Louisiana Eats

Cajun Nation is a Louisiana made seasoning blend that is catching fire in the world of flavor. Created by brothers, Alfonzo and Troy Bolden who grew up on a working plantation in the 1970’s, their voyage from sharecropper’s cabin to owning and operating a successful seasoning business makes for quite an amazing tale. The distinctive red cans of Cajun Nation seasoning deliver an authentic taste of...

If you've ever had a New Orleans poor boy then you know it's all about the bread. Real New Orleans French bread is something you can't get just anywhere, or at least that's what we thought. On this week's show, we get down to the dough of it and see what's happening with bread in the Big Easy. We begin with Graison Gill. For years, Bellegarde Bakery has been milling and baking fresh bread for over...

It's full on festival time in the state that knows how to fest better than most – except once again, due to pandemic restrictions, there are no fests right now. Though with vaccines widely available, and the recent easing of Covid-19 rules, a future with safe public gatherings suddenly doesn’t seem so implausible. Inspired by WWOZ and local restaurants whipping up everything from cheesy crawfish b...

Children's picture books often contain stories that grown ups can benefit from too. That's certainly true of Andrea Wang's new picture book, Watercress, an autobiographical tale of a child of immigrants discovering and connecting with her heritage. With illustrations by Jason Chin, Watercress takes taste memories to new highs and lows as Andrea recalls a moment in her childhood when her family for...

From beignets to poor boys, gumbo to jambalaya, and crawfish to boudin, Louisiana’s cuisine is as eclectic as it is delectable. On this week’s show, we explore our state’s rich food culture, based on centuries of Creole and Cajun traditions. We begin with New Orleans native and Southern Food & Beverage Museum founder Liz Williams. She spent many years researching her award-winning book New Orleans...

One of the hidden gems of St. Tammany Parish is the Tammany Trace. Originally a well-traveled corridor for the Illinois Central Railroad, today the Trace travels 31 miles through five Northshore communities – accessible only by bike, foot or horse. Across the street from the popular Mandeville Trailhead in Old Mandeville, Sarah and Billy Rieger are waiting to welcome you at Rieger’s On The Trace....

One of New Orleans' greatest treasures are the legacy businesses that have kept locals wined and dined for generations. On this week's show, we learn about two institutions that share both an area code and the devotion of family required to keep a legacy going.   We begin with Deirdre Barrow Johnson and her husband Kenneth Johnson Jr. of Barrow’s Catfish . Deirdre is the third generation of t...

Located 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....

Food is an inspirational muse for artists of all disciplines. On this week's show, we explore the many intersections of food and art from the visual to the written word. We begin with muralist Zac Maras who recently turned the exterior of Toups Meatery on North Carrollton in New Orleans into a riotous celebration of Louisiana foods. The story behind the mural is the subject of a new documentary by...

On 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...

One 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. We begin with Southern baker and activist Lisa Donovan, whose book, Our Lady of Perpetual Hunger is a raw, hones...

It’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! Is there a bottle of jenever in your bar at home? Unless you’re from the Netherlands – that might not be the case. Gin and jenever expert Philip Duff joins us to explain the difference between these two distinct spirits and tells us...

Everybody needs a little love sometime 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 Liz Munson’s diner is laid back. On this Tammany Taste Quick Bite, we have a visit with the indomitab...

Here 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...