The Biloxi Lugger Story
Tied up just outside the restaurant of the same name, you will see The Bayou Belle. The Bayou Belle is a fine example of a Biloxi Lugger, a style of shrimp boat originally designed and built by Jacky Jack Covacevich. In the early 1900s, the Croatian immigrant constructed a vessel specially to fish the shallows in Biloxi Bay. It was the first to use a gasoline powered engin
e to pull nets. He passed his love of fishing Biloxi Bay onto his son who eventually took pride in building cabins for the Covacevich design. Owner of the Bayou Belle, FJ Allen, born and raised on “The Point”, grew up fishing and building alongside his father and grandfather in the same waters as Covacevich and other founding fathers in the Mississippi and Southeast Louisiana area. He felt the same familial passion, but took a different route before coming back home to Biloxi. At the young age of 18, FJ joined the navy. He spent two years in South Carolina and two years in Guam where he served as a hospital corpsman. This experience intrigued him and upon his return from Guam, he decided to enroll in medical school. Unfortunately, the times weren’t right for that and he instead pursued a career as a paramedic. Never fading, the urge for a career in medicine eventually saw Dr. Allen as a graduating internist. The next 26 years provided Dr Allen the opportunity to follow in his father’s and grandfather’s footsteps. FJ began shrimping for spiky crustaceans in the Gulf Coast along with his brothers, Fabian and Leo and his nephews, David and Jeremy. Today, Captain Allen delivers rose and pink shrimp from the helm of a blue and white boat-to table-to mouth. In the end, had it not been for his medical career, The Biloxi Lugger restaurant would continue to be little more than fantasy. As humble as he is passionate, Felix James Allen remains extremely proud of his heritage as well as his accomplishments. The Allen family tradition is now carried into its fourth generation, with Lewis Allen at the helm of the Biloxi Lugger restaurant. With a Master’s degree in psychology, Lew’s keen interest to sincerely feel his customers’ needs is touching. Cleverly, Lew has refined his people skills and blended them with his inventive taste buds. However, he doesn’t stray far from his roots. The genetic component and love of seafood never fades. It simply delivers a youthful approach to an already strong Biloxi custom. What better way to express oneself than with creole spices which enhance the already deeply flavorful Gulf Coast Seafood? So, from the stern of the Bayou Belle to the Biloxi Lugger kitchen, Biloxi Bay fish, blue soft-shell crab and shrimp are plated for you in several forms, all delicious. If you are a picky eater, connoisseur of the best, determined to eat healthy, you’re in good company. Breathe in the spices, savor the just-caught fish and feel the fresh Gulf winds. Warm and inviting, the Allen’s place is your place. If you have a heightened sense of taste and a curiosity to broaden that experience, join us! With a cold beer or cocktail, share the sunset, the pelicans, the dolphins and savor the flavor of Biloxi Lugger’s haul of the day.
