What happens when a new restaurant becomes part of something bigger? That is the vision Chef Gabriel Balderas has for The Brine, a new restaurant coming to the Louisiana Boardwalk, which he hopes will not only give visitors a place to eat, but also another reason to spend time and make memories along the riverfront. 

Balderas is the chef and owner of The Brine, but the industry isn’t new to him. Chef Balderas also locally owns El Cabo Verde and Zuzul Coastal Cuisine in Shreveport, and has a restaurant, Papalotl, in Oaxaca, Mexico, where he was born. 

Each restaurant he owns has its own identity, and The Brine allowed him to do something completely different. With already given potential and incredible real estate, Balderas sought the space at the Louisiana Boardwalk. 

“I saw an opportunity to create not only a restaurant, but something that could be part of bringing people back to the Boardwalk in connection with the new and popular Picklr complex,” Chef Balderas said. 

Whether you’re grabbing a bite after playing some pickleball, celebrating a special occasion with family or friends, or even stopping by to grab a cocktail, Chef Balderas hopes the atmosphere of the Brine is intentional in the details while being welcoming and approachable. 

“More than anything, I want people to feel comfortable here and want to come back,” he said. 

The Brine’s menu is described as contemporary Southern food with a heavy focus on local flair, all while having fun with ingredients, plating, and combinations. 

Local sourcing is something that Chef Balderas is passionate about, and you’ll find most ingredients make this menu farm-to-table from right here in Northwest Louisiana. Customers will find that chicken and eggs are sourced from his own Nourishing Farms and other ingredients from local and regional providers whenever possible because knowing where your food comes from and how it was raised makes a difference. 

The restaurant also features a bar with house-crafted cocktails developed by Paul Loggins of Zuzul along with fresh-pressed juices and a full espresso program for those wanting to add some caffeine to the mix. 

“I don’t know that I have one thing I want people to try first,” he explained. “I’m more excited for people to come in, explore the menu and find what becomes their thing.” 

While The Brine is bringing some new flavor to the Boardwalk, it is a part of the larger, important transformation of this unique property in Louisiana. It’s a place where people can enjoy the riverfront, restaurants, entertainment, and outdoor spaces all together. 

“Places like this need people who are willing to invest in them and give the community a reason to come back,” Chef Balderas explained. 

He decided to be part of these exciting updates and shifts in the environment to the Boardwalk in real time.

“We had an opportunity to be part of that while the transformation is happening rather than waiting until it’s finished,” he said. “I like that. We’re not just benefiting from what’s happening at the Boardwalk. Hopefully we’re contributing to it.” 

In addition to the Brine, Balderas is reflecting the same idea in the return of the carousel, which is a true piece of Boardwalk history that is being restored right outside of The Brine. This iconic ride is in many residents’ memories from the opening of the Boardwalk, and now it’s back to bring memories to new generations. 

“That’s exactly why preserving it mattered,” Balderas said. “So many people in this community have a memory connected to that carousel.” 

This restoration is special as many adults who rode it as a child are now bringing their own children back to the Boardwalk to experience the same joy. 

“We could have looked at it as something that could remain stagnant, but I think there’s value in keeping pieces of a place that people have an emotional connection to and probably a photo,” he explained. 

Chef Balderas hopes this brings life to the area that can also draw families into The Brine to experience a meal as well as making an evening at the Boardwalk memorable for all generations again. He envisions this space working for a lot of different people and hopes this is a space for families but also couples for date nights or a fun place for friends to grab a drink. 

“I hope The Brine gives people another reason to spend time at the Boardwalk, and I really mean spend time here. Not just come in, eat and leave,” he said. 

During the construction process, he noted that there was so much community interest. People would stop by and peek through the windows and ask what was beginning to take place and when they could experience it. All expressing the excitement, support, and hope for a place that holds so many memories for Bossier residents. 

“People have a lot of nostalgia for this place,” he recalled. “You can feel that curiosity coming back. People want to see the Boardwalk succeed, and it’s exciting to be a small part of it.” 

As The Brine prepares to open its doors, Baldearas said he wants to return that support by creating a space that the community can be proud to have in Bossier Parish. With the hard work, construction, and creativity that Balderas has put into The Brine, he’s most excited to see people fill the space. For it to come to life with patrons and to begin to bring the community together to make memories at the Louisiana Boardwalk again. 

“That’s when The Brine stops being a project we’ve been building and becomes a place where people are making their own memories,” Balderas said. “That’s what I’m most excited about.”