Three generations of the Sparke family have overseen operations here. The latest is Anna Maria Sparke, no kin to the island. “My grandfather [H. A. Sparke] had it from 1956 until he died in 1984. And my father [R. W. Sparke] took over in 1984, and he ran it until his death in 2020.

But her hunger pain came at a time when restaurant owners were scrambling – Louisiana’s governor had just ordered dining rooms closed because of COVID-19. Restaurants – with only a few hours’ notice – were limited to take-out and delivery. They were adjusting on the fly.

Join Chef Brad Jones and Chef Allison Gras of The Revenir, as well as writer and social media influencer Mallori Sanders for a special beer-pairing dinner, 6-8:30 p.m., Monday, March 16, at Great Raft Brewing.

A new year means new goals, positivity and celebrations. As we roar our way into the ’20s, this year is off to an exciting start for the local food industry with new restaurant openings, changes for already established restaurateurs and events celebrating culinary success in the Shreveport-Bossier area.

“We all love what we do,” David Bridges said. “When you’re around people who don’t like what they do, work becomes difficult. Then it actually becomes work. When you love what you do, it’s not really work. It’s just like you’re hanging out having a party every day.

On July 14, Eddie’s Restaurant, a humble Shreveport eatery located at 1956 Hollywood Ave., celebrated 40 years in business. The restaurant was founded in 1978 by Chef Eddie Eugene Hughes. Prior to opening his own restaurant, Hughes had worked for many years in the kitchen of Shreveport’s historic Freeman & Harris Café.