2019-09-01_Louisiana_Cookin

(Michael S) #1
41 louisianacookin.com

Q: How has your approach changed in this transition
to being not only a chef but also a restaurant owner?
I’m not always as creative as I used to be, not until I
get back in the kitchen. Whenever I get a chance to be
back there, I have to challenge myself even more than I
used to. But it’s really not so much about me anymore;
it’s about making my other chefs here even better. Th ey
have a lot of creativity, so there’s always something we’re
trying out.

Q: How often do you change the menu, and what
inspires a change?
We change the menu at any opportunity to fully explore
what we can do here, but at least three to four times a
year. Th e other two chefs will come to me with an idea
and we’ll feed off each other until we make it happen.
I get really inspired when we have a good night at the
restaurant. We’ll top it off with a nightcap and really
analyze what we want to see next. Anything is on the
table for a change.

Q: What’s your cooking philosophy?
I love everything about food. I love the preparation. I
love the intense, fast pace of the kitchen. I’ve said this
before, but I really mean it: food is intimate and should
be treated so. People don’t always go out to eat anymore
just because they’re hungry. Of course they’re hungry,
but more oft en than not, they’re also going out to enjoy
themselves and have a good time with a signifi cant other
or a couple of friends. What I want is to give someone
that intimate experience, even at Pork Belly’s.

paige lucas
Pork Belly’s Bar & Grill

ChefPaigeLucasis executive chef and owner of
PorkBelly’sBar&Grill in Marksville. Aft er

graduatingfromculinaryschool, Paige took every


opportunitytodeepenher culinary fi nesse at major


events,includingtheCannes Film Festival. From


slow-roastedporkbellyto a dark roux crawfi sh stew,


Paigeshowcasesherheritage and skill alongside rich


Louisianaingredients.


Q:Wheredoesyourlove for the culinary world


comefrom?


Asa littleCajungirl,I just remember the smell of


CommunityCoffee,natural gas, and a fried egg in the


morning.That’sjustsomething that’s so familiar to me,


andit stillmakesmefeellike a child when I have that.


Cooking,forwhateverreason, came easy to me. It got


tothepointthatI thought maybe I should take this


seriously.Believeit ornot, I wanted to go to med school


andbea doctor.ButI dropped out and told my parents


I wantedtogotoculinary school instead. I never knew


thisis whatI wanted,butI just gravitated toward it.


I reallygotstartedwhenI enrolled at the Louisiana


CulinaryInstituteinBaton Rouge. From there, it went


fromzeroto 100 milesan hour.


Q:Whatmadeyoudecide to open Pork Belly’s Bar


&Grillinyourhometown?


I’ma nativeofAvoyellesand grew up in Marksville. I


workedandlivedawayfor a little while, but I came back


heretoworkformyself.My dad owns his own business,


mygrandfatherownedhis own business, so I always


knewI wasgoingtobeinbusiness for myself someday.


WHERE SHE COOKS
Pork Belly’s Bar & Grill
523 Tunica Dr. W.
Marksville
318.240.0000

2019


SOMETHING YOU’LL NEED A NAPKIN WITH.
A GOOD STEW, OR MAYBE A ROAST BEEF
PO’ BOY.

WHAT’S YOUR DEFINITION OF COMFORT FOOD?
Free download pdf