Red State Beans & Rice

VOICEOVER:
This program is supported by Archer Daniels Midland, supermarket to the world. The Corporation for Public Broadcasting. And viewers like you. But mostly viewers like me. And viewers like Kenneth Tomlinson, who is now standing over me with a whip. Here's Cathy Caraway.

CATHY:
Hi, I'm Cathy Caraway. Welcome to The American Diner, bringing you to the best kept secret restaurants all over the country. This week we're in a place that no show about food can ignore, the great City of New Orleans, at Joe's Creole Heaven. And we get to spend the next half hour with Joe himself, Joe DuBois, head chef and proprietor. Thank you for having us.

JOE:
My pleasure.

CATHY:
What are you going to be making for us today?

JOE:
This is one of our specialties for breakfast, Joe's Creole French Toast.

CATHY:
Really. And is there a reason why it has to be called that?

JOE:
Why it has to be called Joe's? Because I'm Joe.

CATHY:
But why is it French Toast? Why does it have to be called French? Isn't it American? Isn't this America after all?

JOE:
Sure, but it is French. And there's a lot of Creole food that has a strong French influence, just like all of New Orleans does.

CATHY:
Yes, but you didn't have to call it French, did you.

JOE:
I guess not. So anyway, you start with 2 cups of heavy cream and 2 large beaten eggs.

CATHY:
So in the edited version of our show and on the web site, we're just going to call it Joe's Toast, is that okay?

JOE:
Sure, fine. So you take a large bowl and you combine the cream, the eggs, and just a little bit of vanilla extract.

CATHY:
So why do you think Louisiana has always been a Red State?

JOE:
A red state? You mean like red beans and rice?

CATHY:
No, not that icky stuff. I wouldn't eat that. I mean you're from Louisiana, you like Louisiana, you're comfortable here, and of course you know that it's a Red State.

JOE:
You mean like communist or something?

CATHY:
No, no, hardly, not at all. I mean it's a Red State. You live in a Red State.

JOE:
You mean with red people? Indians? Native Americans I mean?

CATHY:
No, I mean it's a Red State. It votes Republican. You all vote Republican.

JOE:
I don't know how we all vote.

CATHY:
Well the data is unmistakable. Look at 2004. Look at 2000.

JOE:
Two thousand what?

CATHY:
The election. The election in 2000.

JOE:
Are you hear to eat or what?

CATHY:
I just mean it's obvious that you all vote Republican because you have such strong spiritual values, family values, faith in the free market, and so on.

JOE:
What's a "so on?"

CATHY:
Well, you believe in the culture of life.

JOE:
What's the alternative?

CATHY:
I'm just saying that must be why you all vote Republican.

JOE:
I'm just trying to make French toast here. Can I just make the French toast please?

CATHY:
It's Joe's Toast. I thought we were clear about that. Joe's Toast.

JOE:
I don't give a damn what you call it, okay lady? You're driving me up a wall here. You want to watch me make French toast here or don't you?

CATHY:
This is the Public Broadcasting System and we do not use that kind of permissive, anything goes language that represents the worst of liberal thinking. Do you understand this now?

JOE:
Sure. So then you take a smaller bowl and you mix the sugar and the cinnamon.

CATHY:
Do you understand what we have to do here?

JOE:
I believe I do.

CATHY:
Are you going to work with us here Joe? Are you part of the team?

CATHY:
Good. Now when are you going to serve this to all those good Louisiana Republicans?

JOE:
Right after they've voted to destroy Social Security. I think they'll be hungry then.