The Slow Food movement sprang to life 40 years ago, when the first McDonald's in Italy was set to open at the foot of the Spanish Steps in Rome. Founder Carlo Petrini was so horrified by this fast food invasion that he began Slow Food to combat the effects of homogenization and to preserve and celebrate the flavors of regional cuisine. This week, we speak with people who are working to further Slow Food's mission to educate, inspire, and mobilize people toward good, clean, fair food.
Read MoreEvery Labor Day weekend, tens of thousands of members of the LGBTQ community from around the world gather in New Orleans for the five-day party known as Southern Decadence. To celebrate, this week, we bring you stories of culinarians expressing queerness through food.
Read MoreFrom north to south, Louisiana's Latin food scene has been reaching new heights over the past decade. On this week's show, we explore the rich and dynamic flavors of Latin cuisine in our state. Guests include Ana and Lydia Castro of Acamaya, Juan and Tatiana Lock of Tito's Ceviche and Pisco – both in New Orleans – and Gabriel Balderas of El Cabo Verde and Zuzul in Shreveport.
Read MoreChef Edgar "Dook" Chase IV, grandson of Louisiana legend Leah Chase, is star of the brand-new WYES cooking series, "Dook Chase: A Chef’s Journey." Each episode takes viewers on a food tour of New Orleans, as Dook meets with chefs, restaurateurs, and local culinary talent. On this week's show, we sit down with Chef Dook and speak with two guests featured on his show about their chef journeys.
Read MoreNew Orleans has long been seen as a place where alcohol flows freely and drunkenness is a natural state of being. Over the last few years, that may be changing. Don't worry, nobody's getting sober. They've just found an alternative in the form of hemp-derived THC drinks! The Big Easy is now the fourth-largest hemp beverage market in the country and four of the top 25 brands are headquartered right here. On this week's show, Louisiana Eats explores this brave new world of THC drinks and beyond.
Read MoreOn this week's show, we explore international food icons with humble roots that began right here in the Crescent City. We begin with writer and philanthropist Randy Fertel, who shares stories of his mother, Ruth U. Fertel. She founded Ruth's Chris Steakhouse, now a worldwide establishment, in New Orleans. We also learn about the late Al Copeland, who built a global fast-food empire with his spicy Popeyes Fried Chicken.
Read MoreHere in Louisiana, intergenerational cooking is a way of life. Who doesn't treasure their great grandmother's gumbo recipe or still use their mom's roasting pan? This week, we talk with Chef Nini Nguyen and Sarah Ahn, two women of East Asian heritage whose families and cultures share that motherly love expressed through food.
Read MoreFrench culture has always influenced our Louisiana traditions, especially when it comes to food. This week, Louisiana Eats explores that culture – from Parisians' love of chocolate to French porcelain used by princes, dukes, and kings at Versailles.
Read MoreThis week, New Orleans once again welcomes Tales of the Cocktail, an annual gathering of cocktail and spirits industry professionals. In honor of their arrival, we take a look at both a new player in the bar game and an old story about how a traditional favorite made its way into your glass.
Read MoreIn the late 1800s, industrialization carried the United States into a new era – one of great wealth and elaborate lifestyles for those at the top. It was frequent New Orleans visitor Mark Twain who coined the term the "Gilded Age," which would later be associated with this time of conspicuous consumption. This week, we take a look at the glorious food at the center of it all.
Read MoreFrom French colonists who settled here 300 years ago to Vietnamese immigrants arriving in the 1970s, newcomers to the Crescent City have made significant contributions to the evolution of New Orleans cooking. On this week's show, we celebrate the ways immigrants continue to shape the city's culinary identity. Guests include restaurateurs who have made their way here from three different continents.
Read MoreOn this week's show, legendary New Orleans chef Adolfo Garcia talks about his trailblazing career in the kitchen and his role in Freret Street's culinary comeback. Then, we speak with Chef Adolfo Garcia Jr. and Sophia Petrou Garcia – the couple behind Chi Chi's Chicken & Beer and Dolfy's. Finally, Fredo Nogueira and Ryan Iriarte join us to discuss taking over the High Hat Café and opening their new Cuban restaurant, Café Conmigo.
Read MoreSalvador Dalí once said, "A real connoisseur does not drink wine but tastes of its secrets." On this week's show, we sit down with wine experts and wine vintners to unlock those secrets and better understand the world of fermented grapes. And a bonus – they're all female!
Read MoreOn this week's show, we trace the rich history and flavors of coffee and tea in Louisiana and beyond. Historian RL Reeves Jr. tells us about the historical origins of Luzianne, a New Orleans purveyor of tea and coffee since 1902. Then, we head to The English Tea Room & Eatery in Covington, where Jan and Tim Lantrip host us for a traditional afternoon tea. Finally, Suzanne Stone and David Feldman share what they learned while researching their book, New Orleans Coffee: A Rich History.
Read MoreLocated at the opposite ends of the country, the states of Louisiana and Maine appear to share little in common at first glance. But take a closer look, and you'll see two places that share a passion for their distinct seafood culture – each home to a galaxy of culinary rockstars who elevate their local cuisine. On this week's show, Louisiana Eats takes you with us as we travel to Maine to explore the food scene in the Pine Tree State.
Read MoreIn a city known for culinary excellence, Brennan's Restaurant stands out as a cornerstone of New Orleans cuisine. Founded in 1946 by Owen Brennan, the restaurant was elevated to international fame by his sister, the visionary Ella Brennan. Today, it's operated by Ralph Brennan, who continues the family legacy. On this week's show, we celebrate 80 years of Brennan's in the Big Easy.
Read MoreOn this week's show, we meet social media stars who have successfully gone from viral sensations to published authors. Guests include Nashville-based musician and TikTok star Hannah Dasher, New Orleans chef Toya Boudy, and social media sensation Ralph the Baker.
Read MoreSince her passing in 2019, Leah Chase's legacy lies in the hands of her children, grandchildren, and great-grandchildren. On this week's show, Louisiana Eats sits down members of the fourth and fifth generations of Dooky Chase Restaurant – the crew Leah always referred to as "the grands" – to reflect on their family's history and share what they’re up to today.
Read MoreOn this week's show, we virtually wander the hollers and ridges of Appalachia and beyond, uncovering a wild pantry surrounding us. Guests include forager and chef Susi Gott Séguret from the Appalachian Mountains of North Carolina and Ronni Lundy, author of Victuals: An Appalachian Journey.
Read MoreForget the myth! No matter what month it is – whether it's spelled with an "R" or not – there is nothing quite like a Louisiana oyster. On this week's show, we do a deep dive on that beautiful bivalve that has been embedded in our state's culture and economy for centuries. Guests include Al Sunseri of P&J Oyster Company and oyster plate expert Mark McBride of Moss Antiques.
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