Introducing Our 2021 Small Town Chefs

For the eighth year, Country Roads honors the undersung culinary heroes of our region’s small towns

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Over the past several weeks, Country Roads’ editorial team has embarked on one of our magazine’s more thrilling—and vital­—missions: to document the intricacies of our region’s culinary landscape. And as we have for the past eight years, we are dedicating our annual Cuisine Issue to the creative and ambitious chefs working for local crowds of thirty thousand or less. In our Features section, meet the 2021 Small Town Chefs Award winners: Chef Alex Diaz of Cena in Hammond; Chef Lauren Joffrion, formerly of Field’s Steak and Oyster Bar and now at The Thorny Oyster in Bay St. Louis; and Chef Paolo Cenni of Paolo’s in Ponchatoula. Our chefs this year each bring unique legacies, experiences, and approaches to their kitchens—which result in delectable concoctions that are absolutely worth the drive from wherever you may be. 

However, for a unique opportunity to try plates from all of them in one location—plan to join us on November 14 for the 2021 St. Francisville Food and Wine Festival, which for the first time will feature the Small Town Chef Tasting Experience. Tickets are available for $95 (early bird price is $85 until July 31!) at bontempstix.com. 

Read Chef Paolo Cenni's profile, here. 

Read Chef Lauren Joffrion profile, here. 

Read Chef Alex Diaz's profile, here.