New cafe to open in Main Street Market this May

Following the sudden closure of Taste cafe in Main Street Market and chef Richard Markert’s departure to work as executive chef for Olive or Twist, a new cafe will take over the empty space.

Come May, Chef Celeste Gill will open Chef Celeste’s Bistro, a quick-serve breakfast and lunch joint combining counter-serve lunches and sit-down services.

“I really want to cater to both the people who only have 30 minutes for lunch and the people who might have an hour or a little more,” Gill says. “I know what it’s like to have to rush or skip lunch, and my goal is to be here to provide hot, home lunches to everyone.”

The bistro will feature paninis, soups, salads and a hot line of rotating Louisiana-inspired classics such as shrimp and grits and shrimp and andouille gumbo. On Saturdays, it will serve an expanded breakfast menu including quiche, pancakes, and grits and grillades. A selection of local culinary products, such as salad dressings, sauces and gelato, will also be available for purchase.

Gill says the bulk of food products used in her restaurant will come from the farmers market, adding that everything from the mayo to the main course will be as local and as flavorful as possible.

“I’m just so excited to join Main Street Market and provide people with food that truly showcases how great our native produce is,” she says. “It’s going to be fun, and it’s going to be delicious.”

The current space is being retrofitted with a new design by Acadian House Kitchen + Bath Design to expand the existing cafe and create an open, airy seating space and a modern vibe. Patrons will be able to see the goings-on of the kitchen at the counter seating area.

Gill also serves as the host for Main Street Market’s Fresh from the Market cooking demos on Saturdays and hosts “Cooking with Louisiana Treasures,” a series showcasing Louisiana-native produce.

Main Street Market is at the corner of Fifth and Main streets, and Chef Celeste’s Bistro will be open weekdays 10 a.m.-2 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m.-noon.