Highlights Gulf Coast’s Rebirth and Lagasse’s Long-Term Commitment to the Region

Gulfport, MS (Thursday, June 21, 2007) - Tomorrow world-renowned Chef Emeril Lagasse will open his newest restaurant, Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House, at the Island View Casino Resort in Gulfport, Mississippi. Friday’s dinner service marks the debut of Lagasse’s “Coastal Creole” cuisine, as Chef de Cuisine Steve D’Angelo, General Manager Jason Lonigro and their staff of 90 infuse New Orleans flavor with Mississippi’s fresh seafood and unmatched Southern charm. The restaurant is open seven days, with dinner service from 5:30pm – 10:00pm Sunday-Thursday, and until 11:00pm on Friday and Saturday. (Lunch will be served in the near future). Reservations may be made by calling the restaurant, 228-314-1515.

PAT SULLIVANIsland View Casino Resort owner Rick Carter and Chef Emeril Lagasse discuss pre-opening plans at Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House

PAT SULLIVAN
Chef Emeril serves his tempura lobster skewers at Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House

Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House is Lagasse’s first new restaurant project since 2003, and the tenth restaurant in the Emeril’s family. The menu explores “Coastal Creole” cuisine, a combination of Lagasse’s signature “new New Orleans” cuisine with an emphasis on fresh local seafood, produce and farm products that are unique to the region. The menu features Chef Emeril’s classics like New Orleans Barbecued Shrimp, and famous Banana Cream Pie, as well as new additions including Crispy Jumbo Lump Crabmeat Cake with Corn Maque Choux, and Shrimp & Grits.

Opening a restaurant at the Island View is particularly special to me because my family and I have very close ties to the Gulf Coast,” says Emeril Lagasse. “My wife Alden grew up in Gulfport and we have spent a lot of time with our family and friends in this area. I am also very happy to be working with local guys Rick (Carter) and Terry (Green) at the Island View. I hope that this restaurant is a small step toward the recovery of this region and brings new attention to its unique food culture, abundant fresh seafood, game and produce.

Friedmutter Group’s architectural design captures the allure of the environment and refreshing Coastal style. The venue is awash in natural lighting and hints of the Gulf waters with swirling glass ribbons and thousands of hand blown glass bubbles that float throughout the space. Inside the semi-private dining room beneath the 4,000 bottle wine tower, guests are surrounded by some of Chef Emeril’s best vintages, and dine at hand-crafted wood tables inset with shimmering glass. The main dining room offers views of the beach and nearby islands, with intimate banquets encircling a 14 foot capiz shell chandelier. A lively Chef’s food bar is the centerpiece of the eatery and your ticket to the action of the open kitchen.

It has been quite a year for Island View Casino Resort, full of milestones since opening last September. However, seeing the doors to Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House open tomorrow will be an extremely proud moment - not only for our company, but for Terry and me on a personal level as well,” says Rick Carter, co-owner of Island View. “When we created the dream for Island View, we said we would aim for the very best for this resort, and in turn the very best for our hometown area. Emeril Lagasse shares that same vision and that passion; therefore, I can not thank him and his staff enough for joining us as Island View continues its commitment to revitalizing the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

About Emeril LagasseChef Emeril Lagasse is the chef/proprietor of ten restaurants including three in New Orleans (Emeril’s, NOLA and Emeril’s Delmonico); two in Las Vegas (Emeril’s New Orleans Fish House and Delmonico Steakhouse); two in Orlando (Emeril’s Orlando and Emeril’s Tchoup Chop); one in Atlanta (Emeril’s Atlanta), one in Miami (Emeril’s Miami Beach), and one in Gulfport, Mississippi (Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House). Chef Emeril Lagasse is a national TV personality. He joined the Food Network in 1993 and celebrated his 1500th show with the network in 2005. He is the host of the Food Network’s “The Essence of Emeril” and “Emeril Live”, which reach more than 85 million homes daily. In addition, Lagasse is the food correspondent for “Good Morning America” and is a best-selling author. In 1993 he published the best-selling cookbook Emeril’s New New Orleans Cooking which introduced his creative approach to Creole cuisine. Eleven other books have followed including his most recent children’s cookbook, Emeril’s There’s A Chef in My World. In September 2002, Emeril established the Emeril Lagasse Foundation to support and encourage programs creating developmental and educational opportunities for children. Lagasse’s corporate office, Emeril’s Homebase, is located in New Orleans and houses restaurant operations, as well as cookbook and recipe development and testing, product shipping, the emerils.com website, and a store front for Lagasse’s signature products.

About Island View Casino Resort Island View Casino Resort opened on Sept. 18 as the only casino in Gulfport, Miss. The land-based casino, located on 40 acres of waterfront property, currently offers an 80,000-plus-square-foot casino with 2,100 slots and 47 table games. The 520,000-square-foot resort also features a 562-room hotel, 390-seat buffet, Emeril’s Gulf Coast Fish House, a 24-hour restaurant called C&G Grille and the View Bar – an entertainment lounge. Island View Casino Resort is privately held by Rick Carter and Terry Green, two Gulfport natives and longtime casino executives committed to the post-Hurricane Katrina rebuilding efforts of the Mississippi Gulf Coast.

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