JOHN DeMERS is a New Orleans native and author of 26 published books, including New Orleans by the Bowl, The New Orleans Seafood Cookbook, and The Food Lovers’ Guide to Texas. He is editor and publisher of the new Texas Foodlover magazine and co-host of the weekly Houston radio show, “Dish.” After graduating from LSU in Baton Rouge with a Bachelor’s then a Master’s Degree in journalism, he was a globetrotting reporter and Food Editor for United Press International, eating his way through 126 foreign countries before concentrating on the foods of home. He has served as food and wine editor of New Orleans magazine, as a weekly commentator on WYES-TV’s “Steppin’ Out,” and as co-host of New Orleans food and wine radio shows.


RHONDA FINDLEY is a freelance food and wine writer and is one of the nation’s leading broadcasters on the subject of New Orleans cuisine. A resident of the Crescent City, she has co-hosted food and wine radio shows in both Houston and New Orleans. She earned a Bachelor’s Degree in journalism from the University of Arkansas and co-authored a number of books, including The Food Lovers’ Guide to Texas, Houston Unleashed and New Orleans Unleashed.