Saint Claire

HOST AND GUEST CHEF: Camille Cook | CDC of Saint Claire and Mosquito Supper Club

GUEST FARMERS: Estelle Lemmler | Fat Cat Farm, Nathan Herring | Bright Side Oysters

We did our first OITF event in New Orleans way back in 2005. It was just after Hurricane Katrina, and we set our petite table in a tiny greenhouse across the street from a collapsed house to benefit the non-profit Parkway Partners.

Melissa Martin is owner/chef of Saint Claire and Mosquito Supper Club, which has been described as a love letter to coastal Louisiana and sustainability. Melissa comes from a family of fishermen and grew up in a close-knit fishing community. In 2014, she founded the Mosquito Supper Club as a way to share her Cajun roots through both cuisine and storytelling.

Meals at Mosquito Supper Club have been described as more akin to an intimate dinner party than a traditional restaurant experience. Courses are served family-style, and diners sit mostly at communal tables, turning strangers into friends as Melissa weaves stories of her upbringing in Chauvin into each dish that comes out of the kitchen. She is certainly a kindred spirit of Outstanding in the Field. At the helm of the field kitchen will be Melissa's chef de cuisine at Saint Claire, Camille Cook.

Joining us at the table and on the plate will be Estelle Lemmler of Fat Cat Farm and Nathan Herring of Bright Side Oysters. We look forward to having a taste of their story as we celebrate bayou bonhomie among the sheltering oaks. Together, we honor the land, the stories, and the people who make these moments possible—reminding us that even after the storm, community and cuisine thrive.