Meet the Finalists

The dedicated foodies at Country Roads have scoured every rural nook, cranny, and river-bend in Louisiana to select our nine finalists for this year's Small Town Chefs Awards. Nine chefs who contribute consistent deliciousness to small towns of fewer than 25,000 inhabitants have been selected, and our judges are currently tasting their way to choosing three winners for 2017. 

Once our three supreme Small Town Chefs are chosen, we'll be revealing the winners and showcasing their stories, in our July "Cuisine" issue. Of course, we aren't just attempting to satisfy your hunger with the written word: We invite you to join us the evening of August 20 at the Louisiana Culinary Institute to meet the chefs themselves, and enjoy a four-course dinner featuring their signature specialties. With finalists representing cuisine influenced by Italian, Middle Eastern, Mexican, French, and of course Creole and Cajun cultures, the spread at this year's dinner promises to be more deliciously diverse than ever. 

Each year we receive scores of nominations for deserving chefs from all corners of the state. But since someone's got to choose, please allow us to introduce the nine chefs and their establishments, who truly stood out this time around. 

Nasser Dallal, St. Francisville: Al Aqaba

Exquisitely delicate Middle Eastern flavors and unexpected specials, served in a converted 7-11 enlivened with colorful hookah pipes, occasional belly dancers, and a talkative parrot. 

Sage Spicuzza, Gretna: Amore

To the revitalization of Gretna's historic downtown, Sage Spicuzza's new bakery Amore adds gorgeous baked goods, served with a generous sprinkle of charm.

Dustie Latiolais, Henderson: Crawfish Town USA and Cochon Cannery

Chef Dustie's skills serve him equally: as executive chef at hugely popular Crawfish Town USA, and as the creator of bacon jam and other artisanally pork-fueled confections with his family-run Cochon Cannery.

Aaron Atchison, Boyce: Janohn’s

A cotton gin reimagined as a restaurant is the unexpected setting in which Chef Aaron draws crowds to the tiny central Louisiana town of Boyce with his unpretentious takes on Southern favorites.

Donna Ewing, New Roads: Ma Mama’s Kitchen

A gourmet cook and artist in one, Chef Donna has presided over the kitchen at her intimate Creole bistro on the banks of False River, for decades.

Jeffrey Hansell, Covington: Oxlot 9

In a few short years since relocating from Alabama, Chef Jeffrey has risen to the forefront of Covington's already impressive culinary scene. From his dramatic, open kitchen in The Southern Hotel, Hansell offers sophisticated dishes showcasing Gulf seafood, heritage pork, and farm-fresh, local produce.

Marvin Tweedy, Covington: Pardos: An American Bistro

Long a favorite with Northshore foodies, Chef Marvin now wields his whisk at Pardo's, where his progressive Southern cuisine impresses even among Covington's trove of fine-dining destinations.

Hardette Harris, Minden: Pure Louisiana Soul

From developing the offical North Louisiana meal, to leading food tours and pop-up cooking classes, Minden native Chef Hardette is a devoted ambassador for those dishes and flavors distinctly identified with "up north."

Paolo Cenni, Ponchatoula: Ristorante Foodies

In his Tangipahoa parish trattoria, Chef Paulo delights with house-made pasta, but also ranges beyond his ancestral Italy, to build a menu that incorporates influences from Thailand, Mexico, and other international cuisines.

Who Will It Be?

To find out which three of these culinary wizards will be our Small Town Chefs Award-winners for 2017, pick up (or click to) our July "Cuisine" issue to discover their stories. And for an unforgettable taste of their signature dishes (without all the driving), join us at the 2017 Small Town Chefs Awards Dinner, taking place at Baton Rouge's Louisiana Culinary Institute on August 20.