The Spirit of La Fonda

A book describing the 50-year history and culture of the venerable La Fonda Restaurant in Lafayette, La., one of the state's most popular eating establishments. The book is also an autobiography of the restaurant's founder and owner, Leebob Cox, and a showplace for the art of Luis Amendolla and Phyllis Malzyk Giardano. It carries numerous stories about La Fonda's longtime employees and customers, as well as anecdotes of the variously zany and heartwarming goings-on in this fine Tex-Mex eatery.