About Us

“Among those blazing new trails in the old district of New Orleans is Richard Hughes who is putting together seasonal menus that reflect both the robustness of his native south Louisiana and the urbanity of his years on New York’s much faster restaurant track.”

Food & Wine Magazine

Richard Hughes and his wife, Jeanne Stinnett Hughes, moved from New York to New Orleans in 1989, and one year later opened the Pelican Club Restaurant and Bar. Born in New Orleans and raised in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, Richard began his cooking career at home and continued at several New Orleans area restaurants. His first apprenticeship was with Chris Kerageorgiou at La Provence in Lacomb, Louisiana; then he moved on to saucier under chef Gerard Thabius at Winston’s, to night chef at The Sazerac, and then to chef at Dante by the River. In 1983 Chef Hughes was recruited as an executive chef to open Memphis Restaurant in New York which soon became regarded as a leader among Manhattan’s Creole-Cajun eateries. Town & Country Magazine reviewer James Villas wrote: “Memphis is one of the best, most exciting restaurants to open in New York in years. What you’re here for is New Orleans chef Richard Hughes’ authentic Creole-Cajun cuisine and down-to-earth Southern dishes.”

After six years on New York’s fast track, Richard and Jeanne returned home to raise their family and to open the Pelican Club. The Hughes found the 19th century French Quarter townhouse on Bienville Street and Exchange Alley to be the ideal location. Jeanne directed an extensive renovation incorporating many of the building’s existing features—Italian marble columns and floors, hand-painted ceramic tiles and a rusticated stone wall. The entrance is via the Bar which overlooks Exchange Place through a wall of arched, wood-mullioned windows and leads into three dining rooms: the cozy Club Room with burnished cypress paneling, the casually elegant Main Dining Room with creamy painted brick archways contrasting with long black banquettes, and the colorful Bienville Room with large windows looking out to the Quarter. Original artworks by contemporary Louisiana artists including Alex Beard, Martin LaBorde, Beth Lambert, Michalopoulos, Grace Newburger and Rise Delmar Ocshner are featured in each of the spaces. Gregory Roberts, New Orleans columnist for The Times-Picayune, wrote: “The overall effect is sort of understated hip with a festive fillip, a tasteful ambiance where diners are comfortable in everything from blue jeans to ball gowns.”