MANDEVILLE – Popular locals' joint Louie and the Redhead Lady will be featured on the season premiere of The Food Network’s "Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" show this month. The episode featuring the Northshore restaurant is scheduled to air at 8 p.m. Jan. 24 on TFN and then again at 11 a.m. Jan. 25 and at 8 p.m. Feb. 4.
Guy Fieri, host of the show also known as "DDD," was on the Northshore in September to tape at the Old Mandeville restaurant, working with its chef and founder, Louie Finnan. Fieri joked with Finnan and raved about the New Orleans-style comfort food coming out of the kitchen. Dishes to be featured on the episode include grits and grillades, fried green tomatoes and zydeco shrimp.
A New Orleans native but longtime Northshore resident, Finnan has operated restaurants here since 1978. He and his wife, Ginger, opened the current location of Louie and the Redhead Lady, at 1851 Florida Ave. in Mandeville, in 2005. Last fall, Finnan opened a Covington location called Louie and the Redhead Lady, Too and recently took over the Zydeco Café on Highway 59, in Mandeville.
"Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives" is one of TFN’s most popular shows. Each week, Fieri visits classic down-home restaurants, mom-and-pops serving high-quality regional fare and regional American comfort food. Fieri, who rose to fame as a TFN celebrity after winning season two of its "The Next Food Network Star," now hosts three shows on the network, including "DDD," "Guy's Big Bite," and "Guy Off the Hook."
On his Northshore visit, Fieri also taped at Slidell’s LA Pines; a run date has not yet been announced.
