Louisiana Eats

On this week's show, we explore the lives of New Orleans tastemaking legends and meet the next generation who are following in their footsteps. We begin with Al Copeland Jr., who recently memorialized his famous Popeyes-founding father in a book entitled Secrets of a Tastemaker. Written by Chris Rose, Kit Wohl, and the Copeland family, the book shares Al's life story – from his humble beginnings and through its highs and lows.

And do you remember chef Warren Leruth? He's the chef who invented Green Goddess salad dressing and went on to change New Orleans' culinary scene forever at his award-winning Gretna restaurant. He's also famous for working with Al Copeland to create some of Popeyes most valuable secret recipes. Today, Warren's family is carrying on his legacy with a new business, Leruth's Gourmet Foods.

We end with Baumer Foods, the third-generation company that makes the iconic Crystal Hot Sauce. Al Jr. and his son "Pepper" explain how in their family business, there are no shortcuts to the top, even if your last name is Baumer.

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

On this week's show, we’re trekking across the Causeway once again to explore the culinary scene in St. Tammany Parish. We begin at Backwater Farmstead in the rural town of Bush, Louisiana. There, Ross McKnight and his family make foie gras, a luxury food they hope to make more accessible in our state.

After we tour the farm, we head over Olde Town Slidell to meet Jeremy and Alyssa Reilly of Restaurant Cote and the Maple Room. These high school sweethearts have carved out a very special place in the hearts and stomachs of the Slidell community for nearly 10 years.

We then speak with Nick Asprodites, the proprietor of two dockside restaurants and bars: the original Blue Crab on the south shore of Lake Pontchartrain and a second iteration at the Pointe Marina in Slidell.

Finally, we meet Chef Jeff Mattia. Jeff opened his first restaurant, Pyre Provisions, in Covington just months before the Covid-19 pandemic began. Though Pyre Provisions closed its doors this year, Jeff has found continued success in his newest restaurant concept, Pyre BBQ on the Mandeville Trace.

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

This year, Americans are expected to spend upwards of 3.4 billion dollars

to decorate their homes for Halloween. But here in New Orleans, we don’t

have to decorate – we're just plain old spooky already!

The story of Abita Beer, Louisiana's first craft brewery, all began in the sleepy little town of Abita Springs. In 1986, the Blossman family ventured into the business at a downtown Abita Springs location — a 100-seat brew pub, which they completely outgrew by 1994. Today, Abita Brew Pub is owned and operated by the second generation of the Essaied family who continue to serve delicious American fare in a comfortable, casual atmosphere right on the Abita Springs Trailhead.

Every November, the world comes straight to the pub's door when they host the annual Abita Fall Fest, bringing 12 hours of nonstop music, food, and fun. We sat down with Anthony Essaied and his ace volunteer Jamie Foster to learn more about the Brew Pub's story and the Abita Fall Fest.

Make plans now to attend the 2022 Abita Fall Fest, happening November 4th and 5th in downtown Abita Springs!

Big thanks to our sponsor, the St. Tammany Parish Tourist Commission. Stay, play, and get away on the Louisiana Northshore! Discover the bounty of the bayou and rich culture from award-winning chefs, soulful mom and pop restaurants, extraordinary bakers, and creative mixologists. Request the free Explore the Northshore Visitor Guide today for inspirational stories, custom itineraries, and event information at LouisianaNorthshore.com/Guide.

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Do you have a favorite hot spot where your family has gathered for generations? Is it still there? Sadly, when it comes to Black-owned bars and lounges, many have been disappearing from local landscapes – often without fanfare or mention. New Orleans native L. Kasimu Harris has watched with dismay as many of these vital Black establishments have closed their doors in recent years. Since 2018, he has been documenting those that remain, capturing photos and oral histories as part of his ongoing series, "Vanishing Black Bars & Lounges." He joins us to talk about the project.

Then, we speak with Touré Folkes of Turning Tables. Touré is working tirelessly to bring diversity to New Orleans' bar scene by providing Black professionals with training, mentorship, and the resources they need to access real opportunity.

Finally, our dear friend, Vance Vaucresson, is back with big news! After nearly two decades, Vance and his wife Julie are thrilled to be opening Vaucresson's Creole Cafe & Deli in New Orleans' Seventh Ward – where the family had a business and was a vital part of the community since the late 1800s.

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Love that chicken from Popeyes! If you love Louisiana food, it’s a safe bet that you’re a Popeyes lover too.

The company that has grown to over 3,000 stores stretching from one end of the globe to the other, all started right here in New Orleans. Today, Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen includes locations in more than 30 countries. You’ll find that chicken in London, Sri Lanka, the Philippines – there’s over a dozen Popeyes in Jamaica for goodness sake! But none of that would be possible if it weren’t for the visionary, one of a kind powerhouse that was Al Copeland. Owned by Restaurant Brands International, and now in its 50th year, Popeyes remains one of New Orleans finest culinary ambassadors. And for the record, it’s not fast food! That chicken is still marinated overnight in those secret seasonings before being hand breaded and fried – delivering that spicy, delicious flavor with every bite. His son, Al, Jr. recently memorialized his father in a cookbook memoir entitled Secrets of a Tastemaker written by Chris Rose, Kit Wohl and the Copeland family. We sat down with Al to hear the whole story!

If you enjoyed this podcast, please rate us on your preferred podcast platform. And visit poppytooker.com where we have hundreds more available for your listening pleasure.

On this week's show, we visit with three Louisiana chefs who have compiled many accolades and awards in restaurants across the South.

First, we hear from James Beard Award-winning chef John Currence, whose upbringing in New Orleans has informed his illustrious restaurant career based in Oxford, Mississippi. John describes the through-lines of his craft, which includes a strong sense of place and a healthy dose of humility.

Then, we stop by Pêche Seafood Grill in New Orleans' Warehouse District. There, Chef Ryan Prewitt has been replicating live fire techniques he learned on a trip to Uruguay. Ryan explains how this process has changed his entire perspective on cooking, and we get close to the flames as he shows us his kitchen's open hearth.

Finally, Chef Donald Link joins us in the studio. At one point during his cooking career, Donald's co-workers nicknamed him "Hot Shot." Was it deserved? That depends on who you ask. Donald shares his side of the story with us in a revealing interview that takes you from the rock and roll kitchens of San Francisco to his award-winning restaurants in New Orleans. (Listen to the full, uncensored version of our conversation with Donald Link here on our website.)

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Foie gras – that’s French for fat liver. This celebrated luxury food is found mostly in high-end restaurants where even a small amount is quite costly. Traditionally, foie gras production has centered in the Aquitaine region of France where for hundreds of years ducks and geese have been carefully fattened in order to produce the large, ivory-colored lobes. Force-feeding is usually mentioned in conjunction with foie gras production, but the truth is wild birds in nature annually gorge themselves before migration. Domestically, that process is humanely mimicked by caretakers who gently hand-feed their birds a high-calorie meal that aids in the fattening, a process known as gavage. There has been limited foie gras production attempted in the U.S. but today, Ross McKnight is creating some of the most beautiful fois gras seen this side of the Atlantic Ocean at his farmstead, Backwater Foie Gras in Bush, Louisiana.

Poppy got to know Ross visiting with him weekly at the Crescent City Farmers Market. What a thrill it was to finally visit his farm to learn all about the process. Gathered around the family dinner table were Backwater’s foie gras muse, Mailys Dias who ignited his interest with a taste of foie gras from her home country of France, Ross’s wife, Dorothy, and his parents Julie and Dan McKnight, who all play a major role in the farmstead operation.

Big thanks to our sponsor, the St Tammany Parish Tourist Commission. Stay, play, and get away on the Louisiana Northshore! Discover the bounty of the bayou and rich culture from award-winning chefs, soulful mom-and-pop restaurants, extraordinary bakers, and creative mixologists.  Request the FREE Explore the Northshore Visitor Guide today for inspirational stories, custom itineraries, and event information at LouisianaNorthshore.com/Guide.

This podcast was produced by Blake Langlinais for Poppy Tooker Broadcasting.

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.

Where are you from? While what we eat may reveal our origins, it can also reflect our life's travels from one home to another. Chef Anh Luu was born in New Orleans to parents who emigrated to the United States from Vietnam. She discovered her love of restaurants at the age of 15 when she first began working the line. When Katrina blew Anh and her family to Portland, Oregon, she became a pioneer of Viet-Cajun cuisine – an amalgamation of her Vietnamese and Louisiana heritage. She's now back in New Orleans, serving up her signature dishes at Bywater Brew Pub.

Vishwish Bhatt discovered an incredible commonality between the Indian food of his childhood in Gujarat and the Southern cuisine he came to love in Oxford, Mississippi – a topic he explores in his new book, I Am From Here: Stories and Recipes from a Southern Chef.

Finally, we sit down with Chef Jacqueline Blanchard to learn how a Cajun girl raised on Bayou Lafourche ended up crossing the world to open Sukeban, a bar and restaurant modeled after traditional Japanese izakayas, right here in the Crescent City.

For more of all things Louisiana Eats, be sure to visit us at PoppyTooker.com.