LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter announces annual award recipients

Steve Pettus named LRA GNO Chapter Restaurateur of the Year, Antoine's Restaurant receives Lifetime Achievement Award.

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Greater New Orleans Chapter (GNO) is pleased to announce its annual award recipients. During a ceremony November 19, 2014 at The Chicory, 2014 LRA GNO Chapter President Mike Maenza, owner of Mr. Mudbug and MMI Culinary Services, presented the following awards—Restaurateur of the Year, Lifetime Achievement Award, Hall of Fame, Presidential Award, Active Member of the Year, Distinguished Service Award and Associate Member of the Year.

 

Mike Maenza with Steve Pettus, who receives the
LRA GNO Chapter's Restaurateur of the Year award. 

Steve Pettus, owner and managing partner of Dickie Brennan & Company, was selected as the LRA GNO Chapter’s Restaurateur of the Year. His restaurant group owns and operates four New Orleans restaurants—Bourbon House, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, Palace Café and Tableau. Given to a member who contributes unselfishly to the advancement of the hospitality industry, Pettus has continually dedicated himself to the LRA and has been a LRA GNO Chapter Board Member since 2007. He is an LRA Self Insurer’s Fund for Workers’ Compensation Trustee and also serves on the board of the New Orleans Convention & Visitors Bureau and the French Quarter-Marigny Historic Area Management District.

“Steve has been a tremendous asset to the Greater New Orleans Chapter,” said Maenza. “His connection to New Orleans’ business community, coupled with his knowledge of the restaurant industry, not only makes his restaurants very successful, he also makes the association stronger.”

 

Antoine's Restaurant proprietor Rick Blount and mother
Yvonne receive the Lifetime Achievement Award. 

Iconic New Orleans institution Antoine’s Restaurant was honored with the 2014 LRA GNO Chapter Lifetime Achievement Award. Current proprietor and CEO Rick Blount and his mother, Yvonne Blount, represented Antoine’s and accepted the honor on its behalf. Antoine’s has been a proud LRA member for 56 years.

“With Antoine’s 175^th anniversary approaching, we could not be more pleased to honor this world-famous establishment,” said Maenza. “New Orleans is home to some extraordinary restaurants, but only Antoine’s has the distinction of being the longest, continuously family-owned and operated restaurant in the country.”

Mike Maenza inducts Mr. B's General Manager
Randy Stein into the LRA GNO Chapter Hall of Fame. 

Randy Stein, general manager of Mr. B’s Bistro, was inducted into the LRA GNO Chapter’s Hall of Fame. Stein has a long history of faithful, dedicated and outstanding service to the LRA and serves as a director of the LRA State Board and previously served as president of the LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter.

Octavio Mantilla, partner in the John Besh Restaurant Group, received the LRA GNO Chapter Presidential Award. His restaurant group owns and manages nine restaurants in Louisiana and Texas—August, Besh Steak, Domenica, Lüke New Orleans, Lüke San Antonio, Borgne, Pizza Domenica, La Provence and Johnny Sanchez.  For five years, Mantilla has volunteered his time to the chapter and has actively worked to bring new members to the association.

Stanton Ripp, owner and operator of Barcadia, was named the LRA GNO Chapter Active Member of the Year. The award is given to an individual in the food service industry who is involved in chapter affairs, events and meetings, and encourages his peers to join the association and become active.

Bob Becker, CEO of New Orleans’ City Park, received the LRA GNO Chapter Distinguished Service Award. The award is presented to an individual outside of the association in recognition for innovations and significant contributions to the advancement of the hospitality industry.

Anthony Lamm, Global Staffing Solutions’ sales and marketing manager, received the LRA GNO Chapter Associate Member of the Year Award for graciously volunteering his service to the chapter and its activities, fundraisers and efforts.

“Each one of these individuals have been chosen to receive these awards because of their selfless dedication to the advancement of the Louisiana Restaurant Association and the New Orleans restaurant industry,” said Maenza. “They use their positions and influence for the greater good, and we are grateful they volunteer their time and talents.”

The LRA 2015 Chair Tony Abadie, director of catering and events at the Hilton New Orleans Riverside, installed the officers of the LRA GNO Chapter Board during the ceremony. 

LRA honors 12 Restaurant Legends at Mr. B's Bistro in New Orleans

Twelve Mr. B's staff members receive the LRA
Restaurant Legends honor for their long-time
service to the restaurant, totaling 335 years. 

Since its inception in 2006, the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) has named individuals across the state with 20 or more years of service at one establishment, Restaurant Legends. Collectively, these individuals have nearly 4,000 years of service to their places of employment, their customers and communities.

In a ceremony Monday, September 15, LRA President/CEO Stan Harris presented the Restaurant Legends honor to 12 recipients from Mr. B’s Bistro in New Orleans. With 335 combined years of service at Mr. B’s, these men and women exemplify the satisfaction of making their jobs a lifelong and rewarding career.  

Cindy Brennan, Managing Partner of Mr. B’s shares, “At Mr. B’s we are a family. We have grown up together and it is a pleasure to work with these fine men and women day after day. Their commitment and dedication have been a huge addition to our success.”

They are:

• Stephen Archacki, waiter, employed for 29 years
• David Boehm, maintenance manager, employed for 27 years
• Ron Canedo, manager, employed for 22 years
• Carlos Castillo, utility worker, employed for 30 years
• Mitchell Dowling, receiver, employed for 28 years
• John Charles “JC” Jackson, waiter, employed for 28 years
• Merlene Jones, accounting/HR manager, employed for 38 years
• Philip “Skip” Lomax, Jr., manager, employed for 33 years
• Michelle McRaney, executive chef, employed for 22 years
• Larry Sherman, manager, employed for 21 years
• Jackie Washington, cook, employed for 25 years
• Keenan White, food runner, employed for 32 years

Mr. B’s longtime General Manager Randy Stein adds, “I am honored by the commitment these individuals have to Mr. B’s Bistro. I salute them for their dedication, hard work, and their mentoring of others. Their years of loyalty and leadership have created a wonderful working environment." 

“We hope to encourage younger workers to follow the examples that each of these special men and women have set for the industry,” said Harris. “It is more than evident that Mr. B’s fosters a sense of pride among their employees, promotes from within and stresses the importance of jobs within the industry.”