Acclaimed chef John Besh grew up in Southern Louisiana, learning at an early age the essentials of that state’s rich culinary traditions. Besh has set the benchmark for fine dining in New Orleans with four successful restaurants: Restaurant August, Besh Steak, Lüke, and La Provence. He won the James Beard Award for Best Chef of the Southeast in 2006. Besh’s appreciation for local ingredients and local cuisine has only increased since Hurricane Katrina as he considers these essential to the survival of the people and cultural heritage of New Orleans. Showing the spirit of New Orleans in the wake of a disaster, Restaurant August was one of the first restaurants to reopen. Besh has been actively involved in efforts locally and nationally to raise funds for hurricane victims. His cookbook, My New Orleans, which focuses on the food traditions of his home, was released this year.
A fusion of a classic pie and an old-fashioned fruit brings a whole new dessert experience to the table.
Apple & Quince Pie. Quince is one of those ingredients you see in the market this time of year but aren’t familiar with and don’t really know how to use. It’s incredibly flavorful when cooked and pairs beautifully with apples.
Restaurant
If you’re looking for a truly intimate dining experience while in one of the most romantic regions of France, look no further..
Alain Assaud in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence, France. Assaud is a rock star master chef who cooks with two apprentices and has just six tables at his restaurant in Provence. He only serves one menu each day, which almost always begins with a Soupe de Poissons de roche.
Cookbook
A husband and wife duo brings the cuisine of some of the most exotic far-off lands right into your kitchen.
Hot Sour Salty Sweet: A Culinary Journey Through Southeast Asia. Authors Jeffrey Alford and Naomi Duguid serve as ambassadors of Southeast Asian cooking, translating it for the Western palate. It’s probably the one cuisine I return to on a regular basis when eating out, mainly because of the large Vietnamese community in New Orleans.
Food Destination
Tapas and wine—what else could you possibly need on vacation?
Basque Region in Spain. While traveling through the local mountain villages on the way from Barcelona to San Sebastian I loved sampling all the pintxos and local wines. This is Spanish food at its best —full of culture and local personality.
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