Our Story

The grass roots of Southern Faire began in 2010 with it’s first ever Farmers’ Market in downtown Shreveport. What was on the menu? BEIGNETS, of course…complete with Cafe-au-lait. Our patrons were charmed and our passion was born.

In 2011, Chef Cindy Gleason Johnson received her MBA from Centenary College after completing a final project on a food and coffee business. In 2014, Cindy left a 30 year career in Marketing to follow her heart and go full throttle into the food biz. Her first venture was a Pop-Up business as Cafe Camellia, which ultimately became what is now known as Southern Faire.

Southern Faire is now catering from it’s 1726 Elizabeth Avenue location. Chef Cindy comes from a long line of Southern and Country Cooks, which she considers to be a badge of honor. Growing up she had daily culinary instruction from her mother, Joan Gleason, who had chosen as her career to teach Home Economics in Caddo Parish High Schools. Occasionally when the opportunity has presented, she has participated in professional instruction, including short courses from Le Cordon Bleu in Paris.

Competitively speaking... Cindy has garnered numerous awards from First Prize in the Great Raft Cupcake Competition to several Firsts in the SUSGCC and is a Louisiana Food Prize Golden Fork Chef Finalist. Eat well friends!

Southern Faire