In New Orleans people do not eat to live, rather they live to eat. The city’s rich history and diverse culture can be seen directly in its cuisine. Liz Williams, author and founder of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans joins us for a conversation about food and drink in the Big Easy. She’ll discuss why there is a cuisine in New Orleans, who influenced it, and why there aren't distinct cuisines all over the United States. Is there really something different about New Orleans?
Laissez les bon temps rouler in this virtual happy hour which takes place via Zoom and Facebook Live.
Liz Williams is the Founder of the Southern Food & Beverage Museum in New Orleans (SoFAB), which falls under the umbrella organization of National Food & Beverage Foundation (NatFAB). Liz became determined to integrate her love of food and history and was amazed that the South did not have a museum dedicated to its extraordinary and unique culinary traditions. After collecting numerous artifacts and planning exhibits, recruiting nationally recognized chefs and food industry leaders to serve as the Board of Directors, Liz and her team developed and refined the concept of SoFAB. The Southern Food and Beverage Museum opened its doors in June of 2008, in the Riverwalk and in 2014 moved to its new location in Central City, New Orleans. She has served as a culinary diplomacy consultant for activities in Colombia, Russia, and France, as well as in the US.
Fascinated by the way the lure of nutmeg and peppercorns motivated the exploration of the world, Liz was born into a family of Sicilian heritage in New Orleans and grew up eating dishes derived from two strong food traditions. Much of her research and writing centers on legal and policy issues related to food and foodways, food history, and food museums. In 2013 AltaMira published New Orleans: A Food Biography. Her latest book about the drinking culture of New Orleans, entitled Lift Your Spirits, was released 2017 by LSU Press. Her book, Unique Eats and Eateries New Orleans (Reedy Press) came out in 2019. And her book about Creole Italians in New Orleans will be published by LSU Press in 2021. Her podcast, Tip of the Tongue, explores the intersection of food and drink and culture.
