Flour, butter, yeast, and sugar are all simple ingredients, but together they can produce extraordinary things. This week, we look at baking from the neighborhood bakery to the home kitchen. We catch up with the owners of Ayu Bakehouse, speak with Bywater Bakery's Chaya Conrad, and learn about German baking traditions with author Heidrun Metzler.
Read MoreFood can tell us a lot about where we come from – and sometimes, about how we misunderstand one another. On this week's show, we look at what happens when food crosses borders, cultures, and identities. Guests include London-based writer, poet, and academic Anna Sulan Masing and Chef David Schuttenberg, co-owner of two popular Chinese restaurants in Charleston, South Carolina.
Read MoreNew 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 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 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 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 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 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 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 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.
Read MoreOn March 27th, New Orleans lost a beloved member of our culinary community. Alfred Singleton, executive chef and co-owner of the landmark French-Creole restaurant Café Sbisa, passed away at the age of 46. On this week's show, we bring you our 2016 interview with Chef Alfred as he reflects on his career, his management style, and how his faith and family propelled him forward.
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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