2019-07-01_Louisiana_Cookin

33 louisianacookin.com

CHEF’S TABLE

MONROENATIVECORYBAHRhasalwaysdreamedof

owninga small,intimaterestaurant.Thatdreamcametruelast

SeptemberwhenheopenedParishRestaurant&Barindowntown

Monroe,whereheshowcasesthebestregionalingredientsavailable.

CoryjoinedtheranksoftheLouisianaCookin’ChefstoWatchin

2011,andthesameyear,hewasnamedKingofLouisianaSeafood.

Sincethen,hehascontinuedearningaccolades,includingwinningan

episodeofFoodNetwork’sChoppedin 2012 andmakingit tothefinale

ofFoodNetworkStarin2017.Evenwiththisnationalrecognition,

Coryremainscommittedtohishometownandtopromotingwhat

makesSouthernfoodgreat.

Parishresideswithina formerjewelrystore,renovatedwith

respecttoitsmid-centurydesign.Peeringinside,tallwindowsreveala

warmlylitdiningroomdecoratedwithartpiecesfromCory’spersonal

collection.The attachedgaragestillfunctionsandopenstoreveal

additionalspaceanda privateroomforspecialevents.

Outside,strandsoflightshoverabovetables,chairs,andraised

gardens.Parishis growingitsownfigs,citrus,peaches,andmore

alongsidetwonearbybeehives(inpartnershipwithJenningsApiaries)

sothatfreshproduceandhoneyarereadilyavailablewhenin

season—areflectionofCory’scommitmenttousinglocalingredients.

“Whenweopened,ourtwo-yeargoalwastobecooking

everythingbutourseafoodfromwithin 90 milesoftherestaurant,”

saysCory,addingthatParishis alreadyhalfwaythere.

BecauseParish’smenuis designedtobehighlyseasonal,it often

changesthreeorfourtimesa week.Corysaysthisapproachchallenges

himandhisstafftobeinnovativeandversatilewhileremainingtrue

toSouthernhospitality,coretenetsofthechef ’sethos.Hisvisionfor

Parishis todevelopa cuisinethatnaturallyreflectstheDeltaregion by

usingingredientssourcedasclosetohomeaspossible.

HOMESPUN

IN MONROE

Parish Restaurant & Bar

318 N. 2nd St. • Monroe

318.376.2423

parishrestaurant.com

Chef Cory Bahr

by samantha moats