The first in a series of shows following New Orleans newcomer Ruby Bloch as she tries to break into the New Orleans restaurant business. In this installment she gets her first job as an assistant pastry chef.

Craig Giesecke was a big shot journalist for the Associated Press in Florida before giving it all up to blog and cook in New Orleans. His writing and his food have both had an impact on a surprising number of lives including his +1 Hirsh Katzen and hosts Margo Moss and Ray Cannata.

Chef Dan Esses Three Muses and his +1 Chef Nathaniel Zimet Boucherie tell war stories about starting out together with New Orleans’ worst boss in a once-great Marigny restaurant, and open up about life, near-death, and what they might stoop to for $10,000.

The power-packed personalities of Patois and Tru Burger‘s Aaron Burgau and Leon Touzet swing from Jesuit High, to banning customers for life, riding horses, shooting ducks, Mardi Gras, and, incidentally somewhere along the way, running a fine restaurant and a burger joint.

Dean Ellis is the quintessential bartender: funny, smart, charming, and speaks Portugese. He’s also a NOLA service industry insider with a bunch of hilarious war stories. His +1 is equally entertaining artist Kris Wenschuh who came to NOLA from “Commie East Germany”.