In this episode, presented by New Orleans & Company, ELLE Gourmet Editor-at-Large Catherine Lefebvre has an in-depth conversation with Chef Serigne Mbaye and Dr. Afua Effie Richardson of Dakar NOLA, recently ranked No. 4 on the 2026 North America's 50 Best Restaurants list and named Best Restaurant in the American South. Chef Mbaye reflects on the rise of West African cuisine in New Orleans, the deep connections between Senegalese and Southern foodways, and how Dakar NOLA is helping redefine the city’s culinary identity.

Also featured in the episode, two of New Orleans’ most iconic bites tell very different, but equally revealing stories of the city’s culinary identity. At Brennan's, Bananas Foster—created in the 1950s and still flambéed tableside—captures the theatrical, celebratory spirit of New Orleans dining, where dessert becomes performance. The muffuletta, meanwhile, traces its origins to Sicilian immigrants and the legendary Central Grocery, where the olive salad–layered sandwich became a defining symbol of the city’s Italian-American heritage. To explore its contemporary evolution, the episode also includes an interview at Cochon Butcher, where chefs reflect on how this classic is being reinterpreted for a new generation while staying rooted in tradition.

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In this episode, brought to you by Tourism Montreal, chef Juan Lopez Luna—co-owner of Alma—joins ELLE Gourmet Editor-at-Large Catherine Lefebvre to reflect on his long journey back to his Mexican roots and the rediscovery of his culinary identity. This turning point ultimately led Alma to be named Best Mexican Restaurant Outside of Mexico in 2025 by Culinary Mexicana. You can also read his portrait in the Spring/Summer 2026 issue of ELLE Gourmet.

Lesley Chesterman, who was a restaurant critic in Montreal for 20 years, shares her thoughts on the city’s food scene in her second cookbook, A Montreal Cook: Recipes and Reflections from My Kitchen. And, Kate Boushel—mixologist and co-owner of the Barroco Group (Atwater Cocktail Club, Milky Way, FoieGwa)—reveals her go-to recipe for the perfect paloma, one of Mexico’s signature cocktails.

Subscribe to Taste Talks by ELLE Gourmet for insider conversations on cooking trends, culinary travel, and food culture. Each episode brings you closer to the people and places shaping what's on our plates.

Join our newsletter

Visit our website

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Hosted on Ausha. See ausha.co/privacy-policy for more information.