The Red Beans Roadshow is a restaurant pop-up series that takes a New Orleans’ trademark Monday-night tradition on the road. The roadshow pairs writer/photographer Pableaux Johnson with a local host chef for a night of good, simple food, and camaraderie.
Modeled on Pableaux’s New Orleans home-based tradition, each event features a hearty Louisiana supper (red beans and rice, skillet cornbread) combined with the whims of our host chef (starter and dessert courses). Less a dinner party than an informal family supper, diners are encouraged to belly up to the table and break cornbread with friends and strangers alike.
The Red Beans Roadshow now regularly holds events in Washington DC, Atlanta, New York and Nashville. Pableaux is on the road now, teaming up with an amazing roster of fantastic chefs in cities across the US. Get the Red Beans Road Shown Schedule
It all adds up to a great, informal night of Louisiana culture, with a nice slab of crunchy cornbread on the side. All attendees get some sample Camellia Red Beans to take home with a Red Beans and Rice recipe card.
Some of the great chefs that have graciously hosted the Red Beans Roadshow:
- Jimmy Bannos, Heaven on Seven, Chicago
- Jean-Paul Bourgeois, Blue Smoke
- John Fleer, Rhubarb, Asheville
- Ann Cashion, Johnny’s Half Shell, Washington DC
- Bill Smith, Crook’s Corner, Chapel Hill
- Lee Gregory & Joe Sparatta, The Roosevelt, Richmond
- Jeff Wall, Kimball House, Atlanta
- David Wondrich, Cocktail Legend, New York City
- St. John Frizell, Fort Defiance, Brooklyn
How The Red Beans Roadshow Works
It’s pretty simple, actually. Pableaux has adapted his Monday-night red beans and rice tradition to the rigors of the road. It’s a chance to take Louisiana hospitality to far-flung cities, to commune with like-minded chefs and see (and make) friends along the way.
- The Red Beans Roadshow is an ongoing series of medium-format pop-up suppers held in restaurants around the US.
- Pableaux teams up with a local partner chef for an informal family-style feast.
- He cooks red beans and skillet cornbread. The host chef serve up a simple starter (deviled eggs, hand pies, etc.) and a dessert (bread puddin’, pies pies pies).
- The Roadshow is informal, affordable and as unfussy as we can possibly make it. We gravitate toward 8-person tables (to encourage crosstalk) and a “put your phone away” policy (to encourage conversational mystery and creative storytelling).
- As ringleader and organizer, Pableaux does short explanatory dog-and-pony shows on Louisiana foodways.
- Roadshows are ticketed events (beer/wine inclusive) and seat between 50-80 folks a show. Tickets are purchased on the Red Beans Roadshow Website.
If you’re interested in hosting a Red Beans Roadshow at your establishment, Contact Pableaux Johnson.