In 2002, Louisiana Cookin’ announced its first-ever class of Chefs to Watch. In the two decades that have followed, we have seen new generations of chefs carry on Louisiana’s time-honored traditions while bringing fresh perspectives to the forefront of the state’s vibrant culinary scene. Like those before them, the six chefs who make up our 2022 class of Chefs to Watch are exceptionally talented individuals from diverse backgrounds who are leaving a mark on their communities. These are chefs we believe will continue to enrich Louisiana’s dining scene and shape the future of Cajun and Creole cuisine with new ideas and influences.
This year’s Chefs to Watch lineup includes Jennifer Hughes of Cane River Pecan Co. in New Iberia, whose new Pie Bar will let her set new standards for sweets and savories; Vu Le, who’s serving up unforgettable dishes with worldly flavors at Chow Yum Phat in Baton Rouge; Niema Longstratt of RNL’s Cookery Corner in Shreveport, whose food truck combines the flavors of her native West Africa and the Caribbean; Alfredo Nogueira of VALS in New Orleans, who’s known for his thoughtful takes on Mexican and Latin American foods; and Allison Richard and Kathryn Mann, who are pushing the boundaries of Southern food while still offering very faithful interpretations at High Hat Cafe in New Orleans.
JENNIFER HUGHES
CANE RIVER PECAN COMPANY PIE BAR
When you discover the path you’re destined to follow, everything seems to fall into place. You may try to delay the inevitable, but life has a funny way of getting you back on the right track eventually. That’s exactly what happened for Jennifer Hughes, chef at Cane River Pecan Co.’s recently opened Pie Bar in
