This week we look at the legendary New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival -- including visiting the makers of some of the famous Jazz Fest dishes that fans wait all year for.  All the varieties of food at Jazz Fest can be a little overwhelming when you see them for the first time: from Crawfish Bread and Cajun Jambalaya, to Pecan Catfish Meuniere and Tagine of Lamb, Creole Filé Gumbo, Cajun Duck Po-Boy, Shrimp and Grits, Ya Ka Mein, and Rosemint Tea.  Everyone has their favorites, and revisit them every eyar while trying out new annual additions to the menu.  Check out this 2015 list of Jazz Fest foods here: http://www.nojazzfest.com/food/food-list/

There's also a wonderful Food Heritage Stage at Jazz Fest, where Louisiana cuisine is the star: local chefs, caterers, and food writers demonstrate preparation of dishes ranging from home cooked comfort food to fine dining.  Demonstrators this year include: http://www.nojazzfest.com/food/food-heritage-stage-2015/

We don't have Fireman Mike's recipe for Alligator Sauce Piquante -- but here's a great interview with Fireman Mike from 2010:  http://www.nola.com/jazzfest/index.ssf/2010/04/fireman_mikes_jazz_fest_booth.html

THIS WEEK'S TRACK LISTING: 

(music bed) Duke Ellington - "Blues for New Orleans" 
Lightnin' Hopkins - "Mojo Hand / Baby, Please Don't Go" (Live at Jazz Fest 1976)
(music bed) Lou Donaldson - "Alligator Bogaloo" 
Cedric Watson - "Cochon de Lait"
Joe Krown Organ Combo - "Bring Me BBQ Baby" 
The Meters - "Jambalaya"
(music bed) Elvis Presley - "Crawfish" 
(music bed) Herb Albert & the Tijuana Brass - "Crawfish" 
Allen Toussaint - "I Could Eat Crawfish Everyday"
(music bed) Panorama Jazz Band - "Sunny Side of the Street" 
Panorama Jazz Band - "Dulgo Horo" 
(music bed) Duke Ellington - "Second Line" 

NEW ORLEANS CALLING is a production of WWOZ, listener-supported community radio in the Crescent City.
Your host, writer, editor, interviewer, audio engineer, and co-producer is George Ingmire.
Dave Ankers is the producer.
Melanie Merz is the supervising producer.
Additional production by Jorge Fuentes.
National distribution is managed by Russell Shelton and Carmen Connor Post.
Web support by David Stafford.
Executive Producer is WWOZ’s General Manager David Freedman.

The producers of New Orleans Calling would like to give special thanks to Matthew Goldman of the New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival presented by Shell.

Additional thanks to: 
Sally Young and Melanie Merz, for their voice talents;
WWOZ's Maryse Dejean, Scott Borne, Dee Lindsey, Crystal Gross, Lauren Del Rio, Leslie Molson, Beau Royster, and Dwayne Breashears.