Featured photo: Hunter from Smokin’ Bowls Stir Fry prepares an order at Great Raft Brewing.
Between some fun new pop-ups, fundraiser events, special dinners and some educational events, Shreveport-Bossier’s food and drink community is staying hella busy as the Summer of ’17 draws to a close. Here, in no particular order, are a handful of goings-on that caught my attention:
A couple of outstanding pop-up food vendors have entered the rotation at local breweries and night spots. Smokin’ Bowls Stir Fry is the personal project of a jovial Marilynn’s Place veteran named Hunter, who caters to hungry drinkers at places like Great Raft Brewing, Bear’s on Fairfield and Strange Brew. Hunter is sort of a one-man Genghis Grill; diners choose from noodles, rice or potatoes and then add-on proteins, vegetables, spices and sauces. One noteworthy aspect of this operation is that it’s delicious; another is that they provide a veggie-forward mobile food vendor option. Dishes range from $7 to $9. Follow Smokin’ Bowls on Facebook for info on where they’ll be serving.
Another mobile food vendor who’s popping up in new places is the fantastic Kabalen Authentic Filipino Food, who’ve built a big following by feeding the Shreveport Farmers’ Market and are now venturing out to local breweries. They’ll be at Great Raft Brewing on Aug. 23 and Aug. 30. Follow them on Facebook or check out our 2016 interview with Kabalen mastermind Linda Patton.
Chef Gabriel Balderas of El Cabo Verde, who was named a 2017 Chef to Watch by Louisiana Cookin’ magazine, will serve a Summer Harvest Dinner at King Hardware and Gifts on Aug. 15. Here’s the Facebook event.
Louisiana Food Prize-winning chef Blake Jackson is a busy man. Somehow, while preparing to open Shreveport’s first chef-driven dessert bar, Whisk Confections, he’s found the time to plan a beer dinner with revered Louisiana brewery Parish Brewing Company. The dinner will be held on Aug. 31 at Rotolo’s Pizzeria of Shreveport. You can see the great-looking menu (there’s a dish called “If Gordon Ramsey Made a Hot Pocket”) or learn more via the Facebook event.
Four local eateries are partnering on a craft cocktail tour of Shreveport. Tales and Trails of the Cocktail will be held on Thursday, Aug. 17, and will include shuttle transportation to four stops for a signature cocktail and a bite to eat. Lynn Laird, a local food personality, will serve as guide. More info here, Facebook event here.
Beloved local restaurateur and wine enthusiast Kuan Lim of Lucky Palace will be celebrated at Sip UnLIMited, a wine and food-filled fundraiser/benefit to be held at Margaritaville Resort Casino Bossier City on Sunday, Sept. 10. The Times write a great story about Lim and the benefit here. Lim, who is extremely popular in the Louisiana wine community, has faced a number of medical issues recently. Here’s the Facebook event.
One of the world’s leading authorities on cheese (honestly, the guy has won two James Beard Awards for writing about cheese) will host a wine dinner at the Petroleum Club of Shreveport on Tuesday, Aug. 22. If you attend the Max McCalman Dinner, expect to sample some of the best cheeses on the market and learn a lot about pairing cheeses with food and wine.
For more information on upcoming events in Shreveport-Bossier, check out SBFunGuide.com.
