Although many modern bartenders find the Ramos Gin Fizz to be a nuisance at best. and more work than it is worth at worst. But that famous drink, invented by Charles Ramos, continues to fascinate us. John Shelton Reed, storyteller, author, and historian of the south, tells the tale of the Ramos Gin Fizz in his new book by that name.

John Shelton Reed

Want to know more? Listen. It’s on Tip of the Tongue.

The list of writings by John Shelton Reed is a long one. Notable among them and apropos of this book is his book entitled Dixie Bohemia: A French Quarter Circle in the 1920s, Louisiana State University Press, 2012).

Many people work in stressful environments. It can take its toll on you, leading to unhealthy attempts to find relief from that stress. Drugs and alcohol are high on the list of the types of self-medication that might be pursued.. Southern Smoke, a nonprofit organization that supports people in the hospitality industry from the stress of financial insecurity to mental heath issues.

We talk to Cat Bill is the Chief Mission Officer of Southern Smoke. She walks us through their programs like the Emergency Relief Fund, Behind You - the no-cost counseling, and the Crisis Toolkit. These are all available to F & B workers.

A symposium is coming up in November in New Orleans. Check out the line-up. I’ll be there. Listen. It’s on Tip of the Tongue.

Do you consider a restaurant to be a business? Is the chef an artist or a craftsperson turning out identical versions of the same thing? What is your expectation from a restaurant? Adam Reiser has been a part of the wait staff in many high-end restaurants. He has seen many catastrophes happen. And he shares his experiences and his ideas about guests and guest comportment in his new book, The New Rules of DIning Out: An Insider’s Guide to Enjoying Restaurants. Listen to our conversation. It’s on Tip of the Tongue.

Adam Reiner is a James Beard Foundation award-winning writer. Calling on his previous experience as part of the wait-staff at restaurants, he now writes about food for many publications.