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 Greater New Orleans Chapter hosts 5th annual "Eat and Bowl" tournament

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) Greater New Orleans Chapter’s fifth annual bowling tournament, “Eat and Bowl,” will be held Sunday, June 22, 2014 at Fulton Alley, 600 Fulton Street in New Orleans, 4:30-8:30 p.m.

Enjoy a “Sunday Funday,” bowling with friends, in addition to great food and drinks. The public is invited to watch the action, or participate themselves.

Teams of four can be purchased for $400, which includes an additional four entry tickets.  Individual tickets for spectators can be purchased for $30 per person and includes food and a cash bar. To register your teams and to purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com and search “Eat and Bowl” in New Orleans.

The tournament is a “speed bowling” format; the team with the most pins knocked down in one hour will determine the winner. The top team will win a trophy and bragging rights for the next year.

The price of admission includes food from New Orleans restaurants such as Acme Oyster House, Mr. B’s Bistro, Ruth’s Chris Steak House, Mr. Mudbug’s and the event’s host location, Fulton Alley.

The proceeds from “Eat and Bowl” benefit the LRA Greater New Orleans Chapter’s annual LRA Education Foundation (LRAEF) goal. The LRAEF, in turn, will use monies raised to further promote the restaurant industry as a career choice through its ProStart^® program, enhance the restaurant community through expanded educational and career opportunities and provide scholarships to individuals pursuing culinary arts and restaurant management degrees.

For more information, contact LRA Chapter Member Services Coordinator Jodi Williams, jwilliams@lra.org, (504) 636-6551.

LRA announces its 2013 Chapter Leaders

The Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) is proud to announce the presidents that will lead its membership in 2013. The LRA is comprised of nine chapters across the state, each representing a Major Metropolitan Area (MMA). Every year, the chapters’ board of directors elects a restaurant owner in its ranks to serve as president. This year’s leaders, who volunteer their time and efforts at the highest level, are charged with localizing the overall LRA member experience and cultivating opportunities for growth within the association.

Each chapter is responsible for at least one major fundraiser to contribute to two of the LRA’s most important initiatives: HospitalityPAC, the association’s political action committee that supports those Louisiana-elected officials who understand the importance of the restaurant industry and the LRA Education Foundation, the philanthropic arm that exists to enhance the community through expanded educational and career opportunities.

The 2013 LRA Chapter Presidents are:

Acadiana Chapter (MMA-Lafayette): Gerard Baudoin of Mr. Keet’s in Maurice. Baudoin has been an LRA member since 2003; an Acadiana Chapter board member since 2008. This is his second consecutive term as chapter president. Major fundraiser: 52 Weeks of Dining

Bayou Chapter (MMA-Houma/Thibodaux): Randy Barrios of Flanagan’s Creative Food & Drink in Thibodaux. Barrios has been an LRA member since 1993. Major fundraiser: Dine Around Raffle

Cenla Chapter (MMA-Alexandria): Johnny Scalisi of Texas Roadhouse in Alexandria. Scalisi has been an LRA member since 2009, and joined the Cenla board that same year. This is his second consecutive term as chapter president. Major fundraiser: Taste of Mardi Gras

 

Greater Baton Rouge Chapter: Ryan Nizzo of Last In Concepts/Walk-On’s Bistreaux in Baton Rouge. Nizzo has been an LRA member since 2008 and a Greater Baton Rouge board member since 2009. This is his second consecutive term as chapter president. Major fundraisers: Annual Silent Auction and Capitol City Classic Golf Tournament

 

Greater New Orleans Chapter: Paul Rotner of Acme Oyster House in Metairie. Rotner has been a LRA member for eight years. He previously served on the Greater New Orleans board in the 1990s and began his second stint in 2008. In 2011, Rotner was elected to the LRA State Board of Directors. Major fundraiser: GNO Chapter Golf Tournament

 

Northeast Chapter (MMA-Monroe): Robert Wilson of Tummy Yummy Creations in West Monroe. Wilson has been an LRA member since 2005 and a Northeast board member since 2009. This is his second consecutive term as chapter president. Major fundraiser: Culinary Tour of Northeast Louisiana Coupon Booklets

 

Northshore Chapter (MMA-Mandeville/Covington): Jake Palmer of Acme Oyster House in Covington. He has been an LRA member for five years and has served on the Northshore board since 2009. Palmer previously served as chapter president in 2011. Major fundraiser: Ultimate Dining Experience

 

Northwest Chapter (MMA-Shreveport): Emily Murrell Gates of Monjunis in Shreveport. Gates has been an LRA member since 1998 and has served on the Northwest board since 2010. Major fundraisers: Northwest Chapter Golf Tournament and Annual Clay Shoot

 

Southwest Chapter (MMA-Lake Charles): Dave Evans of Luna Bar and Grill in Lake Charles. He has been an LRA member since 2006 and has served on the chapter’s board since 2010. Major fundraiser: Southwest Chapter Golf Tournament

“The LRA is only as strong as its volunteer leaders,” said LRA President & CEO Stan Harris. “This group of restaurateurs will do a great job representing their regions and the restaurant industry in the coming year.”