Chef Monique Armand of Sassi Café will host her dining experience at Southern University Museum of Art.

Local foodies are hailing the return of 318 Restaurant Week, which will be held March 14 – 18 at participating restaurants and businesses in Shreveport-Bossier. The first 318 Restaurant Week in the fall of 2016 was conceived and presented by the Shreveport-Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau to create traffic for downtown restaurants. It was so successful that the upcoming festivities will include a citywide selection of special lunch and dinner promotions at 35 restaurants and 11 special onenight-only dining experiences.

“All of the restaurants that are involved in 318 Restaurant Week are locally owned, and, in many cases, they are restaurants that are local institutions and can’t be experienced anywhere else in America,” said Chris Jay, social media and public relations manager with the Shreveport- Bossier Convention and Tourist Bureau, as well as a local food blogger. “Our local restaurants are such a huge part of the identity of Shreveport-Bossier. From new places like The Levee and Tejas Kitchen to historic local eateries like Herby-K’s and Fertitta’s Delicatessen, this group says a lot about Shreveport-Bossier’s food scene. The whole spectrum of eateries from super-casual to white tablecloth is there for folks to choose from.”

The 2017 318 Restaurant Week coincides with the 85th annual South Central Regional Conference of Alpha Kappa Alpha, one of the largest conferences that Shreveport-Bossier has ever hosted. With so many fabulous options, however, locals should have a plan of their own. “Venture outside of your normal routine and try a restaurant that you’ve never visited before,” suggested Jay. “Take advantage of the special lunch and dinner pricing at a participating restaurant or purchase tickets to one of the one-night-only dining events, some of which offer guests the chance to learn from the chef.”

Jay has some well-established favorites among the local fare. “The phenomenal smoked brisket from Real BBQ and More, outstanding handmade pasta at Giuseppe’s Pastacaffe and the popular chicken and waffles at Abby Singer’s Bistro,” Jay said. “Those three dishes represent some of the best lunches available in Shreveport- Bossier, in my opinion, and they’re just the tip of the iceberg as far as what’s available during 318 Restaurant Week goes.”

“One aspect of our local dining scene that excites me is that locally sourced ingredients can be enjoyed in so many casual eateries,” Jay said.

“They’re not just served in highend or fine dining environments.

Blue Southern Comfort Food, for example, uses meats from Smith Family Farms. That’s special. You don’t see a whole lot of locally sourced burger patties. El Cabo Verde uses Mahaffey Farms pork products and lots of other locally and regionally sourced ingredients, as does Wine Country.”

Each of the 11 one-night-only special dining experiences is a party-like atmosphere, with cost per person ranging from $30 - $60. “One unique aspect is that several of the special dining events will take place at local attractions that aren’t restaurants,” Jay said. “Many folks know Chef Monique Armand through her small sandwich shop downtown, Sassi Café. The one-night-only event that she is preparing food for at Southern University Museum of Art on March 15 should be a terrific opportunity to experience a different kind of cooking from Armand, who was one of the chefs featured in the Louisiana Food Prize’s Battle of the Golden Fork in 2016.”

There are also plenty of regional celebrity chefs participating in 318 Restaurant Week. “Chef Gabriel Balderas of El Cabo Verde was named a 2017 Chef to Watch by Louisiana Cookin, magazine out of New Orleans, which is one of the highest honors that a young chef in Louisiana can receive,” Jay said. “Chef Hardette Harris, who will offer guided tours of her favorite local eateries on March 14-16, was recently named ‘Louisianan of the Year’ by Louisiana Life Magazine out of New Orleans for her efforts to promote awareness of North Louisiana cuisine.”

There will be plenty of pairing opportunities for those who revel in the fine art of matching foods to beverages. “The one-night-only dining event at Twisted Root Burger Company incorporates craft beer pairings in a really unique way,” Jay said, “pairing craft beers with exotic meats like camel, buffalo and even kangaroo. I believe that event will sell out well in advance. On Saturday, March 18, King’s Hardware and Drake Catering will present a bourbon pairing which should be really fun and very popular, considering the popularity of high-end bourbons at the moment.”

“We ask that everyone share their experiences during 318 Restaurant Week on social media using the hashtag #Eat318,” Jay said. “The 318 Restaurant Week page on Facebook is also probably the best way to stay abreast of the latest updates from 318 Restaurant Week organizers.” –Susan Reeks

MORE INFORMATION:

For more information on different one-night-only events or to purchase tickets, visit 318RestaurantWeek.com, which also includes lunch and dinner specials being offered by the 35 participating eateries.