April 15, 2013–METAIRIE, LA.–Deanie's Seafood's fourth-annual Pinch A Palooza Festival & Crawfish Eating Contest offers a day full of live entertainment and food at "New Orleans Favorite Seafood Restaurant." The party starts at noon and lasts until 8 p.m., Sun., April 21 at Deanie's original restaurant location, 1713 Lake Ave.

A portion of the proceeds from Pinch A Palooza supports the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation and its New Canal Lighthouse Museum & Education Center, which opens to the public this weekend. 

The day's schedule includes:

NOON         Breakwater Drive of Metairie

1 PM           Vince Vance & The Valiants

3:15 PM      Benjy Davis of Baton Rouge

4:30 PM      Crawfish Eating Contest With Seven Teams Competing for the       

                    PINCH A PALOOZA CHAMPION TITLE

5 PM            610 Stompers

5:15 PM       Theresa Andersson

6:45 PM       Hot 8 Brass Band 

Artists from the Dutch Alley Artist's Co-op in the French Market will have artwork on display available for purchase throughout the event, and children's activities including an inflatable obstacle course and a Bubble Blast will entertain the kids.  

Deanie's Pinch A Palooza Festival is a celebration of Crawfish Season and family friendly street party featuring Deanie's Signature Boiled Crawfish with Corn and Potatoes, and other delectable crawfish dishes, including Fried Crawfish Tails, Crawfish Balls, Crawfish Etouffee and Crawfish Nachos.  All entertainment is free, and hearty portions of Deanie's Crawfish dishes will be available for $7, including Deanie's Signature Boiled Crawfish with Corn & Potatoes. For the latest information, check out Deanie's Facebook page (Deanies Seafood) and Twitter (@deaniesseafood), hashtag #Pinchapalooza.

One of the largest distributors of Crawfish in Louisiana, Deanie's Seafood distributes fresh Louisiana Crawfish through its two restaurants, seafood market and online retail store, shopdeanies.com.   

About Deanie's Seafood
Voted "Best Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans" by readers of the Times Picayune, Deanie's Seafood Restaurants and Market have been serving huge portions of the best boiled, broiled and fried seafood in New Orleans for more than 50 years.

Deanie's operates a thriving seafood market and catering business as well as two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area, the original location in the quaint fishing village of Bucktown and a second location in the heart of the historic French Quarter. We invite you to visit the original location in Bucktown at 1713 Lake Avenue or in the French Quarter at 841 Iberville Street (located at the corner of Dauphine and Iberville streets).

To learn more about Deanie's Seafood, visit us at www.deanies.com or call the restaurant directly at 504-834-1225.

# # #

Please contact: Karen Hales Email: khales@markit360.com; Phone: (985) 445-6022

1. Deanie's Seafood Proprietors Celebrate 30 Years as Owner/Operators of 'New Orleans Best Seafood Restaurant'

Chifici Family has built locally owned, family-operated business into a nationally recognized brand and tourist destination with two thriving restaurants, seafood market and online market shipping fresh Louisiana seafood throughout the U.S.

The Chifici Family celebrated its 30-year anniversary as owner/operators of Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants in New Orleans. Deanie’s Seafood Proprietor Barbara A. Chifici has built a locally owned, family-operated business employing more than 300 New Orleanians and serving nearly 1 million visitors and locals annually. In business more than 50 years, today Deanie’s operates a seafood market, an online Louisiana Seafood Marketplace for Shrimp, Crabs, Oysters (shopdeanies.com) and more, and two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area–Deanie's original location in the quaint fishing village of Bucktown and Deanie's Seafood in the historic French Quarter.

Voted “Best Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans” by readers of the Times Picayune and Gambit Weekly, Deanie’s has been featured on various Travel Channel and Food Network programs and showcased in Gourmet magazine and in cookbooks such as Chef John Folse’s “Hooks, Lies and Alibis.”

2. Deanie's Showcases Crawfish during fourth-annual 'Pinch-A-Palooza Crawfish Eating Contest & Festival'

April 21 event features Hot 8 Brass Band, The Benjy Davis Project, headliner Theresa Andersson and more

A free festival at Deanie’s Seafood Restaurant in Bucktown welcomes visitors to pinch da tails and suck da heads during Pinch-A-Palooza Festival & Crawfish Eating Contest 2013. One of the largest distributors of Crawfish in Louisiana through its two restaurants, market and online retail store, shopdeanies.com, Deanie’s is hosting its fourth-annual Pinch-A-Palooza on April 21. The day-long festival features all the best Crawfish dishes from this New Orleans original, and Deanie's restaurants will offer a special seasonal menu throughout Crawfish season.

Pinch-A-Palooza will include a Crawfish Eating Contest plus live performances by the all-male dance troupe the 610 Stompers, Basin Street Records Indie artist Theresa Andersson, Hot 8 Brass Band and more. A portion of the proceeds from Pinch-A-Palooza will benefit the Lake Pontchartrain Basin Foundation (www.saveourlake.org)  to support its New Canal Lighthouse Museum, and education, advocacy and restoration efforts of the Lake Pontchartrain Basin habitat.

3. Barbara Chifici to be Recognized Among ‘Best Chefs of Louisiana’ by American Culinary Federation New Orleans Chapter

Deanie's Seafood Proprietor Barbara Chifici has been nominated for recognition by the American Culinary Federation New Orleans Chapter as one of the ACF's "Best Chefs of Louisiana." Mrs. Chifici, owner/operator of Deanie's Seafood Restaurants for over 30 years, will be installed to the ACF Best Chefs during the premier food event of 2013, the "Louisiana Culinary Experience" April 8 in New Orleans.

In a town famous for great seafood, Deanie’s Seafood is in a class by itself. Deanie’s is a “scratch house,” meaning everything is made in-house with the best ingredients available.  Deanie’s has built its name and reputation on fresh Louisiana seafood prepared with Deanie's signature seasonings. In business for more than 50 years, today Deanie’s operates a thriving seafood market, an online Louisiana Seafood Marketplace for Shrimp, Crabs, Oysters and more, a catering business, as well as two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area.

4. Glass Art Installation at Deanie’s in the French Quarter Celebrates Louisiana Seafood

Lifelike sculpture dedicated to America's WETLAND Foundation is centerpiece of restaurant

In 2011, Deanie’s Seafood celebrated the unveiling and dedication of a permanent art installation highlighting the bounty of Louisiana’s waters. The largest collective piece by New Orleans artist James Vella, the lifelike glass sculpture features a variety of fish native to Louisiana and is a centerpiece of Deanie’s Seafood restaurant in the French Quarter, 841 Iberville St. 

The 5-foot by 4-foot installation, which was dedicated to the America's WETLAND Foundation, serves as a warm reminder of Deanie’s love for Louisiana’s unique culture and environment and is a tribute to the local fishing community.  It features a cross-section of the lake, from marshy shallows to deeper lake bottom, with two herons standing in marsh grass, a large catfish nestled close to the bank, a school of redfish in the shallows looking for blue crabs, plus speckled trout feeding on shrimp, sheephead, flounder and baitfish near the sandy bottom. Vella is the artist and creator behind Vella Vetro Art Glass & Custom Design, which specializes in fine art glass creations, custom designs and large-scale installations.

# # #

Deanie’s has built its name and reputation on fresh Louisiana seafood prepared with Deanie's signature seasonings in a fun and casual atmosphere. In business for more than 50 years, today Deanie’s operates a thriving seafood market, an online Louisiana Seafood Marketplace for Shrimp, Crabs, Oysters and more, a catering business, as well as two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area–Deanie's original location in the quaint fishing village of Bucktown and a second location in the heart of the historic French Quarter. The Chifici family celebrated 30 years as proprietors of Deanie's Seafood in 2012.

In a town famous for great seafood, Deanie’s Seafood is in a class by itself. Deanie’s is a “scratch house,” meaning everything is made in-house with the best ingredients available.

Raised in a family of restaurateurs, Mrs. Barbara acquired an early interest in cooking. Many hours were spent in the observation and questioning of the fantastic cooks in her family, where she gained hands-on experience on how to become a great cook. At nineteen years of age, she married and went to live in Paris with her husband, Frank, who was attending culinary school at Le Cordon Bleu.

In the early 1970’s, Barbara and Frank opened their first restaurant, Chifici’s on Magazine Street in New Orleans. Their second restaurant, Gromboli’s located on Veteran’s Memorial Boulevard in Metairie, opened early in 1980. Both restaurants were closed to concentrate their energy on Deanie’s, which was a much larger operation.

Mrs. Barbara’s career has afforded her the opportunity to work with local chefs as well as other chefs around the country. She has cooked for national political figures, celebrities in the entertainment field and sport personalities. She spent three weeks in western New York instructing a small group of chefs that were eager to learn more about Cajun/Creole cuisine. As chef, Barbara has been invited to participate as a judge in food contests around the country. She has judged on both professional and amateur levels.

Deanie’s Seafood is known for its Southern hospitality and serving the finest local seafood prepared in the authentic New Orleans culinary tradition. Deanie’s is a favorite of the queen of Southern cuisine Paula Deen, who raves about the restaurant’s signature BBQ Shrimp. In addition to its well-known seafood specialties, Deanie’s banquet and catering menus include a wide variety of appetizers, entrées, desserts, and passed hors d’oeurvres and plentiful chicken, beef and ham selections, non-fried items, vegetarian and gluten-free options.

Deanie’s recipes have been showcased in Gourmet magazine and in cookbooks such as Chef John Folse’s “Hooks, Lies and Alibis.” Its menu includes fresh Louisiana Shrimp, Blue Crab, Oysters, Crawfish and more, and features classic dishes such as Crawfish etouffee, Lump Crabmeat au Gratin, BBQ Shrimp and Seafood Gumbo. Deanie’s also prepares and ships delicious fresh and boiled Louisiana seafood to customers throughout the United States through its retail website, shopdeanies.com, which was launched in 2011.

METAIRIE, LA–Deanie's Seafood Restaurant in Bucktown is one of the featured restaurants on the Jefferson Parish Oyster Trail, an experience focusing on Jefferson Parish restaurants serving Louisiana Oysters. The Jefferson Parish Oyster Trail is presented by Jefferson Convention and Visitors Bureau, Inc. and the Louisiana Tourism Recovery Program.

Deanie's Owner Barbara A. Chifici said Deanie's is excited that Deanie's Seafood Restaurant & Seafood Market–a Bucktown original for more than 50 years–is one of the 12 restaurants showcased on the Oyster Trail.

"Louisiana Seafood is such a big part of our culture and economy. We're really proud to be able to contribute to continuing the tradition of great seafood, great friends and good times," Mrs. Chifici said. Deanie's  custom oyster sculpture designed by artist Sherry Francalacia was installed at the restaurant in October 2012 as part of the three-year Oyster Trail campaign,

Visitors and locals alike will experience the local flavor, as well as the flare of local artists' hand-painted sculptures depicting Jefferson Parish. Additional information is available at LouisianaOysterTrail.com.

Deanie's operates a thriving seafood market and catering business as well as two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area, the original location in the quaint fishing village of Bucktown and a second location in the heart of the historic French Quarter. Deanie's also prepares and ships delicious fresh and boiled Louisiana seafood to customers throughout the United States through its retail website, Online Louisiana Seafood Market for Crawfish, Crabs, Oysters and Shrimp | ShopDeanies.com which was launched in 2011.

Mrs. Chifici has built a locally owned, family-operated business employing more than 300 New Orleanians and serving nearly 1 million visitors and locals annually, earning the distinction as "Best Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans" by Times Picayune readers. Deanie's authentic New Orleans cuisine is nationally renowned and featured on various Travel Channel and Food Network programs. Both Deanie's restaurants are go-to locations for football fans during the NFL season. Deanie's in the French Quarter hosts Saints Radio Network's live broadcast of "The Point After" show on WWL Radio following each New Orleans Saints game.

Deanie's Seafood is proud of its heritage of serving fresh Louisiana seafood prepared with Deanie's signature seasonings. Its menu includes fresh Louisiana Shrimp, Blue Crab, Oysters, Catfish, Crawfish and more, and serves classic dishes such as Crawfish etouffee, Lump Crabmeat au Gratin, BBQ Shrimp and Seafood & Okra Gumbo. Deanie's recipes also have been showcased in Gourmet magazine and in cookbooks such as Chef John Folse's "Hooks, Lies and Alibis."

About Deanie's Seafood

For more than 50 years, Deanie's Seafood Restaurants and Market have been serving huge portions of the best boiled, broiled and fried seafood in New Orleans. We invite you to visit the original location in Bucktown at 1713 Lake Avenue or in the French Quarter at 841 Iberville Street (located at the corner of Dauphine and Iberville streets).

To learn more about Deanie's Seafood, visit us at www.deanies.com or call the restaurant directly at 504-834-1225.

# # #

The 5-foot by 4-foot installation serves as a warm reminder of Deanie’s love for Louisiana’s unique culture and environment and is a tribute to the local fishing community.

The Deanie’s installation is the largest collective sculpture Vella has created in his career. Vella is the artist and creator behind Vella Vetro Art Glass & Custom Design, which specializes in fine art glass creations, custom designs and large-scale installations.

His design presents a cross-section of the lake, from marshy shallows to deeper lake bottom. It features two herons standing on a bank surrounded by marsh grass, a large catfish nestled close to the bank, and a school of redfish in the shallows looking for blue crabs. In a deeper section of dark grass, a school of speckled trout feed on shrimp, while sheephead, flounder and baitfish gather closer to the sandy bottom.

“This is something I’ve always wanted to do but haven’t had a reason to,” Vella said. “It’s led me into some really interesting techniques that I’ve never gotten to do with glass before.”

Deanie’s Seafood and the Chifici Family dedicated the sculpture to the America’s WETLAND Foundation “in support of its tremendous efforts to conserve and protect coastal Louisiana."

LOUISIANA’S ALURE Glass Ornament

As a part of its ongoing support of the America’s WETLAND Foundation, Deanie’s will contribute a portion of the proceeds from the sale of Louisiana’s Alure, an original glass fishing lure ornament created by Vella Vetro Art Glass. The hand-blown glass ornament is $45, with $5 dedicated to support the America’s WETLAND Conservation Corps’ work protecting the coastline through hands-on restoration plantings. Louisiana's Alure is available for purchase in both Deanie’s Seafood restaurants and online at www.shopdeanies.com.
 

123►

The Louisiana Crawfish Promotion & Resource Board is charged with promoting Louisiana Crawfish and supporting and regulating the Crawfish industry that supports local fishermen and producers and provides jobs for people around the Atchafalaya Basin area and throughout south Louisiana.

The Crawfish Promotion and Research Board was created within the Louisiana Department of Agriculture & Forestry in 2006. The 13-member board is made up of crawfishermen, processors, crawfish farmers, retailers, bait suppliers, restaurant operators, and representatives of related organizations appointed by the state Commissioner of Agriculture.

Deanie’s Seafood is one of the largest distributors of crawfish in Jefferson and Orleans Parish. Both a seafood market and restaurant, Deanie’s opened 50 years ago in Bucktown, a fishing and boating community just off the shores of Lake Pontchartrain near the 17th Street Canal. The restaurant and marketplace have been operated by the Chifici Family for the past 30 years. Today, with a thriving seafood market and catering business and two successful restaurants in New Orleans’ historic Bucktown neighborhood and French Quarter, Deanie’s is a beloved New Orleans restaurant brand voted “Best Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans” by readers of Gambit Weekly magazine. Deanie’s also prepares and ships delicious fresh and boiled Louisiana seafood to customers throughout the United States through its retail website, shopdeanies.com.

About Deanie’s Seafood

Deanie’s Seafood is a locally owned, family-operated business employing more than 300 New Orleanians and serving nearly 1 million visitors and locals annually. For more than 50 years, Deanie’s Seafood Restaurants and Market have been serving huge portions of the best boiled, broiled and fried seafood in New Orleans.  Deanie’s also prepares and ships delicious fresh and boiled Louisiana seafood to customers throughout the United States through its retail website,shopdeanies.com.

We invite you to visit the original location in Bucktown at 1713 Lake Ave. or in the French Quarter at 841 Iberville St. (located at the corner of Dauphine and Iberville streets).

Deanie’s Seafood is open 11 a.m. – 10 p.m., Sunday through Thursday and 11 a.m. – 11 p.m., Friday & Saturday. The Bucktown location is open 11 a.m. – 9 p.m. Sundays and is closed on Mondays. To learn more about Deanie’s Seafood, visit us at www.deanies.com or call the restaurant directly at 504-834-1225.

# # #

Metairie, LA–Nov. 12, 2012–This holiday season Deanie's Seafood serves up all the fixings for holiday parties with its Holiday Take Home Menu, available for Thanksgiving and for holiday celebrations throughout the month of December.

The seasonal menu features Deanie's secret recipes prepared with all fresh ingredients, offering a selection of prepared meats plus scrumptious homemade side dishes, soups, dressings and desserts ready to serve for your holiday gathering. Orders can be placed Tuesday through Sunday by calling Deanie's Seafood Market in Bucktown at 504-835-4638.

Recognized as one of New Orleans' best seafood restaurants and markets for more than 50 years, Deanie's offers a Holiday menu including main dishes, Fried and Smoked Turkey, Spiral Ham, Smoked Boneless Beef Brisket, Smoked Center Cut Boneless Pork Loin, and Oyster Patties; plus Stuffed Mirlitons, Oyster Dressing, Turkey Gravy, Seafood Gumbo, Shrimp & Crab Bisque, Sweet Potato Casserole and more.

Information and full menu are available at  Deanies.com. Call Deanie's Seafood Market at 504-835-4638 to place your order.

Place and pick up orders exclusively through Deanie's Seafood Market in Bucktown, 1713 Lake Ave., Metairie. Thanksgiving orders must be placed by Nov. 20 at Noon. Orders must be picked up by Nov. 21 by 8 p.m.

Holiday Menu Available Throughout December
Deanie's Holiday Take Home menu is available this year throughout the month of December for office celebrations and pre-holiday events. Holiday Party orders may be placed Dec. 1 through Dec. 22, two days in advance of your event.

Christmas orders must be placed by Dec. 22 at Noon. Orders must be picked up by Dec. 24 between 9 a.m. and 1 p.m. (Only the seafood market will be open on Christmas Eve.)

Deanie's Seafood is proud of its heritage of serving fresh Louisiana seafood prepared with Deanie's signature seasonings. Its menu includes fresh Louisiana Shrimp, Blue Crab, Oysters, Catfish, Crawfish and more, and serves classic dishes such as Crawfish etouffée, Lump Crabmeat au Gratin, BBQ Shrimp and Seafood & Okra Gumbo. Deanie's recipes also have been showcased in Gourmet magazine and in cookbooks such as Chef John Folse's "Hooks, Lies and Alibis." Deanie's also prepares and ships delicious fresh and boiled Louisiana seafood to customers throughout the United States through its retail website, shopdeanies.com, which was launched in 2011.     
       
About Deanie's Seafood
Voted "Best Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans" by readers of the Times Picayune, Deanie's Seafood Restaurants and Market have been serving huge portions of the best boiled, broiled and fried seafood in New Orleans for more than 50 years.

Deanie's operates a thriving seafood market and catering business as well as two successful restaurants in the New Orleans area, the original location in the quaint fishing village of Bucktown and a second location in the heart of the historic French Quarter. We invite you to visit the original location in Bucktown at 1713 Lake Avenue or in the French Quarter at 841 Iberville Street (located at the corner of Dauphine and Iberville streets).

Both Deanie's restaurants are go-to locations for football fans during the NFL season. Deanie's in the French Quarter hosts Saints Radio Network's live broadcast of "The Point After" show on WWL Radio following each New Orleans Saints game.          

To learn more about Deanie's Seafood, visit us at www.deanies.com or call the restaurant directly at 504-834-1225.  

# # #

Santa Claus will be on hand to greet and pose for free photos from  5 to 10 p.m., Friday and Saturday, Dec. 14 & 15 and Dec. 21 & 22. 

Known for family-style cuisine that satisfies the heartiest craving for Louisiana seafood and other regional favorites, Deanie’s is always decked out for the holidays, featuring beautiful Christmas decorations plus award-winning window displays reminiscent of your childhood holiday traditions.

Deanie’s Seafood was voted the “Best Seafood Restaurant" in New Orleans in the Times Picayune’s “Readers Choice Awards” and is recognized nationally through features on the Travel Channel and Food Network and in Gourmet magazine.

         A Visit With Santa!

What: A holiday treat for children—Free Photos with Santa as he stops at Deanie’s Seafood restaurant in the French Quarter. Enjoy hot chocolate, cookies and holiday treats along with a visit with Santa.

When: Friday and Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; Dec. 14 & 15 and Dec. 21 & 22

Where: Deanie’s Seafood (French Quarter), 841 Iberville St., corner of Dauphine and Iberville streets


Cost: Free, children 12 and younger; $8 ages 13 and up

Information: Visit www.deanies.com or call 504-581-1316.

N’Awlins dining (Oct. 27, 20102)

Dear Smiley: Since you are now an extension to my native folks in N’Awlins per the Advocate’s new-found penetration into the Times-Pic’s market share, I hadn’t heard you mention a favorite seafood platter place: Deanie’s. Their “mile high” platters and onion rings are more than enough for me and Lady Maria.

So as the beloved late Buddy Diliberto was noted to promote on their ads: “If ya ain’t in Bucktown, baby, ya ain’t at the real Deanie’s!”

KEITH HORCASITAS

Baton Rouge (New Orleans transplant)

Dear Keith: They paying you in onion rings to promote that place?

* * *

Well, Keith, not yet…but maybe we can be convinced. Thanks for the shout out, and come back soon!