The Cookbook Lovers

On this week's show, we look at cookbooks as a cultural artifact and biographical portrait. We begin at Kitchen Witch, a store in New Orleans specializing in rare and used cookbooks. With their shop scheduled to close soon, owners Debbie Lindsey and Philipe LaMancusa look back on two decades of business—and some of their biggest sellers.

Then, we dig into our archives to hear late New Orleans civil rights activist Dr. Rudy Lombard. He and Nathaniel Burton's 1978 groundbreaking publication, "Creole Feast: 15 Master Chefs of New Orleans Reveal Their Secrets," was the first cookbook to celebrate the culinary legacy of African-American chefs who played a vital role in shaping our cuisine.

We also hear from Chef Isaac Toups, who collaborated with Jennifer Cole on his debut cookbook, "Chasing the Gator," and Nik Sharma, whose book, "Season: Big Flavors, Beautiful Food," presents his delicious take on experimental Indian cuisine.