Articles

$75,000 for Charity


A recent fundraiser at Trynd in downtown Lafayette raised more than $75,000 for Payton's Play It Forward Foundation and ProtectOurCoastline.org, which helps families affected by the BP Oil Spill.
Click here for more info.




The Daily Advertiser:
Acadiana Outreach Center Christmas

Christmas with the Acadiana Outreach Center Thursday, Dec. 23, 2010, in Lafayette, LA. (Photo Gallery)





Acadiana Business article:
Commecial Progress Report
"Trynd-Setter
Nidal Balbeisi raises the bar with his latest downtown venture."
Written by Lisa Hanchey
November/December 2010

When entrepreneur Nidal Balbesi started expanding his restaurant empire downtown, he always had his eye on the 1916 Masonic Lodge building on Vermilion Street next door to his cantina and grill, Agave. “It is one of the most beautiful buildings in Lafayette,” he says. “I have always admired that building.”

At the time, Stan Lerille owned the former lodge, opening a casual eatery and young adult nightclub, Stan’s. But, Lerille was growing weary of the nightclub business, and started discreetly looking for a buyer. In December 2009 Balbesi learned of Lerille’s interest in selling the historic twostory building. “It was one of those spontaneous things,” Balbesi says. “Stan was in the market to sell, and we had a friend who asked me if I would like to buy it. I told him, ‘I would love to! In a heartbeat!’” That same evening, Balbesi and Lerille sealed the deal.

Initially, Balbesi envisioned opening an upscale Italian restaurant in the 15,000-square-foot space. He knew that he wanted to keep up with the latest food trends — hence the name, Trynd. “We wanted to do authentic Italian, but we are going to have our own trendy plates,” he explains. “Every season, we will always be ‘the trend.’ That’s our vision for the restaurant.”

Several months ago, Balbesi hired renowned chef Dean Mitchell, previously recognized as one of Food and Wine magazine’s Top 50 Chefs in America. After selling his business, Mitchell moved here with his wife, a Lafayette native. While waiting for Trynd to open, Mitchell worked as a guest chef at another Balbesi Bros. restaurant, Collage Café. Currently, Mitchell is developing the menu for Trynd.

But, when Balbesi started renovating the lodge earlier this year, his ideas kept growing and growing — from the initial ristorante concept to a swanky adult nightclub to a cigar bar — and more. Beginning upstairs, Balbesi transformed the dance club space into an upscale lounge with sleek leather furniture, a large full-service bar and a plush, cozy wine bar. Trynd’s nightclub opened this fall with flash and fanfare, starting with a grand opening VIP party followed by a series of special events.

Next, Balbesi concentrated on the restaurant downstairs. “We took the first floor completely out,” he says. “It’s 100 percent different from before.” Under the guidance of Pécot & Company Architects, Todd Zimmerman Interiors and Bruce’s Custom Countertops & Floors, Balbesi totally gutted and revamped the former bar/restaurant space, expanding the kitchen fourfold and adding a raw seafood and antipasto bar accented with colorful glass tiles and onyx countertops. “By the time we are finished, people will be shocked,” he says with a laugh.

Surrounding the restaurant are several chef’s tasting rooms, serving from two to 40 guests. Larger private rooms accommodating more than 200 guests will be available for banquets, parties, seminars and other functions. “It’s geared up for a lot of things,” Balbesi says. “It’s not just a regular dining area. There are going to be a lot of activities going on.”

Within the restaurant space will be a new bar featuring premium wines. The former downstairs bar was moved to a new addition adjacent to the restaurant space, which will serve as a martini bar overlooking a brand new patio. Up front is an outdoor seating area complete with a fountain for al fresco dining. “We took the old world on the left, and then we created the new world on the right,” he explains. “In the old world, we have our wine, restaurant and seafood bar, and in the new world, which is the modern and trendy addition, we have our martini bar/hangout.”

And that’s just the beginning. From the first floor, patrons can access a staircase leading up to the new second-floor outdoor patio surrounded by an ornate wrought-iron balcony. Doors from both the nightclub area and upstairs patio lead into the Sicilian Room, an Italian-style cigar bar and lounge. With memberships, guests will be able to store their own cigars, wine and beverage glasses.

When completed, Trynd will be a onestop, upscale entertainment center. “Eventually, you are going to be able to eat on the first floor, then you can go upstairs and drink or dance afterwards,” Balbesi explains. “Or, if you want to just listen to music and relax, you can stay on the first floor at the martini bar or go to the upstairs balcony. There will be a lot of areas with different ambiances once we get things going.”

Balbesi’s goal is to open the downstairs space in December. Trynd has already booked several holiday parties. “It’s going to very unique,” Balbesi says. “It’s a major project.”



VisitSouth.com article:
"Agave Cantina, Lafayette, Louisiana
Downtown patio offers place to meet and party"
Written by Cheré Coen
August 10, 2010

Downtown Lafayette is the hip place to hang, with several fabulous restaurants offering great food and outside dining opportunities. The top patio award, however, has to go to Agave Cantina, a festive Tex-Mex restaurant that includes Cajun and Creole accents to its dishes.

The restaurant has nabbed several awards, including Best New Restaurant, and much of that can be attributed to its cuisine and outstanding margaritas, among other specialty drinks. But its location on Vermilion Street places it next to the popular San Souci Parc with its spray fountain and stage used for live outdoor concerts and special events and the San Souci Gallery, the retail arm of the Louisiana Crafts Guild. So if you sit in Agave’s spacious patio — covered above but without walls —sipping margaritas and enjoying a fine meal, you’ve got a first row view of downtown Lafayette in action.

The patio is also a fun party space. Many people gather here to celebrate life events, meet for drinks or to enjoy the live music. After Second Saturday ArtWalks, Agave’s patio becomes overflowing with art enthusiasts.

Agave hours are 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. daily except Sundays.



The INDEPENDANT Weekly article
"Trendy Trynd opens in downtown"
Written by Mary Tutwiler
Friday, 30 July 2010

A red carpet welcome rolled out the latest addition to the bar scene in Lafayette.

Trynd, a swanky upstairs lounge in the former Stan’s on Vermilion Street opened Thursday night with a flourish of fine wines, signature martinis and a sleek big city decor. It’s a far cry from the mysterious rituals of the Freemasons that once took place in the 1916 Masonic Lodge. Or maybe not. Owner Nidal Balbeisi worked closely with his interior designer, Todd Zimmerman, to create an atmosphere that promotes intimate conversations, from the low slung leather chairs and a small bar that houses private bottles of wine to the intricate lighting which is flatteringly dim, you have to lean in close to murmur to your date.

Opening night offered an icy variety of specialty cocktails. (The Ind staff quaffed a bit, we all loved them but nobody can remember their names. Check back here later this afternoon for a complete bar menu.) The generous food spread represented the global cuisine Balbeisi serves at his many restaurants, Lebanese, Mexican, Asian inspired and soon to be Italian, when the restaurant at Trynd opens in the fall.

It’s hard to know the character of a lounge from its opening night bash. Obviously, I’ll have to spend some time bellied up to the bar before I can write a real review, or better yet, get on downtown and check Trynd out for yourself, 116 East Vermilion.

Here's the drinks menu, as promised:

  • Paulistano - Oronoco rum, fresh mint, fresh lime, and simple syrup
  • Cucumber Gimlit - Hendricks gin, muddled cucumbers and lime
  • Bellini Martini - Ketel Oranje, peach nectar, and champagne
  • The Trynd - Tanqueray gin, peach nectar, lemon juice, lime juice, pineapple juice, simple syrup, with a gingerale float
  • The Granate Flower - Ketel One vodka, Pama liqeuer, St. Germain, and cranberry
  • Chocolate Dream - Stoli Vanil vodka, Godiva white and dark chocolate, Nocello, and a touch of cream
  • Tryndy New Fashion - Crown Reserve, Disarrono amaretto, simple syrup, bitters, and an orange slice
  • KOC Drop - Ketel One Citroen, simple syrup, lemon juice, in a sugared martini glass
  • Oranje Cosmo - Ketel One Oranje, cranberry juice, lime juice
  • French Kiss - Ciroc vodka, Chambord, and pineapple juice
  • Pink Cherry Caipiroska - Belvedere vodka, pink grapefruit, fresh cherries, lemon juice, Amaretto
  • Grand Maria - Belvedere Orange, Grand Marnier, red wine
  • IX Gingerine - Belvedere IX, pineapple, gingerale
  • Apple Pie Martini - Belvedere Pure, Navan vanilla liqueur, apple cider, cinnamon, lime juice
  • Get Your Rocks Off - 1 test tube of pop rocks, 1 test tube of Belvedere IX, 1 test tube of pink grapefruit juice


The INDEPENDANT Weekly article
"Nidal Balbeisi conquers downtown"
Written by Mary Tutwiler
Tuesday, 01 December 2009

Restaurateur Nidal Balbeisi is expanding his culinary footprint in downtown.
Photo by Robin May


Nidal Balbeisi is attempting to conquer the world the way all great tacticians do, through its belly. First he seduces you at Zeus, his Mid-Eastern flagship restaurant, with delectable baba ghanoush. Then he makes his shwarma sandwiches as quick and convenient as the ubiquitous burger at the multiple locations of his Zeus Express drive thru. Next, he brainwashes you with mind-bending margaritas at his Mexican cantina, Agave. Now, he’s planning the coup de gras with his newest culinary adventure — Italian fusion — at Trynd Café and Night Club. The location? Last week, Balbeisi bought Stanley Lerille’s laid back lunch and high octane disco, located in the former Masonic temple on Vermilion Street downtown.

That acquisition marks the fourth restaurant location for Balbeisi in Lafayette’s dynamic downtown. Zeus, on Jefferson, has been franchised. But Agave, across from Parc Sans Souci, and now Trynd both occupy important anchor locations in the heart of the entertainment district. Balbeisi also owns another building, currently boarded up, next door to Sadie’s on Jefferson. He plans to move the Stan’s concept — burgers, plate lunches and salads, along with the name — onto Jefferson. The Stan’s menu will continue at the Vermilion location through Dec. 31. Balbeisi says if his Stan’s customers eat at one of his other restaurants, hang on to the receipt. “Turn in your receipt and get a free lunch at Stan’s,” he offers. “I want to keep everyone happy.” The club will host a New Year’s Eve bash before shutting down for renovations.

“I’ve been in love with Stan’s building,” says Balbeisi. “There’s so much history there.” Built in 1916, the two-story brick building housed the Masonic Order of Lafayette before it was bought in 1999 by Randy Templet. Dubbed Club Pinnacle, it housed a gay disco and bar until Lerille bought it in 2002. He did extensive renovations including creating an inviting patio for al fresco dining. Stan’s has been a hot spot for the Harley crowd during Downtown Alive! every Friday night.

Balbeisi made Lerille an offer he couldn’t refuse, $750,000, according to the act of sale recorded in the Lafayette Parish Courthouse. “It was a great opportunity to spend more time with my family,” says Lerille. “I enjoyed downtown, and plan to be back to enjoy Nidal’s restaurant.” As for Lerille’s next move, he’s playing his cards close to his vest.

Trynd will offer many things to many people. Downstairs will continue as a restaurant with a business lunch and relaxed dining in the evening. Balbeisi is working on a menu that will encompass authentic cooking from the south of Italy — red sauce Italian, with a few au courant American dishes. “I’m going to bring a unique flavor to Lafayette,” he says. During the next month, if an Italian dish shows up on the menu at Stan’s, it’s getting a trial run for the new restaurant. Give it a try and vote with your fork if you like it. Once renovations have been completed, Balbeisi is planning to include several chef’s tables, spots where diners can watch the cooks in action and nibble their way through a tasting menu made of many courses paired with multiple tastes of wine. Wine is a large part of the new concept. “The menu will be small, limited to two pages of changing dishes,” says Balbeisi, “but the wine list is going to be extensive.”

Upstairs, Balbeisi is going for an old school concept: smoke. He’s building a cigar bar that will feature beautiful brown liquors like smoky single malt scotch, barrel-aged bourbon and vintage cognacs, along with high end cigars and all their accoutrements, such as cutters, lighters and humidors. Become a VIP member and rate a personal cigar cubby to hold your smoking toys. Deep couches will embrace the fuming volupine, a piano man tinkles the ivories, sports reign on every HD channel, and, undoubtedly, no women will violate the sanctum. In an unconscious move, Balbeisi is reincarnating the mood of the Masonic Temple, which favored secretive rituals of the all-male membership.

Of course, that all goes out the window at about 10 p.m., when the piano jazz crowd goes home to bed and the late night party begins. Believe in the disco ball. Lafayette may see its return some time after midnight once Trynd opens, in the new year.