Hitting The Books

On this week’s show, we delve into the wonderful world of cookbooks. We begin with Chef Isaac Toups, who collaborated with acclaimed food writer Jennifer Cole on his debut cookbook, Chasing the Gator. The book pulls back the curtain on the new guard of Cajun cooking. Visit our website to hear a full-length Quick Bites podcast with Isaac, which includes a cracklins tasting and a round of Cajun games.

Nik Sharma also joins us to discuss Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food, his delicious take on experimental Indian cuisine. 

Then, we take a visit to Kitchen Witch, a shop of books for cooks. When Philippe LaMancusa began his career in the restaurant industry back in the Sixties, he quickly learned that the more cookbooks he collected, the more culinary experience he could gain. With 10,000 books now in their collection, Philippe and his partner Debbie Lindsey have found a new home for their books and other collectibles in the Seventh Ward.

And we meet Robert Palestina, Executive Director of The Cookbook Project. This New Orleans-based nonprofit works to combat chronic disease by promoting food justice and preserving local foodways.