River Parishes Magazine Fall 2018

iver parishe R S MAGAZINE

Fall 2018 Edition

Hahnville Family Inspires Education at Home & in Africa

HIGHER ED Region celebrates STEM & Arts openings

NEW ON TAP Local brewer shares favorite tastes

A Special Publication of

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RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 1

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Lutcher, LA

Bienvenue!

Welcome: As Fall approaches, our community looks forward to football, festivals and the fresh outlook that comes with the change in season. The heat and rain of summer disappears, and is replaced

by Friday night lights, the aroma of andouille and chicken gumbo, and the sound of crackling firewood and the warmth it brings.

This time of year, families, friends and neighbors come together to celebrate the rich culture, diversity and uniqueness of the River Parishes. It’s a perfect time for enjoying our “Sportsman’s Paradise” and an array of activities like hunting, fishing, camping, and biking. It is also time for fall festivals much like St. John the Baptist Parish’s 45th Annual Andouille Festival.

Located strategically between Baton Rouge and New Orleans, St. John is comprised of both east and west banks with over 43,000 residents in LaPlace, Reserve, Garyville, Mt. Airy, Edgard and Pleasure Bend. Visitors are treated to sites along the mighty Mississippi River, including glimpses into the history of antebellum homes, swamp tours, delicious food and a variety of music highlighting blues, jazz and gospel.

St. John is also home to some of the of the most charming and historic churches in Louisiana including St. John the Baptist Catholic Church, Our Lady of Grace Catholic Church, Historic Riverlands Church and St. Peter Catholic Church. All these attractions combine to make an incredible day trip while visiting our neighbors to the east and west. Recently selected as a stop along a passenger rail line between New Orleans and Baton Rouge, parish and state officials are working with the Southern Rail Commission to bring this project to fruition. This too will provide another attraction and accessibility for visitors to enjoy our great Parish without hours of traveling.

It’s no secret that festivals in Louisiana are unforgettable experiences! Everyone is invited to the 2018 Andouille Festival on October 19-21 at the Thomas F. Daley Memorial Park on Highway 51 in LaPlace for a fun-filled weekend of music, food and crafts. The festival also features a kids’ tent and great activities, a Second Line Parade and an Andouille Festival Run/Walk event. The 2018 Andouille Pageant will be held on Saturday, October 13 where a new queen will be crowned to reign over the festival and represent the Parish and our world-famous Andouille. For more information on the festival and the pageant, please visit andouillefestival.com.

Please visit the parish website at www.sjbparish.com to view our latest news and upcoming events in the community. St. John the Baptist Parish is a unique place to live, work, and raise a family. Please stop by and join us in October for a Smokin’ Good Time!

-Natalie Robottom St. John the Baptist Parish President RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 3

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Table of Contents D-Day survivor Terrell shares hero’s story ---- 6 African son turns into giving engineer ------- 8 Enjoy Sit’N Sidewayz & Yard Dog beers ----- 16 Educator shares STEM progam’s vision ----- 20 Expert plays church piano masterpiece --- 24 Multi-million dollar arts center opens ------ 26 Dining ------------------------------------------- 28

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Portrait of an American Hero

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Former Reserve resident stormed beaches of Normandy in WWII with the will & skills he picked up on his family farm

H

istory walks the halls of the Southeast Louisiana War Veterans Home in Reserve.

The men and women there are a storehouse of action-filled memories.

L.C. Terrell, a native of Bogalusa, is one such trove of information, and his recollections of the war flow easily.

“I’m a survivor of D-Day,” U.S. Army veteran Terrell said. “I was part of the invasion of Utah Beach.”

Terrell volunteered for the armed forces when he was 18 years old. Four years later he was preparing for D-Day, the largest amphibious invasion in history.

Training for that mission began weeks in advance, and Terrell said every Saturday each soldier was rewarded with a canteen of beer.

“I was 22 years old and a staff sergeant at the time,” Terrell said, “I felt like an old man compared to the 17and 18-year-olds under my command.”

He had 36 soldiers in his charge on June 6, 1944, during the Allied forces assault on the German-occupied beaches of Normandy, France.

“We were in a Higgins boat, and the water in the English Channel was rough,” Terrell said. “We were bouncing up and down like a fishing cork. I told the men, ‘This is it. Let’s get it done.’”

As the boat’s ramp went down, Terrell was the first into the water. Rather than the expected waist-deep water, he found himself up to his armpits as he led the way to Utah Beach. Combat began immediately.

“The Germans were pointing their guns at us before we hit the beach,” Terrell said. “We went in fighting.

You could look the enemy in the eye. I was a welltrained fighter. Before the other guy could think of shooting me, I had already shot him.”

Of the 36 men who followed Terrell into battle, 12 of them lost their lives during the invasion.

Although thoroughly trained in the Army, Terrell credits his shooting skill to his early years growing up in the Depression.

His family lived near a 2,000-acre pasture, and he and his brother took turns hunting for the family’s food. An empty belly and his mama were his motivation.

“Mama would send me out with my gun and one bullet,” Terrell said. “She would look at me and say, ‘Don’t waste that bullet.’ I always came back with something to eat.”

Terrell said that was a lesson he took with him to the war. He never wasted a bullet, nor did he ever receive one.

After nearly six years in the Army, Terrell went into Active Reserve, retaining his rank.

He later left the Army and went into the Air Force Active Reserve as Master Sergeant. Following that was a 23-year career in law enforcement, and all while he and his wife raised four children and became grandparents.

“When I think back, I’m glad I was there and made my contribution to my country,” Terrell said. “My military service was about freedom. We had been attacked and we had to defend ourselves. We had to win that war for our freedom.”

— By Ronny Michel

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rowing up in a small village along the Ivory Coast of Africa, where cocoa plantations and child labor often supersede formal education, Ghislain Dadie had an impossible dream to become an American engineer.

Today, Ghislain enjoys a successful chemical engineering career at the Shell Norco Refinery. He resides in Hahnville with his wife, Sabrina, their

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3-year-old son, Jacob, and another baby on the way, but his journey is far from over.

Ghislain and Sabrina took their yearly trip in September to the Ivory Coast of Africa and turned over a newly constructed school to children in the remote Dibikro Village.

Through their Christian nonprofit organization, ProSeed, the Dadie family builds and renovates

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schools in developing countries while promoting STEM education in the River Parishes.

“A lot of parents don’t send their children to school in the remote villages of Africa, and when we started looking at the infrastructure, I understood why,” Sabrina said. “They have makeshift schools in mud huts created by the villagers. Without a full infrastructure, the regional education department doesn’t send teachers to those villages, so the people have to teach their own children without the proper training.”

Children in villages far removed from cities sometimes only learn basic phonetics before they go off to work, according to Ghislain.

It’s a trend they hope to change with new infrastructure.

ProSeed’s new Dibikro school touts a cement framework, three 1,000 square feet classrooms, furnishings and solar energy storage to light the school for hours after the sun descends into the horizon.

“Kids can’t study at home when it’s too dark,” Ghislain said. “We see this as a resource everyone in the village can utilize.”

School children also receive backWhen Ghislain and Sabrina Dadie packs filled with cut the ribbon at one of their school supplies, African village playgrounds, the which Ghislain said children stood still because they many families can’t had never seen a playground afford. before and didn’t understand The Dibikro how to use the equipment. That’s school is the second when Ghislain and Sabrina jumped in and showed them how to slide.

ProSeed construction endeavor. The first, erected in the Gremian Village in 2016, tripled enrollment and gave kindergartners a chance to enjoy childhood.

Sabrina was taken aback at the children’s reactions to the ribbon cutting that unveiled a colorful playground, a first for the area.

“We cut the ribbon, and the kids stood there and stared,” Sabrina said. “They didn’t know what to do.

I thought they just didn’t have a playground, but they didn’t even know what it was. We had to teach them how to swing and slide.”

Once the children learned the ropes, they were all smiles as they climbed on the merry-go-round and other playground equipment, according to Ghislain.

While turning over the second school in September, the Dadie family broke ground on their next project, a school building in the Mbrembo Village. At the beginning of each 18-month project, Ghislain and Sabrina meet with village chiefs to gain an understanding of the area’s needs.

Projects are funded through the Dadie family and donations to ProSeed, which can be submitted at proseedfoundation.org/donate or through the ProSeed Foundation Facebook page.

Since June 2017, the Shell Hero program has matched all donations made by Shell employees, and Ghislain

10 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

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Many parents in rural villages can’t provide education for their children because poor infrastructure prevents teachers from reaching all families.

said several of his co-workers have wholeheartedly supported his vision.

Small, tax-deductible donations go a long way in aiding ProSeed’s efforts, according to Sabrina.

“We tell people, ‘buy a $5 brick; build a school,’” Sabrina said. “It might not seem like it, but those dollars stretch a long way with currency exchange.”

The most recent school project cost approximately $35,000 in United States currency, she said.

Helping her husband provide opportunity to the leaders of the next generation was a no-brainer for Sabrina, who grew up reaching “the least, the last and the lost” in her father’s church.

From a young age, she volunteered her time at homeless shelters, New Orleans Children’s Hospital, food banks, Habitat for Humanity and other initiatives.

Ghislain’s journey toward ProSeed began when his parents, both school teachers, shaped his love for Christ and value of education.

“Schoolteachers don’t make a lot of money in Africa,” Ghislain said. “We grew up below middle class, but my dad really pushed education for us because he found it as a way of escape. He told us, ‘this isn’t for me, because I’m not going to be around forever. It’s for you to excel in life.’”

When he was 17, Ghislain received a divine vision that he would go to the United States to become an engineer. He pointed at a map of the globe hanging on the classroom wall and told his friend about his destiny, only to be met with skepticism.

Nonetheless, Ghislain saved up his small allowance each week until he had enough to walk for miles into the nearest city, pay to use the Internet Café and apply for American colleges.

He’d nearly forgotten about the applications when, months later, a letter came addressed to his name.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 11

“It was one of the best days of my life, just thinking that the people in America knew my name,” Ghislain said.

“Then we realized tuition was $50,000, which was millions and millions in our currency. I was crushed.”

Instead, Ghislain started college in Africa, where he later obtained a visa and a financial opportunity to study chemical engineering in New York.

Ghislain’s vision expanded after he married Sabrina. A night spent watching The Martian in early 2016 gave them the inspiration to start ProSeed. In the film, Matt Damon’s character is left behind on Mars with a limited supply of food. Rather than eat his rations until they diminished, he created an environment conducive to growth by sowing potato seeds.

“We’re creating that environment in Africa,” Ghislain said. “We’re shaping leaders of the next generation because Africa needs leaders of integrity.”

Sabrina said ProSeed’s mission differs on a local scale, where children

Ghislain and Sabrina Ghislain present certificates of academic achievement to their overseas students.

have resources but sometimes lack motivation. The Dadie family hosts S.T.E.M. Day twice a year in St. Charles Parish, focusing efforts on the West Bank in the fall and on the East Bank in the spring.

Students who attend the no-cost event interact with industry professionals and build interactive projects, which have included hydrolic bridge models and citrus batteries.

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Ghislain said S.T.E.M. education is vital to maintaining the United States’ role as a world leader, allowing others to pursue the American Dream.

For more information on ProSeed or to donate to the cause, visit proseedfoundation.org.

— By Brooke Robichaux

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Local brewer offers Sit’N Sideways & Yard Dog IPA for your beer fancy

J

ason Delatte’s specialty Sit’N Sidewayz and Yard Dog IPA craft beers have the perfect combination of flavors to compete with widespread India Pale Ale trends.

Delatte, owner of the new Cajunboyz Brewery in Reserve, holds his craft to high standards with a focus on quality, taste and technique.

Sit’N Sideways and Yard Dog IPA are two of the microbrewery’s newest hoppy flavors characterized by a smooth mouthfeel, according to Delatte.

“For Yard Dog, we went through three different versions to get that real smooth, hot combination we use,” Delatte said.

“We use CTZ, Cascade, Amarillo “The beer hops and dry hop with Simcoe. We brewing wanted to make a good IPA and get after the hazy IPA craze that process everybody’s going after in brewerbegins with ies. We’re trying to do something to fit that trend.” the soul He said the double dry hopped of the beer; Sit’N Sidewayz New England IPA the malt.” follows the trend toward hazy tropical flavors.

“We have Sit’N Sideways loaded Jason Delatte with citra hops to get that great Cajunboyz Brewery citrus taste to it,” Delatte said.

The India Pale Ale additions owner haven’t yet topped Delatte’s blond ale Cajun Goddess or pineappleinfused Poolside Ale in popularity, but Delatte said they are his favorite by taste.

Sit’N Sidewayz and Yard Dog IPA brews take up to three weeks from start to completion, Delatte said, adding the brewing process is similar for all of his 14-plus specialty beers but includes a slight variance in temperature and fermentation time.

“It’s a pretty simple process,” Delatte said, speaking

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Jason Delatte of Cajunboyz Brewery in Reserve is shown making one of his

with a foundation of more than four years of practice.

What started as home brewing for fun turned into a passion project and later evolved into a business.

Delatte stores high quality brewing equipment behind the Cajunboyz bar, where the magic happens.

After purchasing ingredients from brewing shops in New Orleans, Delatte’s first step is to mill the beer malt to prepare it for mashing, which exposes the starches inside.

“The beer brewing process begins with the soul of the beer; the malt,” Delatte said. “It’s the foundation for the brewing process and the starting point of the flavors, aromas and textures that emerge.”

Milled malt is transferred to the first brewing vessel and combined with water to break down starches into sugar. Next, lautering separates the sweet liquid from

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the mash.

The sugars, called the wort, are moved to the brew kettle and sterilized through a vigorous boil. Delatte said this is where he adds IPA hops, including them toward the beginning of the boil for a bitter taste and toward the end for flavor and aroma.

Once in the fermentation tank, Delatte waits for yeast to “give life” to the beer, which must mature before it’s served.

Cajunboyz Brewery is open from 4 to 8 p.m.

Monday through Thursday, 4 to 10 p.m. Friday, and noon to 10 p.m. Saturday and Sunday at 114 Power Blvd. in Reserve.

Visit Cajunboyz Brewery on Facebook for information on new beers, movie nights and charity fundraisers hosted at the microbrewery.

— By Brooke Robichaux

Quality brewing equipment behind the Cajunboyz bar is where the magic begins.

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Sophomores Zavion Williams and Elijah Miles work on their laptops in August during the inaugural year of the St. John Baptist Parish Public Schools STEM Magnet Program in Reserve.

Magnet A high school effort begins

side from the LSU courses, the anticipated Xavier courses and the WWII collaborative robotics project (which tends to take the spotlight), what do I think about the establishment of a true magnet program for high school students?

Of course, I love these things. They are great!

Equally, I like the buy-in surrounding the established vision of the program. It has been my experience that when questioned about vision and/or mission of a school or company, many times, employees, students, etc. are unable to communicate this.

What is it that we want to TERRAN be? What kind of place do we strive to be every single day?

PERRY Here is our Vision Statement: The SJBP STEM Garyville/ Mt. Airy Magnet Program inspires Math and Science creativity, promotes leadMagnet School ership and cultivates well principal rounded, life-long learners while focusing on the development of global problem solvers in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

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So, how do we know?

How do we know if individuals understand the vision of the organization? The answer is definitely not by merely reciting the statement.

Visiting classrooms and seeing children in World Geography class gather a better understanding of map skills by analyzing and exploring Cartographer’s dilemma while engaging in discussion to develop their own truths about world places and issues as opposed to simple lecturing about these places throughout the world inspires creativity.

Watching kids engage in a campus scavenger hunt to better understand the concept of Transformations in Geometry class inspires creativity.

Admiring students’ work as they design their own short stories using knowledge obtained through digital story-telling course inspires creativity.

It must be evident in all that we do, and we are thrilled to see this vision come alive in our classrooms!

Is leadership being promoted?

Students are reminded that they will not only be the doctors, but they will be the heads of the neurology departments. They will not only be the engineers, but they will be Marathon’s next generation of leaders who will lead the company into new ground-breaking advancements.

These are St. John’s children, and we are very proud of them. But, they are not only reminded of this, but desire to instill in them the value of service, which helps develop them into becoming the servant leaders every employee desires to be led by, those whose main goal is to simply strive to make life better for everyone.

As for cultivating well rounded life-long learners, exposing children to as much as possible is the expectation. On campus, we want them to work on group projects to understand the value of being able to work with a variety of individuals who may offer a variety of opinions and ideas to the table.

This is important when considering globalization.

We want them to socialize as much as possible with faculty members and other students during “Power Hour” in the union and cafeteria so that relationships are established.

They converse about a variety of issues during this leisure time so that an understanding and appreciation of others’ perspectives are established. They will visit and be exposed to various universities and companies.

Guest speakers in a variety of STEM-related fields are on tap to begin speaking with the children about their experiences and introducing them to fields that they may not be aware of but will leave with the skill-sets to be successful in.

It is rewarding to enter into Mr. Phillip Smith’s English class and see students discussing a variety of issues via Socratic methodology. This builds an appreciation for inquiry. We want our children to question things. As we know, questioning matters alone can help lead to making the world a better place.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 21

Pictured above is the St. John the Baptist Parish Public Schools STEM Magnet Program cafeteria in Reserve.

Lastly, what can be said about the development of global problem solvers in the areas of Science, Technology, Engineering and Math.

In the movie “Hidden Figures,” we saw how math was used to place a man on the moon. Imagine that.

What I really appreciated about this was that the mathematicians were females.

How inspiring is this for your young ladies interested in STEM education! Our students are not partnering with LSU, Xavier, the National WWII Museum, etc. to simply receive some university credit and learn non-traditional content.

They are learning the information with the understanding that it is the “bigger” matters that they will use their knowledge to address — matters like addressing coastal erosion, developing a cure for cancer and inventing a mechanism for reversing paralysis.

They are learning the information to set goals like those expressed in a recent article written about Christopher Taylor, who plans to build his knowledge in digital design and emergent media in helping him become the dynamic sports commentator he will soon be.

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It is a common lunchroom scene to see state champion René Phillips, left, playing chess with students at the St. John STEM high school in Reserve.

Christopher explained that although he loves sports and everything that comes with it; his quest to serve in such a role is sparked by his apparent love for something bigger and far more important. That is, he wants to use this role to bring people together; to make people smile. How awesome is this!

We are blessed to have such wonderful students and families, and we

are determined to guide each one of them to reach their goals. When this happens, we can rest well at night knowing that our community, parish and world are in good hands under their leadership.

Terran Perry is the Garyville/Mt. Airy Math and Science Magnet School principal and oversees the high school magnet program.

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RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 23

L

Loca 198 has the enc gla show

Carol Ladek, St. Michael Chur Expert plays all the right notes

One of the hidden treasures of St. James Parish is tucked away in the choir loft at the historic St. Michael Church in Convent.

Most who visit in the day or on the weekend miss the relevance of the small organ facing the wall of the main entrance, which overlooks the Mississippi River.

The Historical Organ Association in New Orleans notes it as the oldest working pipe organ in Louisiana.

The faithful who attend mass there at 6 p.m. on Saturday evenings have the opportunity to hear Carol Ladek play the organ. With a master’s degree in piano performance and more than 35-years experience playing and teaching, Carol has a great deal of respect for the instrument that was built by famous organ builder Henry Erben in New York and shipped to St. Michael by boat.

The console has one manual, ten stops and a full rack of foot pedal keys, but misses a volume pedal.

Originally operated by a hand pump, which opened and closed the bellows to generate the sound, an electric motor was added in the 1940s so manpower was no longer necessary.

Carol, who lives in Lutcher, studied music at the University of Southwestern Louisiana. She plays the Black Warrior, the name given to it by Erben in a letter to Archbishop Blanc to inform him

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to expect delivery of the organ by steamer on February 4, 1858.

The daughter of Bob and Marian Davis Boudreaux of Gramercy, Carol was interested in taking piano lessons at a young age. With no piano teachers in the area, the Boudreauxs and other families interested in having their children learn piano, looked to Loyola University for help.

Loyola answered the call by sending two students to teach on Saturday in the Lutcher High auditorium.

The instructor who taught Carol was Robert Roux, who began his career at age 10 when he performed on the Lawrence Welk Show. Now Dr. Robert Roux, he has performed at the White House, the Kennedy Center and prestigious venues worldwide. He is the head of the piano pedagogy department at Rice University in Texas.

“Bobby Roux and Virginia Donaldson, the other Loyola teacher, were the very first people who were influential in music to me,” Carol said recently from her Lutcher home.

By the time she had finished eighth grade, Carol was through with private piano lessons and ready to move on. Through her Loyola connections she was able to audition with June Bastien.

She and her husband, James, write method books that many teachers use in giving piano instruction. Carol hoped to be accepted as a student of the Bastiens and board at the Academy of the Sacred Heart in New Orleans and attend high school there.

“After interviews, Jane Bastien said she would take me as a student, but Sacred Heart was no longer taking boarders,” Carol said.

A friend asked that she consider attending the Academy of the Sacred Heart in Grand Coteau and board there while pursuing both of her favorite things — music and tennis. She graduated from there in 1976.

After high school, she enrolled at USL where she majored in applied music. At about the same time, secondary schools began offering degrees in music therapy, so Carol transferred to Loyola and received

urch enjoy 160-year-old classic her bachelor’s degree in music therapy. After three years in the field, she decided to go back to USL, where she worked as a piano assistant and teacher while pursuing her master’s degree.

Since then, Carol has taught private lessons to as many as 32 students at a time in LaPlace while also holding a part-time job in the medical field. She moved to Slidell and taught private students there until Hurricane Katrina forced her back to the River Parishes.

Now Ladek is back to doing what she has since she was 12 — playing music in church for Mass.

She leads the vigil choir group at St. Michael and leads music for most all funerals held at St. Michael and Sacred Heart in Gramercy.

And she does a lot of it on an instrument that is 160 years old.

— By Pam Folse

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St. Charles opens state-of-the Members of the Lafon family recently opened the doors of the Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center at a ribbon cutting ceremony and community open house in front of a standing-room only crowd in Luling.

The August ribbon-cutting was immediately followed by self-guided tours of the Lafon Arts Center, including the main theatre, black box theatre, backstage area, dance studio and two-story educational wing.

The evening was an allinclusive event, incorporating performances, demonstrations and presentations from students, employees, alumni, and business and industry representatives.

“The Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center will be a beacon to our students, teachers and the community as a place to learn, understand and appreciate the importance of the arts,” School Board President Alex Suffrin said. “Trust me, when you enter the center, you will see that the Lafon Arts Center is like no other center in the state or the region – possibly even the country!”

The Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center is the result of a bond issue referendum passed in 2015

by St. Charles voters to fund the construction of the world-class center in addition to enhancing safety and security measures throughout the school system.

The center includes a two-story educational wing, advanced technology, superior furnishings and professional-grade musical equipment.

Shell Norco General Manager Brett Woltjen announced a $5 million leg-

A ribbon cutting ceremony and community open house was held Aug. 25 for St. Charles Parish Public Sc

acy gift for the Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center. The gift will be made over the next several years to establish an endowment for sustainability of current and future programs. The

26 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

gift is intended to provide additional resources for performing arts experiences.

The center’s namesake, the late Dr. Rodney R. Lafon, retired from St. Charles Parish Public Schools after

approximately 40 years of service, 18 of those years as superintendent. Lafon was also a celebrated musician, playing his horn with entertainers such as Wayne Newton, Jackie Wilson, and

he-art performing arts center

Public Schools’ new Lafon Arts Center. Pictured inset, School Board Members and the Superintendent officially cut the ribbon.

Luther Kent.

The Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center is a premier, world-class facility that magnifies arts education and elevates the social culture of our community

through visual and performing arts experiences. The center is a venue for diverse performing arts programming, collaborating with artists, and engaging students and community members in

the creation, appreciation, and understanding of the arts.

As the bridge unites our community, the Dr. Rodney R. Lafon Performing Arts Center serves as a con-

nection to our past, a celebration of our present, and an exploration of our future through the arts.

It is located at 275 Judge Edward Dufresne Parkway in Luling.

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 27

Local Flavor St. John Parish

Bailey’s Andouille 513 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9090 Bec’s At the Lake 105 Gary Rd., LaPlace 985-224-8172 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 E, Garyville 985-535-3663 Cajun Grill 135 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-4745 Chili’s Grill & Bar 1820 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-1227

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

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

985-651-2893

1124 W. Airline Hwy. • LaPlace, LA 70068

El Paso 1900 US-51 Ste D, LaPlace 985-618-3313

Kobe Japanese Steak and Sushi 506 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-8880/652-8853

Fatty’s 186 Museum St., Garyville

Louisiana Roadhouse Steak 1338 W Airline Hwy, LaPlace

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

Ming’s Akari 1400 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-3335

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

Momma Jo’s 2917 Hwy 51, Ste A., LaPlace 985-224-2666

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

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

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

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

Guidry Goody’s 3595 W. Airline Hwy., Reserve 504-606-1185

Chung’s Heavenly Sweets 607 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-7987

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

Connie’s Grill 1462 LA-44, Reserve 985-536-3256

Huddle House 4325 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-1800

Clay’s Cafe 975 B Cambridge, LaPlace 985-359-6848

IHop 220 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-652-4468 Jacob’s Andouille 505 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-9080

Dragon Garden 140 Belle Terre Blvd., Ste E., LaPlace 985-652-7250

Mabile’s Restaurant

“Home of the Best Roast Beef in Town!”

The Jambalaya Shoppe 150 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-5747

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

B 2 2

C 2 2

C 8 2

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C 3 2

TNT Seafood 405 Belle Terre Blvd., LaPlace 985-359-6312

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Turn Arounds 1107 E. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-224-2818

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Petra’s 10363 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-8888

Waffle House 4304 Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-651-6111

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Pier 51 Seafood Restaurant & Oyster Bar 3017 U.S. 51, LaPlace 985-651-0300

Wayne Jacob’s Restaurant 769 W. 5th St., LaPlace 985-652-9990

McDonalds •4297 U.S. Hwy. 51, LaPlace 985-652-5171 •1608 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-2600 •5387 W. Airline, Hwy, Garyville

Pirouge’s Cafe 719 W. 10th St., Reserve 985-479-7800 PJ’s Coffee 1808 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-764-7573

Zaman Mediterranean Cafe 1502 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-5566 Zora Christina 2003 W. Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-359-3673

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H 8 2

J P 1 2

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Popeye’s Fried Chicken 1603 W. Airline Hwy., LaPlace 985-652-3030 Raising Cane’s 123 West Airline Hwy, LaPlace 985-652-4701

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St. James Parish Bonnie’s 2827 Hwy 20, Vacherie 225-624-0402

Pizza Hut 1665 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6151

Bei Jing 12895 U.S. 90, Ste. D, Boutte 985-331-8885

Hong Kong 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. D, Destrehan 985-725-9099

Popeye’s 982 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060

Boot’s Diner 12325 River Rd, Ste A, Luling 785-331-5225

Honeydoux Cafe & Bakery 13100 River Rd, Ste 130, Destrehan 985-305-0050

Sandwich World Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-6060

Cajun Kitchen 13322 U.S. 90, Boutte, Ste. Q 985-785-2405

Café Perique 234 East Main St., Gramercy 225-869-1774

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

China King 849 N. Pine St., Gramercy 225-869-2000

DiCarlo’s Food and Spirits 10 Villere Dr., Destrehan 985-764-6868

Chuck Lee’s Chinese Kitchen 10560 Hwy. 70 W., St. James 225-473-3050 Creole House Cafe 3409 Hwy 3125, Paulina 225-859-3333 DJ’s Grille 21060 La. Hwy. 20, Vacherie 225-265-7600 Golden Grove Restaurant 935 La. Hwy. 641, Gramercy 225-869-1212 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 Nobile’s Restaurant & Bar Serving Authentic River Road Cuisine 2082 W. Main St., Lutcher In An Historic Place Open 225-869-8900 Lunch: Mon- Fri 11 am - 2 pm Dinner: Thurs-Sat 5 pm - 9 pm CLOSED Sundays

2082 W. Main • Lutcher, LA

225-869-8900

Oak Alley Restaurant 3645 La. Hwy. 18, Vacherie 225-265-2151

Spectacular Tubers 1665 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-5600 Subway 10850 Hwy. 3125, Gramercy Taylor’s Express Truck Stop 964 La. Hwy. 3125, Gramercy 225-869-1734 Tod’s Catering 2180 S. Albert St., Lutcher 225-869-7000

St. Charles Parish Anita’s Smokin’ Steak Burgers 13145 U.S. 90 Ste. B, Boutte 985-785-2220 Apple Street Diner/Sub Exp. 26 Apple St., Norco 985-764-9922 Avocados Mexican Grill 12715 Hwy 90, Ste 140. Luling 985-785-7694 Bamboo Garden 13491 U.S. 90, Ste. 6, Boutte 985-785-9929

Donut Land 13592 River Rd, Ste 6, Destrehan 985-307-1000 Dot’s Diner 12179 U.S. Hwy. 90, Luling 985-785-6836 El Paso Mexican Grill 12895 U.S. Hwy. 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-331-1984 Fatty Shack 13527 River Road, Luling 985-308-0983 Fatty Shack 13527 River Road, Luling 985-308-0983 Frostop 3001 Ormond Blvd., Ste. H, Destrehan 985-725-1116 Firehouse Bistro 1950 Ormond Blvd., Ste. B, Destrehan 985-725-3223 Fujiyama Japanese 12715 Hwy 90, Ste 150, Luling 985-785-8168 Grumpy’s 14984 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-2083 Happy Gardens II 15264 U.S. 90, Paradis 985-785-3888

IHOP 14099 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-308-0013 J’aime Le Cafe 12715 Hwy 90, Ste 100, Luling 985-308-0394 KrisAl’s Cafe 10326 Airline Dr. Ste B, St. Rose 504-468-2005 Little Tokyo 13371 U.S. 90, Ste. A, Boutte 985-331-0887 Lovecchio’s Deli 29 Apple St., Norco 985-725-5683 Mariano’s Italian Eatery 12371 Highway 90, Ste. A, Luling 985-785-7777 McDonalds 3009 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 985-725-1021 Ormond Plantation Restaurant 13786 River Road, Destrehan 985-764-8544 Palmetto’s Restaurant 10405 Airline Hwy, St. Rose 504-472-0771 Pizza Hut 12439 Hwy. 90, Luling 985-331-8380 P.J.’s Coffee of New Orleans 150 Ormond Center Court, Ste. T, Destrehan 985-764-7573 Popeye’s Fried Chicken •116 Longivew Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1231 •13210 U.S. 90, Boutte 985-785-1377

RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 29

Portside Restaurant 11698 River Road, St. Rose 504-546-93111 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 Southern Latte Cafe 50 Wade St., Ste. 1, Luling 985-308-1472 Sonic Drive In 12557 U.S. 90, Luling 985-331-0099 Sports Pub & Grill 3001 Ormond Blvd., #B Destrehan 985-331-0099

St. Rose Driving Range & Sports Bar 10362 Airline Dr., St. Rose 504-466-0411 St. Rose Tavern 14466 River Road, 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 985-725-9444 •15632 River Rd., Norco 504-469-8864

Squeal and Moo BBQ 12287 Hwy 90, Luling 985-308-1499

Sushi Cafe 13899 River Road, Ste. A, Luling 985-308-1003 Take Away Donuts 13441 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-785-6499 The Gate 12713 Hwy 90, Luling 985-308-0013 The Howling Pepper 109 St. Rose Ave, St. Rose 504-466-1944 The Oyster’s Pearl Grill & Cafe 1057 Paul Mailard Rd, Luling 985-785-6242

Uchi Sushi and Hibachi 3001 Ormond Blvd., Destrehan 785-307-1080 Victoria’s Restaurant 13441 Hwy. 90, Boutte 985-785-6499 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

Taste of Tokyo 1972 Ormond Blvd., Ste. E-2, Destrehan 985-764-1818 Trey Wah (Chinese) 124 Longview Drive, Destrehan 985-764-1147 Truck Farm Tavern 11760 River Rd, St. Rose 504-699-0099

River parisheS MAGAZINE

Summer 2018 Edition STAGE PRESENCE: Darryl Clement directs another classic

WHEELS ON THE BUS : Dedicated driver rolls for 30 years

Inside look at Louisiana’s best running back.

A Special Publication of

L’OBSERVATEUR

www.lobservateur.com

30 ~ RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE

421 Belle Terre Blvd | LaPlace

Mon - Fri: 7 am to 6 pm Sat: 8 am to 1 pm RIVER PARISHES MAGAZINE ~ 31

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