A Taste of Covington

The ninth annual A Taste of Covington returns April 1-5, promising an opportunity to explore all of the culinary delights the city has to offer. The five-day spring extravaganza is one of the most highly anticipated food and wine showcases in Louisiana, drawing foodies and oenophiles from across the region to celebrate food, wine, music, and art in Covington’s historic downtown district. 

On April 3, the St. Tammany Art Association hosts Festa del Vino wine tasting. Sponsored by St. Tammany Parish President Mike Cooper, the premium tasting will feature live jazz music by the Ben Redwine Duo and hors d'oeuvres. Saturday’s main event showcases the Grand Tasting soiree at Bogue Falaya Hall. Attendees will have over sixty wines to taste, accompanied by light fare and a performance by Christy and the Rascals. Several local artists will also be showing their work, because what's a wine tasting without art? Finally, on Sunday treat you and yours to a Champagne Jazz Brunch at Annadele’s Plantation. Sip on a mimosa as Steppin' Up plays jazzy tunes, but be sure to reserve your seat ahead of time. 

[Click here to enter to win two tickets to Saturday's Grand Tasting event at A Taste of Covington.]

While the tastings conclude April 5, several not-so-hidden gems of Covington are hosting Vintner Dinners all month long. The multi-course meals with curated pairings, wine tastings, and live music are a fantastic way to get a comprehensive food tour of one of Louisiana’s best culinary scenes.  Below are a few highlights of featured restaurants offering Vintner Dinners during the 2020 A Taste of Covington, for your perusing pleasure. 

Oxlot 9 has attracted attention aplenty for its Gulf inspired southern fare. Tying in classic French cuisine and high quality local ingredients inside the historical Southern Hotel, Chef Jeffrey Hansell has proven that his simple-yet-sophisticated dishes are worth the drive. (Chef Hansell was even bestowed the title of Country Roads’ 2017 Small Town Chefs Winner, so his methods are CR approved.)

Pyre Provisions may be the newcomer of the group, but the wood fire restaurant is already making a lasting impression with Chef Jeff Mattia’s 18-hour barbeque smoked meats and mouth watering classic Southern ingredients that “harken back to Grandma’s family-style Sunday meals.” 

The steak and seafood-centric menu at Gallagher's Grill has been a local favorite ever since it was opened by Chef and Covington native Pat Gallagher in 2007. The upscale neighborhood eatery offers a new, delicious take on classic dishes, including sizzling steaks, ribs, quail, veal, yellowfin tuna, and more.

LOLA perfectly encapsulates the small town charm and regality of Covington—the restaurant can be found in old Covington’s historic train depot, where chefs Keith and Nealy Frentz prepare menu items, like their flavorful pepper jelly glazed oysters, in an actual train caboose.  

Del Porto Ristorante is a longtime mainstay in the Covington culinary scene. The plush white-tablecloth eatery is highly lauded for its sublime Southern Italian fare, a result of years of classical training by married chefs David and Torre Solazzo. 

Head to atasteofcovington.com for more information on Vintner Dinners throughout the month of April and to consult the full roster of participating restaurants.