The Jeff Cavins Show (Your Catholic Bible Study Podcast) - Catholics, Cuisine, and Coronavirus

Episode Date: April 10, 2020

Jeff sits down with Chef John Folse to discuss how to cope with the effects of coronavirus. Text “jeffcavins” to 33-777 to subscribe and get added to Jeff’s shownotes email list!

You're listening to the Jeff Kaven Show, Episode 161, Catholics, Cuisine, and Coronavirus. A discussion with Chef John Falls. Hey, I'm Jeff Kavans. How do you simplify your life? How do you study the Bible? All the way from motorcycle trips to raising kids, we're going to talk about the faith and life in general. It's the Jeff Kaven Show. And I want to welcome you to the show today. Again, we're talking about the things that everybody's talking about, and that is the coronavirus, COVID-19, and how it has impacted our lives in so many different ways. And I look forward to sharing with you every week. And I'm going to be doubling that up, it looks like, just to spend a little bit more time and trying to talk about the faith and how it applies to our lives. You know, this spring, our lives were completely upset. And in the spring, my wife and I have the privilege of going down to Louisiana in spending several weeks with Chef John Fulse. And for those of you that have heard the podcast before, you've heard a lot of his story. And we get to go down there and we spend about three weeks or so. We speak all over the south in the Louisiana area, Metery, New Orleans, Baton, Rouge, Gonzales, Saname, and just all over. And this year we went down and we had a wonderful

time talking to you and spending time getting together. A lot of crawfish, very, very good. But everything stopped this year. My daughter and her husband and the three grandkids were all going to come down and we were going to spend a week together down on the bayou and kind of get an idea of what it was to be in the swamp. And we were really looking forward to that, and everything had to stop, and we ended up going back up to Minnesota. The wonderful guest is one of my best friends ever,

and we met in Israel. I took him and a lot of his friends, Sister Dulce and Michelle, Kim, and just great people, to Israel, and we became the best of friends. Well, it really hit me this year as everything has come to a halt that this has really impacted the restaurant business and the food business in general. And when it comes to food and the restaurant, Chef John Falls is at the top of the game. And he has such an interesting perspective because he is a Catholic and a very, very faithful Catholic.

He and his wife, Lolly, lived down in Gonzales, outside of Baton Rouge. and they're just models of what it means to be Catholics and business people. And in the middle of a crisis, which he's not new to, he's stepping up once again. And I thought it would be good for us to talk for a few minutes to Chef John Fulse. Let me tell you this, the sound on this is going to be different than the other shows because we're doing it on an iPad and not on the regular microphone system and all of that. So I want to introduce you once again to Chef John Fals, and if you want show notes for any of these shows, remember, all you have to do is text my name, one full name, Jeff Kavins. That's J-E-F-F-F-C-A-V-I-N-S. And all you have to do is text 3-3-7-7. You'll get the show notes. In fact, we'll put you on the list, and you'll get show notes for the show notes. the future. So I thought this would be interesting for you to hear a little bit from Chef John

False, and I hope you enjoy it. If you have any questions, just email me. That's all one word, the Jeff Kaven Show at ascensionpress.com. God bless you. I have the privilege right now of speaking to a very good friend of mine down in Louisiana. You've heard him before on the podcast, chef John False, and he is an award winning. And I say award winning, I mean multiple, multiple awards. in culinary field. He's also the owner of Revolution, which is right on Bourbon Street in New Orleans, and a false market at the airport, and a tremendous manufacturing plant as well as catering services. Chef Falls, it's good to touch base with you today during this coronavirus. Well, Jeff, thanks so much for thinking about us down here. It's trying times to say the least,

But, you know, we're all getting through it one day at a time. I had one of my little nephews, 10-year-old, 11-year-old in the hospital over the last couple of days and thought for sure that he had the virus and they're letting him out today. And it seems that it was viral, but it wasn't, thank God, it wasn't COVID. So, yeah, we've been touched in a big way here. and obviously are aware of what's going on throughout the country. And, of course, we're praying for them as well. But New Orleans is becoming ground zero.

Well, Emily and I were so blessed to be with you for about three weeks down in Baton Rouge prior to coming back up to Minnesota as this was really breaking loose at that point. And I know that your whole life is the food industry. And you work with hundreds and hundreds of people who, their lives are affected as well. What does this mean to someone like yourself who's responsible for so many people right now? Well, Jeff, that's really the issue.

The issue isn't so much about our well-being or taking care of ourselves, making sure that we're comfortable in the world we're in right now. My biggest issue is the literally, but five, six hundred employees that I have in my company that's dependent on us every single day. The restaurants in New Orleans have all closed. Obviously my airport location, which is brand new, the new airport in the new audience is closed along with every other chef. But the foods that we were manufacturing in our Donaldsonville division, Chef John Paul,

and company. Everything has come to a standstill. The good news is that we hadn't lost anybody. The good news is that the SBA and the government is taking care of us financially to get everybody back. It's just a time that we could not imagine. I'm checking on my people every day. They're checking with me. We're lucky to live in a place where people really love their neighbor here. You know, we come from a, we come from a culture here of, of taking care of one another. And it's been that way for hundreds of years. So we, we feel, feel really comfortable about that. And thanks for asking, but we're, I think for the shape we're in, we're pretty good cheap. And again, we're talking with Chef John Fals, who is really known

all over the world as an outstanding chef. And, and, chef, it wasn't. too long ago when Katrina hit New Orleans that you were a part of helping Duky Chase that historic restaurant. And I know that you have come to the aid of so many people who have gone through difficult times. And it's no secret to our audience and the Catholic audience around the country that you are a man of faith, that you are a man who you love our lady, you love the Catholic Church. And talk to me a little bit about how that has played a role in or how it's influenced you throughout this whole coronavirus outbreak? Well, Jeff, you know, there's no doubt about it. We're just so honored to be born and reared in a place where God is important in all of our

lives. I grew up in a home, a Cajun home, as you know, in the swamps of Louisiana. My mother died when I was very young, only seven years old, left eight children behind, died in childbirth, In fact, as you know, but even up to that point in our lives, she had already instilled in us the importance of our faith and the importance of helping others, the importance of knowing your neighborhood and being aware of what's going on in your neighborhood, even as children. So when you mentioned Leah Chase, you mentioned Doki Chase, when Katrina hit and this African-American chef who was just world-renowned and so, so respected, lost. everything. It was just so natural for us to want to come together. First of all, find her because she had been dispersed as so many other people were. But yet at the same time to realize that it was our obligation, the gifts that we had been given were necessary at that point to be distributing. And Leah Chase was a perfect example of us coming to help. But really, it was

because, Jeff, it was instilled in us as young children that we were given, even though we didn't have much money, we were given just a wonderful, wonderful family, a wonderful place, an understanding of the need to be available to others when the time came. And of course, that's the life that I've tried to live in a big way. And I remind people all the time that just because my mother died when I was seven and she left all these children behind, she had already instilled in us the importance of faith. She had already instilled in us the importance of prayer. She had already instilled in us the need to help your neighbor. Even as children, we knew that. And that's one of the things I love to preach about today is that you're never, a child is never too young to be given

an understanding of obligation. And I thank my mom for that. Well, what I'm hearing you say too is that it was in the middle of a crisis when your mother passed away when you were seven years old and, you know, Mary Fasch, a wonderful lady who ended up raising you kids. What happened in the middle of that crisis is still with you today as far as what you gained. What would you say to mothers and fathers out there right now that might be quarantined in their home for a month, two months, three months, who knows how long. Talk to them just for a moment about how important it is for them to walk in their faith, and it will be memorable for those children. It will. Absolutely. And I've been thinking about that, Jeff. And it's a little strange when I tell

people what a great opportunity this is. What a fantastic gift God has given us at this moment. What are we learning from this? And I was just talking to one of my nephews last night, and he was commiserating a little bit about it, and he's got three children. And I said, look, I just want you to remember that now is a God-given opportunity to sit around the table, talk about family, talk about faith, talk about prayers. Are you saying the rosary? Are you teaching your children the importance of the holy days? Do you realize that we're in the middle of Lent?

Do they understand what that means? we're in Holy Week, what an opportunity God has given us and he's trying times that reminds me so much of the foundation my mother built for us to stand on when we were just babies. And yet she passed away at that very young age and left us behind. But we already had a strong foundation to stand on. So I was on the phone with one of my nephews last night saying, are you taking advantage of this God-given opportunity that he's given us to shut the world down so that we have time to embrace our children, tell them we love them, explain what Holy Week is all about. Now that we can't go to church, get around the television and watch the masses going on

if they hadn't been to church, I think this is an opportunity for us as Catholics. I think this is an opportunity of us as Christians to realize that, God gives us these moments, and we have to recognize what these moments are all about. And I think last night my little chat with him really opened his eyes, as I hope people listening to this will hear it as well. Well, it's coming from a man who has been through tragedy, you know, growing up, the loss of your mother, Katrina. There's been other things that you have faced over the years that I know your faith has come into. into play you know some people are saying are many many in many ways this is the new normal and I'm resisting that to some degree because there's something about the faith that is incarnational we

come together it's the body and blood the Lord Jesus Christ but I can't ever imagine saying that the new normal is for us to look at each other while eating a hot dog or something that isn't the new normal that isn't the new normal and food food brings us together doesn't it? Well, Jeff, it really does. And even biblically, you know, I certainly don't have to instruct you on that subject. But, I mean, think of the week we're in and think of the last supper, you know, when Jesus just stood around that table looking at his disciples.

It was overbreaking bread that he tried to explain to them the importance of the journey that they were going to be on once he was gone. There's so many great food mentions in the Bible. I mean, I remember the day that you brought us up to the spot of the multiplication of lulls and fishes. And everybody was so enthralled at being on the seashore of Galilee. And I was thinking as a cook, God has given me the gifts to be a restaurateur and a cook. But every time I think about cooking, even in the church that day, on the seashore of Galilee,

I thought to myself the importance of the fact that God made me a cook because I could look at the Sea of Galilee and I could just reflect on feeding those masses up there. And it just came to life from me. It just really, once again, God was telling me the importance of the journey I was on. The importance that food is kind of that common denominator

that opens every door, whether it's a charitable door or whether it's a fundraising opportunity or whether you're just bringing neighbors in, when you sit around the table with food and you break bread, it's a God moment. And you have to use that opportunity, whether it's with your children or with your friends

or even where we are in Louisiana today in the tragedy of this coronavirus and the city of New Orleans is to its knees. And literally, our archbishop has the virus. And he's quarantined. Yeah, our bishop is, quarantine right now. And it just continues to pound on me every single day. What am I learning? What am I learning? What is God telling us? And it's a God moment. There's just no doubt about it in my world.

I know. And I can see that. You can see it on the news every day. My last question for you is as a restaurateur, as a man who has built and owns one of the greatest restaurants into a Orleans, the revolution. And when people go to the airport in New Orleans, they'll run right into your market there. You're all over the place. How do you see the coronavirus changing, if you see it changing food and the way we go to restaurants for the rest of our lives? Well, Jeff, there's no doubt about it. This is a change that God is set upon us for a tremendous this amount of review, no doubt about this personal review. Nothing happens by accident. We both know that. And it was time, it really was time for this country to come to its knees, in my opinion.

So I don't know when, whether it's at my revolution restaurant, when we come back, I mean, I have over 150 employees on furlough. My food plant has over 200 employees on furlough. The airport has, what, 70 people on far lower. Imagine how that's touching my heart every single day. All I know is this. I know this has come upon us for purpose. I know that it's given all of us a lockdown situation with our family, children, wives, husbands to be able to sit and talk about nothing else, but where do we go from here? Where do we go from here? When I think of my archbishop being locked down in his home in New Orleans. There's no secret to it. God is telling us, stop. Don't slow down. Stop. Get around the table, hold hands, pray that we come out of this new people with new vision, with an opportunity to

have a loving respect for our church, to open the doors of our church again to full congregations. Jeff, I'm looking at this as a really good time for all of us, especially those of us who think real deep about what is God's plan. I think this is good for us. Well, we're appreciate the time you've spent with us. And when I go down to Baton Rouge, all I have to do is mention Chef John Fawkes, and people practically want my autograph. So, and that's unusual.

Let me ask you this, of all the things you're going to be. You miss being quarantined besides eating croft fish with me. What do you miss the most? Well, I miss the most not, I miss you and that wonderful wife of yours not being here in your apartment at White Oak State. It's sitting right up there vacant. In fact, I'm going to go knock on your door and hope that you answer it. But we love having you here.

When I say, brother, I mean, brother, I mean, we've become so close. We love having you here. You have touched Baton Rouge in such a big way as well. I don't have to tell you that. I mean, you come to Baton Rouge and every church feels to listen to your message. So thanks for all you do. Thanks for the friendship that you and I have acquired over the years. And I look so forward to being with you again.

Keep me in your prayers as I'll keep you in mind. I will do that. And I appreciate it. Thank you so much. My friends, we've been listening to the comments of Chef John False down in New Orleans, Baton Rouge. He is a world-renowned chef, hit hard by this. And like you and me, he has to make those adaptations as a Catholic, as a man of faith. And he's doing an absolutely wonderful job. Well, I hope you enjoyed listening to that interview with Chef John Fulse. Again, the sound is a

little bit different because it was done on an iPad, and that is different than a studio microphone. I want to close in prayer, and if you are impacted in the food industry, a restaurant, and I think we're all affected in some way and impacted in some way because of the food, the food is center to our lives, I want to pray for you right now, and I want you to know, I love you, and I'm thinking of you, and let's pray, shall we, in the name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit, Lord Jesus, I thank you for Chef Falls and his wife, Lolly. I thank you, Lord, for all that he has done to contribute to the world as a restauranteer. And I thank you, Lord, for his faithfulness in walking with you.

Lord, we commit ourselves to you in every way. And we are reminded of your provision of food in the Old Testament, giving the manna to the children of Israel. We're also reminded that you give us the new manna. You give us the bread from heaven, your body and blood. And for those of us that cannot partake of that food, we spiritually commune with you today, Lord. And we thank you for giving us the sustenance and the nourishment of your word as we continue to read scripture on a daily basis and pray.

And we thank you, Lord, for the communion that we still share as the body of Christ. You are so good, and you provide for all of our needs. we thank you for this in Jesus name amen name of the Father and the Son in the Holy Spirit amen God bless you I love you