Louisiana Eats

Halloween is upon us and there's something spooky in the air! On this week's show, we have some very special treats (and no tricks – we promise!). We begin with Sally Asher, owner and operator of Red Sash Tours. On Halloweens past, Sally has taken us on special tours of St. Louis Cemetery No. 3. This year, we tour two different New Orleans graveyards in search of our dearly departed restaurateurs,...

In 2011, Jessica Harris wrote “High on the Hog,” a book that traces the origins of African American food. Ten years later, it has become the basis of the hit Netflix docuseries of the same name. On this show, Dr. Harris sheds light on the resilience and inventiveness of Black cooks who shaped American cuisine. Then, we catch up with Senegalese American chef Serigne Mbaye, whose fine dining pop-up,...

Across the Bayou State, people are taking their destiny into their own hands and pursuing entrepreneurial dreams of owning their own business. On this week’s show, we encounter a Louisiana-style cornucopia of self-starters who forged their own path to find success in the sphere of food. We begin with Alfonzo Bolden, who, along with his brother Troy, is co-CEO of Cajun Nation Cajun Seasoning Compan...

Whether it's loss due to recent hurricanes or the overwhelming, devastating loss suffered the world over during the pandemic, grief has been an unwelcome guest in many people's lives these days. On this week's show, we take a look at grief, its effects, and the gifts that sometimes accompany it. We begin with Merissa Nathan Gerson, a new New Orleanians whose time here has been gravely marked by th...

On this week’s show, we explore the intersections between hunting, gathering, fishing, and our changing environment. We begin at the Best of Bycatch event – a lighthearted competition hosted by the Southern Food & Beverage Museum back in 2017 – where a highly invasive fish is on the menu: the Asian Carp. Coastal scientist Alisha Renfro talks about how these newest invaders are wreaking havoc on ou...

The origins of food and spirits are usually not well known and can sometimes be hard to track down.  After all, how do you figure out where something that’s been around for centuries originated? On this week’s show we’ll speak with several culinary historians about the history of some fabulous foods, and some spirits too. We begin with author and historical gastronomist Sarah Lohman.  Her book, 8...

There’s no getting around it – August is HOT down here in Louisiana, so we thought a virtual vacation in Scandinavia just might provide a little chill. We begin with chef and restaurateur Marcus Samuelsson. His Scandinavian connection is that although Ethiopian born – he was raised by adoptive parents in Sweden, giving him an unusual world view. The James Beard Award-winner and Top Chef master is...

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 st...

From cakes to croissants to pralines – Louisiana has an affection for confection. This week, we satiate our sweet tooth with the help of some delightful dessert makers. We begin by getting a crash-course in the art of sugar blowing and sculpting with Sidney Galpern at the New Orleans Glassworks and Printmaking Studio. There, we encounter Chef Tory McPhail, who, along with a group of other prominen...

Michael Gottlieb, of Tchefuncte’s and The Anchor in Madisonville began his culinary journey the day he was born.  His family bakery, Gottlieb’s was established in 1884 making him a 5th generation baker at birth. Gottlieb’s of Savannah, GA was famous for many things, including being the bakery that first baked cookies for the Girl Scouts of America. In January of 2021 Michael and his brother made t...

After a year’s delay, the Summer Olympic Games are officially underway. Over 11,000 athletes from 205 countries are gathered in Tokyo, looking to bring home the gold in everything from archery to water polo. On this week's show, we raise a glass to intercontinental camaraderie by tasting five exotic spirits produced across the globe.  We begin our celebration the way they do in China, with a baiji...

On this week’s podcast, we meet Gulf Coast Blenders customer, Jaclyn Robinson. To say divinity played a part in the birth of Mo’ Bay beignet company is an understatement. Mo’Bay’s founder, Jaclyn Robinson’s faith led her to open a beignet café that she’d never considered an option before. Her own five children were big fans of her beignets, which she served with her own homemade syrups instead of...

From cuccidati to olive salad to St. Joseph Day altars, Sicilan foodways and traditions have had an immense influence on our state's cuisine and culture. On this week’s show, we talk with Louisiana natives who share a deep love and respect for their Sicilian heritage. We begin with Grace and Tony Mandina, whose family-run restaurant on the West Bank, Tony Mandina’s, has been welcoming guests in tr...

According to ancient Chinese legend, the discovery of tea was made in 2737 BC by Emperor Shen Nung while he was sitting under a tree as his servant boiled water. When some leaves of the tree fell into the water and the emperor consumed the accidental infusion, the course of hot beverages changed forever. The emperor was seated under a Camellia sinensis – the same plant where most teas are still de...

On this week’s podcast we speak with the proprietor of a local beignet bistro, Bernard Stolberg. His charming little Garden District shop on Magazine Street between harmony and 8th has become quite popular with the locals and tourists alike for its fabulous beignets, and full bar. Usually there is an assortment of businesspeople, college students, and dog lovers soaking up the atmosphere and enjoy...

On this week's show, we take a journey into the Ice Cream Underground to uncover the magicians taking America's favorite dessert to new heights right here in Louisiana. We begin with Sam Caruso, who has overcome a host of challenges to find a sweet opportunity with Laozi Ice Cream. Then, we meet Rahm Haus Ice Cream's Jillian Duran, who draws on her fine pastry-making skills to create batches of ic...

The old adage is that a woman's place is in the kitchen. Despite that well-worn saying, it wasn't until the second half of the 20th century that women began finding their place in the restaurant kitchen. For this week's show, we gather together a powerful group of females who are breaking barriers and setting new standards for excellence in their fields. We begin with Nina Compton of Compére Lapin...

Just across Lake Pontchartrain, in the quaint little downtown of Covington there’s a charming yellow cottage filled with English tradition and taste. That’s the English Tea Room, established in 2002 by Jan and Tim Lantrip. Guests of the establishment experience one of the finest High Teas to be found anywhere on this side of the pond! When we sat down with Jan and Tim, we knew we were in for a spo...

On Thursday, Juneteenth was designated as a federal holiday to commemorate the effective end of slavery in the United States, just days before the June 19 anniversary. This week, to mark the occasion, we revisit our 2016 trip to the Whitney Plantation, the only plantation museum in Louisiana that focuses entirely on the lives of enslaved people. The Whitney Plantation is one of three surviving Civ...

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...

Over the last several years, the dining category of breakfast and brunch have simply exploded across the nation. On this week's show, we’re looking at the popular weekend ritual in New Orleans and beyond. We begin with Jennifer Weishaupt, founder and CEO of the Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group. The Ruby Slipper Café has prospered and multiplied in a way that Jennifer and her husband Eric could never...

The beignet. That simple square of fried dough is undeniably one of the Crescent City’s most famous foods. Few visitors leave town without a ceremonial dusting of powdered sugar that occurs with every beignet bite. Since the mid-nineteenth century, the ubiquitous donut has been sold from French Market stands accompanied by steaming hot cups of café au lait. Twenty-first century chefs and restaurat...

Building a cookbook is a lot of work. From recipe testing to photography sessions to finalized editing – the process can be grueling. On this week's show, we hear how it gets done from beginning to end and meet some authors who fell in love with cookbooks at an early age. Brazilian-born New Orleanian Ana Riehlmann was four years old when her grandmother, Voinha, helped whet her appetite for the wr...