MAGGIE SCALES
EXECUTIVE PASTRY LINK RESTAURANT GROUP, CHEF/PARTNER LA BOULANGERIE
Originally from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Maggie Scales pursued her Undergraduate degree at University of California, San Diego, majoring in Language Studies. After graduating, she relocated to Boston, Massachusetts to attend the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts in the Professional Pastry Program. While in Boston, Maggie worked at Chef Bob Kinkaid’s Sibling Rivalry Restaurant and the Metropolitan Club under Chef Todd Weiner and held a position as Pastry Chef at Smith & Wollensky Steakhouse. In 2009, she accepted a position at James Beard Award winner Lydia Shire’s Scampo Restaurant at the Liberty Hotel. When Chef Shire opened Towne Stove + Spirits in 2010, Maggie became its executive Pastry Chef. After relocating to New Orleans in 2011 and working for the Omni Hotels, Maggie joined Link Restaurant Group as a Pastry Chef in 2013. In summer 2014, Maggie accepted the position as Executive Pastry Chef overseeing all aspects of Link Restaurant Group’s pastry department. When Link Restaurant Group purchased La Boulangerie from its original owner in 2015, Maggie partnered up with Chefs Link and Stryjewski and is now also running the bakery.
CARLOS B. SANCHEZ
HEAD BAKER
At age 20 Carlos immigrated from El Salvador to the US in 1990. He started his culinary career as a dishwasher at Shanghai Reds at Marina Del Rey California, and later that year accepted a position as prep-cook at Air Gourmet for in-flight catering, learning the ins and outs of cooking. From 1994 to 1997 Carlos worked for Marriott Corporate Services at Northrop Grumman Headquarters in Los Angeles, constantly training and expanding his culinary knowledge. In 1997, Carlos returned to Air Gourmet to learn the art of making bread and pastries. Carlos served as an apprentice baker for Victor Benne Bakery at Gelson’s Market and became the pastry chef-baker for Air Gourmet in 2000. After moving to New Orleans in 2003, Carlos worked for the Felicity Redevelopment Project restoring historic houses in the Central City area. In 2007 Carlos accepted the position as Sous Chef of Dominique Rizzo, the original owner of La Boulangerie, managing and making artisan breads and pastries. He still holds this today, overseeing the bread program under the leadership of Chef/Owner Maggie Scales.
ELISABETH DAVIES
PASTRY SOUS CHEF
Originally from New York City, Elisabeth Davies graduated from Boston University with a degree in French and History, working her way through college in the service industry. In 2008, she moved to New Orleans where she focused on the arts, working in local art galleries. Following her life long passion for food and ready for a career change, Elisabeth joined Link Restaurant Group’s pastry department in 2012 as a pastry cook under Executive Pastry Chef Rhonda Ruckman. When Chef Maggie Scales took over the helm at the bake shop the following year, Elisabeth was promoted to sous-chef. In 2015 the pastry department moved from the Warehouse District to La Boulangerie uptown, where Davies continues to work hand-in- hand with Scales, crafting baked goods, desserts, cakes and pies for Link Restaurant Group, as well as the bakery.
MARGO CAREY
GENERAL MANAGER
Margo Carey grew up in Bethany Beach, Delaware, spending her summers working in restaurants, gaining experience in both front of house and back of house operations. After high school, Margo attended the Culinary Institute of America and graduated with a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Baking and Pastry Arts Management. In 2014, Margo moved to New Orleans and worked in management for a local restaurant group before becoming the head cake decorator at a bakery in Lakeview. She joined the Link Restaurant Group in 2016 and was promoted to General Manager at La Boulangerie in spring 2018.
DONALD LINK
EXECUTIVE CHEF AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER LINK RESTAURANT GROUP: HERBSAINT, COCHON, COCHON BUTCHER, CALCASIEU, PÊCHE SEAFOOD GRILL AND LA BOULANGERIE
Inspired by the Cajun and Southern cooking of his grandparents, Louisiana native Chef Donald Link began his professional cooking career at 15 years old. Recognized as one of New Orleans’ preeminent chefs, Chef Link has peppered the streets of the Warehouse District of New Orleans with several restaurants over the course of the past fifteen years. Herbsaint, a contemporary take on the French-American “bistro” was Link’s first restaurant. Cochon, opened with chef-partner Stephen Stryjewski, is where Link offers true Cajun and Southern cooking featuring the foods and cooking techniques he grew up preparing and eating. Cochon Butcher is a tribute to Old World butcher and charcuterie shops which also serves a bar menu, sandwiches, wine and creative cocktails. Calcasieu is Chef Link’s private event facility that takes its name from one of the parishes in the Acadiana region of southwest Louisiana. Pêche Seafood Grill serves simply prepared coastal seafood with a unique, modern approach to old world cooking methods featuring rustic dishes prepared on an open hearth over hardwood coals. Enjoy handcrafted pastries and breads at La Boulangerie Link’s neighborhood bakery and café.
Link’s flagship restaurant Herbsaint earned him a James Beard award in 2007 for Best Chef South. The same year Cochon was nominated for Best New Restaurant; Link was also nominated by the James Beard Foundation for the prestigious award of Outstanding Chef for multiple years. Pêche Seafood Grill was awarded Best New Restaurant at the 2014 James Beard Foundation Awards. Gourmet Magazine listed Herbsaint as one of the top 50 restaurants in America, and was inducted into the Nations Restaurant News Hall of Fame. Cochon was listed in The New York Times as "one of the top 3 restaurants that count” and recently named one of the 20 most important restaurants in America by Bon Appétit. For his commitment to the industry, the Louisiana Restaurant Association honored Link by naming him Restaurateur of the Year in 2012.
The James Beard Foundation also honored Link’s first cookbook-- Real Cajun: Rustic Home Cooking from Donald Link’s Louisiana (Clarkson Potter) with their top award for Best American Cookbook. Released in 2009. Real Cajun is a collection of family recipes that Link has honed and perfected while honoring the authenticity of the Cajun people. In February 2014, Link celebrated the release of his second cookbook "Down South: Bourbon, Pork, Gulf Shrimp & Second Helpings of Everything," (Clarkson-Potter), which looks beyond New Orleans and Louisiana at dishes in nearby states. In 2015, Chefs Link and Stryjewski created the Link Stryjewski Foundation to address the persistent cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of quality education and job training opportunities available to young people in New Orleans. http://www.linkstryjewski.org
STEPHEN STRYJEWSKI
CHEF/PARTNER, LINK RESTAURANT GROUP: COCHON, COCHON BUTCHER, CALCASIEU, PÊCHE SEAFOOD GRILL AND LA BOULANGERIE
Winner of the 2011 James Beard Foundation “Best Chef South,” Stephen Stryjewski is Chef/Partner of New Orleans’ award winning restaurants Cochon, Cochon Butcher, Pêche Seafood Grill, Calcasieu a private event facility and La Boulangerie a neighborhood bakery and café. Stephen has been honored as “Best New Chef” by New Orleans Magazine, and as a “Chef to Watch” by The Times-Picayune. In 2007 Cochon was named a “Best New Restaurant” finalist by the James Beard Foundation, and in 2014, Pêche Seafood Grill won the James Beard Foundation award in the same category. Cochon has been recognized in the New York Times by Frank Bruni, “Coast to Coast, Restaurants that Count;” and Sam Sifton, “Dishes that Earned their Stars,” and has been consistently listed as a Top Ten New Orleans Restaurant in The Times-Picayune Dining Guide and was recently named one of the 20 most important restaurants in America by Bon Appétit.
In 2015, Stryjewski and his business partner Chef Donald Link created the Link Stryjewski Foundation to address the persistent cycle of violence and poverty, as well as the lack of quality education and job training opportunities available to young people in New Orleans. http://www.linkstryjewski.org
In 1997, Stryjewski graduated from the Culinary Institute of America and went on to work for some of the most notable chefs and restaurants in America including Michael Chiarello at TraVigne, Jamie Shannon at Commanders Palace, and Jeff Buben at Vidalia. Stryjewski grew up moving frequently as an “Army brat” and has traveled extensively in the United States and Europe. He resides in New Orleans’ Irish Channel with his wife and two daughters.
Meet our Forager
ASHLEY Locklear
Ashley spends her days visiting farmers, walking their fields seeing firsthand how things are growing. She’s scouring Louisiana’s farmlands for sublime raw ingredients and invests time working directly with farmers to grow specific varieties of produce that Chef Donald Link and his team of chefs would like to utilize in their kitchens. Her network of farmers spans a 250-mile radius of New Orleans, providing the freshest produce picked at its peak. She believes food it about flavor, just as much as freshness.
The Farms
Please find here a listing of some of the farmers we are proud to work with on an ongoing basis.
Allen Bee Farms
Allen Bee Farms is small honey producer located in Plaquemine, Louisiana.
Cafe Hope Farm
Cafe Hope Farm is located in Marrero, Louisiana, that specializes in herbs and has year round fruit and vegetable production.
Compostella Farm
Compostella is a certified organic vegetable farm specializing in salad greens located in Tickfaw, Louisiana. After apprenticing on organic farms in the Northwest, owners Madeline and Tim made their way down to New Orleans. Certified Organic since 2017, Compostella strives to minimize the inputs to their farm and to nurture the farm’s expressions as an individuality.
Covey Rise Farms
Covey Rise Farms began as a 10 acre farm which has grown into a 50 acre farm in central Tangipahoa Parish. Covey Rise Farms grows over 30 types of vegetables throughout the year with a retired LSU Agriculture Professor as their crop consultant.
Good Food
Beginning as a demonstration garden, The Good Food Project has expanded to over 75 active school and community gardens that grow vegetables, fruit and herbs. The project teaches sustainable gardening, nutrition and healthy eating options, while providing fresh produce to participants and restaurants.
Indian Springs Farmers Co-op
Incorporated in 1981, Indian Springs is a farmers cooperative with 31 active members located in Petal, Mississippi.
Inglewood Farm
Inglewood Farm, ran by members of the Keller family, is an agricultural operation on Inglewood Plantation located in Alexandria, Louisiana. Since its founding in 1836, Inglewood has a story of transition from a large-scale commercial tenant operation to an all-encompassing sustainable family farm. Inglewood has year round production of fruit and vegetables, specializing in pecans, pork and chicken.
Isabelle’s Organic Citrus
Isabelle’s Orange Orchard is a small, family-owned farm nestled on the old winding River Road in New Orleans. Isabelle’s orchard is fertilized by the rich Mississippi River alluvial soil and the only thing on her trees are sunshine, ladybugs, honeybees, and rain.
J&D Produce
J&D Produce is a small farm that grows blueberries and is located in Poplarville, Mississippi.
Johndale Farm
Johndale Farm is a berry farm located in Ponchatoula, Louisiana, owned by Heather Robertson, who we have worked with for eight years. Heather primarily produce strawberries, as well as blueberries and blackberries, and is usually the first farm to bring berries to market.
Major Acre Farm
Major Acre Farm is a small farm located in LaPlace, Louisiana run by Ellis Douglas. He left his life as a chef and headed for the farm after moving to New Mexico and being exposed to the variety of healthy produce that is available in a farm-centric community. Ellis uses sustainable and organic agriculture practices to cultivate his one-acre farm.
Old Market Lane Farm
Old Market Lane Farm is an eight-acre farm located in Hammond, Louisiana, that we have been working with for eight years. Our restaurants utilize their leeks, blueberries, summer squash and any extra eggs Carolyn may have.
Peeps Farms
Peeps Farms is a poultry farm located in Carriere, Mississippi that specializes in yard eggs with love.
Perilloux Farm
Perilloux Farm is a six-acre farm in St. Charles Parish owned by the friendly farmer, Timmy Perilloux, who we have been purchasing from for the last 10 years. The restaurants utilize Perilloux’s traditional Southern greens, up to four varieties of kale, tomatoes, peppers, corn, beets, and anything else Timmy is willing to grow for us.
Poche Family Farm
Poche Family Farm is a small vegetable farm located in Independence, Louisiana that we have worked with for five years. The farm is a family venture run by Albert and Charise Poche along with their children Billie and Camille, that resulted out of a desire to eat well. While their produce is not certified organic, they focus on sustainable agriculture by using cover crops, organic pesticides and natural fertilizers wherever possible.
Two Dog Farm
Two Dog Farm is a small family farm located in Flora, Mississippi. Owned and operated by Van and Dorothy Killen, Two Dog Farms specializes in seasonal field grown produce using sustainable and natural growing methods to ensure the healthiest produce available.
Veggi Farmers Co-op
Veggi Farmers Cooperative is a group of local farmers and fisherfolk dedicated to providing the highest quality local produce and seafood to the Greater New Orleans area. VEGGI was established following the effects of the BP oil spill on the Vietnamese community and was developed to provide sustainable economic opportunities in urban agriculture.
