Chefs, Bartenders & History Buffs

The Napoleon House, circa 1900-1906

Credit: Library of Congress Prints and Photographs Division

Source: Wikimedia Commons

There’s no getting around it. If you want to be a successful chef or bartender, you have to have a consuming passion for food, drink, and hospitality. Especially in New Orleans. But what distinguishes our city from many other dining destinations is the fact that we’re one of the oldest cities in America – with three centuries of history and tales too delicious to believe. On this week’s show, we meet three foodies whose appetite for history is as keen as their love for cooking and cocktails.

First, we discover the storied past of the iconic French Quarter landmark the Napoleon House with Chef Chris Montero. He gives us a tour of the historic property, from the bar to the cupola and all points in between. In addition to being an accomplished chef, Chris is also a passionate preservationist and historian. He shares two centuries’ worth of Girod and Impastato family lore and explains what he's been doing to keep the restaurant's traditions intact.

Then, Dana Honn, executive chef of Carmo and Café Cour shares how his interest in New Orleans history and culture motivated him to move here. For Dana, his perfect day is an afternoon spent in the Williams Research Center followed by a beer and tuna sandwich at the Napoleon House, poring through stacks of photocopied historical documents.

Finally, we speak with legendary bartender and cocktail historian Chris McMillian of Revel Cafe and Bar. He presents us with a chronicle of New Orleans hotel bars starting from the 19th century, including those famous barrooms where our classic cocktails were first invented.