Banh uot from Pho Cafe
The first time I went to Pho Cafe, the restaurant was out of the steamed rice crepes, so I knew I had to go back and try it. The dish did not disappoint. I got the combination: Viet ham, pork and shrimp, which is served with shredded cucumbers, lettuce, bean sprouts and cilantro. The tangy fish sauce perfectly complemented the meat, and the variety worked well together.
In my humble opinion, Viet ham is far superior to the ham I've had. It's an extremely filling and satisfying meal.
Pho Cafe 3851 S. Sherwood Forest Blvd., Baton Rouge (Serena Puang, features writer)
King cake egg rolls from Roul's Deli
I know that a lot of people don't like king cake "gimmicks." Some people just like to remain traditional, and I respect that.
Still, it's fun to try new things.
The king cake egg rolls from Roul's are made with cinnamon roll pieces, strawberries and cheesecake rolled into an egg roll. Then, the pieces are fried and dropped in a cinnamon-sugar mix and coated with cream cheese icing.
The result is a doughy, uber-sweet treat that I only needed one bite of.
Roul's Deli, 3327 Highland Road, 5230 Plank Road and 1210 O'Neal Lane in Baton Rouge (Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator)
Tapas from Pamplona
If you find yourself in downtown Lafayette anytime soon, book a table at Pamplona.
It had been about two years since I last visited the restaurant for the first time, and this recent visit reminded me why I love it. While looking at the tapas on the menu, I was transported back to my trip to Barcelona.
My friends and I love the idea of shared tapas because we like options.
We're often seen reaching over the table or handing someone else a fork with a bite so we can try everything possible. At Pamplona, I didn't get a picture of everything, but we ordered the jamon-wrapped dates with Gorgonzola cheese; garlic shrimp; Castilian mushrooms in butter, garlic, herbs and bone broth; mac-n-smoked Gouda with bacon and Manchego; duck fat fries (a must) with garlic, parsley, spicy aioli and ketchup; and fried calamari served with jalapeño aioli.
Truthfully, anything on the menu is a winner. You can't go wrong. Keep an eye out for the restaurant's rotating food and drink specials.
Pamplona Tapas Bar and Restaurant, 631 Jefferson St., Lafayette (Lauren Cheramie, features coordinator)