Anne Leonhard & Harriet Robin

Meet Chef Anne Leonhard & Harriet Robin

Meet Chef Anne Leonhard & Harriet Robin  - Anne Leonhard & Harriet Robin

Anne and Harriet have known each other since their grammar school days. Their lives weaved in and out as young married women while their children attended the same school and played sports at the same playground.

When Anne retired from teaching in 1993, she became a tour guide. In 2002 she joined the staff at the New Orleans School of Cooking as an instructor. When Harriet retired from her career as a registered dietician she also became a tour guide. They would occasionally see each other "on the streets" as they guided tourists around the historic French Quarter.

In 2009 the New Orleans School of Cooking was expanding and needed another instructor. Anne immediately thought of Harriet. It was then they began to rekindle their friendship.

Anne and Harriet have both developed a unique style over the years, full of fun and energy, mixed with their lust for sharing their love of everything New Orleans. They can now be found teaching tourists from all over the world how to cook New Orleans dishes like gumbo, jambalaya, and pralines. Invariably, after class they'll be asked "Do you have a cookbook?" The answer was always the same "No". So, one day they decided to write down all their favorites from family and friends. The hardest part was narrowing the list down to a manageable size. Their cookbook is full of stunning New Orleans style dishes “made simple,” because they are both down-home simple cooks; Harriet who prepares her outstanding dishes at a fast pace, whereas Anne builds until she creates a crescendo of flavors! Regardless of their styles, their results are always outstanding and delicious!