She’s a culinary expert with a long-standing history in everything New Orleans when it comes to food and restaurants.
Author and Host, Poppy Tooker’s new book, ‘Louisiana Eats: The People, the Food, and Their Stories’ is now out. ‘Louisiana Eats’ is a collection of stories, recipes, and photos of some of New Orleans’ best food legends. All of them, which have been featured on Poppy’s WWNO 89.9 radio show, over the years.
“The book has the people’s actual words transcribed directly as they said them. You can actually hear their voices. The book is my way of getting to introduce you to my friends. All my food people,” Tooker said.
Some of the greats that are featured are: Leah Chase, Ronnie Kottemann,—the Roman Candy Man, Karlos Knott, Louis Michot from the Cajun band, Lost Bayou Ramblers, Vance Vaucresson, Dr. Lance Hill, Mildred Covert, and many others.
Tooker’s always been struck by the stories behind her “food people”.
“These are the oral histories of the food people in Louisiana. New Orleans is one of the most amazing spots to live because we literally live to eat here,” she said.
Poppy’s made a name for herself by being active in the food community. After Hurricane Katrina, she was even recognized by the Times Picayune as a “Hero of the Storm”.
“We’re back in a big food way. We are bigger and better than before 2005,” she said.
Tooker said she hopes people read her new book because they want to learn more about the food history.
“I love this book. I have to say that I’m very pleased with the book. I feel like for the rest of my life I can turn the pages and see the people that I love. There’s nobody in this book whose a stranger. It’s like Poppy’s scrapbook of of her best food friends,” she said.
Tooker will be signing copies of her new book at Octavia Books on Tuesday, September 16th at 6 p.m.
Pelican Publishing published Tooker’s book.
Poppy’s radio show airs on WWNO 89.9 on Wednesdays from 1-2pm and Saturdays from 11am-12pm.
For more information: poppytooker.com
https://www.facebook.com/poppy.tooker
