Emeril’s Delmonico Chef de Cuisine Anthony Scanio looks like he’s directing traffic at a busy intersection, but actually he’s just sitting down with a beer to have an amiable chat with Ray and Margo. 

Animated Chef Anthony is a whirlwind of wonderful tales about Arabi, Italy, crabs, mrlitons, kids, Creole cooking, Disney World, Mardi Gras, meat, and the sheer joy of changing your entire life’s path to follow your dream.

Chef Anthony’s +1 guest, Emeril’s Delmonico Sous Chef Darren Chabert, is also blazing his own trail out of childhood St Roch. Like Chef Anthony, Darren decided after spending 13 years in the army that what he really should be doing is cooking.

Darren brought along a charcuterie selection from Emeril’s Delmonico.

Chef Anthony ends the evening on a high note, treating everyone to homemade liquers, including the magical Elixir of the Seven Powers, and Ruclino, believe it or not a delicious alcoholic shot of arugula. 

If you ever need a shot of reassurance that following your dreams is not only possible but rewarding in every way, and that the joys of life are to be found in New Orleans simply in the pursuit of everyday existence, listen to this inspiring conversation.