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Biggest food stories of 2014

Pictured above: Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar opening in downtown Baton Rouge was one of the bigger food stories of the year. Photo by Collin Richie

In the final week of 2014, 225 Dine takes a look at the movers, shakers and biggest food stories of the year.

Highland Coffees staysClarke Cadzow’s popular North Gates coffee shop was almost shut down in late 2014, because Cadzow and building owner Hank Saurage struggled to come to an agreement on a new lease in late September. Then, fans of the shop got wind of the news, making petitions and showing support for the shop. By November, Cadzow and Saurage eventually came to terms on a new lease, one that will keep the shop open for the foreseeable future.

Louie’s Cafe moves to a bigger, better location. One of the most shared stories from 225 Dine was our report on the new location of Louie’s Cafe, the longstanding and much-loved diner that moved down the street to a new location with double the space and more adequate parking (hallelujah!). The new Louie’s opened in late November.

Kleinpeter Milk addresses problemsIn a May Baton Rouge Business Report cover story, the magazine shed light on the local dairy’s problems with the taste and shelf life of its signature milk products.

City Pork Brasserie and Bar opensWith the help of chef Ryan André, the Perkins Road restaurant’s second location, which opened just a few weeks ago, was one of the most talked about openings of the year.

Tin Roof Brewery opens its tap roomBaton Rouge’s brewery continues to expand, and the unveiling of its tap room in October proved that Tin Roof’s popularity is only rising.

Pastime Junior abruptly closes. The Drusilla Shopping Center location of the popular pizzeria closed in April, and talk has been sparse about another Pastime location

On the small screen. Baton Rouge made quite the impression on TV. Jay Ducote gave it his best shot on an episode of Cutthroat Kitchen in August, and Barry Kalt’s Mama Della’s was the subject of Restaurant: Impossible, which premiered in March.

Latte e Miele closes. Luca di Martino’s popular lunchtime/coffee spot closed abruptly in late June. Once di Martino gets some personal matters settled, he told 225 he would absolutely consider coming back to the Capital City.

Delgado opens two more bars. The city councilman continues to expand his reach on Baton Rouge’s downtown nightlife, opening Brickyard South in September in the former location of Mud and Water and The Draft House on Third Street just this month.

Fresh Junkie, Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar push downtown’s revitalization. Two bright spots in downtown’s restaurant scene in 2014 were the opening of Pat Fellows’ fresh, fast Fresh Junkie in spring and the unique Jolie Pearl Oyster Bar right next door this fall.

The Rum House opensOne of the bigger openings of early 2014 was Michael Bouchert and Kelly Ponder’s Baton Rouge location of The Rum House, a Caribbean-style taqueria on Perkins Road near Essen Lane.