NOV-DEC_flipbookupdated

FAMILY LETTER

The More the Merrier

On the Cover Seafood Stuffed Mirliton cover photo by Romney Caruso • • •   EAT | DRINK | BE MERRY WHAT I’M EATING Talking about holiday foods can be as fun as the meals themselves. In my family, cooking is an all-hands-on- deck effort when we gather Thanksgiving and Christmas dinners. Everyone brings a dish, but my grandfather’s famous oyster dressing has always been my favorite. Since he passed in 2009, the dressing has fallen under my father’s domain. Find Mr. Anthony’s Downhome Now that the colder weather has finally arrived, it’s time to break out the bourbon. Buffalo Trace on the rocks is my cold weather drink. BE MERRY As Christmas approaches, my wife Kara and I look forward to our favorite Gulf Coast tradition — holiday boat parades. We take our kids to see the shrimp boats decorated with Christmas lights. It’s a perfect way to experience and celebrate our ties to the coastal waterways we call home. For more on Christmas boat parades see Jyl Benson’s story on page 52. BE GENEROUS As we’re looking forward to the New Year, it’s important to remember how much we have to be grateful for and how many communities are still suffering the lingering effects of last August’s unprecedented and severe floods. People from all over the Gulf Coast generously donated more than $200,000 in cash and non-perishable food to help us feed and support these communities, but there is more to be done. Too many families on the Gulf Coast miss meals and go hungry during the holidays. We encourage you to join us and help fight hunger by supporting Feeding America with a donation of non- perishable food or money at any Rouses Markets. We make it easy to give — just scan a coupon at the Rouses register to add to your bill, or purchase a pre–packed $10 bags of canned goods and drop it in our donation barrel. Oyster Dressing recipe on page 25. WHAT I’M DRINKING

Donny and Donald Rouse — photo by Ryan Hodgson-Rigsbee

L eBlanc’s Food Stores has been a mainstay in Gonzales since 1961. L.C. LeBlanc opened the first LeBlanc’s Food Stores in 1961 just one year after my grandfather opened his first store in Houma. A second, third and fourth generation of LeBlancs helped grow the company into one of the largest independents in Louisiana. We have always eyed expansion in Baton Rouge and the surrounding areas. Blending a great food tradition like LeBlanc’s Food Stores into our company made perfect sense. Our families are longtime friends. We have both built our businesses on quality, selection, service and low prices. We share a common philosophy, history and commitment to community. This really is a perfect fit. I want to personally welcome LeBlanc’s dedicated customers, teammembers and vendor partners to our Rouses family. We will be keeping everything you love about LeBlanc’s — the strawberry shortcakes and four-layer cakes, the hand-cut USDA Choice Angus Beef steaks, the delicious prepared food, and especially the people.The cashier who checked you out at LeBlanc’s will be the same cashier who checks you out at Rouses. Merry Christmas, happy holidays, and thank you for shopping at Rouses. We truly appreciate your business. Donny Rouse 3 rd Generation

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