Louisiana Eats

In her book, To Boldly Grow, author Tamar Haspel uses the term "first-hand food" to describe anything you get with your own two hands – meals we grow, fish, hunt, or even forage. According to the Washington Post food columnist, growing and sourcing your own food just makes it taste better. On this week's show, we're getting our hands dirty and meeting some people who are taking a do-it-yourself approach to food. We begin with Tamar, whose book chronicles the adventures of her and her husband as they go about raising livestock, growing vegetables, and even hunting their own meat. Recounting tales of their successes and failures, Tamar fills the pages with practical tips and hard-won wisdom for those looking to cultivate their own food. Then, we hear from fifth-generation chicken keeper, Lisa Steele, whose blog Fresh Eggs Daily inspired her book of the same name. Lisa shares her story as well as some egg-centric tips and tricks. Finally, we explore one of the South's favorite backyard crops – the mirliton. After our mirlitons drowned in Hurricane Katrina, they were saved from extinction thanks to the efforts of Dr. Lance Hill. We get an update from the good doctor and learn how mirliton lovers from across the globe have connected through his website, Mirliton.org, resulting in the world's largest collection of mirliton recipes. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

It'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. We begin with the cannabis-infused seltzer brand, Louie Louie. Brewed on the banks of the Mississippi in New Orleans, the company celebrates our state's flavors in every can. And people are drinking it up – everywhere from local restaurants like Mosca's and the Napoleon House to locations across the nation. Two of the company's founders, Ken Jackson and Eric Becker, join us. Then, we sit down with Braithe Tidwell. The corporate beverage director for the Ralph Brennan Restaurant Group tells us how Louie Louie Pimm's Cup cocktails made their way onto the Napoleon House menu. Next, we learn about the fast-casual seafood restaurant company, Off the Hook. Founded in Thibodaux, the business had been steadily expanding across Louisiana – most recently opening a location in Lafayette. We speak with CEO Paxton Moreaux about growing his brand while keeping everything authentic and hyper-local. Finally, we speak with Jennifer Weishaupt, founder and CEO of the Ruby Slipper Restaurant Group. The Ruby Slipper Café has prospered and multiplied in a way that Jennifer and her husband Eric could never have anticipated when they opened their very first Mid-City location in 2008. She tells us about her ever-expanding breakfast and brunch empire, now serving hungry diners in locations across six states. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Agriculture can be a tough business. To quote Will Rogers, "The farmer has to be an optimist, or he wouldn't still be a farmer." On this week's show, we meet three optimists who are revitalizing rural lands and redefining what it means to be a farmer. We begin with Matthew Raiford, who has been spreading the good word of his Gullah Geechee heritage through his book, Bress N' Nyam. Matthew originally swore he would never return to his family farm, but in breaking that vow, he discovered a way to connect with seven generations of family. Then we speak with Will Harris of White Oak Pastures in Georgia. While Will fully embraced taking over his family's farm, he completely changed the way it was run – returning to a system his great-grandfather used more than a century ago. We discuss this change and his book, A Bold Return to Giving a Damn. We also sit down with New Orleans' native son, Richard McCarthy – founder of the Crescent City Farmers Market and former executive director of Slow Food USA. Now we can add "author" to Richard's accomplishments, with the publication of Kuni – A Japanese Vision and Practice for Urban-Rural Reconnection. Richard shares the revolutionary ideas and practices his co-author Tsuyoshi Sekihara is using to save rural areas that were abandoned in postwar Japan. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Many 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. First, we catch up with Sara Roahen. Her award-winning memoir, Gumbo Tales: Finding My Place at the New Orleans Table, chronicles her adjustment to life in the Big Easy. But Sarah is also a teacher of memoir writing and has penned a guide for aspiring authors. She shares some tips from her book, How to Begin Writing Your Life Stories: Putting Memories on the Page. Next, author Karen Katz gives us backstage access to the wild world of food TV. She writes about her adventures as Emeril Lagasse's cooking show producer in her memoir, Getting Sauced: How I Learned Everything I Know About Food From Working in TV. Finally, we speak with stand-up comic and actor Dan Ahdoot. In his debut memoir, Undercooked: How I Let Food Become My Life Navigator and How Maybe That's a Dumb Way to Live, Dan examines his emotional relationship with food starting from childhood, and provides both an honest and comedic look at where that has gotten him. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

It's Carnival time in Louisiana and we're ready for the party! No Mardi Gras celebration is complete without king cake and everyone has their own opinion on who makes the best one. On this week's show, we speak with the owner of Fleurty Girl, Lauren Haydel. She explains why she only sells Manny Randazzo's king cakes in her stores even though she married a member of the famous Haydel Bakery family. The Haydels have been baking their famous king cakes in New Orleans since 1959. Then, Chef Alon Shaya joins us to discuss his take on the Carnival treat – one that brings together both his Jewish heritage and his love for New Orleans – a babka king cake. He also tells us how his restaurant, Saba, which sits on the Krewe of Thoth parade route each year, gets in on the fun. Next, we sit down with Dickie Brennan. He shares the story of last year's once-in-a-lifetime occurrence: when the reviewing stands for the Rex royalty were positioned at Pascal's Manale restaurant. This year, the queen and her retinue will raise a glass to his majesty further up Napoleon at another Dickie Brennan venture: The Josephine. Finally, we hear from Abby Roniger, author of the colorful children's book, Carnival Time in My Mind, which depicts the joy and excitement of being a kid at Mardi Gras. The book will bring back memories for anyone lucky enough to have grown up in New Orleans and is a lovely introduction to the celebration for kids everywhere. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

In his 1975 book, Cooking as Therapy, Louisiana-born doctor Louis Parrish offered some advice for those who felt their lives were in a perpetual state of chaos: "Reorient yourself toward better organization by starting in the kitchen. . . . If you can organize your kitchen you can at least start to organize your life." On this week’s show, we explore all the benefits that come from organizing your kitchen – from clearing clutter to finding lost treasures. We begin with Kay Morrison, the founder of The Occasional Wife, a New Orleans-based company that is helping others meet their organization goals. The story of the Occasional Wife is just as multifaceted as the path Kay took on the way to founding the business. Kay joined us in the studio to tell us the whole story. We also speak with Jason Cummings, a member of Kay's team who's armed with an encyclopedic knowledge of silver flatware. Jason heads up Found Assets, an Occasional Wife assessment service. And finally, we speak with the Historic New Orleans Collection's decorative arts curator, Lydia Blackmore. At the heart of the HNOC is the Williams Residence, a 19th century townhouse located in the French Quarter. Lydia talks about preserving and cataloging all objects in the house while the building undergoes repairs. To give you a sense of the scope of the project – it took one year just to pack everything up! For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

New Orleans has often been referred to as the northernmost city in the Caribbean. On this week's show, we examine Caribbean culture and cuisine and their influence on both Louisiana and the entire world. First, we hear from Chef Nina Compton of Compère Lapin about the journey from her childhood home on the eastern Caribbean island of St. Lucia to the commercial kitchens of New Orleans – via Jamaica, Miami, and a star-turn on Top Chef. Chef Nina has recounted her remarkable gastronomic journey, along with recipes she's developed en route, in a cookbook titled Kwéyòl / Creole: Recipes, Stories, and Tings from a St. Lucian Chef's Journey. Then, we sit down with the world's first global ambassador for the category of rum, Ian Burrell. Growing up in London to Jamaican-born parents, Ian was raised in a rum-loving household. He tells us about rum on a global stage. And he should know – he's conducted rum masterclasses on every continent – including Antarctica! For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Louisianans are blessed with restaurants that have been dining destinations for generations. So whenever a culinary institution announces an ownership change, we tend to get nervous. On this week's show, we explore three restaurants that have changed hands, but whose owners have worked hard to preserve their traditions. We begin with a visit to Middendorf's, the classic seafood house located in Manchac – a tiny village 40 miles north of New Orleans on Lake Maurepas. Famed for its thin-cut fried catfish, Middendorf's has been an institution since 1934. Originally owned by three generations of family, it was taken over by Horst and Karen Pfeifer in 2007 after their French Quarter fine dining restaurant was closed due to Katrina. Horst walks us through Middendorf's history, talks about his tenure as owner, and describes how he weathers storms on the Louisiana marsh. Then, we hear from Dickie Brennan and his sister Lauren Brennan Brower. In March 2023, they got the keys to Pascal's Manale Restaurant when the Dickie Brennan restaurant group purchased the Uptown landmark established in 1913. Growing up, Dickie and Lauren were regulars at Pascal's Manale. The two discuss their memories of the Brennan family's favorite eatery. Finally, we sit down with the Casbarian family, the second family to own Arnaud's Restaurant in New Orleans' French Quarter since 1918. We learn how they've kept the traditions established by the first owners – Count Arnaud and his daughter, Germaine Wells – while continually innovating for the future. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Anyone 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. First, we sit down with Cleveland-based neurologist Dr. Max Wiznitzer, who explains how depression and anxiety may be symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. He helps us understand what ADHD looks like in adults, offers strategies to deal with it, and explains the dangers of not treating it. We also discuss how the hospitality industry may provide an excellent work environment for managing this disorder – and why restaurant and bar employers may want to think twice before discounting a potential hire based on their CV alone. For more information about adult ADHD, Dr. Wiznitzer recommends visiting the website for CHADD, the National Advocacy Group for ADHD. He is a member of the Board of Directors and co-chair of the Professional Advisory Board. Then, we join Dr. Linda Shiue, a doctor and chef who guides her patients to cook healthier meals by harnessing the power of spices. Linda was just starting to spread the word about spices when we first met her in 2016. She returns to our studio to discuss her latest book, Spicebox Kitchen: Eat Well and Be Healthy with Globally Inspired, Vegetable-Forward Recipes. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. We begin with one of our favorite Louisiana Eats moments: a special day we spent with Leah in 2012, when then-Mayor Mitch Landrieu kicked off the official start of Carnival season at Gallier Hall with king cake and a surprise for Leah on her 89th birthday. From there, we look back on Leah's early life in Madisonville, Louisiana. Leah describes growing up on a strawberry farm, and the lessons she learned that shaped the legend she would become. We continue with an oral history from NOLA Life Stories, in which Leah recounts her first experiences working in a café in the French Quarter, as told to Mark Cave of the Historic New Orleans Collection. Next, we arrive at a turning point in Leah's life — the moment she met big band leader Edgar "Dooky" Chase, Jr. Following their marriage, Leah went to work at Dooky's, her in-laws' simple sandwich shop in the Treme. As she began to serve Creole classics like gumbo and Chicken Clemenceau on fine linen, Leah elevated the dining culture for everyone. Leah tells us about her famous Gumbo z'Herbes, a dish she served at her restaurant every Holy Thursday for over 60 years. We also chronicle how Leah rebuilt Dooky Chase's after Hurricane Katrina. Eleven years after the storm, Leah experienced two other monumental life events — the first was her 2016 Lifetime Achievement Award from the James Beard Foundation. Months later, Leah's husband and partner Edgar "Dooky" Chase — the man who played a key role in her success — passed away at the age of 88. In this final segment, Leah reflects on their relationship and shares her thoughts on death and living a fulfilling life. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. Then, we mark 150 years of the St. Roch Market, a storied building which has served as a culinary incubator for food professional wannabees since 2015. We speak with the market's director, longtime vendor Kevin Pedeaux, and learn why that bustling spot on St. Claude is the place to be these days. Finally, we catch up with our New Orleans friends, Kitten N’ Lou, owners of Chance In Hell SnoBalls. In 2025, the duo successfully moved their operation from a front porch pandemic project to a popular brick-and-mortar shop. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

On February 5th of this year, Steve Himelfarb, a longtime fixture in New Orleans' food scene and a true Renaissance man, passed away at the age of 61 following a battle with cancer. Kind, passionate, and endlessly creative, Steve took on many different roles in his life. He was by turns an acclaimed sound engineer, door-to-door cake salesman, café owner, king cake pioneer, teacher, and all-around community treasure. He was also our dear friend and colleague. Steve joined Louisiana Eats as a producer in 2022, working on this show over the last several years with his wife, Becky Retz. His contributions behind the scenes have been vital to what we do here. Over the years, Steve actually appeared on Louisiana Eats several times. In 2021, we interviewed Steve and Becky about the legacy of their beloved Marigny mainstay, Cake Café, and their love letter to diners: The Cake Café Cookbook. In 2023, Steve discussed how his specialty king cakes became a fundraising tradition at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts. On this week's show, we remember our friend by bringing you extended versions of these two conversations. We also speak with sound engineer and producer Lu Rojas, who shares stories of Steve's esteemed music career. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. We're also joined by Jacques' daughter Claudine Pépin and son-in-law Rollie Wesen, who joined the French chef in creating the Jacques Pépin Foundation in 2016. They explain the impetus behind the project, and we learn how their 90/90 Dinner Series has served as both a birthday celebration and fundraiser to empower communities through culinary education. In November, Dickie Brennan hosted one of those celebratory dinners at his newest event space, The Josephine in New Orleans. Dickie joins us in the studio to talk about the star-studded dinner, which featured the culinary talents of Susan Spicer, Frank Brigtsen, Michel Nischen and Dickie himself. Finally, we speak with Chef Michel Nischan, a founding board member of the Jacques Pépin Foundation, who shares the scoop on how the organization is working to develop the next generation of restaurant professionals. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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 in New York's Seagram Building, Windows on the World in the World in the World Trade Center, and the restored Rainbow Room in Rockefeller Center. 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. Legendary bartender Dale DeGroff was a struggling actor living in New York in the 1970s when he first came across Joe Baum, eventually working for him at Aurora, and famously, the Rainbow Room. Charlie Baum, Joe's son, grew up immersed in the hospitality industry, but didn't make a career of it until he was older. Charlie eventually was hired by his father to serve as general manager of the Rainbow Room and became a partner in the Windows on the World restaurant. The two of them join us for a wide-ranging conversation about the impact Joe had on their lives, as well as the world of hospitality. For twenty years, Melanie Young ran the powerhouse P.R. agency M. Young Communications. She was also instrumental in the creation of the James Beard Foundation Awards as well as New York Restaurant Week. These days, Melanie spends her time leading the Connected Table media company and hosting the podcast The Connected Table, which highlights the chefs, farmers, vintners, and authors who shape the food and beverage industry. But it was during her M. Young Communications days that Melanie worked closely with Joe Baum, right at the time he was setting the culinary world on fire. She sits down with us in the studio to recall those heady days. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. We begin with Sarah Lohman, author of Endangered Eating: America’s Vanishing Foods, who recounts her adventure researching some of the country's rarest ingredients and the often extraordinary efforts to preserve them. Next, we meet a trio of folks from an organization at the center of this movement, Slow Food USA. They discuss their book, The Ark of Taste: Delicious and Distinctive Foods That Define the United States, which provides an in-depth look at some of the stories behind these disappearing flavors. Finally, we speak with classically trained chef and food anthropologist Casey Corn. She hosts Magnolia Network's Recipe Lost and Found, a show that helps families recover their long-lost recipes and the memories that go with them. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. First is Nathanial Zimet. The chef and owner of Boucherie closed his restaurant's doors this summer only to reopen in the fall with a fresh new menu. Nathanial tells us about the change and his ongoing program, Boucherie Feeds, which aims to eliminate hunger among New Orleans youth while ensuring those meals are healthy as well as delicious. Amanda Toups and her husband Chef Isaac also have a passion for fighting food insecurity. Since the pandemic, their non-profit, Toups Family Meal has brought tens of thousands of meals to New Orleans children and families. Amanda and Isaac join us to talk about the program and give us the scoop on their newest restaurant, Armada, due to open sometime in 2026. We're also thankful for the Brocato family who have been providing the city hand-churned ice cream and gelato since 1905 at Angelo Brocato's. We sit down with Tony Brocato, who tells us what it's like to be a fifth-generation family member working in the 120-year-old business. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. First up is Julie Qiu, co-founder of the Oyster Master Guild and the world's first official oyster sommelier. It's a term she coined and a title she has certainly earned. Julie spent 15 years sampling and learning about oysters in 24 countries on six continents. Her contribution to seafood sustainability comes in the form of spreading her love and considerable knowledge of oysters to other aficionados. Next, we hear from Eli Kirshtein of Inland Foods, the largest seafood distributor in the Southeast, supplying more than 5,500 restaurants and 2,500 retail outlets. Founded in 1977 by an avid fisherman, the company has also earned a reputation as an industry leader in responsible sustainability practices. While that is a laudable position to have, Eli explains that ensuring sustainability is really the only way forward if people want to keep enjoying seafood. Finally, we speak with Athena Davis of the Aquaculture Stewardship Council, an international organization dedicated to transforming the worldwide seafood farming industry into a sustainable source of healthy food. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. We begin with Toni Tipton-Martin, who serves as editor-in-chief for Cook's Country magazine, which is published by America's Test Kitchen. Although Toni is not a Southerner by birth, through her role at ATK, she developed a passion for Southern cooking, with a special fascination for the women who played such an influential part in its development. Along with TV personality Morgan Bolling, Toni recently shepherded the publication of When Southern Women Cook, which features 300 recipes and stories from 70 Southern contributors. Next, we speak to Kaitlin Guerin, the New Orleans gal who was the first baker in the U.S. to become a finalist in the emerging chef category of the prestigious James Beard Awards. We hear how she reached that lofty position and what she's creating at Lagniappe Bakehouse, her Central City shop that's getting such national attention. Finally, we speak with a new voice of the South, Vassiliki Ellwood Yiagazis, owner of Smoke & Honey in New Orleans. The restaurant and menu draw on Vassiliki's Jewish heritage and her upbringing in Greece. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. First, we hear from Eric Cook, the executive chef and owner of two distinguished New Orleans restaurants: Gris-Gris and St. John. Eric talks about the evolution of our traditional local fare – many examples of which can be found in his cookbook, Modern Creole: A Taste of New Orleans Culture and Cuisine. Eric shares his secrets to success with dishes such as crab and shrimp stew, wild duck cassoulet, and even his mama's chicken and dumplings. Next, we welcome food writer and culinary historian Marcelle Bienvenu, who has reported on Cajun and Creole cooking for half a century. She shares her expert knowledge and talks about the fifth edition of her classic cookbook, Who's Your Mama, Are You Catholic, and Can You Make a Roux? Finally, for 125 years, Vaucresson Sausage Company has produced its beloved brand in New Orleans' Seventh Ward. In her debut cookbook, Creole Made Easy, co-owner Julie Vaucresson shares recipes and stories both from her illustrious family of origin and the family she married into. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

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. We begin with Marita Crandle, author and owner of the Vampire Café and Vampire Apothecary Restaurant & Bar in the Vieux Carré. Marita tells us how she went from owning a little gift shop to building a hospitality empire around those bloodsucking creatures of the night. She explains how her blood bag cocktails became the newest trend in cocktails and why it was so important to make a non-alcoholic version for the kids. Then, we pry into our vaults to bring you our ghost tour of Courtyard Brewery, which is operating out of an old New Orleans funeral home. We not only hear stories of hauntings from the brewery's staff, but we encounter a possible poltergeist ourselves! And finally, another favorite Louisiana Eats moment that will never die: our conversation with our resident medium, Debbie Duvall, who put me in touch with Tujague Restaurant's famous cross-dressing ghost, ⁠Julian Eltinge. But not before Julian gave Debbie the fright of her life! For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.