DONALDSONVILLE • DUTCHTOWN • GEISMAR • GONZALES • PRAIRIEVILLE • ST. AMANT
THE ASCENSION
ADVOCATE T H E A D V O C AT E.C O M
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W e d n e s d ay, Au g u s t 6, 2025
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Darlene Denstorff AROUND ASCENSION
Back to School prayer breakfast set Community Sisterhood is hosting its Back to School prayer breakfast for students in kindergarten through 12th grades at 10 a.m. Aug. 9 at 11453 La. 73, Geismar.
Cointment to speak Ascension Parish President Clint Cointment will be the speaker Aug.21 at the Ascension GOP Roundtable at Clarion Inn, 1500 W. La. 30, Gonzales. A meet and greet session starts at 11:30 a.m. and the doors open at 11:15 a.m. Cointment, who was elected to his first term as Ascension parish president in 2019, has a degree in general studies from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette and obtained his professional surveyor’s license from Nicholls State University. Initially working with his father for many years, Cointment owned and operated his family surveying company from 2007 until 2020. Cost for the lunch is $30. To prepay, visit paypal.me/ ARW225 or Venmo. The event is open to the public and guests are welcome. Reservations are requested. A $5 room fee will be collected for those not dining. RSVP: (225) 921-5187 or email: ARWrUS@aol.com.
ä See AROUND, page 3G
Troy LeBoeuf ASCENSION SPORTS
Dutchtown volleyball set for season ahead Dutchtown High volleyball has made the state volleyball tournament for seven consecutive seasons, a model of consistency under coach Patrick Ricks, who will be starting his 22nd season as the head coach. Ricks says the excitement around his team is just as strong as his first year leading the program. “I am really excited about the depth this team has. We do not have a lot of varsity experience, but we have 12 seniors who have been a part of this program for three years. They have put in their time and have worked hard to be ready to contribute at the varsity level.” Two of those seniors who will be counted on are Olivia Songy and Kinsey Phillips, they share the same position and have the same passion for the game. “Olivia and Kinsey bring leadership and dependability to our team,” Ricks said. “Olivia is more of a vocal leader; she excites our team with her play. She is consistently lifting up her teammates and celebrating their success. Kinsey is such a dependable player, she set an amazing example for her teammates. “She has such a calm demeanor, but she has that fire burning inside of her. They both want to succeed at the highest level and
ä See LEBOEUF, page 4G
STAFF PHOTOS BY JAVIER GALLEGOS
Spaghetti and meatballs is on the menu at Stefano’s Authentic Italian in Prairieville.
MADE WITH AUTHENTICITY From Emeril’s Kitchen to his own, chef finds his calling in Prairieville
Owner Stephen Guilbauot serves up Shrimp Jenny at Stefano’s Authentic Italian.
BY SERENA PUANG
Staff writer
Growing up in the Lakefront area in New Orleans, Stephen Guilbault lived just four doors down from chef Emeril Lagasse. When GuilSTEFANO’S bault was 16, he AUTHENTIC was invited into the kitchen durITALIAN ing a walk with his dog. Lagasse was 17188 Airline cooking that night Highway, Suite and asked GuilL, Prairieville l bault to assist as a 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. taste-tester. They Tuesday through hung out for two that night. Thursday, 11 a.m. hours It was a one-off to 8 p.m. Friday and experience, but Saturday l Call over 30 years lat(225) 673-1270 er, Guilbault still remembers the for information menu: barbecue shrimp, souffle bread pudding, banana cream pie and crabmeat crawfish au gratin. Guilbault began his culinary ca-
HEADING IN TO NEW SCHOOL YEAR
reer at Vincent’s Italian Cuisine in Metairie a few years later, when he was 18. After an unconventional career path, he opened his Italian restaurant in Prairieville, Stefano’s, last August, where he serves up his take on Italian dishes inspired by home cooking and restaurants that helped him hone his craft. The name Stefano’s is an homage to a nickname he got while working in kitchens. Vincent’s sous chef at
the time was from Sicily and refused to call him Stephen. He was always Stefano. Later on, the sous chef at Emeril Delmonico (also from Italy) was the same way. At 30, Guilbault stepped away from the restaurant business and worked in the health care industry instead, setting up clinics for physicians. He spent about 15 years in
ä See STEFANO'S, page 3G
The Bella Express drives attendees of Saturday’s West Bank Ascension 4 Youth Fest Back-2School Bash near the WAG Center in Donaldsonville. The event attracted thousands of Ascension Parish students. PHOTO BY WENDY LOUP
ä See story and
more photos. PAGE 2G