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On the Radar: Latest Trends & Updates

Here, you'll find timely updates, industry insights, and exciting announcements about our association and the vibrant restaurant community we serve. Stay informed about upcoming events, important initiatives, and key developments that impact our industry. We’re thrilled to keep you connected and engaged with the latest happenings in the world of hospitality.

Your Voice Matters: Share Input on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness

By tnorris95 | August 27, 2025 | Comments Off on Your Voice Matters: Share Input on Restoring American Seafood Competitiveness

Latest News Seafood is a cornerstone of Louisiana’s culinary identity and our state’s restaurant industry. From shrimp and oysters to redfish and crab, the vitality of our fisheries directly impacts the menus we proudly serve and the communities we sustain. That’s why we urge our members to take part in an important opportunity to shape…

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Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years Later, From Survival to Service

By tnorris95 | August 26, 2025 | Comments Off on Hurricane Katrina: 20 Years Later, From Survival to Service

Latest News A Personal Recollection from LRA SVP and Head of Communications, Wendy Waren This year marks the 20th anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, and like so many New Orleanians, I can still remember the days leading up to it with painful clarity. On Saturday, August 27, 2005, I wanted to evacuate early. Katrina was already…

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Think Before You Trust: Cybersecurity Tips for Business Owners

By tnorris95 | August 19, 2025 | Comments Off on Think Before You Trust: Cybersecurity Tips for Business Owners

Latest News In today’s digital world, small businesses are always looking for ways to gain visibility. Media coverage can be a powerful growth tool, but it also creates opportunities for scammers. Recently, Lauren Haydel, owner of Fleurty Girl boutiques in New Orleans, Metairie, and Bay St. Louis, shared her close call with such a scam.…

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NRA Urges the Senate to Pass HR 7024

By wwaren@lra.org | March 22, 2024 | Comments Off on NRA Urges the Senate to Pass HR 7024

Latest News Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act of 2024 What just happened: The Tax Relief for American Families and Workers Act has momentum coming into the Senate, following sweeping bipartisan votes in both the House tax committee (40 – 3) and on the floor (357 – 70). The Senate has an opportunity to…

Restaurant Reservation Ruckus: Inside the Controversial World of Appointment Trader

By wwaren@lra.org | March 12, 2024 | Comments Off on Restaurant Reservation Ruckus: Inside the Controversial World of Appointment Trader

Latest News In the realm of fine dining, a shadowy online marketplace has emerged, promising prime reservations at top-tier restaurants for exorbitant prices. Dubbed Appointment Trader, this platform has sparked outrage among restaurateurs and industry insiders alike, as it capitalizes on the scarcity of coveted dining experiences while leaving eateries in the lurch. Led by…

LRA Education Foundation Announces Winners of Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational

By wwaren@lra.org | March 11, 2024 | Comments Off on LRA Education Foundation Announces Winners of Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational

Latest News The LRA Education Foundation presented the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational on March 6-7 at the New Orleans Morial Convention Center. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum in nearly 60 Louisiana high schools, with 2,000 juniors and seniors participating. Sixty-three percent of Louisiana’s ProStart program attended the Invitational. The Invitational…

State of the Union Address

By wwaren@lra.org | March 8, 2024 | Comments Off on State of the Union Address

Latest News The National Restaurant Association is assessing the implications of President Biden’s State of the Union address for the restaurant industry, paying close attention to key points that demand our attention. First, President Biden underscored his commitment to eliminating so-called “junk fees” throughout the U.S. economy. Why it matters: His administration is proposing a rule targeting “junk…

Fees, Taxes Top LRA’s Fed Agenda

By wwaren@lra.org | February 28, 2024 | Comments Off on Fees, Taxes Top LRA’s Fed Agenda

Latest News By Stan Harris CEO & president of the Louisiana Restaurant Association This piece was a guest column in the Beltway Beat by LaPolitics, part of the State Affairs network, February 28, 2024.  Louisianians love celebrations, and each of these occasions-be it a birthday, anniversary, or the opening of football season-involves our world-famous cuisine. The heritage…

LRA Education Foundation Announces 2024 Scholars

By wwaren@lra.org | February 26, 2024 | Comments Off on LRA Education Foundation Announces 2024 Scholars

Latest News The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation (LRAEF) Board of Directors, through its Scholarship Fund, will award $60,000 in scholarships to 17 students. The LRAEF Scholars will be honored on March 6 during the annual “Serving the Future-Celebrating Careers in Hospitality” presented by Ecolab event in New Orleans. The LRAEF Scholarship Fund was created…

LRA Education Foundation Presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024

By wwaren@lra.org | February 14, 2024 | Comments Off on LRA Education Foundation Presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024

Latest News Chef Patron E.J. Lagasse Keynote Speaker at ProStart Awards The Louisiana Restaurant Association Education Foundation proudly presents the Louisiana Seafood ProStart Invitational March 6-7, 2024, at the Morial Convention Center, Hall J. ProStart is a two-year culinary arts and restaurant management curriculum offered to juniors and seniors in nearly 60 high schools in Louisiana.…

NRA and its Restaurant Law Center Call on FTC to Exclude Restaurants from “Junk Fees” Rule

By wwaren@lra.org | February 12, 2024 | Comments Off on NRA and its Restaurant Law Center Call on FTC to Exclude Restaurants from “Junk Fees” Rule

Latest News In comments they call the proposal unwarranted and unlawful, and highlight significant unintended consequences for consumers In comments submitted to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) regarding its Unfair or Deceptive Fees Notice of Proposed Rulemaking, the National Restaurant Association and the Restaurant Law Center (Law Center) called for the Commission to exclude the…

Alan Guilbeau: A Journey of Passion and Service

By wwaren@lra.org | February 7, 2024 | Comments Off on Alan Guilbeau: A Journey of Passion and Service

Latest News In every industry, there are unsung heroes whose dedication and commitment shape the landscape from behind the scenes. Alan Guilbeau, 2024’s newly appointed Chair of the Louisiana Restaurant Association (LRA), is one such individual whose remarkable journey in consumer products, food service, and distribution has left an indelible mark on Louisiana’s culinary community.…

Drago’s An American Journey: A Tale of Resilience, Family, and Charbroiled Oysters

By wwaren@lra.org | February 7, 2024 | Comments Off on Drago’s An American Journey: A Tale of Resilience, Family, and Charbroiled Oysters

Latest News Drago’s: An American Journey recounts the inspiring saga of the Cvitanovich family, pioneers of Drago’s Seafood Restaurant in Metairie, Louisiana. From humble beginnings to culinary legends, Drago and Klara Cvitanovich embody the immigrant experience and entrepreneurial spirit, fleeing post-World War II Europe with little but determination. Through unwavering dedication, they introduced their iconic dish,…

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