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Since 1966 the LaBella family has been feeding the families of New Orleans and beyond. Papa Joe LaBella’s dream, to open a neighborhood meat market, laid the groundwork for this 35 year-old family tradition. Since the mid-sixties the LaBella family business has grown considerably, however it has kept “neighborhood” friendliness that Papa Joe established all those years ago. This hospitality is readily felt each and every time a customer walks through the front door and is greeted with a welcoming smile.
In the beginning Papa Joe and Joey formed a rock-solid reputation amongst the families of Jefferson Parish in the form of a quality meat market and “corner grocery store.” As their popularity grew, so did their customers’ needs. They began selling a limited selection of freshly prepared po-boys and hot entrees like meatballs and red gravy, or red beans and rice. Today, the deli is full service, serving any sandwich a hungry customer’s mind can imagine, and has become famous for it’s variety of overstuffed po-boys and mighty muffelettas. Everyday of the week a different hot entrée is offered as the daily special, usually along with a soup du jour, or a heart healthy entrée. But you can always count on LaBella’s to have red beans and rice on Mondays and fresh, hot meatballs and red gravy Anyday.
In the 1970’s Joey and his wife Judy began expanding their family and their family business. Now working along side daughter Jennifer, they have developed a full service catering operation suitable for any occasion. LaBella’s Catering has handled parties and other various gatherings ranging from 5 to 1500 guests; intimate candle-lit dinners on fine china to extravagant corporate theme parties and company picnics. They have had the privilege of catering the set for the entire Camelot Production Crew, including Kevin Costner and Oliver Stone, when they were in New Orleans filming JFK. Vanity Fair, Julia Roberts, and Delta Burke have also sampled LaBella's cuisine.
LaBella’s Catering also offers an extensive holiday menu including such Creole and Cajun delicacies as fried turkeys, tur-duc-ins, or filet stuffed pork roasts, along with bourbon sweet potatoes, cream cheese spinach casserole, or oyster dressing. And what true New Orleans holiday meal is finished without bread pudding topped with bourbon-praline sauce?
Over the last several years, the LaBella family has once again expanded their thriving business. They have added a casual sit-down dinner menu, offered Thursday through Saturday evenings. The “LaBella’s at Nite” menu offers a variety of tempting appetizers, entrees, and desserts. From old-fashioned Italian pasta dishes and charbroiled steaks, cut to order right out of our meat counter, to the innovative “Eggplant Pirogue.” LaBella’s at Nite can satisfy anyone’s palate, and the portions will satisfy anyone’s appetite.
While Jenny has been very busy at the “store,” Joey and Judy have been working on a new venture, one that will show-off LaBella’s to the rest of the country. With his son, “Little” Joey, by his side, Joey has been traveling the country doing cooking demonstrations and offsite catering for several Corporate-America outfits. Joey has exhibited in Chicago's National Restaurant Association Food Show to demonstrate New Orleans cuisine, and has traveled to the University of Arkansas to prepare a seated dinner for its Chancellor. In addition to Arkansas and Illinois, Joey has traveled to 8 states to exemplify his cooking. Recently he has had had the pleasure of teaching "Christmas Holiday" culinary classes at a local New Orleans community college, and a popular morning news program has broadcast him flipping pasta as early as 6:00 a.m.!!
Although the LaBella family and family business has grown in leaps and bounds over the last 35 years, the neighborhood service that Papa Joe established years ago is still very much alive. As always, you’ll be greeted with a smile by Joey, Judy or Jenny, and a feeling you know you’re home.
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