Lagniappe Feature Stories »
Chef Benny Gray
By Diana Vallette Photos By MadHart Productions Benny Gray is the 48-year-old honeybun-loving executive chef at 121 Artisan Bistro. Gray’s been cooking for 30 years and, like so many of the chefs we feature
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Heavenly Head Spa
By Diana Vallette I was really close to shutting this column down. It felt like I was running out of ideas. Enter: head spa. Now, if you’re anything like me you’ve stumbled across those
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Omaha Blues
Omaha, Neb. has brought nothing but joy and celebration to the entire state of Louisiana. LSU nation, spanning coast to coast, north to south and all points in between, is still in the throes
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Shell Yeah!
The very first time I ever played guitar in public was at Black’s Oyster House in Abbeville. I “sat in” for a couple of songs with friends and dialed up some old favorites that
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Augustine-Chef’s Corner: Dave Evans
By Diana Vallette Dave Evans has been dreaming up his upscale restaurant for years. Augustine lived exclusively in his most trusted companion–his notebook. Evans brings his notebook with him wherever he goes. It’s the
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A Band Stands The Test Of Time
By Todd C. Elliott The reports of their death as a band have been greatly exaggerated since 2014. After a notable hiatus, the Lake Charles band, The Loaded 44rz, has revamped their lineup
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Animals = Joy
Red Oak Farm Is A 22.5 Acre Farm With One Purpose: To Make People Happy By Diana Vallette “My mom is an angel on Earth. Truly,” says Bethany Bryant, communications director for the Calcasieu
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Bringing Out The Ducks
By Todd C. Elliott Lake Charles native Mark Fontenot has taken what he calls “a passion and a labor of love” and represented the Lake Area as a world champion in 2025. For 35
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A Lot A Lot Chuckwagon Food Truck
By Bill Coyne When the weather is beautiful it’s a great time to head to North Beach, Lake Charles, and I did just that recently. I step out of my truck and am hit
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Greener Pastures … Maybe Not
By Rick Sarro In honor of Father’s Day just passed, I wanted to offer up a few sayings and clichés that old dads like me have spewed many times for anyone who would care
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