New Orleans is one of the oldest cities in America, but its acclaimed cuisine is hardly stuck in the past. Today, the local food scene is bolder, more diverse, and more inventive than ever. That's what food writer Beth D'Addono discovered when researching her latest publication, City Eats: New Orleans. Beth joins us to discuss the city's talented new guard of chefs and restaurateurs. We also dig into two restaurants featured in Beth's book: Addis Nola and GW Fins.
Read MoreFood has a way of carrying a place with it. A recipe can preserve a memory. A bottle of wine can carry a taste of home across an ocean. This week, we explore the food of the eastern Mediterranean – from Cyprus and Greece to Lebanon – and the stories that come with it.
Read MoreThe more you learn how to perceive something, the more there is to experience. Just ask any sommelier. For them, what was once simply "wine" became acidity, tannin, texture, aroma, balance, and finish. The wine hasn't changed – they just learned to better appreciate what was there all along. This week, we explore how we can improve our enjoyment of food and drink by learning to taste with intention.
Read MoreThe 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 MoreThe stock market crash of 1929 marked the end of the Roaring Twenties and the beginning of the Great Depression. Fortunes were lost, unemployment skyrocketed, and food was often scarce. This week, we take a look at some of the ingenuity and heroics that kept people fed.
Read MoreFolks are familiar with New Orleans' home-grown Creole and Cajun cuisines. But the Crescent City is also the perfect place to taste the diverse and vibrant flavors coming out of Latin America. This week, we pay tribute to chefs who are bringing Latin American fare to local tables.
Read MoreIt's no secret that Louisiana culture and cuisine have broad national and even international appeal. This week, we look at some local companies that have successfully leveraged a love for Louisiana to expand their operations across the state and beyond.
Read MoreMany of us toy with the idea of committing our life stories to pen and paper. If you're a regular listener to Louisiana Eats, or simply another food obsessed Louisianan, odds are your biography may well take the form of food memoir. This week, we hear from a trio of writers who have been there and done that.
Read MoreIt's Carnival time in Louisiana and we're ready for the party! On this week's show, we bring you an only-in-New-Orleans story that involves family, loyalty, and king cakes. We discuss a locally-made king cake that's a delicious collision of two cultures. And we learn about the evolution of the Rex Organization as it moves its official reviewing stands to Napoleon Avenue.
Read MoreAnyone who has ever been employed in the hospitality industry knows what a challenge this kind of work can be to one's mental health. The combination of dealing with demanding customers while attempting to carry out multiple tasks all at once can wear out even the best workers. This week, we hear from two doctors who know a thing or two about taking proper care of oneself and avoiding mental meltdowns.
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