La. starts holiday season with grand menus

• By CYNTHIA V. CAMPBELL
• travel editor
• Published: Nov 23, 2008 - UPDATED: 12:05 a.m.

• Print
• Email
• Save
• Share

• Del.icio.us
• Digg
• Facebook
• Reddit
• 

Thanksgiving starts the holiday season in Louisiana, and there will be plenty to do and see in the weeks to come. Fortunately, the state enjoys pleasant weather during most of December, making this a perfect time for getting out and visiting all areas of the state.

An abundant Thanksgiving
Houmas House Plantation, 40136 La. 942 (River Road) at Darrow, will offer a Plantation Thanksgiving Buffet inside Latil’s Landing Restaurant Thursday, Nov. 27. Hours will be 11 a.m.-2 p.m. The meal will feature a selection of salads and appetizers, the restaurant’s signature bisque of curried pumpkin with crawfish and corn gumbo, popular vegetable dishes and both rice and tasso cornbread dressings. Selected entrees include roasted breast of duck with praline sauce, ham with cane syrup glaze, roasted pork loin with fig demi-glace, crawfish etouffee with patty shells, roasted prime rib of beef au jus and a carving station with fried turkey with cranberry kumquat relish. Complete the meal with lavish desserts. A cash bar will be available for purchase of wine, beer and liquor. Cost is $55, adults, and $25, children.

Latil’s Landing is in the 1770s house, which was built by Alexander Latil and now a wing of the mansion. Be sure to step inside the colonial-era kitchen on the ground level. For reservations, call (225) 473-9380 or (888) 323-83414.

Gobble time in N.O.
For further adventures in Thanksgiving dinning, check out some of New Orleans top restaurants that will be open on the holiday. The list includes Arnaud’s, Brennan’s Restaurant, Bourbon House, Broussard’s, Café Adelaide, Café Fleur de Lis, Chartres House Café, Court of Two Sisters, Dickie Brennan’s Steakhouse, 5 Fifty 5, 55 Fahrenheit, Hedges Bar and Grill, Hunt Room Grill, La Bayou, Le Café, Melange, Muriel’s Jackson Square, New Orleans Grill, the Original Pierre Maspero’s, Ralph’s on the Park, Ristorante Carmelo, Tujague’s Restaurant and The Veranda. Check out the details at http://www.neworleanscvb.com.

St. Francisville note
The Oxbow Restaurant, in a small shopping center off U.S. 61 in St. Francisville, will be open and serving a traditional Thanksgiving dinner from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Thursday, Nov. 27.

Driving tip. The Mississippi River ferry is still operating on a limited schedule. Monday through Friday, the ferry runs from 6 a.m. to 6 p.m., and on Saturdays and Sunday and Sunday the hours are 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Take holiday visitors on a mini-tour of St. Francisville, then take the ferry across the Mississippi River for a tour of New Roads and False River. It’s a wonderful way to see the Louisiana countryside.

Harvest, Holiday time
Pontchartrain Vineyards, 81250 La. 1082 about 6.5 miles from the juncture with La. 21 north of Covington, will celebrate a harvest and holiday gathering Sunday, Nov. 29 from noon to 5 p.m. There will be food, hayrides, a barrel tasting and tours. Guest chef will be Lindsey darling, and music by Jerry Hess. For details, contact (985) 892-9742 or http://www.pontchartrainvineyards.com.

Bayou Classic Social
The Southern University Nelson Mandela School of Public Policy and Urban Affairs will host its first Bayou Classic Social at 6 p.m. Friday, Nov. 28, in the Staybridge Suites in New Orleans.

Sponsored by The Friends of Criminal Justice and Public Policy, this is the first fundraising initiative of the school, which consists of undergraduate students in Criminal Justice Political Science, Social Science and Public Policy. Tickets are $30 and include light refreshments. For information or to purchase tickets, call (225) 771-3092.

Blake Shelton at Paragon
Blake Shelton will perform songs from his latest album, Startin’ Fires, during a performance at 9 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29, in the Mari Showroom of the Paragon Casino Resort in Marksville. Shelton, an Oklahoma native, moved to Nashville at 17 and made his debut with the single “Austin” in 2001. Tickets to his performance can be purchased at Paragon’s Cypress Knees Gift Shop or any Ticketmaster outlet. Call (800) 946-1946.

Clinton’s Christmas
Christmas in Clinton begins with church bells ringing Friday, Dec. 5. People are invited to listen to holiday sounds and shop downtown from 5 to 7 p.m. Businesses will serve refreshments. Clinton United Methodist Church will offer gumbo beginning at 5 p.m. followed by a silent auction of handmade craft and art.

The Christmas Tree Lighting at 5:30 p.m. on the East Feliciana Courthouse lawn will dazzle viewers. Local choirs will perform carols on the steps of Landmark Bank. At 6:30 p.m., the United Methodist Church will present a children’s program at 7 p.m. followed by “Michael — an Eyewitness,” a drama by Michael McCain of McCain Ministries. No charge.

Saturday, Dec. 6, at 8 p.m., Clinton Community Market opens at 8 a.m. to music by Bayou Blasters. More than 100 vendors will participate. The Christmas Parade with Santa rolls at 10 a.m. The theme this year will be Feliciana Jewels. Photos of Santa may be purchased at Landmark Bank during the market. Brisket dinners will be available will pre-sold tickets at the Methodist Church.