Episode
Neighborhood Cuisine, Done Right: Inside Napoleon House
- Published
- Feb 23, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 2602
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Summary
Napoleon House has never tried to be anything other than what it is. In this episode of the Retire Southern Podcast, James Lewis sits down with Chris Montero, Executive Chef and General Manager of Napoleon House, to explore what it means to care for one of the French Quarter's most enduring neighborhood institutions. An eighth generation New Orleanian, Montero brings his family's traditions into the kitchen every day. His red beans are made without soaking and built on three kinds of pork fat, cooked the same way his grandmother made them. He favors the classic Pimm's Cup served over ice, light and restrained, just as it has been for generations. His connection to Napoleon House is not theoretical. It is lived. The conversation moves through food, cocktails, history, and the responsibility of stewardship. It is a story about loving a place enough to protect it, about honoring history without freezing it in time, and about the people who make an institution feel like it belongs to everyone who walks through the door. Listen to the full episode and read the complete written feature at retiresouthern.com.