By KEVIN CHIRI
Slidell news bureau
SLIDELL – When Lou Tortorich and Erin English opened “Sapphire” as the newest North Shore restaurant, they brought a piece of New Orleans history to Slidell.
English is a third generation restaurant veteran who worked with his grandparents and parents in the famous Mandich restaurant in New Orleans—an eatery that was started 80 years ago.
Now Tortorich and English are bringing the live dinner shows to their restaurant, which were also famous in New Orleans several decades ago.
“Sapphire has had a fabulous start, but we had Wednesday night that understandably wasn’t always selling out since it’s in the middle of the week,” Tortorich said. “We wanted to do something to boost the business so I decided to try the old dinner shows that were so popular at the Blue Room in New Orleans.”
Tortorich admits the response has been much more than he could have hoped for.
“I booked the Yat Pack on February 25 and it sold out in three days,” Tortorich said. “We put a sign on our door that we would have a live dinner show, and people immediately started buying tickets.”
The Yat Pack promotes itself as a “New Orleans-based band that strives to bring back the Swing Era, with a Vegas flair.” The group does tribute music to many famous stars such as Dean Martin, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., Harry Connick, Michael Buble and more.
When Tortorich saw how quickly the Yat Pack filled the 75 seats at Sapphire, he started looking for other shows that were reminiscent of the 30s to the 50s, while also adding slightly more current shows—all that fit the “live dinner show” format.
He has booked “The Rafters,” Vince Vance and the Valiants, Dino Marshall with a tribute to Little Richard, Luther Kent and Trick Bag, plus others. He is planning an Elvis tribute very soon and expects to pack the place for that show.
“From the first time we did this, we sold out and it hasn’t stopped,” co-owner Erin English said. “We are doing something that no one else is doing, and the people love it.
“We are calling Sapphire the ‘Blue Room of the North Shore,’ and it’s something that is still evolving to see where it goes. But one thing is certain—people love coming to the live dinner shows,” English added.
Sapphire offers the evening for a flat cost of $75, which includes a choice of four entrees, a complete meal with appetizer, desert, coffee, tea or soft drinks. And the $75 also covers the tip.
“We think it’s a great deal and so far the public has been supporting it by selling out all the shows,” he said.
Currently on the schedule is Vince Vance for May 14, the Rafters for May 21, Dino Marshall for May 28 and Laurin Munsch on June 4.
Tortorich and English teamed up to bring the Mandich recipes to the Slidell restaurant in the fall of 2013 and said the success was immediate.
“The flavor of the Mandich recipes is where the restaurant starts and we have had nothing but positive comments since opening last year,” Tortorich said. “I think there was a great need for more New Orleans cuisine on the North Shore and when we combined the old recipes with the great steak lineup we have, it was a hit.”
Tortorich owned a restaurant of his own in New Orleans when he took over the Ernst Café from his grandfather in the 80s. He was familiar with Mandich since he enjoyed eating there over a 30-year time span, which led to becoming friends with English. After Hurricane Katrina changed things for both men in 2005, they eventually began talking about starting a restaurant together on the North Shore.
Now that the live dinner shows have added to their success, English thinks it could lead to more variety in the acts they are bringing in—plus a bigger venue.
“We’re considering a number of different shows, with the Elvis act one that would certainly be a big hit,” he said. “But we’re also considering expanding the restaurant area in a number of ways that could allow us to seat more people. That’s how confident we are in the way this is going.”
For more information on the acts at Sapphire, call 985-288-4166 or go online to sapphiredining.com.