In this episode, we sit with Max Zwain to explore what it was like to work in New Orleans' hospitality industry in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. From gutted kitchens to packed dining rooms, locals in the service industry stepped up to rebuild the city's spirit. We talk about the pride and purpose hourly workers carried, the deep cultural value of service in New Orleans, and how the industry helped stitch the city back together, one plate at a time. We also look at how neighborhoods like Freret Street transformed in the years that followed, and what’s changed—and stayed the same—since that defining era

In this episode, we pit two powerhouse bakeries against each other in a blind taste test: Dong Phuong, the James Beard Award-winning bakery whose king cake has taken New Orleans by storm, and Cannata’s, a Houma-born staple beloved across Southeast Louisiana. Will Dong Phuong’s delicate, flaky layers live up to the hype? Or will Cannata’s legendary, over-the-top flavors prove unbeatable? Join Rich Simmerman and his krewe for this week's blind taste test!

N'awlins' own Rich Simmerman, a true lover of all things Mardi Gras, is on a mission to crown the ultimate King Cake. First stops for Episode 1? Two Jefferson Parish favorites: Gambino's and Party Palace. Will Gambino's, the "King of King Cakes" since 1949, take the win in Episode 1's taste challenge? Or will Kenner's beloved Mardi Gras tradition, Party Palace, secure its spot in the King Cake Show playoffs?