NPR “Weekend Edition”
A New Cookbook Pays Tribute to Two New Orleans Staples—‘Rhythm & Roux’
Bandleader and bassist Peter Harris (right) plays with drummer Herlin Riley (left) at Bayou Bar in New Orleans.
Catie Dull/NPR
Music and food are inseparable at Bayou Bar, a dark and intimate venue along the streetcar line on St. Charles Ave. It's where bassist Peter Harris leads a jazz combo most nights of the week, while chef Brian Landry serves up a seasonal menu of delicious food to those lucky enough to nab a table.
"Every night, there are the best musicians in the city playing in this room," Landry says. "There's really almost no separation between the bandstand and the room, so it almost feels like they're actually playing in your living room while you have dinner. […] As a chef, I have been inspired by the culinary traditions that blend European techniques with bold Creole and Cajun flavors. Peter [Harris] has drawn his artistry from the deep roots of the city's musical innovation, improvisation, and rhythm."
Brian Landry says his goal with Rhythm & Roux, and his food in general, is to honor all those culinary influences: many of the recipes in the cookbook can be found on the menus at his restaurants.