December 22, 2010 Acclaimed Louisiana Chef to Join LDH's New Media InitiativeChef John Besh to Contribute Healthy, Louisiana-Inspired Recipes to DHH's Blog

BATON ROUGE, Dec 22, 2010 - Louisiana Department of Health Secretary Bruce D. Greenstein today announced that acclaimed Louisiana Chef John Besh will join LDH's New Media Initiative as a guest on the Department's blog, www.myhealthla.org, for the next three months where he will be sharing healthy Louisiana-inspired recipes.

"Having Chef Besh join LDH's New Media Initiative is an honor because he proves every day that Louisiana cuisine can be both healthy and delicious," said LDH Secretary Greenstein. "We are joining forces to share this message with our residents and folks from around the world who enjoy Louisiana's unique blend of culinary influences."

Besh is a southern Louisiana entrepreneur known for his dedication to fresh, high-quality ingredients and use of distinctive culinary techniques. He owns six praised restaurants, August, Besh Steak, Lüke, La Provence, American Sector, and Domenica, where he exemplifies the culinary treasures Louisiana offers. 

Besh has been honored with a number of prestigious awards. His accolades include being named one of Food & Wine magazine's "Top 10 Best New Chefs in America," and his flagship restaurant August being featured on the late great Gourmet magazine's "Guide to America's Best Restaurants" and "America's Top 50 Restaurants." He also won the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Southeast in 2006, and was awarded Food Arts' Silver Spoon Award in 2009 for revitalizing the culinary legacy of New Orleans. 

DHH's blog was created to share important health information and news with Louisianians, and features timely health topics relevant to residents. Besh's first blog will run today, December 22, and will feature a recipe from his first cookbook, My New Orleans, "Mom's Redfish Courtbouillon." 

"We have worked hard since the BP Horizon disaster to certify the safety of Louisiana's seafood, so it's only fitting that Chef Besh's introductory recipe is chock full of safe, delicious Gulf seafood. It's also fitting that it comes at the holiday season when families gather and savor their time together around the kitchen preparing these kinds of traditional Louisiana dishes," Greenstein said. "We plan to continue to bring an array of different kinds of healthy Louisiana-inspired recipes for all of our citizens, and encourage residents to join our blog and share their own recipes."  

The Louisiana Department of Health strives to protect and promote health statewide and to ensure access to medical, preventive and rehabilitative services for all state citizens. To learn more about LDH, visit http://www.dhh.louisiana.gov. For up-to-date health information, news and emergency updates, follow LDH's blog at www.myhealthla.org, Twitter at http://twitter.com/La_Health_Dept and search for the Louisiana Department of Health on Facebook.