For the past few years with all the Hollywood folks in town it’s not unusual for someone at Whole Foods in New Orleans to whisper, “Do you know who that is?” It’s usually a celebrity who looks quite different in the cereal aisle from how she looks like on screen.

Today on Out to Lunch Peter’s playing a business version of “Do you know who that is?”

Do you know who Jay Hakes is?

Or Rob Lalka?

Unless you’re familiar with the highest levels of federal government, private-public entrepreneurship, and international energy policy, there’s a good chance you don’t recognize their names. You could Google them. Or you could stick around for 30 minutes and get to meet two of the most impressive New Orleans business celebrities this side of Canal Street.

Rob Lalka is one the driving forces at business incubator Propeller, and he worked in Hilary Clinton’s State Department. Jay Hakes was President Obama’s adviser on the Deepwater Horizon oil spill, and has just gotten back from talking about drilling in Cuba.

Photos at Commander’s Palace by Dionne Grayson.