Programs about food and cooking have been on the air since radio’s earliest days. But The Food Show With Tom Fitzmorris is an anomaly, occupying more hours of prime airtime every week than any other show about taste in the history of the medium. It’s the longest-running talk show of any kind in New Orleans. Twenty-five years, three hours every weekday, same station, same host, same food-and-drink-only concept. The main ingredient in the Food Show’s recipe is, of course, the New Orleans food culture.
A delightful conversation with the first family of bread in New Orleans: Sandy Whann and son William, and daughter Katie from Leidenheimer Bakery, celebrating 125 years in business. And Cheez Wiz, and crackers like Ritz and Saltines, plus a discussion of Maple St. Cafe.
Peter Caire called in to talk Christmas gifts, and our regular Thursday visitor, Nicole Dorignac told us about fun gifts right off the supermarket shelves. Also the Boston Tea party, turkey basters, roast goose, and chocolate-covered insects.
National Cupcake Day prompted a gosh-darned inspiring chat with Mignon Francois, proud N'Awlins girl, and cupcake entrepreneur. She owns the Cupcake Collection in Nashville and New Orleans. Mignon was a tough act to follow, but our own friend-of-the-show Gunther Preuss held his own with tales of Christmas traditions from his native Germany. Also molasses, the Eiffel Tower, and Jules Verne restaurant there.
Sue Zemanik from Zasu. Bouillabaisse, the Nostradamus Cookbook.
Alex Patout called in to talk Cajun Christmas food. And cracklins. And beef stew.
Frozen foods, Palmiers, Brigtsen's, mulled wine, blue cheese, and Tim McNally helped us with bubbly selections for the holidays.
Chris Barbato from The Country Club talks about their menus. La Provence, Vincent's, Candy Canes. Daube Glace. And zabaglione.
Don Dubuc called in to chat about a wild Louisiana Christmas. Also Nicholas, vegetable soup, microwave ovens, and kirsch.
Valerie Waeltz from The Louisiana Food Truck Festival called in to tell us about it. Also apple pie, stollen.
Greg Sorenson from our local fruitcake maker Bakermaid called in on National Fruitcake Day.
Kaitlin Guerin from Lagniappe Baking called in to talk about pies and Thanksgiving.
Mary Ann reports on her trip to California. Janet Sprouse from Kiffy Mix called in. And Jonathan Klascala from Elysian Nar called in to talk Thanksgiving.
Patty sits in for Mary Ann with a visit from Bob Del Giorno.
Patty steps in for Mary Ann and is visited by Bob Mitchell.
Patty sat in with an assist from Bob Del Giorno,
Weiners, canned pineapple, bread pudding.
Nectar Soda, cock a leekie soup, Owen Brennan, sundaes.
Split Pea Soup, Seafood Newberg, shelling peas.
Gibson cocktail, cappuccino, Beef Ellington, Bourbon.
Roy Rogers roast beef, doughnuts, Chef Tell.
Pumplin, bluefin tuna, Jerusalem artichokes.
Greasy foods, feijoada, and addictive foods.
Greasy foods, feijoada, microwave cooking.
We talked to our friend of the show, chef Gunther Preuss. And we talked about Rumtopf, and rum baba.
Tasso, Frommer's and Fodor's, Thomas Keller.
McDonald's on the birthday of Ray Kroc, Chincoteague oysters, and file.
We talked to Kristen Preau, the Jambalaya Girl, who sells her jambalaya mix and other starters. And we talked about kale, chili, and Walt Disney World as well as Epcot chefs.
Nicole Dorignac called in to talk about supply chains and grocery things. And we talked about mushrooms.
Our traveling friend Stan Meadows called in from a tiny island in Florida near Apalachicola. We talked about him researching the "Old places" this week to eat. And we talked to Bob Arceneaux from Orleans Coffee and Parish Coffee, as well as Bob Hennessey of Morning Call on this, National Coffee Day.
We talked to Jeff McCrory, founder of Cool Brew, about his wildly successful and innovative approach to coffee. And we talked about shwarma and animal fat.
John Caluda of Caluda Catering called in to talk about his famous crawfish strudel. Dinty Moore's, chocolate milk, and corned beef hash.
Gunther Preuss called in to talk about silly food trends. Cherries Jubilee, cruising, prosciutto.
Nicole Dorignac called in to chat about supply chain. issues, now a constant. National Anchovy Day, and Worcestershire Sauce.
Stan Meadows called in from Florida. White chocolate, ladyfingers, waffle cones.