Behind the Scenes: Calandro's Supermarket Celebrates 75 Years in Baton Rouge

Calandro's Supermarket has been the title sponsor of the Bite and Booze Radio Show since it hit the airwaves in 2011, and since then, our relationship with the store has grown in immeasurable ways.

Behind the scenes at Landry Vineyards, Jay Ducote chats with Jeff Landry

In many ways, if I hadn't had the store's support, I wouldn't be where I am today. That's why making this video for them didn't require a second thought. They play a huge part in the local community and should be celebrated as much as any locally owned restaurant for contributing to the Baton Rouge food scene. 

Jay talks with Mike Coullard of Panola Pepper Company, where Jay D's sauces are bottled

When I launched Jay D's Louisiana Barbecue Sauce over a year ago, Calandro's didn't just put it on their shelves. They threw me an over-the-top launch party timed with the Fourth of July. They helped roll out my Blanc du Bois collaboration with Landry Vineyards and more recently Jay D's Louisiana Molasses Mustard.

In a small way, this video gave me a way to give back to the Calandro family. I'm really proud and happy with the resulting ad celebrating Calandro's 75th year in Baton Rouge.

Working with tommysTV always makes the process easy and fun, and the finished product is always gorgeous. Some of my favorite shots are the ones we took at Landry Vineyards and the ones just driving through the state. 

If you haven't watched the video, take a look! Happy 75th year, Calandro's!

Cooking Culture with Stephany Novoa

To call Stephany Novoa a prodigy wouldn't be an overstatement. The Sous Chef at Mestizo Louisiana Mexican Cuisine in Baton Rouge balances being a full-time business student at LSU with her culinary career and family life.

Stephany (far right) stands behind the prep table in this behind-the-scenes shot with other featured LCI chefs

Stephany grew up cooking with her Honduran family, though her mother wasn't initially pleased with her culinary ambitions.

Stephany is one of LCI's great success stories. She's young, ambitious, and helping mold Baton Rouge's restaurant culture.

Check out this video, made by tommystv in conjunction with Visit Baton Rouge and LCI, to learn more about Stephany!

Cooking Culture with Chef Traci Vincent

By now you're probably familiar with the Cooking Culture series we made with tommysTV featuring Visit Baton Rouge and four successful Louisiana Culinary Institute graduates.

Chef Traci Vincent was the first LCI student we interviewed. Her openness, her warm personality, and her great sense of humor proved her the perfect Cooking Culture candidate.

Chef Traci Vincent displaying her culinary chops for the cameras at Louisiana Culinary Institute 

The Baton Rouge native discovered her passion for cooking Louisiana cuisine when she was working in Washington, D.C. She missed home, and she missed the food she grew up with, so she started cooking for herself and for her friends.

She moved back home, enrolled at LCI, and the rest you can watch here:

Free Booze Friday: Get to Know Brodie

It's Friday! And it's not too early to start sipping on some free booze. Or, just live vicariously through Jay and his puppet pals by watching our Free Booze Friday video series on Geek Nation.

By now, you might have caught on that each Friday, Jay tries to drop some knowledge on the gang about what they're drinking, and they spend the entire time harassing each other and Jay.

This week we'll hear from Brodie. Brodie's favorite things are drinking "Mic Ultras," hitting on any woman in a 10-mile radius, and suggesting body shots constantly. 

Get to know Brodie by checking out his answers to a Myspace survey down below. Fun fact: Brodie hasn't changed his visor since Myspace was relevant back in 2007.

Cheers!

Brody (far left) hanging with the Free Booze Friday crew and Jay

1. Does a kiss make you feel better?

I need a little more to make me feel better…

2. Have you ever passed out on the bathroom floor?

Do you mean have I ever had a good time? Um YAH

3. What did you do today?

Chilled

4. Have you ever brushed your teeth while in the shower?

Yeah multitasking is a specialty

5. Ever been in love?

No, but don’t tell any of my exes I said that.

6. Would you rather be in a permanent relationship or play the field?

Honeys love it when you say the word “relationship”

7. What is your favorite sport?

LAX

8. What color is your shower curtain?

My mom bought me one with the map of the world on it so I would learn geography

9. Have you ever had stitches?

Yeah from that time I cracked my head open on my frat's annual ski trip

10. Lyrics stuck in your head?

"SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS, SHOTS, EVERYBODY!"

11. What are you doing tomorrow?

Your mom

12. Who was the last person you couldn't take your eyes off of?

This hot mom at the grocery store

13. What is your favorite cereal?

Fruit Loops...no homo

14. What are you doing right at this moment?

Your mom. Refer to question number 4.

15. Do you think it’s right for straight guys to get their tongue pierced?

Absolutely not

16. Where's your favorite place to be?

Shredding some sweet slopes with my bros

17. Have you ever been arrested?

I got a couple MIPs back in the day

18. Do you dream in black and white?

What?

19. Are you a redneck?

Are you a dumbass?

20. Funniest thing you heard all day?

I said this really funny thing earlier...

21. What are you afraid of?

Looking at my bank account after a night out

Cooking Culture with Chef Nathan Gresham

If you didn't know, a few months ago, Team Bite and Booze collaborated with Visit Baton Rouge, TommysTV, and four Louisiana Culinary Institute graduates to showcase what Baton Rouge's food scene has to offer.

Behind the scenes in the kitchen at Beausoleil 

One of the chefs we got to interview was Chef Nathan Gresham at Beausoleil Restaurant & Bar. Chef Nathan journeyed across the country taking on a number of cooking jobs before winding up as a chef-owner at Beausoleil. His story is definitely unique, but not unheard of around here.

People have a tendency to fall in love with Baton Rouge.

Chefs Ryan Andre' and Nathan Gresham prepare an outdoor dinner for the Cooking Culture video series

Without further adieu, here's Chef Nathan Gresham in his own words.

Be sure to check out all four of the Cooking Culture videos!

Free Booze Friday: Get to Know Stephen

Happy Friday, everyone! Have you seen any of our Free Booze Friday videos at Geek Nation yet? 

Jay plays a bartender and tries to educate a crew of rowdy puppets about what they're drinking. It almost never goes according to plan.

Today, we'll hear from our favorite hipster Stephen. We all know and love a Stephen or two, but is Stephen too cool to fill out a Myspace-style survey? Or will he be willing to answer ironically? Read on to find out more.

Stephen is all about stopping the hate, stopping the judgement, and #STOPKONY2012

1. Last beverage:

Double shot non-fat soy latte

2. Last phone call:

I was calling my local record store to see if they had a limited edition of Arcade Fire’s “Neon Bible” available. They didn’t.

3. Last song you listened to:

I have "Intro" by Alt J on repeat. Just to clarify this is the intro from the first album.

4. Last time you cried:

When LCD Sound System announced they were splitting up.

5. Have you dated someone twice?

Yes, I’m a big believer in recycling.

6. Have you ever been cheated on?

It is impossible to be cheated on in an open relationship

7. Kissed someone & regretted it?

Let’s just say all American girls are ALL hype.

8. Have you lost someone special?

Yes, the death of Jim Morrison greatly affected me.

9. What are your three favorite colors?

Every neutral color and black

10. Met someone who changed you in the past month?

Every person I meet has a profound impact on my life.

11. How many kids do you want:

Only one. Over population of the planet is a real issue.

12. Do you want to change your name?

No I am perfectly content with my identity, thank you. 

13. What did you do for your last birthday?

Two words: organic vineyard.

14. What time did you wake up today?

Right before sunrise so that I could do yoga as the sun came up.

15. Name something you CANNOT wait for:

New artisan bagel shop is supposed to open down the street.

16. Last time you saw your mother:

Does FaceTime count?

17. Most visited webpage:

Invisiblechildren.org

18. Relationship status:

Single

19. Zodiac sign:

Aquarius

20. Male or female:

I guess society wants me to say male so let's go with that.

21. Piercings:

I have a septum piercing but I hide it because, you know, society.

22. Tattoos:

Am I a stereotype to you?

23. Strong or Weak?

There is nothing wrong with being emotionally vulnerable, especially when it comes to your music.

Cooking Culture with Chef Ryan Andre'

Earlier this year, Team Bite and Booze had the opportunity to collaborate with Visit Baton Rouge, TommysTV, and a handful of Louisiana Culinary Institute graduates to showcase the ever-growing food scene in the capital city.

Behind the scenes during the filming of Cooking Culture at City Pork Brasserie and Bar with Chef Ryan Andre'

For the first video in the series, we sat down with Chef Ryan Andre' to learn about his journey to becoming a chef and what he hopes to bring to the Baton Rouge culinary scene.

Signage leading to the City Pork kitchen

We learned that each of these chefs came into the culinary world from different backgrounds and circumstances, and each of the featured chefs contributes their own unique cuisine to Baton Rouge.

Filming, scripting, and getting to watch these talented chefs do what they do best was quite an experience.

Be sure to check out all four of the Cooking Culture videos.

Free Booze Friday: Get to Know Lorraine

by Sydney "Brown Nose" Blanchard

If you haven't heard yet, Free Booze Friday is officially a thing up and running at Geek Nation. So far, we've released seven of the episodes, and they've been getting a lot of love. We're stoked!

We've got a cast of hilarious characters on Free Booze Friday, but what are they like when they're not drunkenly harassing Jay?

We decided to have each of them fill out a Myspace survey circa 2007 to find out who they REALLY are. Check out Lorraine's answers down below.

1. Last beverage:

A nice glass of Yellowtail!

2. Last phone call:

My third husband Carl called to tell me the cat we share custody of died. Rest in peace, Mittens.

3. Last song you listened to:

"London Bridge" by Fergie

4. Last time you cried:

I'm crying right now.

5. Have you dated someone twice?

I married, divorced, and remarried my first husband Craig.

6. Have you lost someone special?

Yes, my dearly departed fifth husband Christopher. Or was it Chester...? No, it was Christopher!

7. If you could change your name, what would it be?

I might as well change my name to Madonna. People are always confusing me for her!

8. What did you do for your last birthday?

Went to the Taj Mahal with my late husband Christopher. There, I met a snake charmer named Raja who taught me a thing or two about charming his snake if you know what I mean ;)

9. What time did you wake up today?

I woke up at 11 a.m. today

10. Name something you CANNOT wait for?

I CANNOT wait to get to the bottom of this stupid survey

11. Most visited webpage:

eHarmony.com

12. Zodiac sign:

Gemini

13. Height:

2’5"

14. Tattoos:

Wouldn't you like to know!