See who the new executive chef is at Eliza, and try a caviar board under the Overpass: Bon Vivant

New food and drinks on the block 

Try the new summer specials at City Roots Coffee, 1509 Government St., Baton Rouge: 

• Coconut shaken espresso — made with espresso, coconut and cream shaken over ice 
• Strawberry matcha-colada — made with ceremonial-grade matcha, strawberries and flavors of coconut and pineapple 
• Berries and cream energy — made with strawberry and blackberry flavors, topped with a thick layer of sweet cream cold foam

It’s caviar o’clock at BLDG 5, 2805 Kalurah St., Baton Rouge. The caviar board is served with house-made crème fraîche, pickled vegetables, house-made potato chips and naan blinis. Available on the mid-day menu only.  

In the know 

Pound cake pop-up: 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, June 14, at Red Stick Spice Co., 660 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge 

Noble by the Pound, a family-owned cottage bakery known for its pound cakes, is hosting a monthly pop-up at Red Stick Spice. While an official pop-up menu has not been released, some of the bakery’s offerings include lemon, praline and red velvet pound cakes, cookies and brownies. 

Hayden Guidry is taking over the kitchen as executive chef at Eliza Restaurant & Bar, 7970 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge. Guidry is a Lafayette native who began his culinary journey cooking at home for family. He attended the Louisiana Culinary Institute and began his career as a line cook at Eliza. He then interned at Le Cellier Steakhouse in Disney World and returned to Eliza as a sous chef before being promoted to executive chef. 

“For me, the most satisfying part of this job is watching a guest take that first bite and seeing their reaction,” Guidry said in a news release. “Food connects us, and my goal is to help create lasting memories through every dish.”

Wine and spirits 

“Aged to Perfection” bourbon dinner: 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, June 10, and Wednesday, June 18, at Carrabba’s Italian Grill, 7275 Corporate Blvd., Baton Rouge 

Enjoy a four-course Italian dinner paired with various bourbons. The menu includes shrimp mandola paired with a Maker’s Mark old fashioned, pasta georgio paired with Angel’s Envy bourbon, pork chop with sweet bourbon butter paired with Buffalo Trace bourbon and sogno fiore paired with Elijah Craig bourbon. Tickets are $70 per person, available for purchase at www.carrabbas.com/offers/bourbon-dinner.

Food and wine pairing: 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. Thursday, June 12, at Red Stick Spice Co., 660 Jefferson Highway, Baton Rouge

Join Red Stick Spice with Martin’s Wine & Spirits for a hands-on cooking class with wine pairings. The menu includes oyster mushroom pinxto paired with Colome Torrontes, hot shrimp remoulade paired with Arca Nova Vinho Verde Rosé and more. Tickets are $165 per person, available for purchase at redstickspice.com.

Food adds so much to the equation of living well. It can be all the things — luxurious, cheap, communal, intimate, simple and complex. In Baton Rouge, the culinary scene ranges the complete spectrum of senses.

This weekly space brings you insider foodie news, helpful tips and details of food/wine events for all of your bon vivant aspirations. Email Lauren Cheramie with food news at [email protected].