The Absinthe Underground

From 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.

Behind The Bamboo Curtain

Although 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.

The Doctors Are In

Hippocrates 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.

Straighten Up & Fly Right

While most of the country makes New Year's resolutions that kick in right after January 1st, in Louisiana, there tends to be a slight postponement. That's because Carnival Season, a time of indulgence, kicks off on January 6th with the astounding king cake eating and cocktail drinking that comes with it. So, our resolutions about healthy living and sobriety tend to wait until Ash Wednesday – the day after Mardi Gras. This week, we hear from experts about the merits of clean living.

Addiction, Recovery & Resilience

From the front of the house to the back, across Louisiana and the entire country, there is a substance abuse problem in bars and restaurants. On this week's show, we speak with Will Arendell, a renowned substance abuse counselor, who demystifies the psychology and physiology of addiction.

Food, Drink, Science, DiningPoppy TookerMay 26, 2023Louisiana Eats!, Poppy Tooker, Will Arendell, Sam Caruso, Laozi Ice Cream, Martha Gilreath, NolitaComment

A Very Merry Zero-Proof Holiday

It's the time of year for celebrations, and on this week's show, we're bringing the party – but without the booze! Our zero-proof holiday begins with a visit to Dream House Lounge in New Orleans. There, Dr. David Wallace serves up drinks that use adaptogens like kava or reishi mushrooms instead of alcohol. Aside from its delicious drinks and energizing oxygen bar, Dream House is a place where David encourages what he calls "soul-care" – a place for guests to nurture good spiritual and mental health.

Delta Blues

After a few glorious months where it looked as if the worst of the pandemic was behind us, a new surge of Covid-19 is now bearing down on Louisiana with a vengeance. A new enemy variant called Delta is coming after us - and this time, it’s after our children. With cases projected to peak sometime between September and November, elected officials and business leaders are weighing new measures to stem the outbreak. On this episode of Louisiana Eats! we look back to how life was in the spring of 2020 and then fast forward to the current Covid situation in Louisiana.

Food, Drink, Dining, SciencePoppy TookerAugust 14, 2021Corey Hebert, Louisiana Eats, Poppy Tooker, Amanda Toups, Toups Meatery, Laveau ContraireComment

The Sweet Taste of Bitters Success

How many varieties of bitters are stocked in your bar? Once upon a time, there were only two choices – our beloved, local Peychaud bitters and Angostura – originally crafted in Angostura, Venezuela. Today, there are literally hundreds of varieties – a dizzying selection to say the least.

Food, Drink, SciencePoppy TookerJuly 10, 2021Louisiana Eats, El Guapo, Christa Cotton, Tim McNally, The Sazerac HouseComment

Give Peas a Chance

On this week's show, we meet farmers, distillers, and plant breeders who are pioneers in their fields – and celebrate peas on earth. We begin with Ben Branson, founder of Seedlip – a distillery that produces non-alcoholic spirits using peas grown on his 300-year-old family farm in Northern England.

One Man's Trash

On this week’s show, we meet some individuals who are working to tackle the widespread problem of food and water waste. Laid off during the pandemic, hospitality workers Adam Orzechowski and Emily Shoemaker combined a zero-waste commitment with a fermenting obsession that resulted in a new business they aptly named Farm to Funk. Adam and Emily are now bubbling up internationally based concoctions using refuse from local farms that customers are snapping up at pop-up markets across the area.

Mindfulness and Medicine

This week, we learn the health benefits of paying closer attention to what we consume and our emotional well-being.

We begin with Dr. Ronald D. Siegel, Assistant Professor of Psychology at Harvard Medical School. A long-time student of mindfulness meditation, he explains the psychology of happiness, and why humans use food and drink as a pathway to achieve it.

Culinary Revolutionaries

On this week's show, we discuss sustainable food policy with culinary revolutionaries from around the world.

While growing up, Michel Nischan spent a lot of time on his grandfather’s farm. So the thought of eating fresh food was second nature to him. Now he's focused on changing food policy on a federal level.

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