Happy Birthday, Leah Chase

Twelfth Night marks the birth of the late New Orleans icon, Leah Chase. The culinary legend, who passed away in 2019 at the age of 96, was the undisputed Queen of Creole Cooking and a civil rights activist who changed lives over a bowl of gumbo. On this week's show, we spend the hour honoring Leah's talent, achievements, and lasting legacy.

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Louisiana Eats! 2025 Year In Review

This edition of Louisiana Eats takes a look back at the year that was 2025 – and there’s plenty to celebrate! First, we hear from mixologist extraordinaire, Chris Hannah. His Jewel of the South tavern, named one the 50 best bars in the world in 2025, serves as both a center of cocktail innovation, and an homage to Crescent City highball history.

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A Tribute To The Cake Man – Steve Himelfarb

On February 5th of this year, Steve Himelfarb, a longtime fixture in New Orleans' food scene and Louisiana Eats producer, passed away at the age of 61 following a battle with cancer. On this week's show, we remember our friend and colleague by bringing you extended versions of two interviews with him over the years. We also speak with sound engineer and producer Lu Rojas, who shares stories of Steve's esteemed music career.

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Happy Birthday, Jacques Pépin

On December 18th, the great chef, author, and culinary educator Jacques Pépin turns 90 years old. This week, Louisiana Eats celebrates by bringing you our interview with Jacques as he shares stories from his childhood, his education in New York, and the importance of giving back.

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The Man, The Legend, Joe Baum!

Joe Baum was considered by many to be the greatest restaurateur of the last century. Before he died in 1998 at the age of 78, Joe had created no fewer than 50 restaurants. He's responsible for creating America's first themed restaurants like the Four Seasons, Windows on the World, and the restored Rainbow Room. On this week's show, we pay tribute to the great Joe Baum by speaking with three people who knew him well: Charlie Baum, Dale DeGroff, and Melanie Young.

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Eat It To Save It

In our increasingly fast-paced world, traditional foods and foodways often have trouble competing with speed and convenience. But never fear. All over the planet there are people working to save the superior flavor, nutrition, and cultural significance of heritage foods. On this week's show, we introduce you to some of our greatest heritage food warriors.

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What We're Thankful For

It's that time of year again where we gather with family and friends to give thanks. On this week's show, Louisiana Eats brings together some New Orleanians we're grateful for. Guests include Nathanial Zimet of Boucherie, Amanda and Isaac Toups of Toups' Meatery, and Tony Brocato of Angelo Brocato Original Italian Ice Cream Parlor.

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Celebrating Sustainable Seafood

As Louisianans, we count among our blessings an abundance of fresh, local seafood and the fishers who spend their days on boats catching that haul for us to devour. However, people in many places do not have access to such natural resources. And even those of us who do have seen favorite aquatic species on the verge of extinction. This week, we talk with three people who are helping to sustain our favorite seafood, making sure they are still around for generations to come.

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Southern Women's Culinary Voices

Many of us in the South were lucky enough to grow up surrounded by women whose devotion to family and culinary skills filled our lives with delicious food. This week, we pay tribute to those flavor mavens with a trio of interviews celebrating Southern women's culinary voices.

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Authentic Cooking Louisiana Style

What is "real" Louisiana cooking? There's Creole, there's Cajun, and what’s the difference anyway? However you define it, for many of us, it's simply what your mama used to make that made you feel loved. On this week's show, we meet three Louisiana authors whose cookbooks help tell the authentic story of our state's distinctive cuisine.

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15 Years Of Hauntings - Part 2

We're creeping closer to Halloween, and Louisiana Eats is spoiling for a fright! We're back with the second episode of our 15th anniversary scare-a-thon, bringing you tales of haunted New Orleans locales and a businesswoman in the French Quarter who's just batty for vampires.

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15 Years Of Hauntings - Part 1

While Mardi Gras and Thanksgiving are all fine and good, here at Louisiana Eats, our very favorite holiday has always been Halloween! Every October since the show's debut in 2010, we've gotten into the spooky spirit by bringing you stories of the silly, the supernatural, and the downright scary! This week and next, we continue our crystal anniversary celebration by bringing you two special Halloween episodes featuring moments old and new from the past 15 years.

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A Cajun Road Trip & Festival Fun

The weather is cooling down here in Louisiana, which means outdoor events are heating up across our state. Out on the Cajun Prairie, Le Grand Hoorah, a festival dedicated to the music, food, and culture of the people of Acadiana, is coming up November 1st. The annual event turns 10 this year – and to celebrate, Louisiana Eats brings you highlights from our road trip to attend Le Grand Hoorah in 2017. We also learn about NOLA Nite Market, an evening bazaar featuring a plethora of authentic Asian street foods created by local mom and pop restaurants, which will take place November 14th and 15th in Westwego.

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The Absinthe Underground

From the height of its popularity in the 19th century to its modern revival, absinthe has a long and storied history. A favorite pastime of artists, writers, and bohemians, the spirit known as "the green fairy" was subject to a near global ban for nearly a century due to myths about its hallucinogenic effects. Even after those bans were lifted around the turn of the millennium, its wild and mysterious reputation remains. On this week's show, we delve into the mythical world of this once illicit elixir.

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The Maine Thing

Located 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.

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Baking Bonanza

From crumbly cornbread that perfectly complements a home-cooked meal, to warm cookies that can make you forget any problem, baked treats are key to happy eaters everywhere. This week, we celebrate the delicious half-science, half-art that is baking!

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The Chinese In New Orleans

New Orleans has long been known for its Spanish, French, and African influences, so it can be easy to overlook the role the Chinese have played in our culture and cuisine since the mid-1800s. On this week's show, we explore the Chinese in the Crescent City – yesterday and today.

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Remembering Katrina, 20 Years Later

Twenty years ago, on August 29th, 2005, Hurricane Katrina violently swept through New Orleans. The storm and subsequent levee failures brought chaos and devastation to the city and surrounding areas. On this week's show, as we mark two decades since Katrina, we explore how New Orleans residents and businesses were able to respond quickly and creatively to rebuild our city.

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