Chef Paul Prudhomme gestures during an interview at his French Quarter restaurant, K-Paul’s Louisiana Kitchen, in New Orleans, Friday, February 2, 2007.
Advertisement
Prudhomme, known to many as Chef Paul, became a worldwide celebrity for his culinary skills in creole cuisine, which he helped popularize in his 50-plus year career.
See the full WWL story here.
Prudhomme was born in Opelousas, Louisiana, and was the youngest of 13 children, according to the biography on his website. That was back in the days when K-Paul’s didn’t accept reservations or credit cards!
Prudhomme is survived by his wife, Lori, whom he married in 2010. For a while, lines stretched down Chartres Street with locals and tourists waiting to get in.
“A book could be written about his influence on the New Orleans, Louisiana, American and world cuisines”, said WWL Radio restaurant critic Tom Fitzmorris in his New Orleans Menu daily email. “He grew up in a large, poor Cajun family and turned himself into a world-class chef”. A few people absorb in different ways. He then began developing his own spices, and eventually made his way to New Orleans, where he worked at the restaurant Maison du Puy. His wife Kay died in 1993.
K-Paul’s confirmed Prudhomme’s death Thursday morning.
During his time at Commander’s Palace, Prudhomme hired a young Emeril Lagasse to work in the kitchen. He hosted several cooking shows and authored nine cookbooks, a few of them bestsellers, according to his biography. During that time, he created his own spice mixes and gave them to away to customers.
Advertisement
Today, his Magic Seasoning Blends are sold nationwide.
