So you're the owner of Peso's and the new Toulouse Petit. Toulouse Petit seems to be a more serious restaurant than Peso's, with an 80-item menu and dishes influenced by French and Creole cuisines. What do you see as the differences between the two restaurants?

I think the kitchen at Toulouse Petit is far more capable than the one at Peso's. We've assembled a team of chefs that are truly world-class and a menu that's a lot more extensive. But what's nice is that there are items on the menu at Toulouse Petit that are just as inexpensive.

I would like the five-dollar alligator happy-hour special, please. Where do you get your gators?

The alligators, as well as the blue crab, crawfish tails, and gold shrimp, are flown to Seattle on domestic flights from Louisiana. They fly Southwest, below the passengers.

What's your favorite dish at Toulouse Petit?

I really like the warm duck confit salad with endive, radicchio, and poached duck egg. It's a very textural dish, with a lot of different elements.

Website reviews of your new restaurant have largely been positive. However, you've attacked the reputation of the one person who gave your restaurant a low score. Isn't the customer always right?

I'm not in the business of correcting people's perceptions, but sometimes people write things online that are factually false. The person who posted the anonymous review claimed to have eaten an item that isn't on our menu anymore. As I was reading, I had the feeling that it was a hit piece. Since we're a new restaurant and our image is still being formed, I thought it would be important to respond to the poster because I didn't think he'd actually been here.

You were briefly in the news when you sued the Matador for stealing Peso's menu and decor ideas. Now that your menus have diverged and Matador has taken down its Day of the Dead decorations, do you consider the feud over?

I don't give it any thought anymore. We were dragged into that lawsuit, and I'm just glad it's all over. Can we talk about something else?

Sure. What do you think of rival French restaurant Bastille?

I think it's a beautiful environment. The owner, James Weimann, was my partner at Peso's, so I wish him well. I haven't tried enough of the food to comment.