Shiny New Toys: A Taste of Shreveport-Bossier's New Kids on the Block

While there are plenty of Shreveport-Bossier staples, some of which we covered yesterday, there are also some new kids on the block that aren't afraid to make a scene. One of those is Sevendipity Café. Husband and wife duo Scott and Liz Roebuck have taken a whack at the famed Cronut (fried croissant dough in the shape of a donut)...but what's more is Scott's Creauxnuts! He fills alternating pockets with different fillings, hits them with a glaze and then blows your mind. Simply put, this guy has creauxnuts that make you go nuts, and has been selling hundreds a week. If you're ever in the area, you've got to stop by--word on the street is they have phenomenal lunch as well. Before you try anything though, you have to have a slice of their homemade bread. It is, as Scott Roebuck says, "our bread and butter."

Sevendipity's Homemade Bread topped with fresh Mayhaw Jelly

This particular creauxnut, filled with raspberry blackberry filling and banana filling melted in my mouth. The citrus glaze brightened up the flavors and the crushed pistachios added a nice texture element to the dough.

Raspberry Blackberry & Banana Filled Creauxnuts with a Citrus Glaze and Crushed Pistachios

Frank's Pizza Napoletana opened its doors in 2012. The area's only true Pizza Napoletana, Frank gave us a show of some of his best pies served with some Great Raft beer. They have excellent salads and pastas served alongside some phenomenal cocktails as well!

First up: The Crawfish Lagniappe Pizza. One would think the flavors of Louisiana don't belong on a pizza, but one would be wrong. With spicy sautéed Louisiana crawfish covered in Cajun Trinity (onion, bell pepper, and celery), roasted Andouille sausage, Creole roasted garlic panna, Pecorino Romano, homemade Mozzarella, and a spritz of basil oil the flavors came together so well, I like to think of it as the gumbo of pizza.

The Crawfish Lagniappe Pizza

The Too Duckin' Good pizza at Frank's is, well, better than good! An Italian flour dough is topped with Panna, Parmigiano, caramelized onions, fontina, gorgonzola, house made Hudson Valley Moulard Duck Confit, sliced pears and then drizzled with a little local honey. If you've never tried a rich, decadent pizza, you're missing out. This pie had character and a luscious flavor profile that would go great with a bottle of red wine.

The Too Duckin' Good Pizza

The Margherita Pizza

Hot Passion Geauxsicle: Pineapple, Passion Fruit, and Jalapeño

There's nothing like grabbing a gourmet popsicle after a day of exploring Shreveport! Luckily for us, Shreveport is home to a killer popsicle shop: Geauxsicles. Geauxsicles is located in an old bank where they use the deposit drawer to transport drive-thru patrons their tasty pops. They have a bunch of flavors to choose from so it was hard to make and delicious decisions! I went for the Hot Passion...this icy treat was made with fresh pineapple, jalapeños, and passion fruit. The spice kicks you in the back of the throat like a stubborn mule but the sweetness of the fresh fruit balances everything out. If you want to try some, you can have them shipped right to your door!

Last but not least, Great Raft Brewing Co. is making a crazy amount of waves in the craft beer scene. The first brewery to open up in Shreveport since before prohibition has recently been named one of the "10 New Breweries to Watch, from D.C. to California" by Bon Appétit and they have rooted themselves in the heart of locals. One of my favorite things about the brewery is their taproom. It has a great design and atmosphere, their pint glasses are unique, and the owners and staff couldn't be friendlier. Specializing in both lagers and ales, Great Raft has three year-round brews and quite a few seasonal taps as well. Their flagships, Southern Drawl Pale Lager, Reasonably Corrupt Black Lager, and Commotion American Pale Ale are super popular and come in beautifully designed cans as well as on tap. If you're ever up in North Louisiana, stop by, grab a pint with some friends and taste some food from local food trucks that park on their loading dock!