On this week's show, we'll explore the immense influence that Italian foodways had on the development of New Orleans cuisine. We'll time travel through the years of the family-operated Uptown gem, Pascal's Manale. This history, which is now immortalized in Poppy's new book, The Pascal's Manale Cookbook, focuses on two Sicilian immigrant families, the Manales and the Radostas, forebearers of today's Defelice clan, who continue the Manale tradition today. Three generations of family share their stories with us.
Read MoreOn this week's show, we take a close look at superstar chefs to learn what it takes to reach the top.
We begin with Chef Tory McPhail of Commander’s Palace. Through determination and dedication to his craft, Tory has secured his place in the Commander’s Palace family, as well as the restaurant’s chef legacy. Tory discusses his career and relationship with the late Chef Jamie Shannon.
Read MoreIt’s Carnival time on Louisiana Eats! On this week’s show, we take to the streets with a distinctive krewe of food lovers.
We begin with author and songwriter Johnette Downing, who’s also known as “the pied piper of Louisiana music traditions.” Johnette shares her latest album, Swamp Romp, which, among other things, seeks to answer the eternal question, Who put the baby in the king cake?
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we’re sharing untold stories of lives spent in service. We begin with a tour of the Kemper Williams Residence at the Historic New Orleans Collection with decorative arts curator Lydia Blackmore, who conducted exhaustive research on the individuals who worked for the Williams family.
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we look at New Orleans history through the lens of the city’s material culture.
We begin at the Historic New Orleans Collection, which has played host to an annual gathering of antiques experts, collectors, and aficionados for over a decade. We speak to Philippe Halbert, who presented original research at the Antiques Forum centered on the material culture of the French Atlantic world.
Read MoreOn Mardi Gras Day, it’s never surprising to find magical, mythical creatures mingling with street revelers. In her new book, The Mermaids of New Orleans, author Sally Asher brings the effervescent underwater life of Mississippi River sea nymphs to life. One day a year, all mermaids may walk on earth and in New Orleans, that day is Mardi Gras Day.
In this podcast, we sit down with Sally and Melissa Vandiver, the book’s illustrator to learn the story of their inspirations and collaboration that resulted in one of the most charming children’s books every written about New Orleans.
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we take a look at immigration and its impact on the American food landscape.
We begin with Rick Bayless, whose award-winning Frontera restaurants are bolstered by workers who come from immigrant backgrounds. Rick explains how many of his staff members were brought to the country as children and are now facing an uncertain future.
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we delve into the wonderful world of cookbooks. We begin with Chef Isaac Toups, who collaborated with acclaimed food writer Jennifer Cole on his debut cookbook, Chasing the Gator. The book pulls back the curtain on the new guard of Cajun cooking. Visit our website to hear a full-length Quick Bites podcast with Isaac, which includes a cracklins tasting and a round of Cajun games.
Read MoreChildren in Louisiana grow up with so many local traditions that schools could practically add an extra class to cover all of them! Luckily, songwriter Johnette Downing is around to set these traditional stories to music. Johnette’s award-winning books and songs have earned her many nicknames, from “the pied piper of Louisiana music traditions” to “the musical ambassador to children.”
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we look back on the lives of some extraordinary people we lost in 2018. We begin by revisiting our 2011 conversation with the late, great Anthony Bourdain. We had the opportunity to speak with Anthony after he was hired as a scriptwriter for the HBO series, Treme. Seven years later, we were absolutely devastated when we heard of Anthony’s suicide and remembered that long ago conversation.
Read MoreWhen it comes to historic restaurants, there’s no place like home – if you’re lucky enough to call New Orleans home! On this week's show, we time travel through the storied past of iconic French Quarter landmark, the Napoleon House. Chef Chris Montero gives us a tour of the historic property, from the bar to the cupola and all points in between. As it turns out, 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 talks about the future of the establishment.
Read MoreOn this week's show, we explore the intersections between hunting, gathering, fishing, and our changing environment. We begin at the Best of Bycatch dinner at the Southern Food & Beverage Museum, where a highly invasive fish is on the menu: the Asian Carp.
Read MoreA growing trend in the craft cocktail movement has bartenders mixing drinks with little to no alcohol, shifting their focus to flavor. On this week's show, we'll explore the new wave of non-alcoholic craft drinks, starting with cocktail vanguards Don Lee and Bobby Murphy, who experiment with non-alcoholic ingredients at the New York City establishment Existing Conditions.
Read MoreThere’s nothing like a cup of good, hot coffee. On this week's show, we look at the art of the coffee bean in our state and beyond.
We begin with a local favorite—PJ’s Coffee—which Phyllis Jordan founded 40 years ago. Phyllis reflects on the early years, when she became the first commercial iced coffee purveyor in New Orleans.
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we indulge our sweet tooth with the help of some influential dessert makers. We visit the Swiss Confectionery, a family-run bakeshop that’s been in business in New Orleans for almost a century. Their custom-made delicacies are fixtures at New Orleans weddings, birthdays, and other celebrations.
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Chef Isaac Toups has long been a favorite guest on Louisiana Eats! In past episodes we’ve talked hunting rabbits and even had a front row seat on Isaac’s rendition of the Cajun Night Before Christmas!
Read MoreThis 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.
It’s that haunting time of year again, when pumpkins glow and black cats screech, and you can be guaranteed we’re ghost hunting on this week’s show!
Read MoreOra King is a sustainably raised salmon from New Zealand, whose story is almost as delicious as the fish itself. Back in early 1900, two avid fishermen somehow managed to bring live King salmon home to New Zealand from a fishing trip to California. The salmon thrived there and the rest is Ora King history.
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