Louisiana Eats

Poppy Tooker

Louisiana Eats! is a radio show for people who cook and people who love to eat well—all with a Louisiana point of view and Poppy’s distinctive Louisiana voice. In each program listeners join Poppy as she meets people who produce, cook, and eat the foods we enjoy and treasure — exploring kitchens and stores, farms and waterways where favorite foods are produced and prepared. And because Louisianans love all kinds of food, Poppy won’t limit herself to shrimp creole and hot sauce!

  1. -1 DIA

    Louisiana Eats: St. Joseph's Day Traditions

    March 19th might be just another day in other parts of the United States, but here in New Orleans, it's a day when revelers take to the streets in honor of the Feast of St. Joseph. The tradition of food altars dedicated to Jesus' foster father came to the Crescent City in the late 1800s with immigrants from Sicily, where Joseph is the patron saint. What was called Mi-Carême (or Mid-Lent by the Creoles) was a day when fasting was suspended and festivities abounded. On this week's show, we explore the holiday and join in on the celebration. Tony Marino's family were faithful followers of St. Joseph, and today, he keeps the tradition alive at his Bourbon Street home in New Orleans' French Quarter. We sit down with Tony to hear what it takes to pull off his annual street party, complete with altars and a life-sized statue of St. Joseph. Then, Arthur Brocato, third generation of Angelo Brocato's Ice Cream and Confectionary, joins us to share his family's history and explain the special role Brocato's has played in the St. Joseph's Day celebration. Founded in the French Quarter in 1905, the gelateria and pasticceria continues those traditions today on Carrollton Avenue in Mid-City. Finally, historian Laura Guccione joins us to reveal what she's discovered about the fancy dress balls that were once part of the St. Joseph tradition and to explain the mystical tie between the feast day and the Mardi Gras Indians. For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

    50 min
  2. Louisiana Eats: Exporting Louisiana

    28/02

    Louisiana Eats: Exporting Louisiana

    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.

    50 min
  3. Louisiana Eats: Going To The Mardi Gras

    7/02

    Louisiana Eats: Going To The Mardi Gras

    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.

    50 min
  4. Louisiana Eats: Organizing Your Kitchen & Your Life

    31/01

    Louisiana Eats: Organizing Your Kitchen & Your Life

    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.

    50 min

Sobre

Louisiana Eats! is a radio show for people who cook and people who love to eat well—all with a Louisiana point of view and Poppy’s distinctive Louisiana voice. In each program listeners join Poppy as she meets people who produce, cook, and eat the foods we enjoy and treasure — exploring kitchens and stores, farms and waterways where favorite foods are produced and prepared. And because Louisianans love all kinds of food, Poppy won’t limit herself to shrimp creole and hot sauce!

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