Red Beans and Ricely Yours

Sure, Louis Armstrong could really get things cookin’ up on the bandstand, but he knew all about the kind of cookin’ that goes on in the kitchen too. Growing up in New Orleans, a city known for its gastronomic traditions, Louis developed a strong relationship with food, drink and weight control. Even his setlists are evidence of his love of the edible, strewn with tunes like “Big Butter & Egg Man,” “Cheesecake,” and “Struttin’ With Some Barbecue.” The man loved to eat so much that Queens College of New York and The Louis Armstrong Archives have gathered enough photographs, letters, manuscripts, and menus to host an exhibit that looks at the intimate relationship Louis Armstrong had with food and drink.

The playful exhibit, Red Beans and Ricely Yours, Louis Armstrong, runs until May 30th at the Louis Armstrong Archives in New York City and features some material that has never before been exhibited or published. For more information, including exhibition hours, call (718) 997-3670.

Originally Published February 7, 2001