The fascinating food business is so multifaceted that it's always changing and evolving. On this week’s show, we look at how delicious new products make it from concept to dinner table and how one simple product turned ordinary folks into food celebrities.
Read MoreFrom the height of its popularity in the 19th century to its modern revival, absinthe has a long and storied history. A favorite pastime of artists, writers, and bohemians, the spirit known as "the green fairy" was subject to a near global ban for nearly a century due to myths about its hallucinogenic effects. Even after those bans were lifted around the turn of the millennium, its wild and mysterious reputation remains. On this week's show, we delve into the mythical world of this once illicit elixir.
Read MoreMany chefs spend their entire careers content to run a single restaurant. But others have a different vision – one that encompasses multiple locations or even various kinds of eateries. This week, we take a look at three such New Orleans restaurateurs and find out how they've gone about building their culinary empires.
Read MoreJapan may once have seemed like a world away, but the most delicious elements of Japanese food and drink culture have become increasingly embedded in our American psyche. On this week's show, we celebrate the complexity and craftsmanship of Japanese drinking culture.
Read MoreIt's been a long, hot summer, but fall has finally arrived in Louisiana! As temperatures and humidity go down, the Bayou State comes alive with a colorful array of autumn events and festivals. On this week's show, we learn about the annual Abita Fall Fest and Oktoberfest celebrations on the Northshore. We also visit Kingfish Cider, the first taproom of any kind to open in Jefferson Parish.
Read MoreFor those in the hospitality industry, there are few honors more prestigious than winning a James Beard Award. On this week's show, we celebrate the local 2024 winners and nominees. Ti Martin tells us about the party she hosted at Commander's Palace to recognize them. We also hear from mixologist extraordinaire, Chris Hannah and Chef Arvinder Vilkhu, along with his son, Ashwin, of Saffron Nola.
Read MoreBrennan's Restaurant on Royal Street is grander than ever – all thanks to the loving care of founder Owen Brennan's nephew, Ralph Brennan. Named one of the 20 most influential restaurant people in the country by Restaurant Business Magazine, Ralph runs some of the city's finest dining destinations. On this week's show, we sit down with Ralph Brennan himself to discuss his life in food.
Read MoreJohn Kennedy Toole's novel A Confederacy of Dunces is internationally revered for having captured the essence and eccentricity of New Orleans — and for introducing readers to its larger-than-life protagonist, Ignatius J. Reilly. On this week's show, we take a culinary look between the pages of the book that was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction in 1981.
Read MoreLess than an hour's drive from New Orleans' French Quarter, Baton Rouge, and Mississippi's Gulf Coast is Lake Pontchartrain's Northshore. The charming towns of Madisonville, Mandeville, and Abita Springs are filled with hospitality and delicious dining opportunities. On this week's show, we cross the Causeway to visit our Northshore neighbors.
Read MoreAlthough South Louisiana does not provide the easiest growing conditions, when fueled by passion and obsession, it's amazing what can be done. On this week's show, we introduce you to some real alternative thinkers who are successfully cultivating the unusual and the exotic. We take a trip to the SG Tiki Farm in Pearlington, Mississippi before stopping by Ninth Ward Nursery in New Orleans.
Read MoreHippocrates said, "Let food be thy medicine, and medicine be thy food." That line is just as true today as it was when the Greek physician said it 2,500 years ago. We know we are what we eat and drink, yet we don’t always consume what's best for our bodies, minds, or souls. On this week's show, we gather together three experts to examine the impact our diets, our cravings, and mental health have on our lives.
Read MoreAs summer nears its end and thoughts turn towards back-to-school, we're having one last adventure – a tour through the rich and diverse offerings of New Orleans' Asian cuisine scene. We hear from Thuy Pham, founder of the NOLA Nite Market, meet the husband-and-wife behind Thai restaurants Pomelo and Good Catch, and speak with food blogger Maggie Zhu.
Read MoreThe 2024 Summer Olympic Games are officially underway. Athletes from more than 200 countries are gathered in Paris, looking to bring home the gold in everything from archery to water polo. On this week’s show, we raise a glass to international camaraderie by sampling spirits from across the globe.
Read MoreBetween the levee and the Mississippi River is the batture – a lively slip of wilderness that a tiny community calls home. There's batture land right here in the midst of metropolitan New Orleans – but unless you're lucky enough to know a batture dweller, there's a good chance you weren't aware of one of the city’s most unconventional neighborhoods.
Read MoreWhat do a group of Buddhist monks, a New Orleans-based Chinese bakery, and a non-profit that educates young girls in Nepal all have in common? Why, dumplings, of course! This week, we explore three groups of people who are doing their best to make their mark on the world and the role that dumplings play in each of their stories.
Read MoreSince ancient times, the Eastern Mediterranean has been one of the most significant regions in the world. Sitting at the crossroads of trade routes, the area – which, broadly defined, includes Israel, Syria, Greece, and Turkey – has long been a melting pot of cultures and culinary influences. On this week's show, we meet local restaurateurs who are showcasing the rich heritage of the region and learn about the Lebanese diaspora in Louisiana.
Read MoreIn the culinary world, there are many different roads to success. Some are longer and more winding than others. On this week's show, we speak with chefs who have traveled far – literally and figuratively – to find career fulfillment in New Orleans.
Read MoreIt's June in Louisiana, which means the start of summer – and sweltering heat! Fortunately, there's plenty of cultural experiences to enjoy while keeping cool indoors. On this week's show, we learn about three immersive exhibits to explore in the Crescent City.
Read MoreSummertime is upon us – a time that often means travel, vacation fun, and family reunions. But to many Louisianians, summertime means hunger – and our children are the most vulnerable. When school is in session, breakfast and lunch are provided five days a week, but without extra support in the summer, that equates to missing 40 meals a month. Luckily, here in New Orleans, some big-hearted hospitality industry folks are stepping up to help.
Read MoreThe restaurant landscape in America is rapidly changing. The pandemic gave a lot of people time to rethink, retool, and redo the way the industry works. On this week's show, we speak with young chefs and restaurateurs who are changing the rules and reshaping culinary culture.
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