Elizabeth Kettenring Dutrey Bégué was born in Germany in 1853. She operated her restaurant during her marriages to various husbands. She served one meal between breakfast and lunch that became known across America as brunch. She died in October 1906, and her obituary was posted in the New York Times. It stated, "MME. BEGUE DEAD: New Orleans's Famous Cordon Bleu Ruled Her Kitchen for 43 Years."
Poppy Tooker is passionate about food and the people who make it. She hosts the popular weekly radio show Louisiana Eats! Her classical training and love of New Orleans cuisine has been recognized globally through her participation in various documentary projects, and she competed on Throwdown with Bobby Flay, where her seafood gumbo was deemed better than his. The International Association of Cooking Professionals recognized Tooker with their first Community Service Award, and Southern Living magazine named her a Hero of the New South. A writer for many publications, Tooker informs readers on the importance of reviving foods that are pivotal to the Louisiana and New Orleans culture. Her previous book Louisiana Eats!: The People, the Food, and Their Stories, a companion to her radio show, received the Literary Award of the Year in 2014 from the Louisiana Library Association. Tooker lives and cooks in New Orleans.
