Food writing, gumbo, and big transitions with Sara Roahen in SLO

Sara Roahen is a food writer who lives in San Luis Obispo — but who left her heart in New Orleans. She lived there for 17 years, working first as a line cook in professional kitchens, and later as the food critic for the alternative weekly paper called Gambit. Sara grew up in the Midwest, so she was an outsider in New Orleans but came to love the people and flavors of the place so much she joined the Southern Foodways Alliance, a nonprofit that records and promotes the food traditions throughout the American South. She also wrote the book Gumbo Tales: Finding my Place at the New Orleans Table, whose chapters focus on different dishes and their champions throughout the city. Now a resident of the Central Coast, Sara considers herself “still in transition” from urban New Orleanian to rural Californian. Listen in as we talk about Hurricane Katrina, discovering Cattaneo Brothers linguica, and re-finding her voice.

Website: sararoahen.com

Instagram: @sararoahen