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Garden Time to figure it out!!!: I cant wait to plant!!

We have everything ready...

Now we are just waiting for the last frost to come...Ha!

Tags: garden

Wednesday March 4, 2009 - 12:12pm (CST) Permanent Link | 2 Comments
Cooking Must Run In Our Family! Ha!: January 28, 2009

Seasoned veteran: Chef David Paul brings a wealth of experience to Red River Grill

Today's Special

By David Dinsmore
ddinsmore@thetowntalk.com

MARKSVILLE -- From the barracks to the oil rig to the yacht club, there's hardly any walk of life that David Paul has not fed.

Paul now works as the head chef at Red River Grill in Marksville, but this is the latest in a long string of kitchens in which he has crafted his skills.

He began working with food 19 years ago as the kitchen manager and lead cook for the enlisted men's club at Camp Beauregard in his hometown of Pineville. There he helped put together plate lunches and catered for parties and other gatherings.

During his time at Camp Beauregard, Paul served Govs. Edwin Edwards and Mike Foster in addition to generals in the Louisiana National Guard.

He moved over to Harlow's Bakery in Pineville for two and a half years before crossing state borders. During his time in Mississippi, Paul worked as the lead line cook at a casino and took up the job as the chef for the 1,400-member Gulfport Yacht Club.

"That's where I got my start with fine dining," Paul said.

The former executive chef -- who trained with Le Cordon Bleu's culinary arts program -- had moved to the general manager position but still spent a lot of time in the kitchen sharing tips and tricks with Paul.

Home began calling Paul, so he moved back to the Pineville area where he once again worked as a baker before taking over the kitchens of offshore oil rigs.

After returning to land, Paul put in some time in the kitchens of Eddie's BBQ and the Alexandria Golf and Country Club before he opened his own Alexandria restaurant, which closed up shop after three years.

He was in Marksville checking out a job opening at Paragon Casino Resort when he followed a gut feeling to walk into Red River Grill.

"Let me step in here and see if they need anybody," Paul said to himself.

He met with owner Al Mahfouz and immediately made a connection, Paul said. Mahfouz's desire to run the best restaurant possible rubs off on the employees.

"He's just the kind of guy you want to work for," Paul said.

Paul brought with him a wide experience in an array of environments that fits right in at Red River Grill, which serves up fine dining dishes without a pretentious atmosphere.

"It's a fun place," Paul said. "I get that from a lot of customers."

The restaurant features a large enclosed window with bar seating where customers can peer in on the action taking place inside the kitchen, where Paul and his team work to crank out signature -- or customer-modified -- dishes.

Though Paul has created dishes to add to favorites on the Red River Grill menu, it takes his kitchen team to provide the customers with a great dining experience, he said.

"I'm not the only one cooking," Paul said. "I got a great crew back there with me."

To suggest a chef or cook to be highlighted in the "Today's Special" feature, contact David Dinsmore at ddinsmore@thetowntalk.com

or call (318) 487-6343.

Additional Facts ...Red River Grill

Address: 313 N. Washington St., Marksville

Hours: 5 p.m.-10 p.m. Tuesday-Saturday

Information: (318) 253-5252

Great Review!!! Huggs from Sharon

Tags: cooking

Wednesday January 28, 2009 - 10:36am (CST) Permanent Link | 1 Comment
Another Valentine....: Oh Such A Sweetie!!!!

Monday January 26, 2009 - 01:06pm (CST) Permanent Link | 1 Comment
Fix It....: I wish it was that Easy....!

Sunday January 25, 2009 - 08:44pm (CST) Permanent Link | 1 Comment
Valentine......: Just around the corner....

I Love OLD Cards!!!!

Send me a few of your favorites!!!

Saturday January 24, 2009 - 08:22pm (CST) Permanent Link | 1 Comment