A Letter from 2013 LRA Chair David Hearn

Dear Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA) members,

This year has truly been outstanding for me as chairman of the LRA. I’ve visited all nine chapters, participated in all the board meetings for the LRA, the LRA Self Insurer’s Fund and the LRA Education Foundation, spent the weekend in New Orleans for the EXPO and went to Washington, DC for the National Restaurant Association’s Public Affairs Conference.

Your membership in the LRA has so many benefits. The LRA SIF for workers’ compensation was created more than 30 years ago just for our industry. For the third consecutive year, the LRA SIF is lowering its rates, while other insurers are raising theirs. That’s a testament to the management of the fund and the members who participate in it and share the risk. Do yourself a favor and get a comparison quote. You could save yourself some money.

Of the LRA benefits are the ServSafe food safety courses, the new online ServSafe online alcohol training (the first of its kind in Louisiana) and ServSafe Allergens, are the keys to serving your guests safely on all fronts. The LRA has trained more than 50,000 people collectively in these programs and is the largest provider of these types of training in the state.

The LRA Education Foundation is your charitable organization. This year alone, the LRAEF awarded 24 students $50,000 in scholarships to continue their restaurant management and culinary arts education. Since 2009, the LRAEF has awarded $140,000. Just in time for the holidays, the LRAEF in partnership with the George Rodrigue Foundation for the Arts will release a cookbook, The Pot and The Palette. With 100 recipes from members across the state and illustrations by budding high school artists, the proceeds from the book will benefit both organizations.

Above all and one that isn’t tangible is advocacy. The LRA is your advocate at the local, state and even federal level. This is accomplished by a dedicated staff that constantly monitors regulatory and legislative activity that may impact the industry. You play a significant role in funding these activities when you contribute a portion of your dues to the LRA Hospitality Political Action Committee. Also, our chapters play a significant role in advocacy as a portion of its fundraising proceeds benefit the LRA Hospitality PAC.

My year of service as chairman of the LRA has been a privilege. I’m truly grateful to have given my time for the betterment of Louisiana’s restaurant industry. Thank you to all our members and suppliers for your dedication and commitment to improving this great industry.

Sincerely,

David Hearn, Owner, Catfish Cabin, Monroe

Pre-order "The Pot & The Palette" cookbook today!

The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) in partnership with the George Rodrigue Foundation of the Arts (GRFA) is pleased to announce the release of The Pot & The Palette Cookbook (7 x 9 inches, 192 pages, ISBN 978-0-615-86341-2, $24.95) with foreword by Emeril Lagasse.

Pre-order your copy of The Pot & The Palette today and you'll receive a complimentary entry into a raffle to win an exclusive George Rodrigue print, "Heat in the Kitchen" signed by Louisiana's most notable chefs.

                 “Is there any state in the union more closely associated with good food than Louisiana?” says Blue Dog artist George Rodrigue. “From its abundant Gulf seafood to its Cajun and Creole traditions to its world-famous restaurants, residents of the Pelican State bring a lot to the table.  The Pot and the Palette is a dual celebration of all that Louisiana has to offer: more than 100 recipes from the state’s finest chefs accompanied by illustrations of its culinary heritage by its most talented student artists.”

                  “In Louisiana, we believe in supporting each other,” says Emeril Lagasse. “George has supported the Emeril Lagasse Foundation for 10 years, and I am so proud of the many chefs and restaurateurs who have contributed recipes to make this book a true reflection of today’s Louisiana cuisine.” 

                  According to Stan Harris, CEO of the Louisiana Restaurant Association, “the recipes in ‘The Pot & The Palette’ reflect the full bounty of the state, from Monroe to Metairie, Bossier City to Baton Rouge, Lake Charles to Lafayette, and of course, New Orleans.”

The book includes over 100 recipes from top LRA member chefs and restaurants, such as, Emeril’s New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp with Petite Rosemary Biscuits, Leah Chase’s Gumbo Z’Herbes, John Besh’s American Sector Chicken and Dumplings, Chef Paul Prudhomme’s Meatloaf, Commander’s Palace’s Commander’s Salad, Café B’s Crawfish Beignets, Susan Spicer’s Artichoke Dolmades, Blue Dog Café’s Cast-Iron Duck Breast with Fig and Root Beer Glaze, Ruffino’s Crawfish Mac & Cheese, Cotton’s Chicken Fried Rabbit Po’ Boy, Slap Ya Mamma’s Red Beans and Rice, Ruth’s Chris’ Sweet Potato Casserole and Galatoire’s Chicken Clemenceau and Donald Link’s Grilled Tuna and Olive Salad from Peche. 

Louisiana’s culinary heritage is brought to life through more than 50 stunning artworks created by Louisiana junior and senior high school students as entries to the annual GRFA Visual Arts Competition, through which GRFA awarded $45,000 in college scholarships in 2013.
               
The LRAEF administers the ProStart program in nearly 50 high schools statewide. ProStart is a two-year, dynamic and comprehensive culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum, also for juniors and seniors, designed to attract young people to rewarding and exciting careers in the Louisiana’s restaurant industry. Through fundraising and event sponsorships, the LRAEF has awarded more than $140,000 in scholarships to ProStart students and others wishing to pursue careers in the culinary arts, since the inception of its Scholarship Fund in 2009.