There was a time when there were many gentlemen’s dining clubs. There is something very 19th century about them. And there are probably not that many that are descended from a club that has been around for a good while. Although it is a 20th century club, the New Orleans club - the Escargot Society - is a spiritual descendant of those clubs where gentlemen met to appreciate good wine and food. Dominic Massa, a member of the Escargot Society, joins us to talk about the club’s history. Listen, it’s on Tip of the Tongue.

The snail on the wall at Antoine’s designed by John Chase

Dominic Massa

Imagine being part of the United Cajun Navy and helping people during a disaster! They help people during floods, fires, and freezing storms to recover from natural destruction and devastation. In addition the organization, made up of volunteers, has embraced solving the problem of food insecurity.

We talk with Brian Trasher, spokesperson and vice-president of the United Cajun Navy. Listen. It’s on TIp of the Tongue.

Go on the website if you are interested in volunteering or donating.

Do you like tequila? Ted Genoways has written an exciting, cinematic account of the Cuervo family and the development of the tequila industry. With research deep into records in longhand in Spanish, French, and English, Genoways pieced together the fascinating and exciting story that parallels the development of modern Mexico as well as the modern tequila industry.

He tells us all about it. Listen. It’s on Tip of the Tongue.

I recommend that you drink your favorite tequila cocktail while you listen to the podcast.

We would all benefit from living well and eating well, with a goal of holistic living. But how does anyone accomplish such a goal? We talk to Erin Clifford about her new book that not only explains the goals, but that functions as a workbook for getting there.

Read more about Erin. and her new book.

Who knew that there was more for Meathead to teach us about grilling and barbecue? His new book, The Meathead Method, is full of new information, great recipes, and terrific photos. It gives us great tips, clear instructions, warnings of pitfalls, and lots of ideas and explanations. It teaches in a way that makes you want more. Listen. It’s on Tip of the Tongue.

You can learn more about Meathead and his website, full of recipes and other information for perfecting your own techniques.

And read about Meathead on Wikipedia.

New to vegetarianism? Just flirting with it? This book is perfect for you. It is full of delicious food and great ideas. It isn’t about eating a certain way, flavor be damned. It is all about eating delicious and interesting food.

We talk to Laura Lee Flanagan about her new book, Hardcore Vegetarian: Welcome to the Vegedome! She is a lawyer and has a PhD in literature. She is so many things, and she brings all of her talents and her versatility to the food in her book.

The photography in this book is quite luscious. And the recipes are a far cry from the ordinary. You will enjoy cooking from this book.

We are all aware of fair trade coffee. But Non-Fiction Coffee Coffee Company has taken this idea beyond the basics of fair trade. The company wants to have real relationships with the growers and producers. You can learn their stories as you sip your coffee and be a part of appreciating the effort that goes into growing those beans each year.

We speak with Jeff Daniels. He is the Director of Sales and Business Development for Non-Fiction Coffee in Birmingham, Alabama. The beans are available in Birmingham and online.

Award-winning writer, John Birdsall, the author of cookbooks and the biography of James Beard, The Man Who Ate Too Much, has written a new book. What Is Queer Food? How We Served a Revolution. We talk about that very question, about the book and what Birdsall was trying to achieve, and much more. It certainly made me think about food as a way to communicate with the world in the 20th century. Listen. It’s on Tip of the Tongue.

Read more about the concept of queer food. And more about John Birdsall. John publishes a newsletter, Shifting the Food Narrative on Substack, and is on Instagram @john_birdsall.