Louisiana Eats

Poppy Tooker
  • 4.8 (4)
  • DOCUMENTARY
  • UPDATED BIWEEKLY

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. Louisiana Eats: Going To The Mardi Gras

    1D AGO

    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
  2. Louisiana Eats: Organizing Your Kitchen & Your Life

    JAN 31

    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
  3. Louisiana Eats: Caribbean Chronicles

    JAN 24

    Louisiana Eats: Caribbean Chronicles

    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.

    50 min

  4. JAN 17

    Louisiana Eats: Changing Hands, Preserving Traditions

    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.

    50 min

  5. JAN 10

    Louisiana Eats: Good Mental Health Makes For Good Hospitality

    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.

  6. JAN 3

    Louisiana Eats: 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. 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.

    50 min

  7. 12/27/2025

    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. 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.

    50 min

  8. 12/19/2025

    Louisiana Eats: 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 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.

    50 min
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Ratings & Reviews

4.8
out of 5
4 Ratings

About

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!

Information

  • Creator
    Poppy Tooker
  • Years Active
    2019 - 2026
  • Episodes
    294
  • Rating
    Clean
  • Copyright
    © Poppy Tooker
  • Show Website
    Louisiana Eats