Best of SB 2021

The post December 2021 : BEST OF SB 2021 appeared first on SB Magazine.

BY ELLEN TRICE

“A RECIPE IS A STORY THAT ENDS WITH A GOOD MEAL.”

— AUTHOR PAT CONROY

Delicious times three with a bit of history thrown in is the best way to describe cookbook collection of the Junior League of Shreveport-Bossier, Inc. The Junior League is an organization of women committed to promoting voluntarism, developing the potential of women, and improving communities through the effective action and leadership of trained volunteers. Its purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

These tasty tomes trace their culinary history back just short of six decades. Make no mistake, these are excellent— even award-winning—cookbooks. But A Cook’s Tour of Shreveport (1964), Revel (1980), and Mardi Gras to Mistletoe (2007) are much more than just cookbooks. Each volume provides a snapshot of Shreveport-Bossier at their time of publication not only in their texts, illustrations and designs, but right down to the inclusion of recipes from our cities’ favorite restaurants of each era, say JLSB Cookbook Chair Maggie Malone.

If you are hoping to re-create your grandmother’s chocolate cake or the hushpuppies once served at Smith’s Cross Lake Inn, A Cook’s Tour of Shreveport is the place to go. With 300+ pages of recipes for everything from homestyle dishes and dinner party entrees to snacks once shared in front of the family’s new color television, the Junior League’s first foray into the land of fund-raising cookbooks is a true classic. Hand-drawn illustrations at the beginning of each section feature Shreveport-Bossier landmarks and attractions of the day.

Throwing a party? The opening pages of Revel provide suggested menus and planning tips for events grouped by season. From an Easter Egg Hunt in the Spring Revel section to Cajun Christmas in Winter Revel, cooks can find a year’s worth of suggestions for perfect celebrations. Each entry references the page numbers where corresponding recipes can be found. Colorful, stylized graphics fill Revel’s pages and add to its 1980s flare that features favorite recipes contributed by members and friends of the Junior League, including Chef Abe Ritman’s Crayfish Etouffee and Chef Joe Fertitta’s Farmer’s Omelet.

The gem in this cookbook trifecta is certainly Mardi Gras to Mistletoe. Created in collaboration with local writer and photographer Neil Johnson, this photo-filled publication is coffee table quality and a top pick for displaying on a kitchen cookbook stand. In addition to images from Johnson’s library of Northwest Louisiana attractions and events, Mardi Gras to Mistletoe features tabletops tastefully set with dishes created from recipes included in the cookbook. “I have respected the work of the Junior League through the decades,” says Johnson. “It was a distinct honor to work with them on Mardi Gras to Mistletoe, and I’m proud of what we created. Plus, it was fun!” he says, noting that many of the dishes prepared for the photo sessions were consumed shortly after the shoots.

Inventories of all three cookbooks are available. The JLSB dedicates proceeds from cookbook sales toward the funding of philanthropic projects with special emphasis on its Red Apron Pantry and Health Literacy Summer Camp – both of which are food related.

What a tasty idea for a holiday gift! 

www.jlsb.org

318.469.8476

The post Junior League Cookbooks appeared first on SB Magazine.

BY ELIZABETH DEAL

Basketball. That’s where Mike Whitehead thought his career was headed in high school. A good student who liked to read and study, he planned to join the yearbook staff because, as rumor had it, there would be extra “free” time—just perfect for practicing free throws. But when other students filled the yearbook staff first, he was moved to the school newspaper instead. The rest, as they say, is history. “I fell in love with writing and journalism,” he says. Thus, began a writing and editing career which has spanned more than four decades.

At the University of North Texas, he was the editor of the student newspaper, the North Texas Daily, launching his career into numerous editing and writing positions at newspapers in Texas, California, Oregon, and Louisiana. Whitehead was the executive editor of The Shreveport Times and executive editor of SB Magazine for fourteen years.

With his career beginning in the 1960s, Whitehead has experienced a lot of technological changes in the news and publishing industry, noting that at that time journalism had not changed much since the 1800s. . He would type a story and hand each sheet, as it was finished, over his shoulder to an editor who reviewed it, marked it up, and gave it straight to the typesetter for printing. The first draft was the only draft. Often he would call the office from a pay phone to dictate stories for publishing. There was no writing, revising and rewriting like we have with the luxury of computers today.

When “new journalism” began to take hold in the late 1960s and early 1970s, he was determined to write like one of his role models, Tom Wolfe. But after his attempt left him with basically a blank page, he relinquished this idea, saying to himself “How about I just write like Mike Whitehead?” He says that we can read and glean and be in awe of other writers, but the lesson is to always retain the voice of the writer. Voice comes from everything that simply makes you, you. Your background, your beliefs, your experiences, the places you’ve lived, etc. No one else can ever truly share your voice. “When I was an editor, I could have rewritten everything in my likeness, but you need different voices in a publication,” he says.

Whitehead has covered the gamut from war to poverty to the economy and business. He’s interviewed Presidents, singers, and actors. Over dinner one night with Charles Schulz, he learned that Schulz asked his children to discontinue producing and printing the Peanuts comic strip in the newspapers once he had passed. Why? Space was limited, and he wanted someone else to have a chance. Those words of Schulz never left him. Fast forward to his decision in 2016 to step away from SB Magazine. “It was someone else’s chance to have the joy that I had in my career,” he says.

Mike Whitehouse is legendary at SB Magazine, to staff and readers alike. In a farewell message to Whitehead, owner Byron May remarked, “Mike Whitehead is the kind of guy that’s always there to help, whether it’s in his job description or not. He’s the kind of guy that works hard and inspires those around him to do the same. He’s the kind of guy that has great character and integrity and shows it every day. He’s the kind of guy that every business needs to have on their team to be successful.”

Whitehead’s written pieces include uncountable news articles, feature articles, and short stories. Now, he has ventured into the world of fiction with a debut novel, The Weekend, published by Archway Publishing, an imprint of Simon and Schuster. The idea for the novel came from a trend he was seeing in society: People who knew each other young were finding each other again much later in life.

“As a journalist, you are searching for and telling the truth. As a novelist, you are making up information, trying to get to the truth,” he says. “Which, by the way, is a whole lot of fun.”

According to Whitehead, the book has two layers weaved throughout. The first is a love story: This is a story of two people who have a second chance at first love. It took Sam Roberts one summer to fall in love with Maggie McWilliams. That was forty years ago. Now, Sam only has one weekend to convince Maggie, now a widow with twin daughters, he wants to spend the rest of his life with her. There’s only one problem: Maggie’s life has been turned upside down, and the last thing she wants is another man, and that includes Sam.

The other layer addresses questions about life that he— and all of us—grapple with. “Is there such a thing as a good person? Is love transformational? How big a role does hope play? What about faith? How do we embrace forgiveness or the lack thereof?”

None of the characters are based on specific individuals, but the novel was no doubt influenced by some real people. “Everything we do in life becomes a part of us and everyone we meet becomes a part of us,” he said.

One might think an experienced writer and editor like Mike Whitehead would not need his own editor, but that’s not the case. As a practice he’s always had someone review his work, no matter his position. “Writing a book is definitely a challenge,” he said, adding that “every writer needs a good editor.” The book project was no different, and he’s grateful to his great editor, Kara Lee Ford. “She told me the truth; we fixed the holes. I appreciate her.”

For those would-be novelists, he shared the best advice he received about writing a novel: write three pages a day. “Before you know it, you’ll have a first draft.”

The Weekend is dedicated to his wife, Martha, one of his staunchest supporters. “No one could have a better PR advocate than she is for me. I could not be more proud to have her in my life,” says Whitehead.

So, what has been the favorite part of his career? “Other than working for Byron May at SB Magazine?” he quips. On a more serious note, Whitehead speaks of how having a platform on various writing mediums was much like having a megaphone: the ability to reach people and spur action and have an impact on the local community. “Making a difference – that’s the exciting part.”

Whitehead is working on a second novel now. And in his spare time these days, he plays some golf and does a lot of bowling… but no basketball.

For a signed copy of the book, email your request on the “Contact Mike” page on the website, mikewhiteheadauthor.com. Mike will hand deliver your signed book in the Shreveport-Bossier area.

The post Mike Whitehead appeared first on SB Magazine.

BY ELIZABETH DEAL

Boy Scouts of America:

Local Troop 15

Boy Scout Troop 15, chartered by Noel Memorial United Methodist Church in Shreveport on October 21, 2021, has been serving the youth of Shreveport for 100 years. Noel is in the Historic Highland Neighborhood and the Troop’s Scout Hut is in Highland Park. The members and leaders of Troop 15 have played an important role in the Highland Community, as well as the City of Shreveport, by performing countless hours of service not only within the park and neighborhood, but also in schools and communities all over the city.

In 1922, Troop 15 ranked its first Eagle Scout and has had a total of 107 boys reach this highest rank. An Eagle Scout Alumni was recognized with the National Outstanding Eagle Scout Award for his contributions to scouting and his community. In its heyday, the Troop served 60-100 boys and the current troop has about 20 members. The troop can continue to grow as long as it maintains required ratio of adult volunteers to scouts.

Troop 15 has worked tirelessly to instill the traits of the Boy Scout Oath & Law: helping boys develop character and citizenship by learning that a scout is trustworthy, loyal, helpful, courteous, kind, obedient, cheerful, thrifty, brave, clean, and reverent; along with duty to God, country, and self.

“Our program is geared towards teaching young men character, citizenship, leadership skills, and a love for the outdoors to prepare them to soar and become an Eagle Scout if they choose. We may not always reach that goal, but that’s what we are always striving for,” said Wyatt Simpson, current Scoutmaster. “A lot has changed since I was a Scout and there are new obstacles in the way, but this Troop has stayed strong and risen to the occasion.”

Noel’s troop has provided many boys with positive life lessons, integrity and good morals. They develop team building and leadership skills. The leaders watch children come in as 11-year-olds and see the growth in their skill, leadership, and maturity as they reach each rank and grow into young men. Troop 15 uses the Patrol Method where the boys are the planners, makers, and doers of the program and activities. The adults are there as guides and role models. “It is in making mistakes in a safe environment that a scout learns to be prepared the next time,” said Marc Braden, former Scoutmaster.

Recent projects of Troop 15 range from building storage for local churches, community garden projects such as composting bins and garden sheds, park beautification projects, various camps for children’s enrichment, and raising funds to build a solar power grid to power school in Haiti. The boys must plan and move at their own rate, and the leaders say it is refreshing and exciting to see them take initiative and see something come to fruition.

Character has been developed through many years of camping and other outdoor activities. Notable trips throughout the decades taken by Troop 15 have included: numerous backpacking treks to Philmont Scout Ranch in New Mexico; Calgary, Canada; sailing at Florida Sea Base; Yosemite National Park; Washington, D.C; and whitewater rafting the Snake, Nantahala, Ocoee, and Pigeon Rivers; and attendance at several National Jamborees at Fort AP Hill in Virginia.

According to the troop leaders, the idea of spending a lot of time outdoors and camping is not necessarily popular with today’s youth. But scouting has offered the boys of Troop 15 activities and opportunities that would not have been afforded to them. The leaders and adult volunteers are consistently coaching and mentoring the boys to complete tasks they have started, whether it be gaining a merit badge, hiking a trail, packing a patrol (kitchen) box, or cleaning a toilet. Troop 15 Scouts always see a project through to the end, an admirable trait desirable in today’s world.

There have been many dedicated Scoutmasters, Assistant Scoutmasters and adult leaders that have served Troop 15 throughout the years, most members of Noel, guiding boys to becoming productive young men prepared for life. The adult leaders truly care about the boys and their future and are keen to remind them: it’s not just what you do when people are watching, but how you conduct yourself when no one is watching. FACEBOOK-SQUARE @TROOP15NORWELABSA

Shreveport Little Theatre

The Phoenix Rises Again. No, it’s not one of the plays coming to Shreveport Little Theatre this season. But it could be the story of the theater itself. Shreveport’s longest continually running community theater celebrates its centennial with the 2021-22 season of shows. In those 100 years, the Shreveport Little Theatre (SLT) has gone through the Great Depression, World War II and two fires. But through it all, the show has always gone on.

“It’s nothing short of a miracle,” said Dr. Robert K. Darrow, managing and artistic director for SLT since 1998. Darrow credits the power of the live shows to captivate their audience for the theater’s survival through its most difficult challenges. “Theater is an escape from the daily routine,” he said. “You can sit in the dark and forget about your trouble and become engrossed in the playwright’s storyline. But it also challenges the community, and encourages a wider range of thought and enlightens.”

From opening night of “Maker of Dreams” Dec. 5, 1922, in the old city hall building, Shreveport Little Theater was a traveling show, performing in the Jewish Synagogue, the Grand Opera House and the auditorium of the Woman’s Department Club. The company built its home at 812 Margaret Place and opened there on March 14, 1927, with “The Yellow Jacket.”

SLT lost its stage and backstage areas to a fire in 1986 and once again hit the road, performing at Theatre On Line, the State Exhibit Museum, Marjorie Lyons Playhouse and Southfield School, among other venues, according to its website. During the rebuilding of the theater, a welder’s torch sparked a fire that damaged the lobby area of the building and further delayed Shreveport Little Theatre’s return home. Through it all, the community’s support never wavered, Darrow said. “The community, after both fires, rallied and supported us,” he said. “The outpouring of support was astonishing, and that’s what kept us open.” SLT returned home March 3, 2011, with a gala celebration and a production of Tennessee Williams’ “A Streetcar Named Desire.”

In 2020, another dark cloud arose that threatened to drop the curtain—the coronavirus pandemic. “It was very similar to the fires in that we didn’t know what the future held,” Darrow said. “The income dramatically dropped off. I sent out a letter of appeal to our patrons in February, and the donations just poured in. Much more so than I expected.”

The theater company staged seven virtual productions online during the pandemic. That proved to be a learning experience for the players and the audience alike, Darrow said. “That was something new for us,” he said. “Working with cameras and learning how to edit. They were not received that well. I think people come to the theater because it is live. Television and film and anything on a screen are highly different than live theater. It’s a totally different medium and experience, and our audience knows that.”

But the history of Shreveport Little Theatre is not all tragedy. It has had its moments of triumph and comedy as well. David O. Selznick held auditions there in 1938 for Scarlett O’Hara in “Gone with the Wind,” according to SLT’s website. Local actresses Marcella Martin was cast in the film as Cathleen Calvert. The theater also was among the first to stage “The Fantasticks” by Tom Jones and Harvey Schmidt. And in 1958, a young airman from Barksdale Air Force Base took the stage in “Desk Set.” That young man was comedy legend George Carlin.

For the past several years, Darrow and a team of researchers have been combing through photographs from the archives of John Ray and Margaret Mary Young, who served as the theater’s managing and technical directors from 1936 until their retirement in 1973, as well as SLT’s archives — all housed at the LSU Archives. The result is a 12-by-12 coffee table book with about 1,000 photographs from the theater’s history of productions. That book will be for sale at the theater for $100 in time for Christmas, Darrow said. It also will be available through online retailers, at a slightly higher price.

SLT also partnered with Fairfield Studios to produce a documentary on the history of Shreveport Little Theatre. And while more than 50 people were interviewed for that documentary, there is one voice Darrow regrets missing out on. “Delton Harrison was scheduled to be interviewed the day he died,” Darrow said. “Unfortunately, we didn’t get to capture his memories.” Harrison had served on Shreveport Little Theatre’s board of directors and had acted in plays through the years.

Darrow is excited to see live stage productions return at this significant point in the theater’s history. “We’re ecstatic to be able to delve into our craft, our love of theater,” he said. “To perform on stage before our audience. Theater doesn’t exist without the audience. They are a major part of our craft. Without the audience, there would be no theater. They are a character in the plays.”

For show tickets or to make a donation visit: shreveportlittletheatre.com.

Orlandeaux’s Café

Still Special After 100 Years. Same great food, same great taste, same great family! It might have a new name, but its history is long.

Before Shreveport saw Elvis Presley perform at the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium in 1954, and even before The Strand Theatre was built in 1925, the aroma of delicious Créole food drifted from the kitchen of Freeman & Harris Café.

True, this family-owned restaurant has undergone a few name and location changes over the years—from Freeman & Harris Café to Pete Harris Café to Brother’s Seafood and now Orlandeaux’s Café—yet this establishment is still recognized for its legacy as the oldest continuously operating family-owned, African-American restaurant operating in the United States! But don’t let the new name, décor and location make you nervous—the celebrated menu still features customer favorites like its famous stuffed shrimp, gumbo, po’ boys, beef tips, and red beans and sausage. Yes, they have chicken livers, too!

Opened originally in 1921 at the 1100 block of Texas Street, Van Freeman and Jack Harris began a legacy that reached beyond their families and beyond the barrier separating blacks and whites as the Freeman and Harris Café. After much notoriety and success, the Café moved to Pete Harris Drive in 1930 where, it remained for over sixty years, becoming a popular social center for the African American community. In the 1990s, civic and business leader Pete Harris took ownership of the Café, officially changing it to Pete Harris Café.

In the early 2000s, Chef Orlando Chapman—who began working at Freeman and Harris when he was 13 years old— opened Brother’s Seafood, a restaurant named in honor of Orlando Chapman’s father, “Brother” Chapman. Chef Orlando and Brother’s Seafood would continue to contribute mightily to the popularity of Shreveport’s stuffedstyle shrimp—as Orlando continued to master the preparation of the 80-year old recipe handed down from his time at both Freeman and Harris, and Pete Harris Café.

In a rather awe-inspiring and poetic turn, current owner, chef, and operator Damien Chapman, along with his two younger brothers, Orlando Chapman II and Adam Chapman, have stepped up to breathe new life into the restaurant. Damien and his brothers are the fourth generation of men in his family to run restaurants, and it’s obvious Damien feels connected to his ancestors when he cooks.

The new name, Orlandeaux’s Café, does what the previous name did—to honor his father and chef who contributed to one of Shreveport’s most authentic and lasting culinary traditions.

Restaurant-goers are not only loving the new scenery, but they commend the great service and, of course, the food. Nora Greer is a loyal customer at Orlandeaux’s. “They’re known for their stuffed shrimp and gumbo, but they definitely have a lot of other items that people die for. Like the peach and apple pies. Oh, my goodness!”

But while she loves the new location, it’s the food that keeps her going back again and again—specifically the shrimp, both stuffed and fried. “It’s an icon for Shreveport, that’s for sure,” Greer admits. “It keeps Shreveport alive and it keeps the legacy of Freeman and Harris alive, too. That’s what makes it so important.”

One legacy has not changed, however—the stuffed shrimp recipe. When it is spot on, even after 100 years, why change a good thing?

United Way

The story of United Way began in 1921 with dedicated business and community leaders coming forward to create a better life for local residents. One hundred years later, their mission remains the same.

A common thread woven throughout. According to the United Way’s website—in 1887 a Denver woman, two ministers, a rabbi and a priest got together and raised $21,700 for the greater good. Their common goal was to make their community a better place for anyone, and everyone. They did this by assisting local charities, coordinating relief services to cooperating agencies, and making emergency assistance grants for cases that could not be referred. The movement they created would go on to become what is now the United Way.

As for local affiliates, 2021 marks its 100th year of service for the United Way of Northwest Louisiana (UWNWLA). Its mission from day one has been to unite in order to inspire change and build a thriving community. Its cornerstone is its ability to bring together agencies, donors, advocates, and volunteers in order to identify and address the most pressing needs in our area.

What originally started with the Rotary Club of Shreveport in 1921 has transformed today into an organization that focuses on solutions that address measurable change in education, health, essential needs, and financial stability by connecting donors to nonprofit organizations. Workplace campaigns over the years have raised funds from individuals to be directed to community human service needs through a rigorous review and investment grant process in order to garner the greatest community impact. Teams of local community impact volunteers have reviewed and assessed grant applications to make recommendations to the United Way Board of Directors, which made final decisions for support to programs that best met the prioritized needs.

“For 100 years our community has been the beneficiary and witness to just how impactful going the extra mile can be for people in need,” says Jana Freeman Forrest, Market President of BOM Bank.

As part of the yearlong centennial celebration, several events have taken place, such as Early Ed Week, Read Across America Day, Day of Service, and the Day of Caring—which annually make an impact in a single day by mobilizing small armies of volunteers to provide hands-on help where it is always needed. In late August, the centennial celebration culminated with a circus-themed party at Sam’s Town Casino, highlighting individuals and organizations who actively give back to Northwest Louisiana over the past century.

“The needs of those in our community who are hurting and the urgency with which we feel compelled to help is only growing,” said LaToria Thomas, Vice President of Community Investments and Operations. “United Way’s centennial events ensure that we continue the tradition of gathering the community together to create positive change across the region.”

Undoubtedly, the next 100 years should be very exciting— both for the United Way and northwest Louisiana. No doubt, the organization will continue to bring local people, organizations and communities together, and will continue to focus on a common vision and path for the future. If anything has shown us, milestones have no regard for pandemics. But with ambition and determination, the United Way of Northwest Louisiana will continue to strive toward taking care of the community around them. This is not your grandfather’s United Way—so the next 100 years should be very exciting.

2021 Day of Caring: UW Volunteers help Bossier non-profit Geaux 4 Kids, Inc.

Photos: UW, Geaux 4 Kids, Inc.

The post Celebrating 100 Years Strong appeared first on SB Magazine.

A Greek Revival Residence

BY ADAM BAILEY

In the universe of possibility, a couple with a vision and a team of design experts artfully designed a new home for their family to resemble a mid-19th-Century Greek Revival home. The scale, and the spaces within it, are as generous as Southern hospitality itself.

Antebellum MODERN A Greek Revival Residence In the universe of possibility, a couple with a vision and a team of design experts artfully designed a new home for their family to resemble a mid-19th-Century Greek Revival home. The scale, and the spaces within it, are as generous as Southern hospitality itself. Shreveport, LA. Cross Lake, a beautiful 8,575-acre man-made lake built in 1926, is the major water supply for the City of Shreveport, Barksdale Air Force Base, and surrounding communities.

Partially surrounded by forest and wetlands, interspersed boat docks and moss-covered cypress trees line the banks of its north shore to create the perfect setting for any southern antebellum home. Such was the vision of Britni and Chase Pittman when they purchased this parcel of land on the lake’s north shore.

Elemental characteristics of Greek Revival architecture largely resemble those of antebellum architecture—the main similarities are the columns and pediments, porches, and grand entryways. The styles differ in that Greek Revivals are celebrated for their ornamental molding and proportions. In the case of the Pittmans, it took research and an informed approach to apply these characteristics to a new build. “I put particular importance on proportions with every project but re-learning the proportions of Greek Revival houses—and applying those to this house—took considerable effort,” claims the Pittman’s interior designer Laurie Gautreau of Shreveport-based Gautreau Interiors.

“The goal for this project was to create a well-designed home in the Greek Revival style,” says Gautreau. The Pittmans dreamed of building a home full of Southern charm and timeless architectural details to raise their three adorable children in. In that same vein, family and entertaining were always at the forefront of the design, which is why they desired for large inviting spaces that embrace comfort married with outdoor living areas and porches.”

In essence, the Pittmans desired to build a new home that that would match the beauty, majesty, and splendor of the many ‘great’ antebellum homes—such as Louisiana’s Houmas House or Oak Alley Plantation’s. Something strong enough to stand as a testament to the local construction industry—that in today’s real estate market, beauty, craftsmanship, quality, and a sense of timelessness are still valued and attainable.

Gautreau worked with architect Ken Babin (Sutton Beebe Babin Architects, LLC) and home builder Jonathan Hamilton (Hamilton Builders, LLC) to build the Pittman’s home. Babin led the main architectural design of the home, Gautreau was responsible for interior details, built-ins and design, and Hamilton handled many of the exterior details with skillful application of both modern techniques and old-world craftsmanship.

“The Pittmans envisioned a home that would draw from the style’s historic elements, evoking a sense of age but also a feeling of welcome and ease,” summarizes Gautreau. From the interior trim carpentry to the floors to the cabinetry, it is evident that Hamilton Builders had phenomenal artisans working on the project, and the result is nothing short of amazing. The home truly exudes the beauty and spirit of an original southern antebellum, with a thoroughly modern feel, making sure to include all the gorgeous, classical architectural features—such as multi-level porches, dramatic columns, and sweeping staircases. Take a look!

A Detailed Exterior.

The exterior of the home is a careful study in proportion and scale, drawing on precedents from influential architects and antebellum home design. According to Gautreau, the house was modeled after the Houmas House Plantation, and specifically planned to have beautiful water views across the back of the house. Its layout gives the appearance that the structure—though new— has expanded over time with a two-story main mass and single-story additions that extend to the three-car garage. A central porch is supported by pillars, large windows, and balustrade railings—the main features of this modern version of an antebellum home.

In keeping with the Greek Revival style, the front elevation is defined by a two-story portico with six Doric columns supporting an entablature and dentil cornice, detailed perfectly by Hamilton Builders, which runs throughout the main mass of the house. At the front entry, the door was left unadorned to give prominence to the Doric surround, square pilasters, transom, and sidelights.

Touches of Louisiana heritage are sprinkled throughout the exterior—from the reclaimed New Orleans brick to the rustic beams in the outdoor kitchen. The kettle bell fountain, herringbone brick porches and custom copper gas lanterns are just a few of Gautreau’s favorite details. “Pulling up to the home, it takes your breath away,” says Gautreau, “and then you step inside, and each room is full of so many details you don’t know where to look first.”

The landscape is arranged with respect to Greek revival design. Views respond directly to the landscape, especially on the balconies. The formal motor court, driveway, outdoor kitchen, pool terrace, great lawn, and path down to Cross Lake are all organized with respect to the house’s arrangement. In that way, the house and the landscape are mutually dependent.

Bright and Airy Interiors.

The flexibility of the Greek Revival language enabled the design team to turn out a classically beautiful plan that deftly addressed the project’s many program requirements. Gautreau took advantage of the style’s various features to render a house where the Pittmans could raise their children gracefully in a contemporary home designed into this historical framework. The interior is bright and airy, judiciously created using whites, greys, light fumed wood floor planks, and simple bold proportions.

The balance of light also plays a role in the floor plan as well. The floor-to-ceiling windows provide ample natural light and offer abundant outdoor views. A mix of modern furniture cohabiting with more traditional architecture keeps the atmosphere crisp yet welcoming. Gautreau says it was important to keep the atmosphere comfortable enough for someone to feel relaxed despite the formal architectural setting.

The design team meticulously designed moulding profiles throughout the space, based on historical references, taking great care to match the grand scale of the house itself. A thoroughly contemporary home has been designed into this historical framework.

All the most important rooms are on the first floor—including the great room, kitchen, and dining rooms. The kitchen and great room are the heart of the home where the family spends so much of their time when they aren’t enjoying the outdoors. An oversized marble island anchors the space with large antique mirrored glass pendants hanging above. Mirrored glass was used to disguise the built-in refrigerator, a feature in the kitchen that is truly stunning. Reclaimed bricks with large openings flank the custom hood and Wolf six-burner range—an eye-catching detail that contractor Jonathan Hamilton nailed to perfection.

Because the couple frequently entertains, a butler’s pantry connects to the kitchen—offering a unique space that offers ample storage, while also serving as a buffer from the kitchen. This space easily allows the homeowners to throw the dirty dishes in the sink and keep entertaining. It houses a gorgeous apron front sink, two dishwashers, built in China cabinet, a dual zone column wine fridge, and large walk-in food pantry. Gautreau came up with the concept of a “clutter kitchen” once she realized they would need a lot of storage and surfaces between the kitchen, dining, and pantry to host large gatherings.

For cocktail parties and casual dining, there is also a marble countertop space between the kitchen and dining room that serves as a buffet for serving between the two rooms. It’s the little features like this that can make a big difference. Another custom detail—the paneled cabinet opening combined with the jaw dropping Byzantine brick ceiling—allows for the dining room to feel like a separate room, while still offering that open concept that the Pittmans desired.

On the second level are the children’s bedrooms and game room. A guest/bunkroom, with the capacity to sleep eight (or possibly even more), yields plenty of space for them and their guests.

Celebration of Natural Materials.

In many ways, the interior is reminiscent of those designed by famed Louisiana architect A. Hays Town. Town was one of the first architects to salvage old building materials and incorporate them into new homes, lending the structures a sense of history and casual elegance.

This theme is apparent throughout the house. Reclaimed brick and beams tie the interior spaces together, and the kitchen features reclaimed cypress cabinetry. The home is a celebration of natural material and a beautiful rendering of the interior’s country style, all while maintaining a casual atmosphere.

When it came to furnishing the home, the main goal was casual elegance. Creating spaces for the family to come home and relax, comfortable seating was a must. Recliners and oversized sofas can be found in the hearth room right off the kitchen centered around the fireplace that invites anyone and everyone to come in and put their feet up. Kid-friendly fabrics and furniture pieces were carefully selected by the designer to ensure that the homeowners could enjoy a well-designed home that also offers them peace of mind.

The homeowners wanted the overall feeling of the home to be inviting, charming and elegant. From the French marble antebellum mantle in the formal living room, to the custom brass stair railing, white oak flooring and eleven-foot ceilings throughout the downstairs, raised panel antique cypress doors embellished with crystal knobs, each space tells its own story.

What’s Next?

Gautreau’s success in designing a home that both meets the owner’s expectations and satisfies the existing property’s local reputation is attributed to her adherence to many factors worth applauding— marrying the Pittmans’ lifestyle with appropriately scaled and proportioned architecture, while respecting the cultural and historic landscape of the antebellum architectural style. Hamilton Builders was also able to meet the couple’s expectations by building with indigenous and natural materials, so the home is built to last—a nod to the ability to accommodate future generations.

Overall, it’s clear the home’s architecture and all its creative devices have shaped a house that the Pittman’s love. The house is comfortable, contained, and connected to the past, present, and future. After years of planning and hundreds of hours spent on house plans and design details, the Pittmans are so grateful to host their family this Thanksgiving for the first time.

Products, materials and suppliers for this project include: Walker Zanger Calcutta gold marble herringbone flooring in the foyer sourced at Kitchen and Bath Cottage; reclaimed cypress and pine beams sourced through Custom Bilt Cabinetry, as well as the custom doors made from antique cypress; Sub-Zero and Wolf appliances by Cottage Kitchen and Bath; marble and quartzite countertops fabricated by Sheppard’s Countertops; Emtek cabinet and door Hardware selected at Tommy’s Hardware; Visual Comfort light fixtures, wallpaper and furniture furnished by Gautreau Gallery and Interiors; white oak wood flooring Mark Brouchard; landscaping design by Hoogland’s Landscape; pool design and installation by Preferred Pools; copper lanterns designed by Copper Works Lighting; and tile installation by Henson Flooring.

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BY CHRIS JAY

Theresa Gullo, owner of Gullo’s Fresh Produce and Classic Bake Shop, is a fighter. Since 2011, she and a small team have operated the homestyle restaurant and farm stand that her parents opened in 1970 at 724 E. Flournoy Lucas Rd. in Shreveport.

Spring of 2020 marked the restaurant’s fiftieth year in business, but Gullo was too busy surviving to celebrate. She’d been through too much—including a fire that gutted the restaurant’s kitchen in 2015—to let the pandemic put her out of business.

“I knew we were gonna make it when someone came by for curbside pick-up, a regular who’s been coming in here for years,” she said. “I said: ‘Bob, I don’t know if I’m going to make it.’ He said: ‘Aw, yeah, honey, you’re gonna make it. You’re stronger than a garlic milkshake.’”

Gullo laughed at the memory, but her eyes sparkled with emotion. It has not been an easy road.

She grew up farming Gullo land, which her first-generation Italian immigrant grandparents purchased up and down the Southeast Shreveport riverfront. Much of what is now the southernmost end of East Kings Highway, formerly Hart’s Island Road, once belonged to her grandfather, a truck farmer named Joe Gullo. The original, hand-painted sign for Joe Gullo’s Produce can still be seen at her business.

“When I was five or six years old, my grandfather would put all five of us grandkids in the back of his farm truck,” she recalled. “He’d take us to the field, and he’d leave us there to pick produce ‘til lunch. The next morning, he’d head to South Highlands, and the housewives would come out to buy produce from him.”

Gullo’s parents, John and Reatha Gullo, began cooking hamburgers and plate lunches to bring in money during the winter months when farming operations ground to a halt.

“They had a little kitchen in the back, where mom cooked hamburgers in a skillet and had a FryDaddy for the fries,” Theresa said. “Then she started doing casseroles, and she kind of made a name for herself.”

Gradually, the restaurant came to be revered for Reatha’s stick-to-your-ribs plate lunches like chicken- fried steak, smothered pork chops, fried catfish (still served every Friday), and spaghetti and meatballs.

Theresa assumed responsibility for the restaurant in 2011 after both of her parents passed away within months of one another. Her mother’s funeral was held three days before Christmas. Reatha Gullo had left behind a notebook stuffed with unfulfilled holiday orders for Christmas hams, turkeys, cakes, and pies. The same day that they buried Reatha, Theresa and one of her cousins reopened the restaurant.

“We came back to the kitchen after the funeral, and I didn’t know what we were gonna do, but we filled every single order,” Theresa said.

A fire in 2015 threatened to shutter the business for good, requiring nine months of renovations prior to reopening. Without a dining room for customers, she was able to hang on thanks to regular customers who continued to purchase to-go meals, fresh produce, and frozen casseroles. Gullo never considered shutting the place down. She remembered her mother’s warning: Because the restaurant is “grandfathered-in” to local zoning ordinances, it would be difficult or impossible to reopen if it were ever to close.

“A lot of people would have said, ‘Well, that’s it,’” she said. “I came in here the morning after the fire, and it was the worst thing I’ve ever gone through. But it never occurred to me not to reopen.”

In recent years, the reputation of Gullo’s hamburgers has spread throughout the region. An enormous, double- patty bacon cheeseburger called “The Weekender” has won a number of local votes for best burger, and the restaurant’s exemplary chicken-fried steak (available each Thursday) has also built a dedicated following. After dining, many guests will pick up grab-and-go casseroles, fresh vegetables, baked goodies, or canned salsas and preserves made by locals.

What’s the secret to surviving hard times? Just keep showing up, she said.

“You gotta get up, put one foot in front of the other, and deal with it,” she said. “You get past it, you really do.”

For more information including menus, follow Gullo’s on Facebook at @GullosFreshProduce.

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