Coming February 9

Some places survive by changing with the times. Others survive by knowing exactly what matters and protecting it.

In this episode of the Retire Southern Podcast, James Lewis travels to New Orleans to spend time inside Arnaud’s Restaurant, a French Quarter institution that has endured for more than a century by choosing care over convenience and tradition over trend.

The conversation unfolds across the people who carry Arnaud’s forward every day.

Photographs courtesy of Arnaud's

“The details matter in this business, but more importantly, it’s how you treat people.”

Owner Archie Casbarian reflects on growing up inside the restaurant, stewarding generational traditions, and the responsibility that comes with preserving not just a dining room, but a piece of New Orleans culture. Bartender Christoph Dornemann takes us inside the French 75 Bar, exploring classic cocktail ritual, hidden tiki influences, and why consistency is an act of respect. Chef de Cuisine Tommy DiGiovanni shares the discipline behind iconic dishes like soufflé potatoes, Filet Mignon au Poivre, Duck Ellen, and Trout Meuniere, and what it means to cook for guests who remember how it tasted 40 years ago. Director of Sales Kaitlin Rodgers explains how Arnaud’s has become a place where weddings, family celebrations, and milestone moments return again and again.

Together, they tell a story about stewardship. About gathering. About why some places do not simply exist, but endure.

This is not an episode about nostalgia.
It is about responsibility.

What’s Coming 2/9

The history and evolution of Arnaud’s Restaurant in the French Quarter
Inside the French 75 Bar and its balance of classic cocktails and tropical influences
Why consistency matters more than creativity in a century old kitchen
How private dining and gathering shape community over generations
The role Arnaud’s plays in preserving Mardi Gras culture beyond the parade routes

Until then, explore more stories about food, place, and intentional living across the South.