Determination, a love of food, a willingness to invest long hours, and the desire to follow his dreams led Brian Antoine to open his own authentic Cajun restaurant. Antoine’s Flavor of New Orleans won the Minority Business of the Year award from the Valdosta-Lowndes County Chamber of Commerce Thursday, bringing Brian the recognition that has come with creating a successful business.
The Antoines arrived in Valdosta following the wake of Hurricane Katrina. Brian and Donnata were fortunate enough to have employers that could move them to South Georgia, but leaving their flood-ravaged home city was difficult. Realizing that this was his opportunity to create the restaurant of his dreams, Brian spent months researching authentic New Orleans eateries in order to recreate the Bourbon Street-inspired restaurant on North Ashley Street in Downtown Valdosta.
Add authentic creole and Cajun dishes with crawfish, catfish, and crab cakes, with a bit of hot spicy gumbo or jambalya, and a little saucy jazz at night, and you have the recipe for a successful and popular hot spot in Valdosta.
Antoine’s is also hosting the first annual Mardi Gras Masquerade Ball at the City Market Loft, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m. today, featuring live music, a buffet dinner, Hurricanes, authentic Mardi Gras masks, and much more. Tickets for the formal event are available at the restaurant.
Brian credits much of the restaurant’s success to how well the community has responded to the Flavor of New Orleans and embraced he and his family. His success has brought him a sense of pride, but the knowledge that the restaurant is considered a great place to eat with great prices and a fun atmosphere is what brings him pleasure.
Congratulations to the Flavor of New Orleans on winning the Minority Business of the Year.
What We Think
OUR OPINION: Reborn from the flood
- What We Think
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Grading policy: A second chance?
In clarifying the Lowndes County Schools’ controversial grading policy, Superintendent Dr. Steve Smith spoke of second chances.
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Be up to any weather challenge
Georgia’s Severe Weather Awareness Week starts today and runs through Friday. The idea behind the week is to prepare Georgians for weather emergencies and how to keep these situations from becoming tragedies.
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Parents and schools
There is a lot of talk lately about school systems and grading policies, and how all of a child's problems come back to a lack of parenting. But is it really that simple? Can it be a case where the school systems are so focused on the problem few that the majority of students are ignored?
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Thumbs up, thumbs down
THUMBS UP: To Brooks County High School engineering and technology teacher Don Morgan and his students. They recently received national attention for their work with biodiesel fuel. They collect used cooking oil from area fast-food restaurants then process this oil into biodiesel. Morgan hopes to next interest the Brooks County school buses into running on the fuel created in his class. This classroom not only prepares students for the future but may prepare all of us for an alternative energy source.
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Take me out to the ball park
The Valdosta State baseball season begins today. The Blazers host Lindenwood at 2:30 p.m. Nothing beats quality baseball played in warm weather with a great venue like Billy Grant Field.
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What We Think: Signing Day
Wednesday was National Signing Day, the day when high school athletes across the country make official announcements about what school they’ve chosen to sign with.
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School policy fails expectations
Lowndes County Schools recently implemented new grading guidelines for students. These guidelines have left many parents upset ...
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Just the facts, please
The Times has taken some hits this weekend following the reporting of the Rev. Floyd Rose’ rally on Saturday concerning the car which drove into a home, killing an infant on New Year’s, and an incident at Pinevale Learning Center. Some police officers think the VDT is not being fair, and Rose accused the VDT of not printing the facts, but the facts are as follows:
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Fathers teaching daughters
It began as a small gathering for fathers and daughters. It has become one of Valdosta’s most popular social events of the year.
Several years ago, Jeff Stewart co-founded the event with his wife, Becky, as a way for him to give a special night to his two daughters. Other fathers of First Presbyterian Church liked the idea and the Father-Daughter Valentine Dance was born. -
Sports tourneys: They will come
More than 20 years after its release, “Field of Dreams’” mantra, “If you build it, they will come,” has possibly become one of the most overused lines from any movie. Yet, it seems all too fitting for what’s been happening lately within the Valdosta-Lowndes County Parks and Recreation Authority.
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Grading policy: A second chance?
