Delectable Group Dining Options in Louisiana

Culinary flexibility is a single of Louisiana’s major attractions. Throughout the point out, influences are drawn from French, Spanish, African, Caribbean cultures and additional, providing way to various dishes and places to eat that can not be replicated any place else. Pair this with one of a kind seasonal food traditions like the king cakes of Mardi Gras and the crawfish boils of spring, and there are almost infinite methods for teams to appreciate memorable F&B activities in Louisiana. 

Beneath, we explore some of the very best methods to examine the condition by foods in the course of your subsequent assembly or celebration. 

New Orleans  

The city of New Orleans is a foodie magnet, household to more than 1,000 eateries and the birthplace of legendary dishes like gumbo, po’boy sandwiches and bananas foster, between several other folks. Just wander close to the French Quarter or the Backyard garden District, and stumbling upon a unforgettable food is simple.  

For substantial teams in town for meeting and conventions, there are many dining places with non-public dining areas that can support the total crew get a taste for authentic New Orleans cuisine. A couple of tips from New Orleans & Company—the city’s desired destination advertising organization—include: 

• Commander’s Palace: A Backyard garden District landmark because 1893, Commander’s Palace serves up award-winning Haute Creole cuisine and has numerous spaces for personal dining—from a chef’s table and wine place to the back carriage property and courtyard. An in-home celebration planner is also obtainable to help with meetings, board area situations and additional. 
• Arnaud’s: A trip to Crescent Town would not be total devoid of a food in the famed French Quarter, and Arnaud’s has been a staple for more than a century. Showcasing dwell jazz songs and 17 non-public dining rooms entire with crystal chandeliers, antique furnishings and extra, functions from 12 to 120 can be arranged in this article with custom-made menu possibilities. Bonus: It is a small can absent from Ernest Morial Conference Heart and walkable from several French Quarter accommodations. 
• Brennan’s: From internet hosting corporate purchasers like Louisiana Bar Association and Tulane University, Brennan’s New Orleans is an ideal spot for private eating, and offers lots of colourful, unique spaces for groups of 12-160, like a picturesque courtyard. Do not pass up the bananas foster, a specialty merchandise at this French Quarter cafe. 
• Muriel’s Jackson Square: Found in just a single of the city’s most recognizable landmarks, Muriel’s Jackson Square is the place for a quintessential NOLA accumulating. In-property planners can enable customise an occasion for groups as large as 800. 

[Related: A Wealth of New Facilities Has New Orleans Primed for Post-Pandemic Meetings]

Jefferson Parish 

Consisting of suburbs on the east and west bank of the river that wrap all over downtown New Orleans—and the home of Louis Armstrong New Orleans Global Airport—the Jefferson Parish area gives a broad selection of spaces and foods ordeals for teams. 

“Lately people are wanting for not-your-norm dining solutions,” mentioned Charlene Hale, director of leisure and spouse sales for Jefferson CVB. “April is significant crawfish time right here and rolls into mid-June. Which is prime period for us to do outside the house significant boils for men and women. 

“We have two point out parks in our parish and a countrywide park. They’ve obtained wonderful climbing trails and we have caterers that can set up anyplace in these parks. It’s not seriously constrained, and it’s definitely customizable.” 

Some one of a kind venues Hale endorses for big group boils contain: 

• Bayou Barn: This personal party venue proper on the bayou can host 10-1,200 visitors. Its catering crew organizes Cajun Festivals throughout the world and is renowned for its manufactured-from-scratch genuine Cajun and Creole menu.  
• Jean Lafitte Harbor: This marina is recognised for its fishing charters and swamp tours, but can also cater outside the house seafood boils and has a cafe on a barge that can host events. 

Jefferson Parish also has an oyster path for groups to explore, comprised of 20 restaurants that provide Louisiana oysters. “The Louisiana Oyster Trail spans the parish extending from dining establishments in the metropolitan parts bordering Lake Pontchartrain and the Mississippi River all the way to the Gulf of Mexico in Grand Isle,” Hale mentioned. 

Baton Rouge 

No matter if looking to arrange a team brunch, evening meal dine-close to or special cooking course, Anna Gasperecz, desired destination encounter supervisor for Take a look at Baton Rouge, explained the condition money has it all. 

Self-described as “a Southern version of the quaint cafes in Paris, with the sophistication and informal flare of New York Town bistros, incorporating the flavors, society and lagniappe of Louisiana,” Bistro Byronz is a person recommendation from Gasperecz, which has versatile indoor and outdoor place for teams and delivers offsite catering expert services.  

Cooking courses are easy to discover in Baton Rouge. “We have Crimson Adhere Spice [with a] just remodeled kitchen area,” Gasperecz claimed, noting 8 to 12 people today can participate, however Crimson Adhere Spice can accommodate 20 if some just want to check out. “Also, Chef Celeste, she does a single-on-a single cooking courses and she has great catering,” Gasperecz additional. 

For meal with a check out, Gasperecz encouraged a assortment of special offsite venues, which includes: 

• Capitol Park Museum: Groups can dine in the shadow of the Point out Capitol developing at the Capitol Park Museum, which has multiple areas for personal rentals, like the out of doors plaza, which is entirely sheltered and can accommodate 300 folks seated. No onsite catering is delivered, so planners can perform with any regional certified caterer. 
• Riverview Terrace and Tsunami Rooftop Terrace at the Shaw Centre for the Arts: In downtown Baton Rouge, followers of the arts will swoon at Shaw Center’s private function room, The Riverview Terrace, which provides sweeping sights of the Mississippi River. The mixed indoor-out of doors place can host up to 400 for a cocktail-type celebration, and 300 for a seated evening meal. On Shaw Center’s rooftop, groups can love sushi and cocktails at Tsunami restaurant, which can also accommodate private functions. 
• White Oak Estate and Gardens: Positioned on 22 acres of lush foliage, gardens and lakes, this classy location owned by renowned chef John Folse, is just 20 minutes from downtown Baton Rouge and can host cocktail or meal receptions on the grounds.  

And not to be skipped? Gasperecz proposed website visitors stop by Café Contact just before departing Baton Rouge to test their popular beignet fingers, which is a chunk-sized acquire on the New Orleans traditional deal with. 

[Related: How Baton Rouge Can Give Your Meeting an Authentic Louisiana Experience]

Shreveport-Bossier 

In northwest Louisiana, about 15 minutes from the Texas border on the west and 30 minutes from the Arkansas border on the north, is Shreveport-Bossier, where by “the individuals are charming and the eating is unparalleled mixing the extensive-open Texas spirit with the spicy Louisiana Cajun attitude,” according to the Shreveport-Bossier Conference and Tourism Bureau. 

The region’s most important assembly location, the Shreveport Convention Middle, is conveniently situated near lots of dining options for teams to check out just after a working day of small business. BeauxJax Crafthouse is just a six-moment drive away, for instance, and can accommodate teams up to 30 in its again room (besides for Friday and Saturday evenings).  

“It’s spot in the East Bank district is in strolling distance from an outdoor audio location, an axe-throwing attraction, a daiquiri bar and two breweries—so loads of pursuits nearby,” noted Jerrica Bennett, PR/electronic information supervisor for the CVB. 

Abby Singer’s Bistro is also a rapid two-minute generate or uncomplicated walk from the conference center.  

“It is connected to the Robinson Film Center— a boutique film theater that exhibits specialty flicks as well as the most current films. It is situated in the center of downtown Shreveport, building it a walkable length from bars and other attractions,” Bennett reported. The cafe has an party space that can be reserved for 25-108 people today and serves legendary Louisiana dishes like seafood gumbo, poboys, chicken and waffles and more. 

Outside of the places to eat, teams can pair great food items with special options, like at the Shreveport Aquarium, which has indoor and outdoor eating areas for up to 250 company. On Fridays and Saturdays, large-conclude dining associate Fat Calf Brasserie caters foods, led by Louisiana Cookin’ Magazine’s 2020 Chef to Check out, Chef Anthony Felan, who prepares French-encouraged Southern cuisine utilizing domestically sourced meals. 

Want to find out how to make one of Louisiana’s most iconic food items? Groups can consider their hand at a king cake through Mardi Gras time with Lowder Baking Company’s cooking classes. In the offseason, teams can make cookies or planners can work with the owners to customise their class. 

Hook up

New Orleans & Firm
(800) 672-6124

Shreveport-Bossier Conference and Vacationer Bureau
(318) 222-9391 

Check out Baton Rouge
(225) 383-1825

Check out Jefferson Parish
(504) 731-7083

Browse this future: A Tiny A thing Much more for Louisiana Conferences Teams