RSS Feed

I love to grill and barbecue, and I have devoted my career to outdoor cooking for more than two decades. In that time, I’ve seen a lot of mistakes and people tend to make them over and over. So I put together a list of the biggest grilling don’ts and how to avoid them.
Print this list and refer it the next time you get ready to grill!
NEVER OIL THE GRILL
Many people oil the cooking grates — big blunder! Follow my mantra: “Oil the food, not the grates!” If you brush oil on hot cooking grates (and a lit grill), you run the risk of a big flare-up. The oil that you have brushed on will instantly burn leaving a sticky residue that will “glue” your food to the grates, making it stick, break apart and dry out — like dehydrating food. If you oil the food, it will stay juicy, promote caramelization — those great grill marks — and help to prevent “stickage.”
DON’T PUT FOOD ON A COLD GRILL
Always preheat a gas grill with all burners on high or wait until charcoal briquettes are covered with a white-gray ash. Preheating also burns off residue and makes it easier to clean the grill. Contrary to popular belief, you don’t ever need to cook on a grill that is hotter than 550 F. The hotter the grill, the more likely you will burn the outside of the food before the inside is cooked.
CLEAN THAT DIRTY GRILL
An outdoor grill is like a cast-iron skillet. It gets better and better the more you use it, but you do need to clean it every time you use it. Clean the grill grates twice every cook-out with a stiff metal bristle grill cleaning brush — before and after you cook. If you do this, it will never be a big job to clean your grill. If you don’t have a grill cleaning brush, crumble a ball of heavy-duty aluminum foil and hold it in a pair of 12-inch locking chef tongs to use to clean the grill.
KNOW THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN DIRECT AND INDIRECT HEAT
The most frequent mistake is to choose the wrong cooking method. To be a good griller, you must know the difference between direct, indirect or combo grilling and when to use them.
Direct grilling means that the food is set directly over the heat source — similar to broiling in your oven. Indirect grilling means that the heat is on either side of the food and the burners are turned off under the food — similar to roasting and baking in your oven. Combo grilling means that you sear the food over direct heat (i.e., to sear a tenderloin or large steak) before moving it to indirect heat to finish the cooking process. Remember this general rule of thumb: If the food takes less than 20 minutes to cook, use the DIRECT METHOD. If the food takes more than 20 minutes to cook, use the INDIRECT METHOD.
THE RIGHT WAY TO DEAL WITH FLARE-UPS
Never use a water bottle to extinguish a flare-up. Spraying water on a hot fire can produce steam vapors which may cause severe burns. The water can also crack the porcelain-enamel finish, resulting in damage to your grill.
Fire loves oxygen, so cook with the lid down and don’t peek. Repeatedly lifting the lid to “peek” and check the food while it’s cooking lengthens cooking time. If you have a full-on fire, turn all the burners off, remove the food and extinguish the flames with kosher salt or baking soda. In a worst-case scenario, use a fire extinguisher but know that it will ruin your grill.
AVOID FREQUENT FLIPPING
If you are cooking food by the direct method (hamburgers, hot dogs, boneless chicken breasts, small steaks, vegetables, etc), flip only once halfway through the cooking time. All protein will stick to the grates as soon as it makes contact with the hot grill grates. As it cooks, it will naturally release itself, and that is when you can turn it over with a pair of tongs. Just remember to oil the food, not the grates!
DODGE CROSS-CONTAMINATION
One of the most common mistakes backyard cooks make is using the same tongs for raw and cooked foods. This creates cross-contamination and can result in food-borne illness.
It’s easy to fix this problem. I have been color-coding my 12-inch locking chef tongs with red and green duct tape for as long as I have been grilling. The different colors help me to remember which pair of tongs I used for raw food (red), like chicken, and which are safe to use for the cooked food (green). And remember to use a separate clean platter for your cooked food, too.
DON’T SAUCE TOO SOON
If I had a dime for every time I saw someone pour thick sweet barbecue sauce on bone-in-chicken pieces or a whole rack of ribs while they were raw, I would be a very wealthy griller!
All barbecue sauces have a lot of sugar in them and sugar burns very quickly. Almost always burning the outside of the food before the inside cooks. Generally I only brush food with sauce during the final 10-15 minutes of cooking time. With ribs that cook 2-3 hours, I will brush with a diluted sauce (½ beer and ½ sauce) for the final 30 minutes of cooking time.
RESIST TESTING FOR DONENESS BY CUTTING
Cutting your food to test for doneness is another common way people bungle their food. When you cut any protein, you are letting the precious juices escape and if the food is under-cooked, the area where it was cut will be over-cooked when you put it back on the grill. Use an instant-read meat thermometer to test for doneness, and always let your food rest for at least 5 minutes before cutting into it.
—EDITOR’S NOTE: Elizabeth Karmel is grilling, barbecue and southern foods expert, a media personality and the author of four cookbooks, including the newly released “Steak and Cake.”

July 30, 1936 - July 24, 2019
Louis Leon Faucheux, a resident of Charenton for the past 53 years, passed away at his home following a brief battle with Alzheimer’s at the age of 82 on Wednesday, July 24, 2019; just six days shy of his 83rd birthday.
Louis was born in New Orleans on Thursday, July 30, 1936, one of three sons born to Achille and Leone Faucheux. He started his working career with the State of Louisiana and then went on to work for Ashland Chemicals. Following his time with Ashland, he went into business for himself, purchasing White’s Automotive Store in Franklin which he operated for many years. After selling his business, Louis dabbled in rental properties until finally retiring once and for all. He was an avid outdoorsman who loved hunting and fishing. He also enjoyed growing a garden and going dancing with his wife Joyce. They traveled extensively with family and friends, going on yearly cruises and bus tours. He will be deeply missed by all who knew and loved him.
Survivors include his wife of nearly 58 years, Joyce Hebert Faucheux; five children, Stephanie F. Boudreaux, Louis A. Faucheux, David L. Faucheux, Gerard T. Faucheux and his wife Shelly, and Kevin J. Faucheux and his wife Glenda; five grandchildren, Monica Boudreaux, Karen Faucheux, Lauren F. Burke and her husband Matthew, Aaron Faucheux, and Austin Faucheux; four great grandchildren, Ambrá B. Patton and her husband Derrick, Alexa Teschendorf, and Easton and Emmett Burke; sister-in-law, JoAnn Faucheaux; as well as numerous nieces, nephews, relatives, and friends.
He was preceded in death by his parents, Achille Faucheux and Leone Bourgeois Faucheux; his brother and sister-in-law, Glenn and Judith Faucheux; his brother, Michael Faucheaux; one grandson, Keith Boudreaux; and one son-in-law, Kim Boudreaux.
Funeral services will be held Monday, July 29, 2019, at Immaculate Conception Catholic Church in Charenton during a 12:00 noon Mass of Christian Burial, and will be laid to rest in Immaculate Conception Cemetery Mausoleum. Father Christopher Cambre will be the Celebrant for the Mass and conduct the services.
The family requests that visiting hours be observed Monday at the church from 10:00 a.m. until Mass time, with the Holy Rosary being prayed at 11:00.
Serving as pallbearers will be his sons, Louis, Gerard, and Kevin Faucheux, his grandsons, Aaron and Austin Faucheux; and his godchild, Shawn Faucheux.
Family and friends may view the obituary and express their condolences online by visiting www.iberts.com.
Arrangements have been entrusted to Ibert’s Mortuary, Inc., 1007 Main Street, Franklin, LA 70538, (337) 828-5426.

Traffic stop leads to arrest of Bayou Vista man in possession of drugs

Staff Report

A traffic stop led to the arrest of a Bayou Vista man in possession of Suboxone, methamphetamine and drug paraphernalia, St. Mary Parish Sheriff Blaise Smith said in a news release.

—George Davison Harvey III, 37, of Crane Road in Bayou Vista, was arrested at 11:16 p.m. Wednesday on charges of no driver’s license, turning movements and required signals, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of Schedule III drugs (Suboxone), and possession of Schedule II drugs (methamphetamine).

A deputy was patrolling the area of Southeast Boulevard in Bayou Vista when he observed a vehicle fail to use proper turn signals. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Harvey, and drugs were located. Harvey was jailed with no bail set.

Smith also reported that the Sheriff’s Office responded to 40 complaints and made the following arrests:

—Odie Marie Guillory, 37, of La. 70 in Morgan City, was arrested at 9:05 a.m. Wednesday on charges of possession of Schedule II drugs (methamphetamine) and possession of drug paraphernalia.

A deputy was dispatched to a welfare concern complaint on U.S. 90 in Amelia. The deputy made contact with Guillory and during the investigation, drugs were found. Guillory was jailed with no bail set.

—Harold Demon Bias, 29, of Terrebonne Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 8:37 p.m. Wednesday on charges of improper lane usage and driving under suspension. A deputy was patrolling the area of La. 182 in Berwick when he observed a vehicle cross the centerline. The deputy conducted a traffic stop and made contact with the driver, identified as Bias. The deputy was advised by dispatch that Bias was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Bias was arrested and released on a summons to appear in court Oct. 16.

—A male juvenile, 15, was arrested at 10:01 p.m. Wednesday on a charge of ungovernable juvenile. A deputy conducted a follow-up investigation regarding a runaway juvenile, and after speaking to a witness, the juvenile was located at a residence and arrested. The juvenile was released to a guardian pending juvenile court proceedings.

Police Chief James F. Blair reported that the Morgan City Police Department responded to 41 calls of service and the following arrests were made:

—Damon Johnson, 42, of Brownell Homes in Morgan City, was arrested at 6:47 a.m. Wednesday on a warrant for the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s office as well as two warrants from the City Court of Morgan City for contempt of court and failure to appear to pay fine. Johnson was located at an La. 182 business and identified by officers who learned that Johnson had warrants from City Court of Morgan City and the Lafourche Parish Sheriff’s Office. Johnson was jailed.

—Nicholas Gamble, 39, of Fifth Street in Berwick, was arrested at 12:26 p.m. Wednesday on warrants for aggravated assault with a firearm and criminal trespassing. Officers were investigating a complaint at an La. 182 business when they learned Gamble had warrants from the St. Mary Parish Sheriff’s Office. Gamble was jailed.

—Kylah Weeden, 26, of First Street in Patterson, was arrested at 4:33 p.m. Wednesday on charges of no turn signal and driving under suspension. An officer in the area of Veterans Boulevard observed a vehicle making a turn without using a turn signal. The officer stopped the vehicle and spoke with the driver, identified as Weeden. Weeden told the officer she did not have her driver’s license on her at the time, Blair said. A computer check showed that Weeden was driving with a suspended driver’s license. Weeden was jailed.

—Tony Broussard, 22, of Duke Street in Morgan City, was arrested at 1:26 a.m. Thursday on a charge of possession of Schedule II drugs (methamphetamine). Officers saw a male subject walking in the area of Everett Street and stopped to speak with him. Officers were given consent to search the male subject, identified as Broussard. A bag containing a white powdered substance believed to be methamphetamine was found in Broussard’s pockets, Blair said. Broussard was jailed.

Patterson Police Chief Garrett Grogan reported the following arrests:

—Taylor Patterson, 24, of Kem Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:13 a.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Patterson was jailed and bond was paid in the amount of $357.

—Wilbert J. Businelle, 41, of Hendricks Street in Patterson, was arrested at 1:15 a.m. Thursday on a charge of disturbing the peace (fighting). Businelle was jailed and bond was paid in the amount of $357.

Berwick Police Chief David Leonard Sr. reported no arrests.

BATON ROUGE AP) — While Louisiana Republicans have cautioned that infighting among GOP candidates could sink efforts to retake the governor’s mansion, a political action committee backing U.S. Rep. Ralph Abraham isn’t following requests to avoid intraparty attacks.
The Securing Louisiana’s Future PAC, which is supporting Abraham in the Oct. 12 election, released a Facebook ad panning fellow Republican contender Eddie Rispone, a wealthy Baton Rouge businessman.
“Eddie Rispone is trying to buy this election — but he can’t win,” the ad says.
Abraham, a third-term congressman, and Rispone, a first-time candidate who poured $10 million of his own money into his campaign account, are trying to keep incumbent John Bel Edwards from a second term as the Deep South’s only Democratic governor.
“There’s a reason why our opponents are already attacking us: they know that Eddie Rispone is the only pro-Trump, conservative outsider in this race, and that’s exactly what Louisianans want as their next governor,” Rispone spokesman Anthony Ramirez said in a statement.
Abraham’s campaign says it doesn’t have control over what the PAC does.
The outside groups can raise and spend unlimited money to support a candidate, but cannot coordinate directly with a candidate’s campaign.
“We’re 100% focused on defeating John Bel Edwards and hope all Republicans and conservative groups remain focused on that goal,” Abraham’s political consultant Lionel Rainey said in a statement.
But the digital ad shows that efforts to avoid Republican-on-Republican attacks ahead of the election could be difficult, if not impossible, as the race heats up.
In March, Louisiana GOP Chairman Louis Gurvich called on the Republican gubernatorial candidates to focus their criticism on Edwards.
He said Republicans “must wage this campaign in the knowledge that Republican infighting only assures a second victory for John Bel Edwards.”
Gurvich’s statement came after Rispone’s campaign appeared to be linked to a website questioning the conservative bonafides of Abraham and suggesting Abraham doesn’t support President Donald Trump.
Concerns about GOP backbiting are particularly acute ahead of this election because Republicans blame attacks among their own candidates for helping to elect Edwards four years ago.
In that 2015 race, Republican candidates Scott Angelle and Jay Dardenne focused their criticism on GOP rival David Vitter instead of Edwards in the primary, and Vitter limped into a runoff against Edwards badly wounded from the hits.