Louisiana Eats

Give Peas a Chance

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. Then, we learn about plant breeder Dr. Calvin Lamborn, known as the Father of the Sugar Snap Pea. We speak with his son, Rod Lamborn, who is working hard to preserve his late father’s legacy. ...

The Sweet Taste of Bitters Success

One Man's Trash

Legacies on the Move

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 the family that opened Barrow’s Shady Inn, one of the longest-running Black-owned restaurants in the ...

Legacies On The Move

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 the family that opened Barrow’s Shady Inn, one of the longest-running Black-owned restaurants in the ...

Books, Bands & Bon Vivants

The Call of the Wild

An Artistic Feast

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 filmmakers Jonathan Evans and Marian Gay. Video of the mural being made can be seen on the...

A Covid Carnival

The Rising Landscape Of King Cake

Anxiety, Addiction and the Pursuit of Happiness

Anxiety, Addiction, And The Pursuit Of Happiness

One year ago this week, the first case of the coronavirus was confirmed in the United States. In the 12 months since, Covid-19 has devastated communities and economies across the country, and fundamentally altered our lives. Progress is being made on the vaccine front, and there’s a glimmering light at the end of the tunnel. But without a doubt, this has been a difficult year for our collective mental health.

Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Christine Schmitz

Morgan Street Bakery In the tiny town of Madisonville, located on Louisiana’s Northshore, there is a little bakery turning out some of the most perfect French pastries found anywhere on this side of the Atlantic Ocean. Christine Schmitz is the owner and baker at Morgan Street Bakery and if you’ve never tasted her king cake – you’ve never lived. It’s well worth a drive across the Causeway, but be forewarned – once you’re there, you just may end up taking home a lot more deliciousness than or...

St. Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Christine Schmitz

Chefs, Bartenders & History Buffs

A Culinary Tribute To: A Confederacy of Dunces

A Culinary Tribute To: A Confederacy Of Dunces

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. The Gonzales-born actor has become...

Sherds and Shipwrecks

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 of 2018. The Historic New Orleans Collection has played host to an annual gathering of antique ...

Louisiana Eats! 2020 Year in Review

Louisiana Eats 2020 Year in Review

Stick 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.

Remembering K-Paul's and Julia Reed

Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Robert Vazquez

Louisiana 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. On this St. Tammany Taste Quick Bite, we zoom in with Chef Robert to learn all about this year’s competition and just how the Southwestern native came to win this special Louisiana Seafood honor.

St. Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Robert Vazquez-Louisiana Seafood King

Louisiana 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. On this St. Tammany Taste Quick Bite, we zoom in with Chef Robert to learn all about this year’s competition and just how the Southwestern native came to win this special Louisiana Seafood honor.

St. Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Robert Vazquez - Louisiana Seafood King

Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Robert Vazquez-Louisiana Seafood King

Louisiana 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. On this St. Tammany Taste Quick Bite, we zoom in with Chef Robert to learn all about this year’s competition and just how the Southwestern native came to win this special Louisiana Seafood honor.

Uplifting Food Memoirs

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, honest, and brave telling of a life that will leave you hungry for more. In her memoir, Lisa explores...

High Proof Holiday Spirits

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 about his intoxicating career.  Then, Few Spirits founder Paul Hletko takes us back to the days...

St. Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Liz Munson of Liz's Where Y'at Diner

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 indomitable Liz. Be forewarned – her happiness is perfectly contagious! Since the pandemic, there’s more ...

Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Liz Munson of Liz's Where Y'at Diner

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

Louisiana Eats Quick Bites: Liz Munson of Liz's Where Y'at Diner

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

Grape Expectations

The 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.

Quick Bites: D'Agostino Pasta

On 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.

Louisiana Eats Quick Bites: D'agostino Pasta

On this Louisiana Eats Quick Bite, we learn about L.H. Hayward’s 2019 acquisition of D'agostino Pasta, a Louisiana company with Sicilian roots. Since 1926, D'agostino 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. Visually, D'agostino pasta is stunning, with spaghetti lengths usually only seen imported from Italy. Its full, fifteen-inch length allows for both dramatic presentation...

Hot Air Frying With A Cold Brew

On 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.

Hot Air Frying with a Cold Brew

On 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.

Sicily, Louisiana Style

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.

Quick Bites: The Ultimate Air Fryer Quick Bite

Do 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.

Louisiana Eats Quick Bite: The Ultimate Air Fryer Quick Bite

Do 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. We begin with appliance expert, Sharon Franke, a New York based, former professional chef who has been testing home kitchen appliances for over thirty years. Then, we hear from Laurie Fleming, who describes herself as “just a mom” despit...

Louisiana Eats Quick Bites: The Ultimate Air Fryer Quick Bite

Do 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. We begin with appliance expert, Sharon Franke, a New York based, former professional chef who has been testing home kitchen appliances for over thirty years. Then, we hear from Laurie Fleming, who describes herself as “just a mom” despit...

What's The Beef With Meat?

To 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.

10 Years of Hauntings On Louisiana Eats!

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 him! Or is it just that New Orleans is really haunted? We learn about one Mid City restaurant wh...

10 Years Of Hauntings On Louisiana Eats

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 him!

I Remember Paris

None 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.

Louisiana Eats! Explores The Northshore

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.

Louisiana Eats Explores The Northshore

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.   We begin in Slidell at Emma's Famous Pralines, where Miss Emma Giron has devoted much of her...

St. Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Horst Pfeifer of Middendorf's

When 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 th...

Tammany Taste Quick Bites: Horst Pfeifer of Middendorf's

When 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 th...

Curating Under Quarantine

Whether 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.

Tammany Taste Quick Bite: Horst Pfeifer of Middendorf's

When 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 par...