Saints great Drew Brees announces plans to open steakhouse at proposed Slidell casino

Drew Brees and renowned chef John Folse could be teaming up for a north shore steakhouse if a proposed casino is built in St. Tammany Parish.

St. Tammany voters will decide Dec. 11 whether to reverse the 1996 vote to ban casinos in the parish and allow Peninsula Pacific Entertainment, a Los Angeles-based development company, to build and operate a $325 million casino and hotel near the foot of the Interstate 10 twin spans near Slidell.

The Drew Brees and John Folse Steakhouse would be one of seven restaurants at the proposed Camellia Bay Casino, the developers said in a news release Monday.

In the news release, Brees called Folse a “Louisiana culinary icon.” In addition to restaurant development and TV and radio work, Folse is the founder of the John Folse Culinary Institute at Nicholls State University in Thibodaux.

Last week, Brees, who retired from the Saints last year after a record-setting career, released a video endorsing the controversial casino project and the $35 million youth sports complex that Penninsula Pacific Entertainment has pledged to fund in eastern St. Tammany if the casino vote passes.

The proposed Slidell-area casino has been met with opposition from some in the parish, including some elected officials, local businesses and faith-based groups who cite crime and moral concerns. Proponents say the casino will produce much-needed revenues for government agencies and public projects like the sports complex.

This casino, if built, could possibly draw customers who now go to the Coast casinos, particularly Silver Slipper and Hollywood Casino Gulf Coast, both in nearby Hancock County.

Early voting for the casino takes place Saturday through Dec. 4, except on Sunday.