Louisiana is known for its unique flavorful dishes as well as lively gatherings formed around mealtimes.  With most of the access to quality culinary experiences located in South Louisiana, the Northern portion of the state has patiently waited.  That patience has paid off as the Arklatex is experiencing a sort of culinary boom with the first Whole Foods, the recent addition of restaurants featuring fresh ingredients with ever changing menus, and Farmers’ Markets popping up everywhere. We are thrilled to add to the growing culinary experience and bring We Olive & Wine Bar home to the Shreveport-Bossier area! Here, Owners Virginia & Kevin Calhoun share their favorite ways to spend time in Shreveport.

The best way to spend a day in Shreveport…

Louisiana style by eating spicy food with current friends and making new friends!  Louisiana is the Sportsman’s Paradise with lots of golfing, hunting, boating, fishing, skiing, and sailing.  There are many lakes and rivers to cool you off during the summer and no shortage of holiday festivities during the short winter.  If you are here during the spring, a crawfish boil is a MUST!

What to eat…

We have our local favorite restaurants that always make us feel at home.  Superior Grill has one of the best margaritas in town!  We change up what we order all the time.  We enjoy their enchiladas, tuna steak salad, tortilla soup, and their skirt steak and vegetables are packed with their delicious mesquite grilled flavor!  We like finding off or special menu meals to keep us trying new things.

Frank’s Pizza has wonderful salads, interesting pizzas, an extensive wine menu, as well as a delicious Italian Margarita.  I sense a pattern here… Kevin LOVES margaritas!

We love to meet friends at Cantina Laredo; listen to live music after enjoying fall off the bone ribs, a brisket filled baked potato, or a steak salad at Silver Star Smokehouse; and we like to entertain friends at home!

What to drink…

Kevin loves Margaritas while Virginia prefers a full bodied red wine!  Kevin’s current wine of choice is a Malbec.  Virginia likes to try new wines!

What to do…

R W Norton Art Gallery, Sci-Port: Louisiana’s Science Center, the riverboat casinos located on the Red River (Eldorado Resort & Casino & Margarittaville are the best two of the six located in the Shreveport-Bossier area.) The Red River has held national fishing tournaments and divides the two cities of Shreveport and Bossier City.

Insider tips…

Shreveport-Bossier is within a one day drive of beaches and mountains.  Because it situated between East Texas and South Louisiana, it has both a Texas flair and a South Louisiana influence as well as both Dallas Cowboys and New Orleans Saints fans.

Bossier City is home to Barksdale Air Force Based which is known for it’s B52s and the oldest bomb wing in the Air Force. Shreveport was named in honor of Captain Henry Miller Shreve, who helped clear a 180 mile log jam on the Red River.  The log jam was called the Great Raft.  Shreveport-Bossier is now home to micro breweries, one named Great Raft.

Elvis Presley began had his debut here in Shreveport at the Louisiana Hayride, a radio and later television show broadcast from the Shreveport Municipal Memorial Auditorium. Johnny Cash and Hank Williams also began their careers through the Hayride.  In fact, any famous people came from the Arklatex, including Kix Brooks, James Burton, Hank Williams Jr, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Terry Bradshaw, Joe Ferguson, Jared Leto, Van Cliburn, Huddie Ledbetter, Johnnie Cochran, Wolfman Jack, Karl Malone.  Hal Sutton, David Toms, Matthew McConaughey , Rodney Carrington, Miranda Lambert, Neal McCoy, Tracy Lawrence, and Ellen Degeneres. Speaking of Arklatex…it stands for the area that corners Arkansas, Louisiana & Texas.

Contrary to what most people think, we do not drive to work or school in a pirogue.  If you are thinking Water Boy, you have us mixed up with some of our much further southern Louisiana neighbors.  We also do not speak Cajun in Shreveport-Bossier, however we love to hear Cajuns talk just like you probably do.  They are the life of the party!  Most everyone here bleeds purple and gold!  Geaux Tigers!

 

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