Welcome to Deelightful Roux

Deelightful Roux is a culinary wonderland where flavors come to life. Click here to explore our collection of mouthwatering recipes and culinary inspirations. It’s a place where you can indulge your senses and ignite your passion for cooking. Join us on a journey through the vibrant world of culinary arts.

Our Culinary Adventure

Step into the world of Deelightful Roux, where each dish tells a unique story. Our culinary adventure began with a simple yet powerful idea – to share the art of cooking and the joy of savoring delectable dishes. We take pride in providing a space where food enthusiasts, aspiring chefs, and everyone in between can find inspiration, learn new techniques, and celebrate the magic of food.

Meet Our Culinary Maestros

At Roux, our team of talented chefs brings innovation and expertise to every recipe. Each member of our culinary family is dedicated to creating unforgettable dining experiences. Let us introduce you to the culinary maestros who craft magic in our kitchen.

Chef Dee - Executive Chef

Chef Dee Lavigne is the founder and heart behind Deelightful Roux School of Cooking, where she uses food to tell the stories of New Orleans and create meaningful connections between culture, history, and the people who gather around the table.

A New Orleans native and graduate of the Culinary Institute of America, Chef Dee brings professional culinary training together with a lifelong connection to the foodways of Louisiana. Through Deelightful Roux, she introduces guests from around the world to the flavors and traditions of Creole, Cajun, Southern, and African diaspora cuisine through immersive, hands-on cooking experiences filled with history, storytelling, laughter, and genuine New Orleans hospitality.

Chef Dee’s influence extends far beyond the cooking school. She has represented New Orleans through television appearances, culinary festivals, tourism initiatives, corporate experiences, and national events including Taste of the NFL. In 2026, she was recognized as a National Travel & Tourism Week Champion, honoring her contributions to the hospitality and tourism community. Her growing international work also includes serving as a Culinary Cultural Ambassador for the Paris Musketeers, using food, culture, tourism, and sport to help build connections between New Orleans and Paris.

At the center of Chef Dee’s work is a commitment to preserving culinary heritage while making the kitchen a place where everyone feels welcome. She believes recipes are more than instructions—they carry the stories of families, communities, and generations. That philosophy is reflected in every class she teaches and every guest she welcomes through the doors of Deelightful Roux.

Whether she is teaching someone to make their first roux, sharing the history behind a beloved New Orleans dish, appearing before a television audience, or representing her city internationally, Chef Dee approaches her work with the same purpose: to preserve the culture, celebrate the people, and share the extraordinary story of New Orleans—one dish at a time.

For Chef Dee, this is more than a cooking class. It’s an invitation to experience New Orleans through its food, its history, and its heart.

Chef Candi

Candi is an essential part of the Deelightful Roux School of Cooking family, helping bring the flavors, traditions, and unmistakable hospitality of New Orleans to life for guests from around the world.

A New Orleans native, Candi works alongside Chef Dee Lavigne as a valued member of the culinary team, helping guide guests through hands-on experiences featuring the dishes and traditions that define Louisiana cooking. Visitors have praised her patient and encouraging approach in the kitchen, as well as the warmth and humor she brings to the experience. One published travel account recalled Candi helping guests confidently prepare dishes including jambalaya, smothered okra, shrimp, and Bananas Foster—even when some participants had very little previous cooking experience.

But Candi's role at Deelightful Roux is about much more than preparing food. She helps create the welcoming, family-style atmosphere that has become an important part of the school's identity. Whether she is assisting a first-time cook, sharing a laugh across the kitchen, helping a group work through a recipe, or making sure guests leave with memories of their experience, Candi represents the warmth and generosity of New Orleans hospitality.

At Deelightful Roux, food is a way to preserve culture, tell stories, and connect people. Candi helps carry that mission forward every time she puts on her chef coat and welcomes someone into the kitchen.