Chef Ryan Andre talks touring Birmingham for the Louisiana Restaurant Takeover

All eyes were on Louisiana chefs last week as The Louisiana Travel Promotion Association teamed up with Hoffman Media to bring eight state chefs, including City Pork 2’s Ryan Andre, to Birmingham, Alabama, as part of the Louisiana Restaurant Takeover.

Hoffman Media, which houses magazines such as Louisiana Cookin’ and Taste of the South, first brought the talent to their offices, where the chefs prepped dishes and discussed their culinary background.

Andre served a hash-crusted pompano with a sauté of mustard greens, using City Pork’s house-cured bacon in the sauté and topping it with a tempura-fried Louisiana soft shell crawfish and watercress cream.

“It was an extensive dish,” he says, laughing. “It turned out well for having that many components. Everybody enjoyed it.”

The dish wasn’t judged but was served to show the media company what Louisiana chefs have to offer.
“Overall, we were there to represent Louisiana, and in my case, Baton Rouge, as a tourist destination,” he says. “It was a good time. It was good for the editors of these magazines to see the other sides of the chefs.”

In the evening, the chefs then teamed up with Birmingham restaurants for dinner service. Andre was paired with Tom Saab of Bistro 218, a restaurant that combines the traditions of a French bistro with modern American cuisine. There, Andre served his hash-crusted pompano to a packed house.

“It was definitely intimidating,” Andre says. “First, [Saab is] allowing a chef to cook for his restaurant and regulars. Then, I’m walking into a kitchen where I’ve never worked before and using all his equipment to make my dish. But it turned out well. It’s an honor to go into another state and another restaurant to see exactly what another chef does. To see two states jive together like that, it’s a show of how the South is—how we embrace each other.”

The other participating chefs were Lyle Broussard from L’Auberge Casino & Resort in Lake Charles, Cory Bahr from Cotton in Monroe, Manny Augello from Bread & Circus Provisions in Lafayette, Michael Farrell from Dickie Brennan & Company in New Orleans, Keith & Nealy Frentz from Lola in Covington, and Stephen Naegle from Spirits Food & Friends in Alexandria.

Andre was recently named the executive chef for City Pork’s second location. For more details on his move, read 225 Dine‘s story.