Lafayette LA Restaurants “Must Visit” Review
Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro
With its focus on “Louisiana Farm-to-Table Cuisine”, and its own spin on New Orleans Creole classics, Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro is a standout among Lafayette LA restaurants. Their beautiful, inviting atmosphere, and friendly, knowledgeable service set the tone for an unhurried and memorable dining experience.
The establishment gets its name from the painting titled “Jolie Blonde” (Pretty Blonde) by world-renowned artist George Rodrigue. Originally painted in 1974, Jolie Blonde depicts the artist’s vision of the fictional Cajun woman. According to the song, written by a prisoner in Port Arthur, Texas in the 1920′s, the pretty blonde woman left her Cajun lover for someone else. Jolie’s showcases 35 canvasses by Rodrigue hung throughout the restaurant depicting Cajun life as it was in the early and mid-20th century.
Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro features the culinary stylings of Executive Chef Manny Augello, offering a rustic cucina povera and eclectic Creole menu featuring fresh, local, seasonal Louisiana ingredients harvested weekly by local farmers and food artisans. The menu is diverse, the atmosphere is relaxed and unpretentious, and the staff excels at hospitality southern style. Just what you’d expect from any of the top Lafayette LA Restaurants.
In addition to the seasonal menu, Augello creates weekly farm-to-table specials and an ever-changing bar snack menu. His house-made charcuterie, pickles and condiments are made weekly using products provided by over a dozen Louisiana farmers and food artisans. His in-house charcuterie program involves making small batches of hand crafted salume, pates, prosciutto, sausage, condiments and creative combinations of many vegetables and fruit. In addition to his boundless imagination, Augello is also the only the only certified gluten-free chef in the Gulf South and is eager to meet the special dietary needs of guests with allergies of any kind.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Jolie’s is Supplied by Local, Organic, Artisan Suppliers:
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Gotreaux Family Farms
Farming is a lifestyle for the Gotreaux family, and also their passion. As a first generation diversified, organic family farm Gotreaux Family Farms grows nutrient dense food. They believe in buying local, growing sustainably and reducing the footprint on our planet and in our community. Scott, Louisiana.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Helping Hands
Farmer David Kleir’s passion focuses on producing local & organic produce by respecting nature’s cycles and a commitment to environmental responsibility. Sunset, Louisiana.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Market Basket
As a certified and experienced chef, Charles Thompson has come to know what goes into the food supply. Frustrated with the lack of quality ingredients available to restaurants, Charles started Market Basket Farm producing quality organically grown vegetables, fruit and eggs. In striving to reduce the chemical imprint of modern society in our lives, Market Basket uses only natural and organic pest controls and fertilizers. Youngsville, Louisiana.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Belle Ecorce Farm
Owner and cheese maker Wanda Barras is dedicated to raising quality dairy goats. Belle Ecorce Farm is a state licensed goat dairy and fromagerie, specializing in hand crafted, award winning cheeses for over 10 years. St. Martinville, Louisiana.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Rabbitman Farms
For over 20 years, Rabbitman Farms has been raising New Zealand White and Californian rabbits. One of the only FDA approved rabbit processing plants in the South, Rabbitman Farms understands the care & attention needed to raise quality rabbits. Sandy Hook, Mississippi.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Springer Mountain Farms
Nestled in the hills of the Blue Ridge Mountains, Springer Mountain Farms provides the very best and most nutritious chicken possible. The chickens receive no antibiotics, no growth stimulants or hormones, and are never fed animal by-products. The chickens receive only a vegetarian diet with natural vitamins and minerals, and fresh mountain water. Springer Mountain, Georgia.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Nuovo’s Pasta
With a culinary philosophy of making pasta the traditional way using old world techniques & hand-crafting every product, Nuovo’s Pasta is a premium product. Nuovo’s artisan pasta products are made in a HACCP certified, USDA inspected, state-of-the-art facility. Stratford, Connecticut.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Kleinpeter Dairy
We love finding suppliers that are passionate about what they do. We think it makes the product better. Kleinpeter is the perfect example of this. With the utmost respect for their cows, what goes in them & the quality product they produce, there is no wonder Kleinpeter Farms Dairy products are so good. Perfecting their craft since 1913 and now in their 4th generation of family operators, the farm is both traditional & cutting-edge. Baton Rouge, Louisiana.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – WesMar Farms
A small family dairy farm in rural central Louisiana that raises free-range Nubian dairy goats. WesMar Farms produces Grade A pasteurized full cream milk, as well as chevre and feta cheeses, and goat milk soaps. Moreauville, LA.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Poupart’s Bakery
Poupart’s Bakery is an authentic French bakery which has been producing fine pastries, old world french breads, and seasonal baked goods since 1967. Lafayette, LA.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Robin Farms
Brandt & Jamie Robin (row-ban) have been growing vegetables year round since 1999. The family farmers at Robin Farms take great pride in growing high quality seasonal produce. Church Point, LA.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – James-Marie Farm
This south Louisiana farm specializes in raising high quality quail and quail eggs. James-Marie Farm eggs are featured in a number of Jolie’s dishes. Church Point, LA.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Pearl Reef Oyster Company
This locally renowned south Louisiana oyster cultivator, harvester and packer has a 33 year history of reef preservation. Pearl Reef Oyster Company uses sustainable practices and environmentally friendly methods to produce their succulent Gulf oysters. Abbeville, LA.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Langlinais Bakery
What began as a small grocery store in 1971, Langlinais Bakery is now a second generation bakery that produces breads with a light, crispy crust and light, airy interior. Lafayette, LA.
Lafayette LA Restaurants – Other Local Farmers Supplying Jolie’s:
Jubilee Farm & Garden ~ Emily Neustrom and her partners grow fresh, seasonal produce. Lafayette, LA.
Charlie Milazzo Green Farm ~ Fresh, seasonal produce. St. Martinville, LA
Bayou Country Honey ~ Fresh local honey. Duson, LA.
H. J. Bergeron Pecans ~ Louisiana grown and harvested pecans. New Roads, LA
Delcambre Shrimpers ~ Shrimp are harvested off the gulf coast and provided fresh weekly. Delcambre, LA.
Jolie’s also offers their take on several New Orleans Creole classics such as roasted oysters done 3 ways, New Orleans style BBQ shrimp, Turtle Soup, Redfish Amandine, and beignets, to name a few. The rest of the menu features world cuisine with a Louisiana twist. Their Ciopino Stew is made with shrimp, scallops, fish and mussels, and served with grilled peasant bread to soak up the delectable broth. The fresh pappardelle pasta ribbons with scallops, crimini mushroom, tarragon and a sherry, brown butter sauce will leave you speechless.
The Jolie’s dining experience is completed with a diverse list of carefully selected small production wines from around the world, at reasonable prices. Jolie’s mixologists specialize in crafting old world cocktails, alcohol infusions and house-made mixers using local, seasonal ingredients.
It’s easy to enjoy the casual and inviting “Louisiana chic” of Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro. It’s the perfect place for locals and visitors alike to experience the uniqueness of the Acadian culture and hospitality, while enjoying great food, service and atmosphere – anytime.
The unique eatery is owned by Steve and Suzi Santillo and George Rodrigue’s two sons, Andre and Jacques. Jolie’s Louisiana Bistro is one of the “must-visit” Lafayette LA restaurants.
