John 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, 37 years ago, was posthumously awarded the Pulitzer Prize for fiction. We begin with Spud McConnell, well known for his portrayal of Ignatius on stage.
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we look at New Orleans’ history through the lens of the city’s material culture. We begin with Jim Bruseth and Toni Turner, who reveals a surprising turn of events that preceded the official founding of New Orleans. Evidently, if the French explorer La Salle hadn’t blundered in his attempt to form a colony here, the city would have celebrated its 300th birthday in 1988 instead of 2018.
Read MoreStick a fork in it! 2020 is done – well done in fact! While this has been a year filled with unparalleled trials and tribulations, there has been much to inspire, uplift, and downright laugh about! On this week's show, we hear from New Orleans activist Devin De Wulf, who inspired his Krewe of Red Beans to make a significant difference in the lives of healthcare workers who put their lives on the line this year for us all.
Read More2020 has been a tumultuous year filled with loss – and the toll on our hospitality industry continues with many restaurants having to shutter their doors after decades in business. One of New Orleans' most significant losses came in July when K-Paul's Louisiana Kitchen closed permanently. Chef Paul Prudhomme and his wife Kay opened the restaurant in 1979, making it into one of the most popular eating places in the city and among the most influential in the United States.
Read MoreLouisiana has a new Seafood King! The Northshore’s very own, Chef Robert Vasquez of Pepe’s Sonoran Cuisine in Covington handily won the 2020 crown with his red snapper, crawfish sofrito.
Read MoreOne of the most popular forms of literature today is the memoir. These days, folks with barely three decades under their belt are writing their memoirs, but on this week's show, we hear from four wise women who relate a lifetime of memories along with valuable lessons learned in theirs.
Read MoreIt’s the holiday season, which means that spirits are high – high proof that is! On this week’s show, we’re throwing a holiday party with some cocktail professionals!
Read MoreEverybody needs a little love sometimes and there’s a place on the Northshore where that love is served with every bite. Liz’s Where Y’at Diner in Mandeville, Louisiana may just be one of the happiest places on earth. From the palm trees to the peace signs to the tie-dyed T-shirts, everything about
Read MoreThe holidays may look different this year, but one thing is certain: a little wine is sure to make them just a little brighter. On this week’s show, we dig deep into the proverbial wine cellar for some gems that will inform, advise, and get you ready to pop those corks.
Read MoreOn this Louisiana Eats Quick Bite, we learn about L.H. Hayward’s 2019 acquisition of Dagostino Pasta, a Louisiana company with Sicilian roots. Since 1926, Dagostino Pasta has handcrafted its pasta using old world methods that include air-drying over wooden rods. The semolina used is made entirely from American durum wheat.
Read MoreOn this week’s show, we analyze the air fryer – a popular cooking gizmo that uses hot air to cook everything from French fries to chickpeas to cinnamon rolls. This countertop contraption promises to replicate all the crispy results of deep frying, but without the fat, and has become a home cook's
must-have – depending on who you talk to.
If you're a Louisiana native with a distinctly Italian last name, you've got lots of company here. Since the late nineteenth century, more families of Sicilian descent have called Louisiana home than anywhere else in the world except Sicily. This is a topic that has fascinated Loyola history professor, Justin Nystrom – enough to compel him to record their history and influence here in his 2018 book, Creole Italian: Sicilian Immigrants and the Shaping of New Orleans Food Culture.
Read MoreDo you already have an air fryer on your kitchen counter or are you hoping to receive one as a gift this holiday season? On this edition of Quick Bites we’re diving deep into the hottest of all kitchen appliances and what comes out of them – the air fryer.
Read MoreTo eat meat or not to eat meat? That is the question. On this week’s show, we examine sustainable farming and butchery practices and the ethical constraints of consuming meat in the 21st century. We begin with James Beard award-winning food writer Corby Kummer, who weighs in on the topic of meat and morality.
Read MoreHere at Louisiana Eats, we love a good ghost story. And in the ten years we’ve been on the air, we’ve heard some really spooky ones! This week, we bring you some of our favorites from the past decade. We begin with Chef Greg Picolo, whom we spoke with for our very first Halloween show back in 2010 and then again in 2019. It seems like no matter where Greg goes, paranormal activity keeps following him!
Read MoreNone of us have been able to travel much this year, so to satisfy some wanderlust, we're traveling back in time this week on a magical trip Louisiana Eats took to France in the summer of 2015.
Read MoreLocated just across Lake Pontchartrain from New Orleans, the area widely known as Louisiana's Northshore is a mere 40-minute drive from the French Quarter. As close as the Northshore is geographically, in every other way it is a world apart. Made up of multiple small towns, each with its own identity, St. Tammany Parish is a wonder to wander – which is exactly what we’re doing on this week’s show.
Read MoreWhen there’s a hint of fall in the air, it’s time to head to Middendorf’s to celebrate an Oktoberfest only Horst Pfeifer could possibly throw, complete with authentic German music, food and fun. Since opening a second Middendorf’s in Slidell, the Oktoberfest celebration has expanded to include both locations. This year’s Oktoberfest takes place from October 7th to November 13th. The celebration happens in the Manchac swamp at the original Middendorfs on Wednesdays and Thursdays, then the party moves to the new Middendorf’s in Slidell on Fridays.
Read MoreWhether you’re doing scholarly research or just want to indulge in an afternoon of history, here in the Crescent City, there’s no better place for that than the Historic New Orleans Collection. When forced to close their galleries earlier this year, the nonprofit jumped into action making extensive changes and additions to their online offerings to help us all stay entertained and informed – even while quarantined.
Read MoreCovid-19 has wreaked havoc on businesses of all stripes, none more than the hospitality industry. In that struggling sector, there is one category seemingly without hope – the New Orleans neighborhood bar. These watering holes, where for generations people have gathered to celebrate and mourn, are on the brink of extinction. Since the initial shutdown in March, most Orleans Parish bars were only allowed to operate for a brief and very confusing time between June 13th and midnight on July 12th.
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