Steamboat NATCHEZ hires Joey La Bella as Executive Chef

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Steamboat NATCHEZ hires Joey La Bella as Executive Chef

New Orleans, LA (October 2012) - The Steamboat NATCHEZ, the last authentic steamboat on the Mississippi River, has promoted Joey La Bella to Executive Chef.

La Bella is in charge of setting the culinary direction and overseeing the menu for the NATCHEZ's daily lunch and dinner cruises as well as the development and execution of menus for large private parties and weddings. In addition to entertaining passengers with scenic views of the Mississippi and traditional live jazz music, the NATCHEZ also serves more than 750 people daily with a buffet featuring delicious selections of New Orleans cuisine.

"Joey La Bella has been a delight to work with since he started on the Steamboat as a Sous Chef earlier in the year," said Adrienne Thomas, director of marketing on the Steamboat NATCHEZ. "He goes above and beyond his duties as chef by always looking for new techniques to make kitchen operate more efficiently, and create a positive working environment for his team."

A New Orleans native, La Bella began cooking at a young age having first cooked and served a dish professionally at the age of 13. The bulk of his culinary training came from his father at La Bella's Catering, where La Bella worked every position possible from bartender to server. While working for his father, La Bella gained experience in creating and perfectly timing food service for large groups including the Endymion and Bacchus balls, large conferences, weddings and corporate events.

La Bella left his father's catering company when he was hired by the Hilton Group as a Sous Chef where he trained under Peter Vazquez, formerly of Marisol, in fine dining. He was hired by the NATCHEZ in 2012, as the Steamboat's first ever Sous Chef before quickly being promoted to Executive Chef. While La Bella's culinary heritage is in New Orleans' Cajun and Creole fare, he is skilled in a variety of cuisines including Tuscan, Sicilian, Chinese, French, Spanish, German, Japanese, Vietnamese and Korean cuisine.

La Bella oversees the Steamboat's daily food service develops and executes menus for large private parties and weddings.

For more information about the Steamboat NATCHEZ lunch and dinner cruises or to make a reservation, please visit http://www.steamboatnatchez.com/ or call (504) 569-1401. Become a fan on Facebook and follow the Steamboat NATCHEZ on Twitter @steamernatchez.

The New Orleans Steamboat Company was founded by Wilbur and Bill Dow after the rebuilding of the Toulouse Street Wharf in the French Quarter in 1974. Less than one year later, the 1600 passenger Steamboat NATCHEZ was christened. New Orleans Steamboat Company is well recognized and regarded for its contribution to the New Orleans cultural landscape and tourism industry. Since 1975, the Steamboat NATCHEZ has sailed daily offering Mississippi River cruises featuring live jazz, wonderful New Orleans cuisine and the best view in town! Take a cruise and experience part of our American Heritage. The New Orleans Steamboat Company also owns Gray Line Tours. For more information, please call 504-586-8777 or visit www.neworleanssteamboatcompany.com.