Editor’s Note: The Historic New Orleans Collection and The New Orleans Advocate present this occasional series looking back on the people, events and traditions that have shaped the Crescent City. The ...

(Editor's note: The following was taken from "The Picayune's Creole Cook Book," circa 1901 and content may be dated) First, it will be necessary to explain here, for the benefit of many, that "File" ...

My pantry could be used as a test for culinary knowledge. There are loads of various spices, herbs, oils, sugars, flours, leavening agents and dried fruits. Many times, my husband has asked, “Where is ...

Try it: File (FEE-lay) powder is prized for its woodsy flavoring and for its thickening properties in gumbo, soups and stews. Some glean a hint of thyme in its flavor. File powder is an important ...

Janie Luster of the Houma nation is not only a great historian helping to preserve her culture, but also she, like her parents before, is a great cook. The Native Americans in her area made gumbo ...

Filé powder is the ground leaf of the sassafras tree, historically used by Choctaw cooks and healers in what’s now Louisiana. As European settlers moved into the area, they adopted the Choctaws’ use ...

As someone who binge-watched “Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators” on Netflix, I don’t shy away from the gauntlet. Recently, a reader threw one down. Granted, it had a ...

To an outsider, gumbo is a mix of hearty meats and vegetables typically served over rice — and that's it. To Louisianans, however, the food is much more. It's a staple at gatherings, a secret family ...

Filé powder has been used by cooks in the Louisiana region for centuries. Filé is the ground leaf of the sassafras tree, Sassafras albidum, a member of the laurel family. Native to North America, the ...