Changing Course

Polly Watts of Avenue Pub

Change is constant, but that doesn’t make it easy. On this week's show, we meet some individuals who have transformed their lives or business.

The Avenue Pub had been a family business for nearly 20 years before Polly Watts claimed it for herself. It was the kind of place where patrons bought cheap beer and knocked back shots of Jagermeister, but Polly knew there wasn't a future down that road, at least not for her. When she reshaped the menu, she ultimately reshaped the bar into one of the Southeast's best destinations for craft beer.

Then, award-winning New Orleans music legend Michael O'Hara joins us with an uplifting personal story of his rock and roll journey and why after all these years – the Sheik is back! 

Sometimes change happens to us. Author Molly Birnbaum recalls the personal nightmare she experienced when an accident robbed her of the sense of smell, potentially train wrecking her dreams of a culinary career.

Finally, we visit culinary grande dame Arnaud’s Restaurant in New Orleans’ French Quarter. In 1978, Archie Casbarian convinced Germaine Wells, eccentric daughter of founder Arnaud Cazenave, to hand over the keys to the restaurant, beginning a grand new era of fine Creole dining. The Casbarian family shares their memories of this transition and how they are ushering the Arnaud's into its second century.

We’re changing course on this week’s Louisiana Eats!