Featured Photo: The bar at Herby-K’s as photographed by Jim Noetzel.
When you’ve been in business for 80 years, it’s time to throw a party. The good folks at Herby-K’s have been hosting an annual block party and benefit for a few years now, but this year’s edition commemorating 80 years in business may be the biggest and most exciting yet. The party will be held, 1-7 p.m., on Sunday, April 10 and tickets are now on sale. There’ll be a huge buffet (including Shrimp Buster shrimp, gumbo, crawfish bread and more) as well as beer trucks, live music, activities for kids and a whole lot more. Admission is only $25 and includes the buffet and non-alcoholic beverages. Admission is free for kids ages 10 and under, which is super cool of the Herby-K’s folks. Even cooler is the fact that they’ll be donating all profits from the event to Pet Savers of Shreveport, a non-profit with a mission to rescue, protect or place unwanted and abandoned pets.
The wildest part of the whole affair to me is actually one of the raffle prizes, which basically amounts to a Willy Wonka-style golden ticket for local restaurant lovers. There are a lot of great raffle prizes available, but this one restaurant gift certificate package is absurdly huge and well-curated. One raffle winner will $100 gift certificates from all of the following places (and possibly others!):
Frank’s Pizza Napoletana
The Mabry House
Ristorante Giuseppe
Blue Southern Comfort Foods
Wine Country Bistro & Bottle Shop
Zocolo
Marilynn’s Place
Ki’ Mexico
Silver Star Steakhouse
Lucky Palace
2 Johns Steak and Seafood
Bergeron’s Boudin and Cajun Meats
Flying Heart Brewing
Great Raft Brewing
Herby K’s
I’m not even sure what I’d do with myself if someone handed me a $100 gift card to some of these places. I’d finally order the curried lobster tail at Lucky Palace, that’s for sure. I’d take some friends out for a flaming Baked Alaska at The Mabry House. I’d asked Ristorante Giuseppe if they could just fill the trunk of my Mazda 3 with their insanely good spinach tagliolini. Frank’s Pizza Napoletana? Yes, I will have that bone-in Mahaffey Farms pork chop, please.
I mean no disrespect whatsoever to the great folks who’ve provided the other wonderful items that are up for grabs at this raffle, but holy cow. Raffle tickets are only $10 ($11.54 if your purchase them online) and may be purchased here. And to whoever wins the restaurant gift certificates: Can I be your new best friend?
Bowser? Good name for a dog. I wish I’d known sooner, but it’s never too late to start his fan club! I started selling these shirts before he ever appeared. Maybe I was preparing for his fame.