTRA PACK: Purchase of 24 consecutive months of COMMERCIAL XTRA PACK (currently $184.99/mo.) required.

Upon DIRECTV System activation, DIRECTV will bill the new customer’s account the discounted rate of 20% off the national retail rate, equaling $147.89/mo., with a maximum yearly increase of no more than 5%. TV Access fee of $12/mo. apply for each receiver. MUSIC CHOICE PREMIUM: Upon DIRECTV System activation, DIRECTV will bill customer’s account $29.99/mo. for Music Choice Premium, a discounted rate of 40% off the national retail rate ($49.99/mo.). At the end of the contracted period, Music Choice Premium will automatically continue at the then-prevailing rate. °$250 BILL CREDIT OFFER: Offer ends 6/30/26. Offer only valid for new Commercial customers that subscribe to COMMERCIAL XTRA PACK and activate by 6/30/26. IF BY THE END OF THE CONTRACTED PERIOD CUSTOMER DOES NOT CONTACT DIRECTV TO CHANGE SERVICE, THEN ALL SERVICES WILL AUTOMATICALLY CONTINUE AT THE THEN-PREVAILING RATES. IN THE EVENT YOU FAIL TO MAINTAIN YOUR PROGRAMMING AGREEMENT, YOU AGREE THAT DIRECTV MAY CHARGE YOU A PRORATABLE EARLY CANCELLATION FEE EQUIVALENT TO THE MONTHLY SUBSCRIPTION FEE TIMES THE NUMBER OF MONTHS REMAINING IN THE 24-MONTH COMMITMENT PERIOD. LIMIT ONE DISCOUNTED RATE OFFER PER ACCOUNT. In certain markets, programming/pricing may vary. HD ACCESS: To access DIRECTV HD programming, HD equipment is required. Number and type of HD channels vary by package. 24-month base programming agreement required. HARDWARE OFFER: Programming agreement, as defined by customer’s commercial programming rate card, required. Up to 5 HD Receivers included per commercial location. Offer available to new commercial customers in commercial structures no more than three stories high. No single-family residences allowed. Make and model of system at DIRECTV’s sole discretion.

Offer void where prohibited or restricted. All DIRECTV Receivers must be continuously connected to the same land-based phone line or the Internet. Taxes not included. Receipt of DIRECTV programming subject to terms of DIRECTV Commercial Customer Viewing Agreement; copy provided with new customer information packet. INSTALLATION: Standard professional commercial installation included. Complex/custom installation extra. DIRECTV programming, pricing, terms and conditions subject to change at any time. Applicable use tax adjustment may apply on the retail value of the installation. ©2026 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and all other DIRECTV marks are trademarks of DIRECTV, LLC. All other marks are the property of their respective LOUISIANAAssociation RESTAURANT MEMBERS only.

14 owners. Offer is exclusive LouisianatoRestaurant | a ASSOCIATION la carte | Spring 2026

CHANNEL LINEUPS EFFECTIVE AS OF 1/5/26

$

MUSIC CHOICE® PREMIUM ’60s Movement. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 803 ’70s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 804 ’80s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 805 ’80s Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 829 ’90s . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 806 Adult Alternative . . . . . . . . . . . . 832 All Christmas . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 858 Alternative . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 834 Americana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 810 Big Band . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 801 Bluegrass . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 812 Blues . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 854 Brazilian Pop. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 877 Broadway . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 823 Classic Alternative . . . . . . . . . . . 838

Classic Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . 808 Classic Dance . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 845 Classic Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 833 Classical Masterpieces . . . . . . . 865 Coffee Shop Cuts . . . . . . . . . . . . 836 Contemporary Christian. . . . . . . 826 Contemporary Instrumentals . . 820 Country Hits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 809 Dance/EDM. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 859 Easy Listening . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 853 Filipino . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 885 Folk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 813 Funk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 844 Gospel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 827 Gospel Hallelujah . . . . . . . . . . . . 828

COMMERCIAL XTRA™ PACK A&E . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 265 AccuWeather (HD only)1 . . . . . . . 361 Amazon Prime Sports5 . . 9549–9550 AMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 254 American Heroes Channel . 287 Animal Planet . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 282 Apple TV+ Friday Night Baseball Doubleheader5 . . . . . . . . 9528–9529 Aqui2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .401 ASPiRE (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . 381 AXS tv (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 340 BabyFirstTV™2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .293 Barvanna. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .9581 BBC America . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 264 BBC News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 346 BET . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 329 BET Her . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 330 BET West (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . 329 Bloomberg TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 353 Blossom . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .375 Boomerang . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .298 Bounce TV (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . 82 Bravo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 237 BYUtv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .374 C-SPAN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .350 C-SPAN2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .351 Cartoon Network (East) . . . . . . 296 Cartoon Network (West) . . . . . . .297 Cheddar News . . . . . . . . . . . 354 Celebrity Shopping Network .95, 223 Cleo TV (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . 341 CMT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 327 CNBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 355

Hard Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 835 Hip-Hop and R&B . . . . . . . . . . . . 825 Hit List. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 816 Honky Tonk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 811 Indie . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 831 Irish Favorites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 883 Italian Favorites . . . . . . . . . . . . . 882 Jazz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 852 Jazz Vocal Hits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 850 Jazz Vocal Standards. . . . . . . . . 855 K-Pop . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 861 Kids Only! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 868 Latin Jazz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 879 Light Classical . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 866 Lounge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 824

Love Songs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 819 Mainstream Rap . . . . . . . . . . . . . 847 Malt Shop Favorites . . . . . . . . . . 802 Max . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 818 Metal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 830 Mexicana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 876 Movie Scores . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 822 Musica Urbana . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 875 Nature Sounds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 884 New Age . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 856 New Wave. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 839 Party Favorites. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 880 Pop & Country. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 840 Pop Hits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 821 Pop Latino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 871

CNBC World . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .357 CNN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 202 CNN International. . . . . . . . . . . . .358 Comedy Central . . . . . . . . . . . . . 249 Comedy Central West (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .249 Comedy TV (HD only)1 . . . . . . 382 Cooking Channel. . . . . . . . . . . 232 Cowboy Channel. . . . . . . . . . . . . .603 Cozi TV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .80 CTN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .376 Daystar (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . 369 Daystar Español (HD only)1 . . . . 463 Destination America . . . . . . 286 DIRECTV HD SPORTSMIX® (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 205, 600 DIRECTV News Mix. . . . . . . . . . . .200 Discovery . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 278 Discovery Family Channel . . 294 Discovery Life . . . . . . . . . . . . . .261 Disney Channel (East) . . . . . . . . 290 Disney Channel (West). . . . . . . . .291 Disney Junior . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 289 Disney XD . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 292 E! . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 236 EarthxTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .267 Enlace2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .448 ESNE2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .456 ESPN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 206 ESPN2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 209 ESPNews . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 207 ESPNU . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 208 EWTN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .370

FanDuel TV (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . 602 FETV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .323 FM1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .386 FMC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .314 Food Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 231 Fox Business Network . . . . . . . 359 FOX News Channel . . . . . . . . . . 360 FOX Weather . . . . . . . . . . . . 363 Free Speech TV2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .348 Freeform . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 311 FS1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 219 FS2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 618 Fuse (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 339 FX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 248 FX Movie Channel. . . . . . . . . . 258 FXX . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 259 fyi, . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 266 Galavisión . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 404 GEB America2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .363 Gem Shopping Network. . . . . . . .228 GOD TV2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .365 Golf Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 218 Great American Family. . . . . 326 GRIT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .81 GSN (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 233 Hallmark Channel . . . . . . . . . . . 312 Heroes & Icons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 385 HGTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 229 HISTORY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 269 HITN TV2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .461 HLN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 204 Hope Channel2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .368 HSN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 240

HSN2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 310 i24 News . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 343 IFC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 333 IMPACT2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .380 INSP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 364 Investigation Discovery . . . . . . 285 ION East (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . 305 JBS2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .388 Jewelry Television . . . . . . . . .72, 313 Jewish Life Television2 . . . . . . . .325 Justice Central (HD only)1 . . 383 Lifetime . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 252 Living Faith Network2 . . . . . . . . 379 LMN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 253 Logo . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 272 Magnolia Network . . . . . . . . 230 MeTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 77 MLB Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . .213 MotorTrend (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . 281 MovieSphere Gold . . . . . . . . . . . . .86 MSNBC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 356 MTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 331 MTV Classic . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .336 MTV West (HD only)1 . . . . . . . 331–1 MTV2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 332 Nat Geo WILD . . . . . . . . . . . . . 283 National Geographic . . . . . . . . . 276 NBA TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 216 Newsmax TV. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .349 NewsNation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 307 NFL Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 212 NHK World News . . . . . . . . . . . . .322 NHL Network™ . . . . . . . . . . . . 215

FanDuel Sports Oklahoma. . . . . 675 FanDuel Sports SoCal . . . . . . . . 693 FanDuel Sports South . . . . . . . . 646 FanDuel Sports Southeast. . . . . 649 FanDuel Sports Southwest . . . . 676 FanDuel Sports Sun . . . . . . . . . . 653 FanDuel Sports West . . . . . . . . . 692 FanDuel Sports Wisconsin. . . . . 669 FanDuel TV (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . 602

Marquee Sports Network . . . . . 664 MASN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 640 Monumental Sports Network . . 642 MSG. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 634 MSG SportsNet. . . . . . . . . . . . . . 635 NBC Sports Bay Area . . . . . . . . . 696 NBC Sports Boston. . . . . . . . . . . 630 NBC Sports California . . . . . . . . 698 NESN . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 628

Taste of Italy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 881 Teen Beats . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 867 Throwback Jamz . . . . . . . . . . . . 848 Today’s Country . . . . . . . . . . . . . 814 Toddler Tunes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 869 Tropicales . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 874 Vietnamese. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 886 Workout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 860 Y2K . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 817

$

Over 185 Channels, Including Regional Sports Networks

SPORTS PACK

Altitude Sports . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 681 CBS Sports Network . . . . . . . . . 221 Chicago Sports Network (CHSN) 665 FanDuel Sports Cincinnati . . . . . 661 FanDuel Sports Detroit . . . . . . . 663 FanDuel Sports Florida . . . . . . . 654 FanDuel Sports Midwest . . . . . . 671 FanDuel Sports North . . . . . . . . 668 FanDuel Sports Ohio . . . . . . . . . 660

R&B Classics . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 842 R&B Soul. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 843 Rap . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 846 Reggae . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 863 Retro Workout . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 862 Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 841 Rock Hits. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 837 Rock Latino. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 878 Romances . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 870 Singers & Swing . . . . . . . . . . . . . 807 Smooth Jazz . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 851 So· Rock . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 849 Sounds of the Seasons . . . . . . . 815 Soundscapes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 857 Symphony . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 864

Nick Jr. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 301 Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (East) 299 Nickelodeon/Nick at Nite (West) 300 Nicktoons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .302 NRB . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .378 ONCE Mexico . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .447 Ovation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .274 OWN (Oprah Winfrey Network). . . 279 OWN West. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 279–1 Oxygen True Crime . . . . . . . . . . . 251 Paramount Network . . . . . . . . . 241 PBS Kids . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .288 POP . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 273 Pursuit Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . .604 QVC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 275 QVC2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .315 QVC3 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .318 RACER Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . 214 Recipe TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 387 ReelzChannel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 238 Revolt (HD only) . . . . . . . . . . . . . 384 RFD-TV (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . 345 Science . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 284 Scientology Network . . . . . . . . . .320 Shop LC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .226 Shorts TV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 573 So Yummy. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 563 SonLife Broadcasting Network . 344 Sportsman Channel . . . . . . . . .605 SundanceTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 239 Syfy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 244 Tastemade . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 235

2999/mo.

14789/mo.

TBN (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 372 TBN Inspire . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .371 TBS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 247 TBS West (HD only)1 . . . . . . . 247–1 TCM . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 256 TCT Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .377 TeenNick . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .303 Tennis Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . 217 The First (HD only)1. . . . . . . . . . . 347 The Weather Channel . . . . . . . . 362 The Word Network . . . . . . . . . . .373 TheGrio (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . 342 Thursday Night Football5 . . . . . .9550 TLC . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 280 TNT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 245 TNT West (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . 245–1 Travel Channel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 277 truTV . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 246 TV Land . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 304 TV One (HD only)1 . . . . . . . . . . . . 328 UNIVERSO2 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 410 Univision (East). . . . . . . . . . . . . . .402 UPtv. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .338 USA Network . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 242 VH1 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 335 VICE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 271 Victory. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .366 WE tv . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 260 World Harvest Television (WHT) .367 PLUS In-Market Regional Sports Networks where available. PLUS Local Channels where available.3

b

b

TEAM CHANNELS*

Next Level Sports. . . . . . . . . . . . 623 Outdoor Channel. . . . . . . . . . . . . 606 SNY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 639 Space City Home Network. . . . . 674 Spectrum SportsNet . . . . . . . . . 691 Spectrum SportsNet LA. . . . . . . 690 SportsNet Pittsburgh . . . . . . . . . 659 Yankees on Amazon5 . . . . . . . . 9527 YES Network4 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 631

Gulf Coast Sports Network . . .676-6 MLB Arizona Diamondbacks . . . 686 MLB Cleveland Guardians . . . . . 662 MLB Colorado Rockies. . . . . . . . 683 MLB Minnesota Twins . . . . . . 668–3

MLB San Diego Padres. . . . . . 694–3 NBA Trail Blazers . . . . . . . . . . 688–1 NHL Seattle Kraken . . . . . . . . . . 688 NHL Tampa Bay Lightning . . . .653–3 Rangers Sports Network . . . . . . 677

For available Regional Sports Networks and team information go to: directv.com/sports-info/local-info-commercial *For game schedules and channel information: sports.directv.com Enhanced Digital Content channels for Internet-connected H26K and H44 receivers.

ALL PROGRAMMING SUBJECT TO CHANGE AT ANY TIME. Lineups effective 1/5/26.

Satellite commercial customers: ¹Requires HD equipment. ²MPEG-4 HD equipment required. Channel will display in SD. Please call 1.888.388.4249 for more information. All commercial customers: ³Eligibility for local channels based on service address. Visit directv.com/locals to see what is available in your area. ⁴**YES Network available as a local Regional Sports Network package in CT, NY and in parts of NJ and PA as determined by ZIP code. Portions of YES Network programming available in SPORTS PACK premium package in the remainder of DIRECTV service areas. Professional and collegiate sports subscriptions sold separately. Blackout restrictions andAssociation other conditions apply.| Spring ^Seasonal 15the Apple Louisiana Restaurant | a la carte 2026channel that only carries TV+ Friday Night Baseball Doubleheader, Thursday Night Football or Prime Video Sports feeds, where available. For Satellite support, call 1.888.388.4249 or see directv.com/forbusiness for details. ©2026 DIRECTV. DIRECTV and all other DIRECTV marks are trademarks of DIRECTV, LLC.

Louisiana’s Future Culinary Stars Shine at 2026 ProStart Invitational R

The 2026 Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational brought energy, creativity, and serious talent to the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center on March 18–19, as high school juniors and seniors from across the state competed for top honors—and life-changing opportunities.

The excitement kicked off on day one with the Zea Rotisserie & Bar Culinary Competition, where 17 ProStart teams went head-to-head in a fast-paced, Iron Chef-style showdown.

With Emery Whalen and Scot Craig serving as lively emcees, the competition floor was filled with intensity, teamwork, and innovation. Adding to the experience, Justin Kennedy, LRAEF Board Director and General Manager of Parkway Bakery & Tavern, generously provided lunch for all staff, volunteers, and students.

Day two spotlighted the business side of the industry with the Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers Management

16

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Competition, where 14 teams pitched original restaurant concepts to panels of industry professionals, simulating real-world investor presentations. Meanwhile, the culinary floor continued to buzz as individual ProStart students showcased their talents in the NOCHI Cake Decorating Competition and the Louisiana Shrimp CookOff, highlighting precision, creativity, and Louisiana flavor.

The event culminated in an inspiring awards ceremony, where the top five teams in both Culinary and Management competitions competed for a share of nearly $900,000 in scholarships to leading culinary and hospitality programs nationwide. Justin Kennedy delivered keynote remarks, and Mark Romig kept the energy high as emcee.

The first-place teams in both competitions earned the honor of representing Louisiana at the National ProStart Invitational, taking place April 24–26 in Baltimore, Maryland.

Zea Rotisserie & Bar Culinary Competition Winners

Raising Cane’s Management Competition Winners

• First Place – Chalmette High School

• First Place – Chalmette High School

• Second Place – Lakeshore High School

• Second Place – Hammond High Magnet School

• Third Place – Central High School

• Third Place – West Feliciana High School

• Fourth Place – Mandeville High School

• Fourth Place – John Ehret High School

• Fifth Place – Ascension Parish ProStart

• Fifth Place – Young Audiences Charter School

Judges’ Picks:

Judges’ Picks:

• Safety & Sanitation – John Ehret High School

• Restaurant Concept – John Ehret High School

• Teamwork – Central High School

• Critical Thinking – West Feliciana High School

• Starter – Lakeshore High School

• Marketing – W.D. & Mary Baker Smith Career Center

• Entrée – Kenner Discovery Health Sciences Academy

• Presentation – Chalmette High School

• Dessert – Chalmette High School

• Operations – Hammond High Magnet School

Louisiana Shrimp Cook-Off Winner

NOCHI Cake Decorating Competition Winner

Julyanise Leiva, Young Audiences Charter School

Savannah Granger, Rayne High School

This event was made possible by generous sponsors including the Louisiana Seafood Promotion and Marketing Board; Zea Rotisserie & Bar; Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers; Sysco; Sodexo Live!; the New Orleans Ernest N. Morial Convention Center; Freeman; Parkway Bakery & Tavern; PJ’s Coffee; and Coca-Cola Bottling Company – UNITED. Special thanks to National Travel Team sponsors TABASCO Brand and Hilton Worldwide for supporting student participation.

R

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

17

18

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Great chefs never apologize for being demanding. They know their guests come for something they can’t get anywhere else in the world—fresh, premium seafood that is responsibly harvested miles, not continents away.

Be Louisiana proud. Demand local. And support the industry that has long fortified yours.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

19

Louisiana Shines Nationally: Chalmette Wins 2nd Place at ProStart Invitational The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation also recognizes the industry mentors who generously coached the teams throughout the year.

Special thanks to Justin Kennedy of Parkway, Derrick Dunne of Raising Cane’s, and Jason Jones of Sysco for mentoring the Management Team, and Chef David Whitmore of Jack Rose for coaching the Culinary Team.

Chalmette High School has brought national recognition home to Louisiana, earning 2nd Place in the Management Competition at the 2026 National ProStart Invitational in Baltimore, April 26.

Representing Louisiana against the top ProStart teams from across the country, students Mikaila Campbell, Analeigh Serigne, Joemily Rivera Torres, Destiny Bullock, and Adyson Doty impressed judges with their innovative restaurant concept, Honua’s Table—a Hawaiian-inspired dining concept rooted in community sustainability and authentic island flavors. The concept name translates to “Earth’s Table,” reflecting a mission centered on responsible sourcing, environmental stewardship, and hospitality with heart.

Judges praised the team’s polished menu presentation, professionalism, enthusiasm, and ability to clearly articulate every aspect of their concept and food process. They were also commended for their depth of knowledge, confidence, and preparedness throughout the competition.

20

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

While the Culinary Team did not place in the top five, they represented Louisiana with talent, passion, and professionalism on the national stage.

The LRAEF proudly congratulates Chalmette High School for this remarkable accomplishment and for showcasing the bright future of Louisiana’s restaurant industry.

The teams pose with the Hilton Worldwide staff and thank them for sponsoring their travel.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

21

22

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

23

2026 ProStart Student of the Year Gabriel Salgado, a senior at John Ehret High School, has been named the 2026 ProStart Student of the Year, earning a $5,000 scholarship from Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers. He credits his teacher, Holly Marchese—recognized as the 2025 ProStart Educator of Excellence—with sparking the inspiration that launched his culinary journey. That journey will continue next year at the Chef John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University.

Currently, Gabriel is honing his skills as a team member at Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers while gaining valuable real-world experience. He has also built an impressive record of volunteer service, contributing his talents to high-profile events such as the Emeril Lagasse Foundation Carnivale du Vin Beneficiary Luncheon and Taste of the NFL during Super Bowl week. Through the NFL’s nonprofit GenYouth, he was also selected to represent ProStart on a national stage at Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans.

Gabriel embodies the passion, dedication, and talent essential for success in the restaurant and hospitality industry. He represents the very best of Louisiana ProStart—a rising leader with a bright future ahead.

2026 ProStart Educator of the Year Jacob Gillett has been named Louisiana’s 2026 ProStart Educator of Excellence, a recognition that reflects his unwavering commitment to student success and culinary education.

Since 2018, he has led the ProStart program at Sulphur High School, bringing more than 15 years of hands-on experience from the professional culinary industry. Under his leadership, the program has evolved into a dynamic hub of culinary excellence.

To provide students with real-world, high-volume experience—and to ensure the program’s continued growth—Jacob has significantly expanded fundraising through a student-led, mass-production catering initiative. This thriving program has become a point of pride for the school, with students regularly serving the Sulphur Tors community by providing meals and refreshments for events supporting the band, football, soccer, baseball, choir, and numerous other organizations.

Jacob’s teaching philosophy centers on preparing students to be truly “restaurant ready,” equipping them with the practical skills and discipline required in today’s fast-paced professional kitchens. Through his leadership and passion, he continues to empower hundreds of students to pursue successful careers in hospitality and foodservice—while inspiring the next generation and strengthening the Sulphur community.

24

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

25

WHERE LOUISIANA MEETS THE WORLD

26

AMERICAS 2026 NEW ORLEANS Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

AMERICAS 2026 NEW ORLEANS

Compete and Shine: Two Amazing Opportunities for LRA Member Chefs and Bartenders!

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) is proud to highlight two exciting competitions where our talented members can showcase their skills, creativity, and passion. Whether you’re a chef ready to rule the seafood world or a bartender ready to shake things up with a Bourbon twist, these are opportunities you don’t want to miss!

Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off: Call for Chefs!

The 20th Annual Louisiana Seafood Cook-Off (LASCO) returns at the Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center in Kenner. This premier culinary competition features 12 chefs showcasing Louisiana seafood as they compete for the title of King or Queen of Louisiana Seafood.

Four Roses Bourbon Global Expedition Cocktail Competition Bartenders—create a cocktail that takes judges on a global journey with Four Roses Bourbon.

Sunday, July 26, 2026 LRA Showcase

Friday, June 26, 2026 Pontchartrain Convention & Civic Center Kenner, LA

Winner will take home $1,000, and the runnerup will win $750. All 10 selected bartenders will receive a $200 stipend to help cover ingredients, travel, and parking.

Eligibility: Executive chefs at free-standing Louisiana restaurants that are current LRA members.

This competition is proudly sponsored by Republic National Distributing Company and the Louisiana Restaurant Association.

Deadline: May 12, 2026

Eligibility: Must be 21+ and employed by an LRA member

Applications due June 12, 2026

Click here to enter the Seafood Cook-Off

Click Here to Apply

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

27

Controlling Restaurant Labor Costs Includes Managing Labor Productivity

Labor is a significant portion of your prime cost. No doubt, controlling your restaurant labor costs as a percentage of sales is critical to restaurant profitability.

However, indiscriminately paring down your workforce to meet a certain percentage can come at the cost of guest satisfaction, team morale, and staff turnover – none of which any operator can afford. While you focus on optimizing restaurant labor productivity, ensure your team is equipped and empowered to bring their best every day.

Invest in employee training. Consistent team training drives measurable returns through improved service and increased staff morale. Tasks that you and your experienced staff might consider basic and simple can baffle new hires without a proper orientation. While orientation can’t cover every detail, new hires should leave confident in the core functions of their role and know exactly where to go for answers or assistance. Talk with management and staff to identify where training or refreshers could improve efficiency and effectiveness.

Analyze restaurant layout to determine if there are bottlenecks that impede workflow. For example, one restaurant realized by reorganizing kitchen stations, they could easily have one cook double up on prep and desserts, as needed. Management also discovered that relocating small wares to make them more easily accessible reduced the time and effort to set up tables initially and for each course. Again, your staff are the experts on what is working and what is not. You can benefit from their daily front-line experience.

Provide staff with checklists. There are many routine tasks in the restaurant that are critical to a positive guest experience and smooth operations. Your staff are only

28

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

human. When distracted or rushed, it is easy to forget to check if a station is stocked, the restroom is clean and has adequate supplies, or if tables are properly set up for the next turn. Checklists ensure that necessary tasks are completed properly. They also free staff to focus on the bigger picture – providing a great product and service.

Ultimately, controlling restaurant labor costs is not about doing more with fewer people. It is about helping the right people work more effectively. By investing in training, improving workflow, and supporting your team with clear systems like checklists, you increase productivity without sacrificing service or morale. When labor is managed thoughtfully, it becomes a profit driver rather than just an expense to control.

“The key to productivity in a restaurant isn’t just speed—it’s precision, consistency, and teamwork.”

– Daniel Boulud

This article comes from RestaurantOwner.com, the leading resource for independent restaurant operators looking to run smarter, more profitable businesses. RO helps owners and managers build effective systems, train teams, and create great guest and employee experiences. Louisiana Restaurant Association members save up to 30% on RO annual subscriptions, making professional training and tools more accessible than ever.

Learn more: Restaurant Owner - Louisiana Restaurant Association

LRA Member News Tujague’s Celebrates 170 Years of Creole Tradition On February 20, Tujague’s officially marked its 170th anniversary, honoring nearly two centuries of continuous operation in the heart of the French Quarter. Founded in 1856, the iconic restaurant now enters its 170th year as one of the longestrunning dining institutions in the United States, a distinction earned not through reinvention, but through preservation.

For generations, Tujague’s has stood firm through wars, hurricanes, cultural shifts, and even a recent relocation from its original home. Its story is one of resilience and continuity, and nowhere is that more evident than on the menu.

A Menu Rooted in History At Tujague’s, preservation happens plate by plate.

Meals still begin with Shrimp Remoulade and continue with dishes like Chicken Bonne Femme, an “if you know, you know” classic quietly passed down by Madame Clemence Castet in the 19th century. Creole Cream Cheese Pie traces back to Madame Begue, who transformed breakfast cheese into a signature dessert. The Butcher’s Breakfast, once served to working men in the late 1800s, evolved into the brunch culture we celebrate today.

And of course, the Grasshopper cocktail, first created in 1918 by bartender Philip Guichet, is still poured daily for locals and visitors alike.

Rather than hosting a single commemorative event, Tujague’s is dedicating its entire 170th year to honoring its culinary lineage. Through revived dishes, storytelling initiatives, and historic dining formats, the restaurant is keeping Creole cooking traditions alive in the 21st century.

French Quarter Oyster Landmark Celebrates 150 Years The historic P&J Oyster Company is celebrating 150 years as one of the most influential oyster businesses in Louisiana. Founded in 1876, the company is recognized as the oldest continuously operating oyster dealer in the United States and has played a major role in supplying oysters to restaurants across the region and the country.

For generations, the family-run business has been central to New Orleans’ seafood culture, providing oysters featured in iconic local dishes and restaurants. The company has overcome many challenges over the years, including economic downturns, hurricanes, and the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, while continuing to serve chefs and oyster lovers.

To commemorate its long history, the company recently installed a historical marker in the French Quarter on the median at the corner of Toulouse Street and North Rampart Street. The marker highlights the company’s lasting impact on Louisiana’s seafood industry and its role in shaping the region’s culinary traditions.

Today, P&J Oyster Company remains a cornerstone of the Gulf Coast seafood industry, continuing its legacy of harvesting and distributing Louisiana oysters while maintaining strong ties to the region’s hospitality community.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

29

Remembering Charlie Goodson: A Life Served with Heart and Soul

Charlie Goodson never set out to become a restaurant legend—but hospitality found him anyway.

What started in 1967 as a bartending job while struggling through engineering courses turned into a lifetime devoted to restaurants, people, and community. As Charlie once put it, “I started going to school less and working more.”

That honesty, paired with grit and instinct, became the foundation of an extraordinary career.

From Charley G’s Seafood Grille—with its iconic gumbo and crab cakes that stayed on the menu for more than 40 years—to Metro Bistro in downtown New Orleans, Charlie’s restaurants were known not just for great food, but for thoughtful management and genuine hospitality.

He believed success wasn’t accidental: “A well-run and managed facility will always win.”

Charlie also believed the heart of any restaurant was its people. “The number one customer you have is your employee,” he said—words he lived by as a mentor, employer, and leader.

His service to the Louisiana Restaurant Association was just as impactful. From joining the Board in 1988, to leading the Acadiana Chapter, to serving as LRA Chair in 1998, Charlie showed up—consistently and wholeheartedly. He later earned the titles of Restaurateur of the Year and Hall of Fame Inductee, but he never stopped being hands-on or humble.

Even after selling his restaurants to Southern Hospitality Kitchens, Charlie remained active with the LRA, contributing his time, voice, and signature Duck and Andouille Gumbo to Acadiana Chapter fundraisers.

30

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Charlie Goodson passed away on January 28, 2026, but his legacy continues in every lesson he shared, every plate served, and every restaurateur he encouraged along the way. Louisiana hospitality is better because of him.

Chapter Leadership in Action Building Momentum for 2026 Across Louisiana Over the past several months, LRA chapters across the state gathered to reflect on the year behind them and chart a confident path forward. These annual meetings doubled as moments of transition—welcoming new chapter leaders, installing boards, and aligning priorities around membership engagement, advocacy, and programming for 2026. From Acadiana to Southwest, one theme was clear: strong local leadership is the engine that drives LRA’s impact statewide.

Bayou Chapter Big Flavor, Big Impact on the Bayou The 11th Annual Louisiana Restaurant Association Bayou Chapter Culinary Showcase, proudly sponsored by B&G Foods, brought together roughly 100 attendees for an evening of tastings, chef demonstrations, and live and silent auctions featuring some of the Bayou Region’s top culinary talent.

Congratulations to Spahr’s Seafood for taking home the People’s Choice Award with their standout Crawfish Arancini.

Thanks to the incredible support of sponsors, participants, and guests, the event raised more than $14,000 to benefit LRA programs, including ProStart.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

31

Cenla Chapter Taste of Central Louisiana Celebrates Successful Weekend in Alexandria The LRA Cenla Chapter hosted Taste of Central Louisiana on March 7 with an evening of food, drinks, and live entertainment. Over 600 guests enjoyed exceptional offerings from local restaurants, live music by NOLA Dukes, and a night dedicated to celebrating Central Louisiana’s vibrant culinary scene. More than $19,000 was raised to support LRA programs.

The Chapter will return to it’s Taste of Mardi Gras event the Friday before Mardi Gras, February, 5, 2027.

Greater Baton Rouge Chapter Sun, Swings & Support: GBR Golf Scramble Drives in $52k Under perfect blue skies, the LRA Greater Baton Rouge Chapter’s annual Golf Tournament, presented by Ecolab, welcomed 37 foursomes to The University Club on March 23. With support from our sponsors, including DIRECTV for Business – National Accounts, Coca-Cola and many others, the event raised over $52,000 to benefit LRA programs, including ProStart. A big thank you to everyone who made this year’s event a success.

32

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Greater New Orleans Chapter Packed House, Powerful Insights: HR Takes Center Stage

Sponsored by:

A full house gathered April 13 at Cochon’s Calcasieu for the LRA Southeast Hospitality HR Panel, moderated by LRA General Counsel Michelle Anderson of Fisher Phillips.

Panelists Jasmine Lair (BRG Hospitality), Garret LeBlanc (B&G Foods), and Allison Rollins (Acme Oyster House) shared insights across the employee lifecycle, highlighting key strategies including listening, accountability, transparency, and clear pathways for employee growth and advancement.

A big thank you to Accounting Services Unlimited for sponsoring this gathering.

Northshore Chapter On February 25, the LRA Northshore Chapter Installation Dinner was held at Feliciana Restaurant, where the new Board of Directors were officially installed. Twenty-two people attended, along with additional LRA staff. Guests heard inspiring remarks from LRA Northshore Chapter President Bobby McKinney of Zea Rotisserie & Bar and 2026 LRA Chair Octavio Mantilla about their journeys in hospitality and the moment they knew it was the right path.

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

33

May

MAKE TIME for Safety

BURN

PREVENTION SECOND leading cause of death in the nation.

TYPES OF BURNS

Thermal

Chemical

Electrical

Contact with heat, scalding, flames or frostbite.

Overexertion

Contact with corrosive chemicals such as acids.

Repetition

Contact with direct (DC) or alternating current (AC) Fatigue

Degrees of Burns First Degree • least serious • minor skin damage

• no blisters • heals in 3-5 days with no scarring

Second Degree • more serious • moderate skin damage with blisters • heals in 10-21 days with some scarring possible Third Degree • most serious • destruction of all layers of the skin • may include burns to fat, muscle and bone • permanent damage - lack physical sensation and require skin grafts

Burn Prevention Use the proper personal protective equipment to act as a barrier between your skin and the exposure.

Follow manufacturers’ guidelines when dealing with hazardous or flammable liquids and chemicals.

Turn off, lock out and tag out all electrical powered equipment prior to repair.

Store gasoline and other flammables away from open flames, light bulbs,water heaters, furnaces and other heat sources.

34

(800) 256-4572 | (504) 454-2277 | lossprevention@lra.org Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

Are you taking full advantage of your membership?

The LRA and the NRA offer a number of benefits designed to save you time and money. Members who are actively involved in the programs offered by both organizations get the most for their membership dollars. We’re committed to making your membership work for you! For more information about these programs, contact the individual listed below, visit www.LRA.org, or call Pam St. Pierre, VP of Member Services at (800) 256-4572.

Exclusive Programs, Discounts & Services for LRA Members

Business Legal Questions Johnson, Yacoubian & Paysse Alan Yacoubian (504) 528-3001 www.jyplawfirm.com

OFFICE SUPPLIES Office Depot Receive discounts at Office Depot and Office Max stores! Text LRASPC to #555888 and you’ll get a discount card sent right to your phone.

Labor & Employment Questions Fisher Phillips, LLP Steve Cupp or Michelle Anderson (504) 522-3303 www.laborlawyers.com

HEALTH INSURANCE Large Group Insurance Contact your insurance broker and ask for your LRA member UnitedHealthcare quote.

For more info, contact HealthcareHQ@restaurant.org

Affordable Care Act Get the facts and how the federal healthcare law affects you. restaurant.org/healthcare

LRA Workers’ Comp Debbie Cuccia (800) 256-4572 www.LRASIF.org Workers’ Compensation Claims Hotline LRA Self Insurer’s Fund (877) 257-2743

Pharmacy Discount Card Free program (not insurance) with discounts on most FDA-approved prescription medication.

For more info, contact HealthcareHQ@restaurant.org

Food Safety Certification ServSafe® | 8-hour food safety and sanitation course www.LRA.org to register (504) 454-2277 ServSafe Alcohol Online Training (504) 454-2277 www.LRA.org www.laserverpermit.com

MUSIC LICENSING BMI | BMI.com Save 20% off licensing fees by paying online.

Rob Conrad (615) 401-2908

ADA RESOURCES ADA Toolkit Free to Members Visit the LRA Member Hub Call LRA Membership Dept.

(504) 454-2277

Workforce Development RESTAURANT READY AND APPRENTICESHIPS Contact: David Emond Workforce Program Coordinator Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation davide@lra.org 504-920-4998

WORKFORCE PROGRAMS Contact: Jonathan Baynham Executive Director Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation jbaynham@lra.org 504-454-2277

LOUISIANA PROSTART Contact: Kasey Uddo Program Manager Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation kuddo@lra.org 504-454-2277

INCUMBENT WORKER TRAINING PROGRAM Contact: Melinda Carter Program Manager, Incumbent Worker Training Program Louisiana Works mcarter@lwc.la.gov 225-342-8980

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

35

À LA CARTE Advertising Index ACCOUNTING SERVICES UNLIMITED....................... 2 www.asu-llc.com (504) 838-7140 BMI........................................................................................... 30 www.bmi.com (404) 261-5151 DIRECTV FOR BUSINESS................................................ 14 www.directtv.com (404) 643-4252

For advertising information, please contact Wendy Waren, SVP of Communication: Phone: (504) 636-6518 Email: wwaren@LRA.org Online: www.LRA.org

Have good news or a standout employee? Send a “Shout Out” email to communications@lra.org with “Shout Out” in the subject line for a chance to be featured in our weekly member newsletter.

Know an employee with 20+ years of service who goes above and beyond? Nominate them as an LRA Restaurant Legend by emailing communications@lra.org with “Restaurant Legend” in the subject line for more details. Nominate your employees today!

Email communications@lra.org for more information.

FISHER PHILLIPS................................................................ 7 www.fisherphillips.com (504) 522-3303 LOUISIANA SEAFOOD......................................................... 19 www.louisianaseafood.com (225) 342-0552 LRA SHOWCASE................................................................. 26 www.lrasif.org (504) 454-2277

IS NOW

LRA WORKERS’ COMP...................................................... 11 www.lrasif.org (504) 454-2277 ODP BUSINESS SOLUTIONS......................................... 36 www.odpbusiness.com (888) 263-3423 PERFORMANCE FOODSERVICE.................................. 6 www.performancefoodservice.com (504) 733-5200 RESTAURANT OWNER......................................................28 www.restaurantowner.com SERVSAFE.............................................................................. 37 www.servsafe.com SYSCO FOODSERVICE.................................................... 24 www.sysco.com (504) 731-1015 1-866-414-1959

36

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

• DOWNLOAD ODP APP • CREATE A BUSINESS ACCOUNT

TO ACCESS SAVINGS NOW

LRA SERVSAFE MANAGER TRAINING

WE'VE GOT YOU COVERED!

Our comprehensive ServSafe Manager Training takes the stress out of preparing for certification.

With LRA, you get everything you need to succeed: • ServSafe® Textbook – Study in advance.

• Certified Instructor – Expert guidance.

• Testing Sheet – No extra fees.

• Meets State Requirements for the Gold Seal – Get certified with confidence.

Your solution provider for all ServSafe suite of products.

Visit www.LRA.org/training to book your class today!

ONLINE ALCOHOL TRAINING Meets the standard for LA Responsible Vendor Program.

Discount for LRA members and their employees.

LAServerPermit.com Louisiana Restaurant Association Members save 20%

Special Code: LAONLINE

EARN YOUR SERVER PERMIT ONLINE

APPROVED BY THE STATE OF LOUISIANA

ONLINE COURSE IS AVAILABLE 24/7

Approved by the Louisiana Office of Alcohol & Tobacco Control

Louisiana Restaurant Association | a la carte | Spring 2026

37