Rio Mar (800 S. Peters St.) is expanding into the space adjacent; a brick archway leads to a new dining area that effectively doubles the available seating in the restaurant. The addition also includes a tapas bar from around 5 p.m. until midnight. This is more in keeping with traditional Spanish tapas bars, which serve many of 
their customers in the late afternoon and early evening. It also increases the percentage between S. Peters and Fulton streets owned by Chef Adolfo Garcia of Rio Mar and La Boca, above. When will he stop? Only his real estate agent knows for sure.
Chef Vincent Barreir of The Flaming Torch restaurant (737 Octavia St.) hails from Nice, in the Provence region of France. His cuisine, in addition to recognizable Provençal dishes such as Salade Nicoise and Ratatouille, includes items such as l’Escargot Ivre (escargot braised in stock, Armagnac and butter, seasoned with lemon zest and herbs and served in a martini glass), or oysters “la Madrague,” which features fried oysters wrapped in grilled eggplant, then topped with tomato sauce and Gruyere cheese. For the fall, Chef Berreir is adding selections such as Duck à l’Orange to a menu that already sports cold-weather favorites such as Coq au Vin and Daube de Provence (rich beef stew).
Chef Anton Schulte, (5831 Magazine St.) most recently of Le Petit Grocery, has been at the helm of Bistro Daisy for a couple of months now. Daisy is named for Anton and Dianne Schulte’s daughter, who in turn is named for the F. Scott Fitzgerald character. Open for dinner only, Tues.-Sat. starting at 6 p.m., the menu has some interesting takes on bistro favorites such as Mussels with Smoked Tomato Broth; Grilled Sweetbreads with Bacon and Roasted Potato Salad; and Pan Roasted and Porcini Dusted Chicken Over Goat Cheese Polenta.
Chef Rene Bajeux, formerly of Rene Bistrot in the Renaissance Pere Marquette, has been announced as the new chef at La Provence, in Lacombe. It’s a coup of tremendous proportions for the John Besh-owned restaurant, as Bajeux is a rare talent and much loved locally.
On Oct. 7, an episode of the TV show The Next Iron Chef will air featuring John Besh, below, who last year appeared on the U.S. version. Then, Chef Besh defeated “Iron Chef Italian” Mario Batali in an “Andouille Battle” but this time he’ll be competing to become one of the Iron Chefs. “Iron Chef Creole-French-German-Southern” doesn’t exactly trip off the tongue but I’m sure they’ll figure out a way to make it work if he wins.
Chef Besh will also appear alongside Wynton Marsalis, bottom, in an episode of Iconoclasts on the Sundance Channel Nov. 22. The series pairs two “creative personalities” and films their conversation. This combination presents a particularly interesting formula for New Orleanians: Take the most popular chef in the City at the 
moment, add one of our most beloved musical icons and film them having a chat. If you don’t receive the Sundance Channel at home, you can also download the show via iTunes.
Questions? Comments? Suggestions? E-mail Robert Peyton: rpeyton@gmail.com.
I’m game if you are
La Provence
25020 Highway 190
(985) 626-7662
The New Orleans Grill
Windsor Court Hotel
300 Gravier St.
522-1992
Brigtsen’s
723 Dante St.
861-7610
