Chef John Besh hopes to expand along the corridor, but not now

Rumors that renowned 10/12 corridor Chef John Besh is about to expand his growing cuisine empire to Baton Rouge are exaggerated—but only somewhat. The chef—who now owns five restaurants in New Orleans and on the Northshore—has looked at the old Bogan Fire Station, which will be available once the Arts Council of Greater Baton Rouge strikes a deal to move into One Eleven. But Besh tells 10/12 Weekly the timing is just not right. He’s currently busy on Domenica, a casual Italian eatery he’s opening this spring in the soon-to-be-restored Roosevelt Hotel [formerly the Fairmont] on Baronne Street in New Orleans. La Provence in Lacombe and Restaurant August, Besh Steakhouse and Lüke in the Crescent City round out his stable. “We don’t have any solid plans yet to move into the fire station,” he says. “I love Baton Rouge, but we’re just not ready as we have so many irons in the fire in New Orleans. Before we even discuss branching out, I want to make sure all of our businesses are solidified here.” Besh adds, however, that he does hope to be in downtown Baton Rouge within the next couple of years. “Baton Rouge is our backyard,” he adds. “We want to make sure what we do is done for the right reasons at the best time, to make sure it’s successful. But there’s nothing concrete yet.” To read more about Besh, click here. — Penny Brown Font