2017 Louisiana Eat! Year In Review

As 2017 comes to an end, we take a look back at some of our favorite Louisiana Eats moments from the past year.

Year In Review

Credit Nature Trail National Scenic Byway District / Wikimedia Commons / Nature Trail National Scenic Byway District / Wikimedia Commons

First, we speak with Lior Lev Sercarz, a chef, spice blender, and owner of La Boîte in New York City. Lior discusses his career's trajectory from sergeant of the Israeli army to spice master, and explains why he believes both home cooks and professional chefs will benefit from delving into spices.

  Next, Top Chef star Isaac Toups tells us a seemingly tall tale about high-speed game hunting.

We also revisit our trip to the Delta Hot Tamale Festival in Greenville, Mississippi. We meet several vendors involved in the hot tamale cook-off, including Larry Harmon, who welcomes us to his award-winning, family-run Hot Tamale Heaven.

Then — just in time for New Year’s resolutions — our house band, Johnny Sketch and the Dirty Notes, stops by to discuss their new, healthier diet. Earlier this year, they wrapped up a recording session for their newest album, Sketch. 

And Jeremiah Tower talks about his groundbreaking tenure at Chez Panisse in the 1970s, as well as the remarkable, international path his career has taken since those days. Jeremiah’s life has been immortalized by an impassioned new documentary called Jeremiah Tower: The Last Magnificent, produced by culinary bad boy number one, Anthony Bourdain.