LOG CABIN GRILL - Key Persons

During his time as a student at Louisiana Tech, ‘Moose' was a line-cook for Ponchatoulas in 1999. Discovering his passion for the restaurant business there, he decided to dive in head-first and become the co-owner of Ponchatoulas in 2004. His partner, Johnny Gaudet, shared a love of authentic Louisiana homestyle cooking and between the two of them and keen business acumen, the venture has turned into over 27 years of proud ownership in three different establishments in the Ruston area. The partners took on another business with the purchase of Log Cabin in 2005, where Moose oversees the operations on a day-to-day basis. The pair also started an HVAC business in 2017, Hot2Cold, serving the local and surrounding markets. Away from work, Moose is a husband to his wife, Jennifer, and a father to his two daughters. He is a community advocate, serving on various boards and committees, as well as an avid-hunter and outdoorsman. Chris ‘Moose' Garriga started at Ponchatoulas as a line cook in college.

A true restaurant entrepreneur, Johnny is no stranger to the business. As a graduate of Louisiana Tech, it was nearly fate to open Ponchatoulas in the heart of downtown Ruston in 1996. Ponchatoulas is proof of his original passion for serving customers with great, down-home cuisine and a good time. In 1999, he took Chris Garriga under his wing and taught him the ropes of the business, food preparation and customer services, leading to Chris' introduction as co-owner in 2004. Now, two restaurants and a HVAC company later, Johnny and his partner, Chris, have centralized their ventures to Ruston and are true staples in the community and for those traveling through. Their partnership now results in the success of these operations, but it is the true friendship formed on passion for the restaurant business in 2004 that propels the three ventures forward. Away from work, Johnny is a husband, father to his two sons, and self-proclaimed workaholic, escaping for the outdoors much like his business partner.

It seems as if attending Louisiana Tech is a prerequisite for the ‘Top Dawgs' at Log Cabin! Josh, who attended Louisiana Tech for theatre, is originally from Minden, Louisiana. Well-versed in the restaurant business, Josh has spent 20 years in the industry and brought decades of experience to the Log Cabin team in 2019 as the Operations Manager. You can find Josh doing anything and everything around the restaurant, from hiring and training staff to cleaning and clearing tables. When asked about his role, his response was that his most important priority was ensuring that Meg was happy - the trademark of the best right-hand man around! Aside from doing whatever is needed to keep the Cabin running smoothly, Josh is a family man and enjoys time spent creating memories with family and traveling.

A true Ruston native, Meg grew up in the area and graduated from Louisiana Tech in 2007. She has been a part of the Log Cabin team from the very start, celebrating 20 years of being a part of the ‘Cabin Crew' in May of 2023. Starting out in the restaurant business, Meg was a food-runner and waitress - both roles that provided her with the foundation to become the General Manager at the Cabin. On a day-to-day basis, she tackles it all: food orders, scheduling, operation and team management, catering and anything that gets thrown her way! When asked about her responsibilities, though, her response was that her top priority was making sure Moose is happy - the golden mark of a General Manager well-chosen. Away from the hustle and bustle at the Cabin, Meg is a wife, mother, active member of her church, avid-reader and much like her boss, a lover of the outdoors.