Room and Venue Rentals in Baton Rouge: Making the Most of Your Next Event 

Charlie Ruffolo • March 14, 2018

 

The old adage in real estate is location, location, location. Well, when it comes to planning an event like a wedding reception, class or family reunion, or corporate party; the name of the game is “venue”. Everything from service to catering to atmosphere and more play a pivotal role in success and effectiveness of your event, no matter what your goal may be.

 

One of the biggest challenges in hosting an event, or organizing a corporate outing is finding a unique and effective outlet for your team and guests. Louisiana CulinaryInstitute has the agility, ability, experience, and expertise to not only meet your demands but to create a true one-of-a-kind experience.

 

Whether you are looking for a space for a team-building retreat, hosting an awards or recognition ceremony, or simply need a great venue to host a reception or dinner, the possibilities are endless at LCI’s state of the art facility.


Team Building Activities

Culinary classes, cooking competitions, and more are all available and can be customized to meet your team’s needs and goals. Cooking lessons are a great team building activity, and when you combine them with the elite faculty, equipment, and resources at LCI, it becomes a great experience.


Catering

Of course, catering options are available for any event. From award-winning chefs to customized menus, LCI’s catering creates the perfect culinary atmosphere. LCI will professionally handle all of the logistics that go into seamlessly organizing and managing an event from a catering and venue standpoint, allowing you to focus on your team, guests, and activities.

 

From Music to Kitchen Mastery: Student Spotlight on Ben Messina

By Charlie Ruffolo • March 25, 2026
Some people know from childhood exactly where they're headed. Ben Messina took a different route. He started college as a music major, took a gap year to find his footing, and leaned on his brother's encouragement before landing exactly where he was always meant to be: a professional kitchen . Now a senior in the Savory program at Louisiana Culinary Institute (LCI) in Baton Rouge, Ben is weeks away from graduating in May 2026. He arrived at LCI with a love of cooking and a family connection to food. He's leaving with a world-class culinary foundation, a mentor who pushed him to be his best, and a dream of opening multiple restaurants of his own one day. His story is proof that the path to a culinary career doesn't have to be a straight line. Is It Too Late to Change Careers and Go to Culinary School? For Ben, food has always been part of the family fabric. Growing up in Baton Rouge, he spent time in the kitchen with his grandmother, learning to make snickerdoodles as a kid. Those early memories planted a seed. But Ben initially followed a different passion. He'd played trumpet and piano since a young age, so he enrolled at Southeastern Louisiana University to study music. It wasn't long before the questions started creeping in: "What am I actually going to do with a music degree?" He took a gap year to figure it out. And the answer, when it came, was simple: go back to his other love. Cooking. His brother, who owns a food truck, had been encouraging him to consider culinary school. More specifically, he encouraged Ben to look at LCI. And then, without warning, he signed him up for a campus tour. 
culinary leadership skills

Leadership and Culinary Skill: Why Being a Great Cook Isn't the Same as Being a Great Leader

By Charlie Ruffolo • February 26, 2026
Being a great cook isn’t enough. Explore how LCI develops culinary leadership skills that prepare students for real-world kitchen management and career growth.
More Posts