By Taylor Crimford
The Lucky Palace, one of the area’s best kept secrets on fine cuisine and exclusive wine, proves that there is more than one way to hit the jackpot in Shreveport-Bossier.
Sitting in the shadow of Diamond Jack’s Casino in Bossier City and located in the Americas Best Value Inn; the Lucky Palace offers one of the broadest and diverse Chinese menus in the area and an even more expansive wine list.
Along with the traditional Chinese cuisine, area diners can now enjoy some of these unique dishes, which include Imperial Steak, a tenderly cut Fillet Mignon sautéed with onion, mushroom and the Chef's Special Red Sauce. The Crispy Dual Prawns features flash fried prawns prepared two ways, one with Grand Marnier sauce and the other with spicy tomato reduction sauce.
As proud as Lim is of his restaurant’s cuisine, he is perhaps even prouder of his meticulously cultivated wine selections that are very dear and close to his heart, which include the best from France and California. “Our restaurant specializes in Asian Cuisine with a serious commitment to wine, which is a decidedly unique thing unto itself,” says Lim. “Wine is not integral to the history of Asian cuisines, as it is to the great cuisines of France or Italy. And we work equally hard at exploring alternatives and obscure varietals and regions as we do in securing highly allocated, coveted trophy wines such as multiple vintages of Shafer Hillside Select, vertical of Harlan Estate. We are honored to be a Chinese restaurant that is known not just for food but our dedication to our passion of wine.”
He personally overseas the wine selections offered at the restaurant and keeps 140 – 150 selections of hand picked wines available at all times. “Our philosophy with wine has always been about open, thoughtful exploration of pleasure through the combination of wine and food,” says Lim. “Our commitment to offering wines complementary to our Asian cuisine is evident in selection from Austria, Champagne, Germany, The Loire Valley and Burgundy. The emphasis on Zinfandels and New World Bordeaux varietals and blends stems from a personal, esoteric affinity, which is also shared by our guests.”
All of Lucky Palace wine inventory is stored in a temperature-controlled walk-in closet or in Eurocave refrigerated wine storage units at a constant 55°. He exclusively uses Riedel stemware for all still and sparkling wine. Since he is proud of all of their selections, he feels every bottle or glass of wine deserves a fine piece of stemware.
The Lucky Palace has been recognized in numerous national wine publications for its extensive wine offerings including Wine Spectator – Award of Excellence 2003-2008, Wine Enthusiast – Award of Distinction 2005, and Wine Enthusiast – Award of Unique Distinction 2006-2007.
So now you have another reason to count yourself lucky, and next time you dine out consider the Lucky Palace Restaurant.
Lim’s Favorite suggestions – food and wine pairings
Tom Yum Soup
Laurent-Perrier, Demi- Sec Champagne, MV (Multi Vintage)
Pirate Boat
Henri Bourgeois, Sancerre, Loire Valley 2007
Duck on Scallion Pancake
Domaine Baumard, Coteaux du Layon, Loire Valley, 2002
Sea Smoke, Pinot Noir, Ten, Santa Rita Hills 2006
Thai Basil Prawn
Szigeti, Sekt, Gruner Veltliner, Brut, Österreich,
Burgenland, Austria, MV
Pan Fried Chilean Sea Bass
Jean-Marc Boillot, Rully, 1er Cru Meix Cadot, Burgundy, 2006
Domaine Potinet-Ampeau, Volnay, 1er Cru Clos des Chenes, Burgundy, 2005
Grilled New Zealand Lamb Chop
McCrea Cellars, Syrah, Cuvée Orleans, Yakima Valley, 2004
Cantonese Crispy T-Bone (See Photo Opposite Page)
Robert Foley, Petite Sirah, Napa Valley, 2005
See Full Menu & Wine list in Restaurant Section of Website.
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