Chef Paul Prudhomme
 Paul Prudhomme July 13, 1940 – October 8, 2015 |
One time I was sent on a mission to the local gourmet shop in Dutch Square for gumbo filé which is aka Filé powder, a spicy herb made from the dried and ground leaves of the North American sassafras tree.
Yes, I followed the careers of the likes of Justin Wilson, Emeril Lagasse and even Rachel Ray for a time in the pursuit of an understanding of the cajun and Louisiana Creole food culture as a matter of personal interest cultivated through my interaction with my uncle.
Paul Prudhomme aka Gene Autry Prudhomme,was an American celebrity chef whose specialties were Creole and Cajun cuisines.
He ran a Louisiana Kitchen in New Orleans as well as several other restaurants. He was an inventor of culinary products including seasonings and hot sauce and was a prolific food author.
He was beloved of his friend the late Dom DeLuise who claimed himself a look-alike.
He had a lengthy weight problem throughout his life and passed at age 75 in New Orleans on October 8, 2015 following a brief illness.
He was a true chef extraordinare and his work was gastronomic perfection.