Our Teaching Chefs

Frank Brigtsen graciously agreed to create the course curriculum for the New Orleans Cooking Experience and teaches classes on a regular basis.  Brigtsen is at the forefront of a new generation of New Orleans chefs who are revitalizing Creole/Acadian cooking.  Co-owner of Brigtsen's Restaurant with his wife, Marna, Frank has applied an inventive personal touch to seven years of training in classic Louisiana cooking under internationally acclaimed Chef Paul Prudhomme. Patrons praise his ability to ingeniously incorporate local ingredients into his unique menu.  Brigtsen’s has a long and celebrated list of honors including:

• 1988, Food & Wine "ONE OF AMERICA'S TOP TEN NEW CHEFS."
• 1994, "CHEF OF THE YEAR" in New Orleans magazine's annual poll of local chefs and restaurateurs.
• 1998, James Beard Award for "AMERICAN EXPRESS BEST CHEF:  SOUTHEAST
• TOP CAJUN RESTAURANT" in the 2000 Zagat survey.                 

Chiqui Collier, a native New Orleanian, has owned and operated a catering company for over 27 years.  Additionally her company specializes in providing desserts, wedding cakes and baked goods to other area caterers.  She also worked as sous chef and pastry chef for Ristorante Pastore.  Chiqui is the author of “Cookery N’Orleans Style” featuring New Orleans home cooking, family recipes and reminiscences of New Orleans.   Her book is featured on the Gumbo Pages website, a favorite site about Louisiana culture and cuisine.  Her classes focus on classic Creole and Cajun and she’s always happy to have help making the roux. 

Guest Teaching Chef Michael DeVidts from House on Bayou Road:  Michael is the teaching chef in residence at the House on Bayou Road B&B, specializing in hands-on classes. A licensed tour guide as well, Michael adds historical color to every dish he teaches.

Guest Teaching Chef Susan Ridgeway:  Susan is a native New Orleanian who comes from generations of acclaimed home cooks.  Her parents were famous for their food and were in great demand as “unofficial caterers” for friends and business acquaintances.  Susan began carrying on the family tradition when some friends asked her to teach them her family recipes.  These casual sessions in Susan’s home lead to regular classes for the general public until her students began asking her to cater their parties and events.  In 1992 Susan began “Best of Susan” which grew to become one of the most acclaimed catering services in the New Orleans area. This was followed by “Gourmet to Go”, a take-out gourmet store.   In 2004 Susan sold Best of Susan and Gourmet to Go and “retired” to work on her cookbook and return to her first love, teaching.   In addition to teaching at the New Orleans Cooking Experience, Susan is often a guest teacher at the Everyday Gourmet in Jackson, Mississippi.

Poppy Tooker:   Poppy, is known as New Orleans’ “food diva”.  She heads up the New Orleans Slow Food Chapter and is a member of the international board of governors.  She is also a mainstay of the Food & Heritage program at the New Orleans Jazz Festival.   Poppy is involved in preservation of Louisiana’s traditional foods and has been invited to teach Louisiana cuisine all over the world.  Her lively classes teach students not only how to cook Louisiana regional food, but also immerses them in the history the cuisine of the area.

The New Orleans Times-Picayune recently named Poppy one of the heroes of Katrina for her role in supporting and fund-raising for both the restaurants of New Orleans and our food suppliers and fishers.

Chefs’ Night at NOCE

Famous New Orleans chefs and cooks teach in the NOCE kitchen many Wednesday and Thursday evenings. 

Past guest chefs have included

Call or email us for current listings

Click here to view our current class schedule.

Click here for current menus

The New Orleans
Cooking Experience
2275 Bayou Road
New Orleans, LA 70119
phone: 504-945-9104
e-mail us

Brigtsen's Restaurant
www.brigtsens.com