2017 summer rpm

c'est la vie

River Parishes Magazine Guidry’s Goody’s serving up treats for generations

LaPlace ice cream parlor remembered

Crawfish fun

Louisiana Southwest Veterans Home brings new life to those that have served

A special publication of L'OBSERVATEUR www.lobservateur.com Winter 2015 Edition A special publication of L’OBSERVATEUR

www.lobservateur.com

Summer 2017 Edition

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Bienvenue!

Welcome:

As we embark upon the summer season, it is my pleasure to represent St. John the Baptist Parish and all that it has to offer. Our culture, diversity, family and heritage are integral components of our community, while snoballs, seafood and Saturday baseball games bring families together to cheer on their favorite teams.

St. John the Baptist Parish is located on the east and the west banks of the Mississippi River and is home to some 43,000 residents in Edgard, Garyville, Mount Airy, LaPlace, Lucy, Pleasure Bend, Reserve, and Wallace. We are uniquely positioned to ride the wave of economic development in St. John Parish, while preserving the heritage and culture of our community. Our picturesque scenic by-ways along River Road invite tourists to view the historic architecture of our homes, churches and plantations.

Our culture provides tourists visiting New Orleans and Baton Rouge a day trip with a change of scenery. Working with our partners, the Port of South Louisiana, the River Parishes Tourist Commission, the River Region Chamber of Commerce, Greater New Orleans, Inc., and our neighboring parishes, we offer great food, fun and an abundance of outdoor activities.

The Parish’s Health and Human Services Department has operated its Summer Feeding Program for the past twenty-two years, and provides area children, 18 and under, with free, nutritious, meals. Breakfast and lunch is available Mondays through Thursdays at East St. John High School, LaPlace Elementary School and New Wine Christian Fellowship Center. Lunch is served at Garyville/Mt. Airy Math & Science Magnet School and West St. John Elementary. The summer feeding program will end on July 13, 2017.

The annual Independence Day Fireworks Show will be held Monday, July 3rd at 6 pm at St. Peters Church on the Eastbank and St. John the Baptist Catholic Church on the Westbank. The 2017 Veterans Luncheon will be held earlier in the day at 11 am at REGALA Gym in Reserve. We invite you to join us for a fun-filled day paying tribute to our heroes in red, white and blue.

St. John the Parish is the best place to live, work and raise a family and we are proud to call it home.

-Natalie Robottom St. John the Baptist Parish President 2 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Table of Contents Veterans Home opens arms to heroes -------- 4 Guidry’s Goody’s serves sweets for all ------- 10 LaPlace ice cream parlor remembered ------- 14 Flamethrower Jared Poche’ shares stories ---- 16 Need-to-knows for a crawfish boil ---------- 18 Dining -------------------------------------------- 19 Parting Shots: Service for others ------------ 23

March 3 & 4, 2018

River Parishes Magazine, C’EST LA VIE Publisher/Editor ~ Stephen Hemelt Advertising ~ Christine Browning • Candace Hemelt • Scott Forsythe Contributing Writers ~ Lori Lyons • Monique Roth • John W. McTopy II Graphic Designer ~Christine Browning • Candace Hemelt • Scott Forsythe 116 Newspaper Dr., LaPlace, LA 70068 • 985-652-9545

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Where Veterans Feel At Home

T

here haven’t been many historic battles fought in the River Parishes, but the region’s men and women have done their duty by sending countless brave souls off to war to fight for their country.

Many did not return.

Those who did were changed forever, but still came home to work, raise families and grow old in St. John the Baptist Parish and the surrounding communities.

They weren’t always taken care of, however.

For the last decade, Louisiana’s veterans have had a special place to live out their final years, where they can receive the medical care they need and still live a full, productive life

alongside others who have served their country.

The Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home is one of five facilities operated by the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs to care for the state’s aging veterans. Each offers long and short-term care, rehabilitation services, Alzheimer’s care and skilled nursing.

They also offer a wide array of activities designed to keep them active and their lives full.

“One of our mottos here in the Department of Veterans Affairs is that our veterans go to our homes to live, not to die,” said Col. Joey Strickland, Secretary of Veterans Affairs, who oversees the operations of the five homes. “It’s our job to take care of them.”

The local home opened June 4, 2007, on 20 acres of prime land in Reserve, just off Airline Highway, under the watch of former St. John Parish President Nickie Monica.

Today, residents and visitors alike are greeted with polished floors and a colorful array of flags representing each branch of the military.

There also is an entire wall dedicated to memorializing those who died in the service.

“It’s a different feeling when you walk in there,” said Maitland “Spuddy” Faucheux III. His father, Maitland “Calie” Faucheux Jr., has been a resident for the past four years after being diag-

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nosed with Alzheimer’s.

“There’s a higher level of respect for the residents because you know they’re veterans. The staff knows they’re veterans. They all have been through the same thing.”

In the back, however, there’s often a party going on.

Besides being very happy with the care his father is receiving at the facility, Faucheux is thrilled with the entertainment and social stimulation his dad, “Calie,” enjoys.

“There is always something going on,” Faucheux said.

“They get cake and ice cream out their ears.”

Sonya Hebert has been the activities director at the home for nearly 10 years, and she takes her job literally.

Residents are treated to monthly birthday parties, Carnival balls, luaus, “There is always something crawfish boils with live Cajun music and outdoor going on. They get cake and picnics. There have been ice cream out their ears.” vow renewals for couples at Valentine’s Day and for every Maitland “Spuddy” Faucheux III celebrations holiday. son of Veterans Home resident Just recently, Hebert took a large group of World War II Veterans to the World War II Museum in New Orleans.

“The goal here is, when a veteran comes in through that door, we show them nothing but respect and love,” Hebert said. “We want their quality of life to be enhanced. They come here to live and have fun. They don’t come here to die.

It’s our mission to make sure we provide that for them and it’s an honor and a privilege to do that for them.”

It is this kind of life Strickland envisioned back in the 1980s when he and Homer Rodgers, Undersecretary of the Louisiana Department of Veterans Affairs, first began working toward building the state’s facilities.

“When I came in, I realized we were woefully behind other states in what we could provide for our veterans,” Strickland said. “On top of that, we had veterans who were getting older, especially our World War II crowd. They

The flags hanging at right in the Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home represent all the branches of the military. Sonya Hebert, left, recreation director at the home, eats some crawfish while Geno Delafose & French Rockin’ Boogie above, plays for residents.

6 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

were already getting on up there and in 15 or 20 years, they would be going away. But before they go away, we need to make them as comfortable as possible. We only had one home at the time, the Jackson home, and it was already about 20 years old.”

The department implemented a plan to build several homes for the veterans, each strategically located throughout the state to limit travel times.

“The idea was that no veteran would have to travel more than one hour from a veterans facility,” Rodgers said.

There are now five homes, the Northwest home in Bossier City, the Southeast home in Jennings, the Northeast home in Monroe, plus Jackson and Reserve.

The Reserve home looked destined for St. Bernard Parish, however, until local officials upped their game.

“We decided as a parish to go after it,” said St. John Councilwoman Julia Remondet. “We did a letter writing campaign to Governor (Mike) Foster asking to be heard. He even asked us to stop because they

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had to answer every one of those letters. We said, not until you hear us out. We finally wore them down and we were able to make our pitch.”

St. John won out.

“We looked at LaPlace and Reserve,” Strickland said.

“We knew they were going to place the Veterans Clinic in Reserve, which is actually next door to the home, so, strategically, two plans “(Gov. Foster) even came together perfectly.”

St. John donated the asked us to stop because land and the $23 million they had to answer every project was completed in one of those letters.”

2007. The National Guard Armory opened a year later right next door.

Julia Remondet The Southeast Louisiana St. John councilwoman Veterans Home has become home to hundreds of men and women who served their country, their spouses and even their eligible children.

Strickland said that is its mission.

In his second inaugural address, President Abraham Lincoln uttered the words still used by the Federal Veterans Administration, charging the country to “care for him who shall have borne the battle and for his widow, and his orphan.”

“That is the purpose of these homes,” Strickland said.

“These people wrote a blank check to put their lives on the line to serve our country. Now those that are physically unable to care for themselves, those that are elderly, it’s our job to take care of them.”

A framed remembrance, above, in the hallway at Southeast Louisiana Veterans Home lists all St. John the Baptist Parish residents who lived at the Home and have passed, along with honor distinctions local residents earned.

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Serving Sw

Guidry’s Goody’s create

S

wim suits, beach buckets and flip flops may be summer essentials to people living all across the country, but South Louisiana residents are sure to add another sweet item to their summer must-have lists: snoballs.

While flavors and toppings may change from stand to stand, for over three decades people living in and traveling through Reserve have had a regular spot to stop in for a sweet treat.

Guidry’s Goody’s, opened in 1984 by husband and wife Jon and Lorraine Guidry, stands at 3595 W. Airline Highway in Reserve. Originally serving 12 flavors of snoballs, the stand was built just in front of the home the Guidry’s had built a few years before.

“He definitely knew a little business would do well here,” daughter Tiffany Guidry said of her father. “It was his vision.”

“The syrups have to Jon laughs be right. The blades when he have to be right. recounts There’s a science building behind it.” and opening up the business.

James Dillon “I just did works at it to give them someGuidry’s Goody’s thing to with wife Tiffany do,” he said of his four children. “But it’s really been something else.”

After the stand was open for a few years, John said a full kitchen in the stand was utilized to serve hot lunches and sandwiches. After deeming the offerings too labor intensive, the Guidry’s halted the daily cooking and instead focused on the sweet goodies they were known, and named, for.

Tiffany, who now operates the stand, is the youngest of John and Lorraine’s children. She, as well as her siblings Robin, Scott and Ginger, grew up working and managing the stand Brittany Pollard, making a strawberry snoball at Guidry’s Goody’s, said the Reserve sweet treat mainstay has created a family atmosphere.

10 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

weet Treats For 30-Plus Years

tes ‘must stop’ in Reserve alongside their parents.

Tiffany took over the business, the one she’s worked in since she was 11, after Hurricane Katrina.

“It’s always made sense,” she said.

“It’s what I know.”

Tiffany, along with her husband James Dillon, has truly made the business a generational success. Their own children — Jayden, Kristopher and Carley — have all worked or currently work in the snoball stand.

Tiffany said they call Jayden, 13, “nacho man” because he loves to help prep the stand’s best-selling menu item.

“Jaden says he would love to franchise the business throughout the South,” Tiffany said proudly.

Brittany Pollard, a four-year employee of Guidry’s Goody’s, said the business is less like a job and more like a home.

Jon Guidry stands with his daughter, Tiffany, outside Guidry’s Goody’s on Airline Highway in Reserve. Three generations have now contributed to the business.

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“Our customers and our employees are one big family,” Pollard said. “There are so many people in our community who come to us every day and reassure us each visit how much they love us being here and how they couldn’t imagine a Reserve without us in it.”

Guidry’s Goody’s owns four mobile snoball machines, which Tiffany said are used to serve snoballs at corporate and sporting events. Each snoball served, wherever the location, is made using homemade syrups. The business also makes its own ice, which it also sells to other snoball stands in the area.

“The recipes were perfected by Tiffany’s mother,” James said. “The syrups have to be right. The blades have to be right. There’s a science behind it.”

Demand means that up to five people can be found working at a time inside of Guidry’s.

“Some start working here as freshmen in high school and come back every summer,” Tiffany said of her employees.

“It’s amazing to watch them grow. I remember people who used to come here as children barely seeing over the counter and now they come with their own children.”

Reserve native Adele Growl is one

James Dillon, pictured left and right, said attention to detail in the creation of the ice is an important part of Guidry’s Goody’s success.

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Guidry’s Goody’s, opened in 1984 by husband and wife Jon and Lorraine Guidry, originally served 12 flavors of snoballs. Today, the Reserve business serves 36 snoball flavors, left, with strawberry being the most popular, as well as ice, below, which many other snoball stands also purchase from Guidry’s Goody’s.

such former employee who now visits the stand with her own children.

“I loved everything about it,” Adele remembers. “It was just a fun job.”

Tiffany said the post-Katrina population increase to the River Region dramatically increased sales for the stand, as has a social media presence on Facebook and Snapchat.

Guidry’s Goody’s now serves 36 snoball flavors, with strawberry being the most popular.

“I would never take the people in this area for granted,” Tiffany said of faithful customers.

“I don’t want to ruin what my mom and dad started.”

Tiffany said her parents always told her that if you give a man a fish he’ll eat for a day, but if you teach him to fish he’ll eat for the rest of his life.

“I recently went up to my dad and said, ‘Thank you for teaching me how to fish,’” she said.

“As I got older I realized the hard work my parents did. I’m very proud of my parents. It’s a pleasure to be known as the snoball lady.”

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The Ice Cream Parlor That Was

By John W. McTopy II

Marjorie Maurin McTopy, above, stands in the doorway of Mac’s Ice Cream Parlor on Main Street in LaPlace, while a Cloverland truck, below, is parked in front of Mac’s. (Photographs submitted by John W. McTopy II)

Mac’s served LaPlace through 40s, 50s, 60s

T

he Town of LaPlace benefited from the fact that my father, John W. McTopy, worked construction in Baton Rouge for a period

of time.

While working in Baton Rouge he would frequent Hopper’s Drive-In. That planted a seed in my father’s mind. Once he returned to LaPlace, he and my mother decided to build an ice parlor on what is now Main Street.

The building was built on property that was adjacent to Maruin’s LaPlace theater. The application was signed on July 19, 1945, and received on July 20, 1945.

Mac’s Ice Cream Parlor opened for business in 1946.

Prior to opening for business, my parents interviewed young ladies from the area to work in the ice cream parlor. One of those hired was Mildred LaBranche. There were several others but I do not remember their names.

My father would have them report for work prior to opening the business to teach them how to prepare the various ice cream items he

14 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

intended to sell. Those items were ice cream cones, Sundaes (both plain and hot fudge), banana splits, milk shakes, malted shakes and how to pack the pint, quart and gallon containers for those that wanted to take ice cream home.

Like Hopper’s in Baton Rouge, my father also had car service for those that wanted to eat their ice cream in the comfort of their car.

My father used Cloverland Ice Cream for a period and then changed to Brown’s Velvet. I’m not sure why he made the change. What I can remember is that the ice cream was delivered in five- and 10-gallon containers.

My brothers and I would fight over who would get to eat the last ice cream in those containers. I can also remember that we had to cut the ten gallon ones so that we could reach to

the bottom and dig the last bits of ice cream out with our spoons.

Another item in Mac’s that was used a lot was the Wurlitzer Jukebox. That box sat just to the right as you entered the front door of Mac’s. It was owned and maintained by a Mr. Johnny Cali. He had jukeboxes placed through out the LaPlace area. Most notably he had them at Airline Motors, Roussell’s restaurant.

Mr. Cali would on occasion replace the 78 rpm records in the jukebox.

The old records would either be destroyed or given to my mother, who loved music. To this day I have a box of 78 rpm records with artist names like Frank Sinatra, Bing Crosby, Frankie Lane, etc.. I still play them on occasion.

As time progressed my parents made modifications to the business.

Mac’s was shut down while the remodeling was done.

During the first remodel, a long counter with floor stools along the southern side of the building was added. Cabinets were installed behind the counter so that a coffee urn could be placed in order to serve

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coffee along with doughnuts made fresh daily.

Yes, you read correctly, in addition to the counter, stools and cabinets, a doughnut machine was purchased and placed near one of the front windows of the business. The dough had to be made and placed into a hopper in the machine. Then hot vegetable oil had to be placed into the turntable of the machine.

During that operation my mother once spilled the hot oil onto her right foot. She received severe third degree burns on that foot and had a huge scar for the rest of her life. Once the machine was prepared the process started.

The dough was deposited into a spot in the turntable and then another empty spot would move to the fill position.

The dough began to cook as soon as it hit the hot oil. By the time it came to the fill position again the doughnut was done and flipped out of the oil. This continued until all the batter was used or the machine shut down.

It was also at this time that my parents began selling cigarettes and packaged liquor. Those items were stored on shelves behind the counter.

As most of you know there was segregation between the races during this period of time. There was a side door on the southeast side of the building. That was the entrance for black customers. There was a counter that prevented their entrance to the main portion of the building. From that counter they could order anything they wanted.

As time progressed my father introduced the sale of small furniture items such as jewelry boxes, cedar chests, chiffarobes and costume jewelry. Then he got the idea to offer boiled crabs, shrimp and ice-cold watermelon to his customers. In order to do this he

had to enlist the help of his good friend Ben (Peamon) Toussell.

Mr. Toussell was the manager of the Regal beer warehouse across the street from Mac’s ice cream parlor. In that warehouse there were two huge walk-in coolers used to store kegs of beer.

My father approached Mr. Toussell about storing the boiled crab, shrimp and watermelon in one of those coolers. An agreement was reached and my father proceeded in purchasing two picnic tables and placing them on the northern side of the building. Then he got Mr. Cali to install a loudspeaker high on the side of the building facing the picnic tables. He was now set to begin that phase of the business.

Wait! There was one thing lacking. Where would the crabs and shrimp come from? I’m not sure how he found the source of the crabs and shrimp but I do know that it was located in Arabi, near the Domino sugar refinery. I know that because I made several trips with him to get them.

Since there was limited space in Mac’s to store the crabs and shrimp I was the person that went back and forth to the warehouse to get more when needed. All of this brings back fond memories of my teenage years.

Shell Oil in Norco hired my father in 1952. His first job was in the labor pool.

Even though he was working at Shell, he and my mother continued running Mac’s. My mother would operate the business during the day and my father would take over after work and getting cleaned up.

This was the way it went until they finally closed the doors on Mac’s Ice Cream Parlor in the early 1960s.

That was a sad day in the McTopy family. It was even sadder when the building was sold to the Bank of St. John so that they could open a branch in LaPlace.

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RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

7 questions with a flamethrower

J

ared Poche’, 23-year-old star pitcher, helped guide Louisiana State University to the College World Series this summer and is embarking on a professional baseball career this year.

The Lutcher High School graduate shares his thoughts on home, its people and who his dream strikeout would be.

How many ways have you heard your name pronounced and what was the weirdest?

At least six or seven. The way Coach Mainieri says it. He says, “Po-Shay.” I just kind of let Mainieri say it however he wants. I heard “Pooch” “Poach,” all kinds of things.

What do you miss the most about

living in the River Parishes?

Probably how I know everybody in town. Baton Rouge has so many people that it’s kind of hard to get to know everyone around. Around Lutcher, you pretty much know everyone.

How did the area influence your love for baseball? Was there a particular coach you had growing up?

When I was 8 years old a guy named Damian Melancon, he coached at Riverside, he was my coach. I always loved baseball and when I started playing for him it had a big impact on me growing up.

Who do you think of as the best player to ever come out of St. James Parish?

Jarvis Landry. I got to watch him play. I played with him and he set a record in the NFL for the most receptions in his first two years. Baseball wise, Wade Schexnayder. He played in the minor leagues for a little bit.

What do you think people think of St. James Parish and the River Parishes?

Probably the bonfires. That’s pretty famous. A lot of people come here for that. They think the people don’t really speak correct English. You know the

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Cajun English and the accent. All the people I know say, ‘I want to come back to your town and listen to everybody else talk because they hear me talk all the time. When I first meet people, they have trouble (understanding me), but after a while, when they get to know me, they understand how I talk.

Do you have any pregame rituals or superstitions?

I’m not really a superstitious person.

I try to show up at the same time to the field and stay in a routine like that.

But, as far as putting my right shoe on first or anything like that, I don’t do anything like that.

If you could strike out any player, living or dead, who would it be?

Probably Babe Ruth, the best player to ever play baseball. That would be pretty cool to strike him out.

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Need-to-knows for a crawfish boil

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very Cajun cook (or an aspiring one) needs a go-to recipe for a crawfish boil. To invite some friends over to test out different recipes, send out some crawfish boil invitations, order some crawfish and cover the picnic table with newspapers.

The best crawfish boil recipe starts with friends and family. The more the merrier. Add three to five pounds of fresh, live crawfish for each guest.

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Mix ground spices together with 4 tablespoons cayenne pepper, 2 tablespoons garlic powder, 2 tablespoons paprika, and 1 tablespoon each of onion powder, dried thyme, dried oregano, dry mustard, dried dill weed, plus 6 crumbled bay leaves.

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This is enough spice to boil 10 pounds of crawfish. If using cajuncrawfish.com spice, use 1 bag per 10 lbs. of crawfish.

18 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

METHOD Add 5 gallons of water to the pot for each 10 pounds of crawfish. When the water boils, add half of the spice mix. Add the potatoes, corn, onions and garlic to the pot and cover. Because you’re in the River Parishes, you need to add andouille sausage and this is the time to add it, too. Let cook for ten minutes, then add the crawfish and replace the cover. Watch for steam to escape from under the lid. When this happens, turn off the gas.

You can remove the basket from the pot and transfer the crawfish to an ice chest. Add one third of the crawfish to the chest, sprinkle with spice mix; add another third of the crawfish, sprinkle with spice mix, and then add the rest of the crawfish and sprinkle with more spices.

You can also add two bags of ice to the pot instead of removing the crawfish. The ice will cool them down and they will sink to the bottom and absorb more spices.

SERVE No matter how you choose to spice your crawfish boil, it is served by dumping the crawfish and vegetables on a newspaper-covered table.

Provide some melted butter and plenty of napkins! … melted butter is not necessary, they are delicious by themselves, but to each their own.

Hibachi Supreme Grill 1721 W. Airline Highway, LaPlace 985-652-5233

Dining St. John Parish Aloisio’s Bakery 504-430-1194 • 504-858-8432 Avis 3900 Hwy 51., LaPlace 985-651-8684 Baba’s Sports Bar & Grill 509 Main Street., LaPlace 985-359-5555 Bailey’s Andouille 513 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9090 Belle Terre Country Club 111 Fairway Drive, LaPlace 985-652-5000 Best Wok Chinese Restaurant 530 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-9989 Buddy B’s 2788 River Road, Garyville 985-535-3663 Cajun Grill 135 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-4745

FRIED RIBS

• Parmesean Garlic • Honey BBQ • Lemon Pepper • Buffalo

975 B CAMBRIDGE DR. • LAPLACE

985-359-6848

Dragon Garden 140 Belle Terre Blvd., Ste E., LaPlace 985-652-7250 Dunkin Donuts 1334 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-9244 Donut Hole 421 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-651-4001 El Mexicano 1036 W Airline Hwy # 123, LaPlace, LA 70068 (985) 652-4250 El Paso Mexican Grill 1900 Hwy 51, LaPlace 985-618-3313

Petra 10363 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-8888 Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar 3017 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-651-0300

Huddle House 4325 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-1800 IHop 220 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-4468 Jacob’s Andouille 505 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9080 Kobe Japanese Steak and Sushi 506 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8880/652-8853

Serving the River Parishes CHECK OUT O U R D A I LY S P E C I A L S LUNCHES FROM $7. 95 EVERYDAY

PJ’s Coffee 1808 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-764-7573 Popeye’s Fried Chicken 1603 W Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-3030

985-651-9991

Raising Cane’s 123 West Airline Hwy, Laplace 985-652-4701

Mabile’s Restaurant

Rotolo’s Pizzera •3503 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. B, Reserve 985-536-3503

107 Carrollwood Dr. • LaPlace www.carretarestaurant.com/laplace

Frenier Landing 113 Dottie Lane, LaPlace 985-224-2178

Chili’s Grill & Bar 1820 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-1227

Frisco Deli 1113 W Airline Hwy, Laplace, LA 70068 (985) 651-7745

Chinese King 1036 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-651-7888

LaPlace Frostop 411 Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-6361

Church’s Chicken 1601 W Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2089

Gator’s Den Old Highway 51 South, Manchac 985-386-7902

Chung’s Heavenly Sweets 607 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-7987 Connie’s Grill 1462 LA-44, Reserve 985-536-3256

3595 W Airline Hwy, Reserve, (504) 606-1185

“Home of the Best Roast Beef in Town!”

• Fresh Po-Boys • Seafood Muffaletta • Finger Sandwiches • Vegetable Trays • Plate Lunches • Italian Muffaletta

985-651-2893

1124 W. Airline Hwy. • LaPlace, LA 70068

Mama Jo’s 2917 Hwy 51, Ste A., LaPlace 985-224-2666 McDonalds •4297 U.S. Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-652-5171 •1608 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2600 •5387 W Airline, Hwy, Garyville New Orleans Hamburger and Seafood Co. 1338 W. Airline Hwy., Ste. 7A, LaPlace 985-653-6731

Ruby Garden Chinese Restaurant 3101 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-653-8700 Sam’s Southern Eatery 1173 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-1677 Sicily’s 214 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-7010 Subway •357 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8700 •1616 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-4822 •2701 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace •1900 Hwy. 51, Ste. B, LaPlace 985-479-7827 985-652-9699 Tavern 61 1421 W Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-359-6161

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

TNT Seafood 405 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-6312 Turn Arounds 1107 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-224-2818 Waffle House 4304 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-6111 Wayne Jacob’s Restaurant 769 W 5th St., LaPlace 985-652-9990

Grand Point Truck Stop & Casino 3415 La. Hwy. 3125, Paulina 225-869-6960 Hymel’s Seafood Restaurant 8740 La. Hwy. 44, Convent 225-562-7031 Jenny’s Overstuffed Poboy & Chicken Shop 114 N. Airline Hwy., Gramercy 225-869-0899

Breon’s Frozen Yogurt 10850 Hwy. 3125, Ste. C, Gramercy 225-258-4448 Café Perique 234 East Main St., Gramercy 225-869-1774 China King 849 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-2000 Chuck Lee’s Chinese Kitchen 10560 Hwy. 70 W., St. James 225-473-3050

St Charles Parish

Bei Jing 12895 U.S. 90, Ste. D, Boutte 985-331-8885 Oak Alley Restaurant 3645 La. Hwy. 18, Vacherie 225-265-2151 Pizza Hut 1665 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6151 Popeye’s 982 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060 Sandwich World Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060 Sonic Drive In 852 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-5666

Breeze Cafe 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-8800

Spectacular Tubers 1665 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-5600

20 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

Destrehan Donuts 1974 Ormond, Ste. D, Destrehan 985-764-0050 Dot’s Diner 12179 U.S. Hwy. 90, Luling 985-785-6836 El Gato Negro 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. 1, Destrehan 985-307-0460 El Mexicano 12715 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. 140, Luling 985-785-7694 El Paso Mexican Grill 12895 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-331-1984 Frostop 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. H, Destrehan 985-725-1116 Grand Café 500 Willowdale Blvd., Luling 985-308-1640

Destrehan Buster’s Grill 10405 Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-472-0771

Grumpy’s 14984 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-2083

Cafe Ormond 1974 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-0741 Cajun Kitchen 13322 U.S. 90, Boutte, Ste. Q 985-785-2405

Chow’s Garden 1974 Ormond Blvd., Ste. I, Destrehan 985-725-2469

DJ’s Grille 21060 La. Hwy. 20, Vacherie 225-265-7600

Daddy’s Fried Chicken 15683 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6743

Boulevard Bistro 1950 Ormond, Ste. B,

Cashio’s Food Villa and Deli 13572 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-9389

Creole House Cafe 3409 Hwy 3125, Paulina 225-859-3333

Golden Grove Restaurant 935 La. Hwy. 641, Gramercy 225-869-1212

Tod’s Catering 2180 S. Albert St., Lutcher 225-869-7000

Bamboo Garden 13491 U.S. 90, Ste. 6, Boutte 985-785-9929

Zaman Mediterranean Cafe 1502 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-5566

St James Parish

Taylor’s Express Truck Stop 964 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-1734

Anita’s Smokin’ Steak Burgers 13145 U.S. 90 Ste. B, Boutte 985-785-2220

Wing Spot 136 W 10th St, Reserve 225-558-1492

Zora Christina 2003 W Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-3673

Subway 10850 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy

Cucina Bon Creole At Cypress Lakes Country Club 10 Villere Dr., Destrehan 985-764-6868

Happy Gardens II 15264 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-3888 Hong Kong 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. D, Destrehan 985-725-9099 The Howling Pepper 109 St. Rose Ave., St. Rose 504-466-1944 IHOP 14099 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013 Iron Gate 13299 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013

Jas Café 307 Paul Maillard Rd., Luling 985-785-0200

Palmetto’s Restaurant 10405 Airline Hwy, St. Rose 504-472-0771

Julie’s Restaurant 15805 River Road, Hahnville 985-783-6349

Pam and Dale’s 14620 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-3112

Little Tokyo 13371 U.S. 90, Ste. A, Boutte 985-331-0887

Pizza Hut 12439 Hwy. 90, Luling 985-331-8380

Lovecchio’s Deli 29 Apple St., Norco 985-725-5683

P.J.’s Coffee of New Orleans 150 Ormond Center Court, Ste. T, Destrehan 985-764-7573

Mariano’s Italian Eatery 12371 Highway 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-785-7777 McDonalds 3009 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-1021 Mizu Japanese Restaurant 12715 Hwy. 90, Ste. 190, Luling 985-785-8168 Mrs. Snowman 110A Lakewood Dr., Luling 985-331-1411 Ormond Plantation Restaurant 13786 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-8544

Popeye’s Famous Fried Chicken •116 Longivew Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1231 •13210 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-1377 Portside Restaurant 11698 River Road, St. Rose 504-5469-3111 –Rotolo’s Pizzeria 150 Ormond Center Court, Destrehan 985-725-2411 Sailfish Food and Spirits 12287 U.S. 90, Luling 985-308-0712 Seafood Pot 14386 River Rd., Destrehan 985-725-0053

985-725-9444 •15632 River Rd., Norco 504-469-8864

Southern Latte Cafe 50 Wade St., Ste. 1, Luling 985-308-1472

Sushi Cafe 13899 River Road, Ste. A, Luling 985-308-1003

Sonic Drive In 12557 U.S. 90, Luling 985-331-0099

Take Away Donuts 13441 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-785-6499

Sports Pub & Grill 3001 Ormond Blvd, #B Destrehan 985-331-0099

Taste of Tokyo 1972 Ormond Blvd., Ste. E-2, Destrehan 985-764-1818

St. Rose Driving Range & Sports Bar 10362 Airline Dr., St. Rose 504-466-0411 St Rose Tavern 14466 River Rd, Destrehan 504-469-8864 /985-725-3133 Sub Express 26 Apple St., Norco 985-764-9922 Subway •613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 200, Luling 985-331-2257 •14130 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-9818 (located inside Walmart) •13001 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-331-1786 •12715 U.S. 90, Ste. 120, Luling 985-785-3999 •12609 Airline Drive, Destrehan 985-725-1108 •1955 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan

Trey Wah (Chinese) 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1147 Two Sisters Bakery 100 Melonie St., Ste. E, Boutte 985-308-0280 Voodoo Grill 100 James Drive East, St. Rose 504-464-1880 Waffle House 14173 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-758-6499 Waffle House 10384 E. Airline Hwy., St. Rose 504-467-1522 Wingzzz 613 Paul Maillard Road, Ste. 400, Luling 985-308-0743

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22 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

B & C Seafood Market and Restaurant

San Francisco Plantation

C’EST LA VIE: Parting Shots

St. Charles Parish Adult Recognition recipients, left, Lynn Edwards and Cori Lewis were recognized by Girl Scouts Louisiana East for supporting the Girl Scout Leadership Experience. Edwards drives Cake Bingo, while Lewis coordinates a father-daughter dance and other events.

Officer Douglas Buckler, of the St. John the Baptist Parish Sheriff’s Office, carries the torch as students at St. Peter School in Reserve cheer him on — part of the Law Enforcement Torch Run for Special Olympics held in May in LaPlace and Reserve.

St. James Parish President Timmy Roussel Sr. issues a proclamation recognizing Hayden Victoria Johnson for being crowned the Louisiana USA National Miss Princess.

“A great accomplishment shouldn’t be the end of the road, just the starting point for the next leap forward.”

— Harvey Mackay

Destrehan High awarded students for respect, learning, attendance and timeliness with four students chosen from a drawing to win a Samsung Galaxy Tablet. Pictured with Principal Stephen Weber are William Monteleone, Collin Seemann and Taylor Brown.

Not pictured is Sydney Poulos.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

From TESTING to TREATMENT St. James Parish Hospital is here for you every step of the way.

emergency and urgent care to diagnostic screenings and rehab, we offer state-of-the-art testing and award winning service.

From

RADIOLOGY TESTING • MRI • Ultrasound • X-Rays

• CT Scans • And more

Schedule a Radiology Test

REHAB SERVICES • Physical Therapy • Occupational Therapy • Speech Therapy • Massage Therapy

Our outpatient departments work hard to accommodate individual schedules. Same-day appointments are often available.

• Dry Needling • Graston Technique • Cupping Therapy • And more

225.253.5953 225.258.5953 Make a Therapy Appointment

225.258.5953 225.258.5934 Visit us at

www.sjph.org for a full listing of local services 225.869.5512 | 1645 Lutcher Ave. | Lutcher, LA

24 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

This institution is an equal opportunity provider and employer.