Featured image: “Crabs” by Wyatt Waters, from our book A Southern Palate One of the most frequent questions I am asked in interviews is, “What is your favorite ingredient?” That’s a broad and subjective question, but it’s low hanging fruit for an interviewer when speaking to someone in the food business. My answer typically variesContinue reading “The Blue Crab Invasion of 2023”
Category Archives: Weekly Column
RSJ’s New Orleans Restaurant Recommendations 2023
NEW ORLEANS— In a poll of national food critics I believe New Orleans would be listed among the top three food cities in America. To my taste— and I’ve eaten extensively in most of America’s top restaurant cities— New Orleans is number one. Period. No question. End of discussion. I consider myself fortunate to haveContinue reading “RSJ’s New Orleans Restaurant Recommendations 2023”
My Latest Addiction
Let’s talk about addiction. I know what you’re thinking. Ol’ St. John is about to ramp up all that recovery talk again. Granted, many of you already know that story— and it’s probably over-documented, that— I am a recovering alcoholic and drug addict with 40 years of sobriety and clean time. I have never shiedContinue reading “My Latest Addiction”
If These Walls Could Speak
“If these old walls could speak Of things that they remember well, Stories and faces dearly held” – Jimmy Webb As human beings we like to assign humanoid characteristics to inanimate objects. The late great comedian Richard Pryor was a master of it. He often brought various body parts and pieces of furniture alive inContinue reading “If These Walls Could Speak”
How Tuna Came to the Panhandle
WATERCOLOR, FLORIDA— Once a year I bring my wife, our kids, and their friends to the Panhandle of Florida to “vacation” for a week. A longtime reader of this space already knows that I don’t vacation well. I provide food and lodging for the family and enjoy spending long periods of mostly uninterrupted time visitingContinue reading “How Tuna Came to the Panhandle”
Ten Things I’ve Learned Opening a Bakery
I am opening a bakery today. Opening any style of restaurant is one of the most stressful activities one will ever experience. I’ve done it two dozen times. Opening any business is stressful, complicated, and grueling. But there are so many moving parts to a restaurant, no matter how many foodservice establishments one has workedContinue reading “Ten Things I’ve Learned Opening a Bakery”
A Good Foot Forward
Last week I read an online article about feet. I can’t remember where I read it, or from which website I was perusing. It was probably during one of those Interweb rabbit holes where I’ll start watching a YouTube video about bicycle repair, and two hours later I’m glued to a music video of Herman’sContinue reading “A Good Foot Forward”
Watermelon 2023
Cartoon by Marshall Ramsey If I were to make a list of my favorite fruits, it would be extensive. Peaches would top the list. The remaining players would vacillate by mood or season. Blackberries and blueberries are plentiful in these parts this time of year. I’ve loved bananas since I was a kid and ateContinue reading “Watermelon 2023”
Good Things Come to Those Who Wait
“The best things in life come from patience.” – Author Unknown As a kid I grew up across the street from a house on a lake. It was in the middle of town and the property sat on 40 acres. I thought it was cool that someone could live in a neighborhood on a lake.Continue reading “Good Things Come to Those Who Wait”