In this heartwarming episode of Foodlore, Jenn Seasley sits down with Paul—a Navy veteran and home cook from Tucson—to talk about the soulful magic of red beans and rice. What starts as a story about a humble Southern dish turns into a rich conversation about family legacy, cooking traditions, and why slowing down in the kitchen can nourish more than just your body.
Paul shares his grandmother’s red beans and rice recipe (passed from her to his father, and then to him), reveals his secrets for that elusive creamy bean texture, and takes us from Louisiana kitchens to Navy galleys—with detours into crock pot burns, sausage sourcing, and the mystery of the “Pope” in Cajun cooking. This is comfort food storytelling at its finest.
👉 Get the full recipe here: