Get ready: With hurricane season 2017 underway and the region still reeling from last year’s flood, the Baton Rouge Area Chamber is urging businesses to begin preparations for weather emergencies. To help, the chamber today released its annual list of emergency preparedness recommendations designed especially for businesses. In the event of an emergency, businesses should work to ensure the security of their employees, information, equipment and resources essential to their operations and customers, BRAC says. Other recommendations include having an evacuation plan and establishing procedures for succession of management. Read more.
Now open: Nashville-based fast casual seafood chain Captain D’s has opened a new location at 5353 Main St. in Zachary. The restaurant is the brand’s first new location in the Baton Rouge area and kicks off an aggressive development plan in the Capital Region. Captain D’s has two other locations currently under construction—one in Baton Rouge on Government Street near South Foster Drive and another in Denham Springs. An additional location in Hammond is slated to open in the fall. Michael Arrowsmith, Captain D’s chief development officer, says in a statement the chain will open new restaurants throughout the region over the course of this year. Captain D’s has 516 restaurants across 21 states. Read more.
And the winner is: There’s a new oyster eating champion of the world. WGNO reports Michelle Lesco of Tuscon, Arizona, slurped down 33 dozen oysters in eight minutes to win the 2017 Acme Oyster House World Oyster Eating Championship on Sunday. The competition takes place every year at the New Orleans Oyster Festival, where the mission is to educate the world about Louisiana’s Gulf oyster. Lesco fought off second place winner was Sonya “The Black Widow” Thomas, who ate 31 dozen oysters in 8 minutes. Last year’s champion, Adrian “The Rabbit” Morgan took third place this year with 27 dozen oysters in 8 minutes. See pictures from this weekend’s competition. Read more.
