about
Justin Devillier
Culinary director-Partner devillier hospitality group
Chef Justin Devillier is the Culinary Director and Co-Owner of La Petite Grocery in New Orleans and the 2016 James Beard Award winner for Best Chef: South.
Devillier was raised in Dana Point, California, a small beach town in South Orange County. He spent summers fishing for Yellowtail and Albacore tuna, and in the fall and winter he would dive for lobsters just steps from his front door. This bounty of local seafood inspired him to enter the culinary industry, and after working in local restaurants right out of high school he decided to focus all of his time on becoming a chef. In 2003, Devillier moved to New Orleans in search of a vibrant restaurant community. He cooked in the kitchens of Bacco, Stella and Peristyle, where he learned the intricacies of French cuisine from his mentor, Chef Anne Kearny-Sands.
In 2004, Devillier joined the team at La Petite Grocery as a line cook and was promoted to Sous Chef after one year. Following Hurricane Katrina, he helped re-build the restaurant’s infrastructure, and in 2007 was promoted to Executive Chef. A short three years later, Devillier and his wife, Mia, took over ownership of the restaurant, housed in a century-old building with a storied history. At La Petite Grocery, Devillier puts his creative spin on traditional New Orleans cuisine with dishes like Turtle Bolognese, Panéed Rabbit, and Blue Crab Beignets. In 2014, he was awarded “Chef of the Year” by New Orleans Magazine.
In his free time, Devillier is an avid practitioner of Jiu Jitsu, a golfer, fisherman and hunter, and loves spending time at the beach with his wife and three young daughters.
Mia Devillier
Director of Operations-Partner devillier hospitality group
Originally from Charleston, South Carolina, Mia Devillier is the Director of Operations and Co-Owner of La Petite Grocery. Devillier moved to New Orleans in 1996 to attend Loyola University, where she earned a degree in Business Management and Marketing. She began her career in management at Martin Wine Cellar, later returning to the University of New Orleans for a Master’s in Accounting and spending three years as a tax accountant with Deloitte & Touche.
Even while building her professional foundation in business and finance, Mia cultivated her lifelong passion for hospitality, holding positions across the service industry for more than 25 years — including the House of Blues and restaurants such as Lilette, Juan’s Flying Burrito, and Marigny Brasserie. She joined La Petite Grocery in 2009 as General Manager and, alongside her husband, Chef Justin Devillier, became co-owner in 2010. Under their leadership, La Petite Grocery has earned consistent acclaim, including spots on The Times-Picayune’s “New Orleans’ Top 10 Restaurants” list from 2011–2017, Eater’s list of “38 Best Restaurants in America”, and in 2016 Justin was honored with the James Beard Award for Best Chef: South.
Mia’s purpose is to create welcoming spaces where joy, genuine service, and meaningful growth thrive. Guided by integrity, compassion, and attention to detail, she fosters teams and environments that celebrate hospitality while supporting professional opportunity and development.
Outside of her professional work, Mia is blessed with three beautiful daughters, two dogs, and two cats. A dedicated practitioner of Pilates, she finds balance and strength in the same way she approaches hospitality — with intention, discipline, and joy.
Rooted in her Italian heritage, Mia credits her passion for food and wine to her Italian Mother, Cheryle, and late Father, Harley, and her deep sense of Southern hospitality to her late Grandmother, Peggy. In their honor, Mia continues her pursuit of providing memorable dining experiences that bring people together while shaping a culture of hospitality rooted in service, learning, and connection.
Bobby Margot
General Manager
Bobby Margot is the General Manager of La Petite Grocery. He was born and raised in Chalmette, Louisiana. Bobby began in the restaurant industry at only sixteen years old, starting as a busboy and working his way up to bar back, bartender, server, and expeditor at Jaeger’s Seafood Restaurant in New Orleans.
In 2004, Margot moved on to Houston’s restaurant where he had the opportunity to learn the business side of the industry. He also taught continuing education classes for the staff covering all aspects of service, and was consistently ranked as one of the restaurant’s top ten employees. In July 2010, Margot was offered a management position at La Petite Grocery, and happily accepted. Expanding his responsibilities, he is now honored to be working as General Manager at La Petite Grocery.
Margot holds a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration from the University of New Orleans. His interests outside the restaurant include cheering on the New Orleans Saints and the LSU Tigers with his wife Courtney Margot. He is also an avid hunter, fishermen and golfer. Bobby is passionate about maintaining a positive work environment, and believes that happy employees are key to creating terrific guest experiences
Blake scherer
Executive Chef
Blake Scherer is the Executive Chef of La Petite Grocery, a stalwart of the New Orleans culinary scene. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Blake discovered his passion for hospitality at an early age, working in upscale restaurants and bars while still in high school. He went on to earn a degree in hospitality from the Culinary Institute of St. Louis, where he received the Charles Carroll Tasting Success Award, presented to the school's top culinary student. He refined his skills at the celebrated Sidney Street Café before relocating to New Orleans, where a meeting of chance with La Petite Grocery’s Director of Culinary and Partner Justin Devillier at the James Beard Awards led to an opportunity that would shape the rest of his career.
Blake joined La Petite Grocery in 2017 and has spent more than eight years growing alongside the restaurant, advancing through the kitchen before becoming Executive Chef. During this time, he has helped uphold the restaurant's reputation as one of New Orleans' premier dining destinations while bringing his own thoughtful perspective to its celebrated approach to Louisiana cuisine. Inspired by a large Italian family where cooking and gathering around the table were central traditions, Blake is passionate about creating memorable dining experiences through seasonal ingredients and strong relationships with local producers.
Today, Blake leads the day-to-day culinary program at La Petite Grocery, working closely with Chef Justin Devillier. Outside the kitchen, he enjoys tending his backyard garden, reading fiction, cooking with friends, and finding inspiration throughout New Orleans' vibrant food community. These interests continue to influence his thoughtful, ingredient-driven approach to cooking.
ALEJANDRO ROMERO
WINE DIRECTOR Devillier hospitality group
Alejandro Romero is the Wine Director at La Petite Grocery, where he has spent nearly a decade shaping one of New Orleans' most celebrated wine programs. A proud first-generation American and Chicano, Alejandro was born and raised in San Francisco, California, by parents who immigrated from Mexico City. Their dedication and work ethic instilled in him a deep appreciation for community and bringing people together through food and wine.
Alejandro discovered his passion for wine while studying Political Science at the University of California, Davis. He began his restaurant career with the Paragary's Restaurant Group before joining Commonwealth Restaurant in San Francisco, where he spent six years learning under renowned sommelier Francesca Maniace. During his tenure, Commonwealth earned and maintained a MICHELIN Star, giving Alejandro a strong foundation in thoughtful hospitality and exceptional wine service.
When Alejandro moved to New Orleans in 2017, La Petite Grocery was the only restaurant he applied to, drawn by its James Beard Award-winning legacy, nationally recognized cuisine, and outstanding wine program. He joined the team just three days after arriving in the city and has remained ever since, inspired by the people, the creative freedom, and the opportunity to continually introduce guests and colleagues to new wines and producers.
Outside the restaurant, he and his wife enjoy hosting friends, gardening, traveling, discovering New Orleans' vibrant food and music scene, and spending time outdoors with their two dogs, Ziggy Stardust and Diana Ross.