Page 124 - South Mississippi Living - June, 2022

DINING MAISON DE LU
ADDRESS:
626 Washington Ave. Ocean Springs
PHONE:
228.875.0032
WEBSITE:
www.maisondelu.com
Facebook @MasionDeLu
HOURS:
Monday
11 a.m.-2 p.m.
Tuesday-Saturday
11 a.m.-2 p.m. and 5-9 p.m.
story and photos by Kimberly C. Rasmussen
124 | June 2022
www.smliving.net | SOUTH MISSISSIPPI Living
In 2009, Chef Luann Ellis opened Maison de Lu for lunch in a quaint little building in Ocean Springs. Her goal was to bring an essence of French cuisine to her new coastal home. Over the years, Chef Ellis expanded her menu, as well as her footprint, as Maison de Lu grew to include a dinner menu in its beautiful new location in the heart of downtown.
Although Maison de Lu has evolved its culinary presence, the dedication to its customers hasn’t faltered. More changes occurred in 2022 when longtime server and manger, Ryan Jurich, became the new owner. Still, the commitment to turning out delightfully wonderful meals hasn’t changed. Jurich, along with Chef Lynn Burton, and the continued presence of their original proprietor, have set out to continue the delicious traditions built upon a foundation of consistently good food.
The menu at Maison de Lu offers everything you could want from a light lunch to a more indulgent dinner. A great lunch starter is the award winning Goat Cheese Torte, which combines three of
my most favorite things: goat cheese, pesto,
and sun-dried tomatoes. Need I say more? It’s served alongside house-fried pita chips and could easily stand as a meal on its own.
The French Panini is a house favorite lunch showcasing black forest ham, brie, and house-made red pepper jelly, pressed and served warm on ciabatta. If an
extra special salad is what you desire, the Frenchtown Inn Salad is the perfect choice. An ode to Chef Ellis’ time in New Jersey, the Frenchtown Inn Salad features a light spring mix topped with goat cheese, bacon, cucumber, tomatoes, and a house lemon basil vinaigrette. The pièce de résistance
of this colorful salad is the apple beignets – thick slices of apple are battered in Café du Monde beignet mix, fried, and topped with cinnamon. It’s the perfect combination of savory and sweet.
If dinner is what you prefer, Maison de Lu is an easy choice. Begin with a cocktail crafted by bartender, Jose Garcia. Garcia prefers simple, old recipes, where he can add his own delicate flair. He specializes in smoked cocktails and his Kentuckian has become a house favorite. Bourbon, smoked honey simple syrup, and a dash of
Hanger Steak served with twice baked cauliflower and grilled asparagus.