From Creole cookbooks and seafood restaurants to pasta sauces of every kind, celebrity chef Emeril Lagasse may best be known for his brisk, bold flavors and persona that come with a bam. But one project has been slow-cooking — and it’s an ode to his Portuguese heritage. 

Today, he opened his newest concept restaurant in New Orleans: 34 Restaurant and Bar. It’s his first-ever tribute to Portugal, and he calls it a “love letter” to his family’s roots. 

“My mom’s kitchen was full of roosters, figurines, and paintings — any free space had a rooster of sorts,” the James Beard Award and Emmy-winning chef told Travel + Leisure of his mother Hilda, who died in 2016. “When you walk into 34, you will see my tribute to my mom’s kitchen by way of a rooster painting. It’s a symbol of luck in Portugal.”

His travels back to the European country forged some of his deepest food memories, authentic flavors that have inspired the menu. But it comes with a personal touch, as it also honors what he ate growing up in Fall River, Massachusetts,” where at least 46 percent of the population has Portuguese roots, reportedly the largest concentration in the nation.

Among Lagasse’s favorites is the salt cod, which appears several times throughout the menu. “We have a fantastic bacalhau a bras, which is the national dish of Portugal,” the 65-year-old chef said of the cod dish with crisp potatoes, olives, and caviar. 

Another standout is the caldo verde (green soup). “It is different from the one my mom made but true to Portugal,” he said.

In true family-style traditions, there’s also a variety of Spanish and Portuguese rice dishes for the table to share, like arroz de pato (duck rice with chorizo and mushrooms), and arroz de lagosta (lobster rice). He also calls the jamon bar and snack offerings “over the top.”

Those with — and without — a sweet tooth will also want to save room for dessert. “I’m usually more of a savory palette, but all our desserts are unreal,” the best-selling author of 19 cookbooks admitted. “The Azorean pineapple fosters is my favorite, and of course the famous pasteis de nata.”  

Located at 710 Baronne Street, the 245-seat restaurant — designed by Louisiana architecture firm AQ Studios with interiors by Laurie Pearson Design — is decked out in Portuguese tiles, wood accents, and Lagasse’s own signature color of green.

“We really wanted to be transportive,” he explained. “New Orleans has such European roots in its architecture, cuisine, and culture. At 34, we wanted to celebrate these influences and be nostalgic for Europe, specifically Portugal.”

To ensure the restaurant is all about family, he partnered with his 21-year-old son, E.J. Lagasse — who already runs his flagship Emeril’s in New Orleans’ Warehouse District. The father is proud that E.J. “has brought in some fun elements, such as a tile-clad DJ booth that will feature both local and touring DJs.”

But, ultimately, it’s all about welcoming guests to experience a part of his own heritage that he has yet to share. “Our city loves to embrace different cultures and cuisines, and I want guests to feel like they are welcomed into my home with great hospitality and fantastic modern Portuguese cuisine that they can share at the table with family and friends,” he told T+L. “It’s a relaxed and inviting environment with delicious modern Portuguese food to share. What’s not to enjoy?” 

34 Restaurant and Bar is open seven days a week at 4 p.m., closing at midnight Sundays through Wednesdays and at 2 a.m. Thursdays through Saturdays. Reservations can be made on OpenTable.