La Provence - Serves a flavorful mix of South Louisiana and Provence, France

Award winning Chef John Besh makes his mark at home.

It has been said there is no place like home and for Chef John Besh, there is no better place to be. With many awards and recognitions such as: Food & Wine named him one of its Top 10 Best New Chefs in America. New Orleans Magazine ranked him Best New Chef of 1998, and Gourmet honored Restaurant August as one of its Top Restaurants of America.

Growing up in Slidell, John began his restaurant career under the local Chef Chris Kerageorgiou who was the previous owner of La Provence located in the quiet Creole town of Lacombe minutes east of Slidell. Chef Chris saw in him the makings of a great Chef and inspired him to study abroad in France where John was intrigued to bring back the tradition of the French cuisine and blend it with the wonderful flavors of south Louisiana products to establish his trademark menus.

http://www.eattv.com/watch/more/la_provence_the_besh_restaurant_with_the_farm_out_back

The unique setting of La Provence provides its guests the feeling of being whisked away to the French countryside. The restaurant is surrounded by lovely gardens including a working farm, which many of the herbs, vegetables and other organic items are grown and served. Each chef under the direction of Executive Besh, works a few hours each week on the farm insuring the best of the best. Besh’s love of Louisiana is propionate by his selection of local grown meats and just caught seafood.

Settling down at your table, you will be further enchanted with the provincial antiques and art which fills the beautiful rooms from the richly oak-beamed ceilings to the rustic hardwood floors, a wonderful mixture of past and present, French and Louisiana. The elaborate menu selection alone will encourage a return visit with many dishes centered around Besh’s signature ingredient, jumbo blue crab. A starter of Chef Chirs’s Quail Gumbo or Blue Crab Bisque is sure to entice the palate for what lies ahead. The Lacquered Duckling with local Mayhaw, is a favorite as well as the Rabbit “Grand-mere” with potato Gnocchi which you will want to savor each bit, both which go well with one of the many selections of fine wine. And the evening would be incomplete without trying the succulent Crème Brulee with red wine stewed berries. It is not uncommon for the Chef to make his way to the dining room to chat with his patrons, which makes La Provence the experience it is.
Besh has several other restaurants in the New Orleans area including -Restaurant August, Besh Steak, and Lüke. Bon Appetite.

Thanks for joining me while I shoot the Breeze – Debbi
Woodridge Bed and Breakfast Inn Louisiana http://www.woodridgebb.com
 
 

Woodridge B&B is just minutes away from your evening out, making it the best choice for making it a Louisiana experience. From Woodridge, take I-12 to the Lacombe Hwy 434 exit, turn left and travel to Hwy 190 and turn right, La Provence is located about 2 ½ miles down on your left.