Editor’s Note: The Historic New Orleans Collection and The New Orleans Advocate present this occasional series looking back on the people, events and traditions that have shaped the Crescent City. The ...

Q–Can you tell me where to find file powder? –Willie Lumford, Chicago. Q–File (pronounced FEE-lay) powder, made from dried leaves of the sassafras plant, is most often used in Creole cooking, ...

My pantry could be used as a test for culinary knowledge. There are loads of various spices, herbs, oils, sugars, flours, leavening agents and dried fruits. Many times, my husband has asked, “Where is ...

Try it: File (FEE-lay) powder is prized for its woodsy flavoring and for its thickening properties in gumbo, soups and stews. Some glean a hint of thyme in its flavor. File powder is an important ...

As someone who binge-watched “Muscles & Mayhem: An Unauthorized Story of American Gladiators” on Netflix, I don’t shy away from the gauntlet. Recently, a reader threw one down. Granted, it had a ...

We may receive a commission on purchases made from links. Anyone who's stirred a pot of rich seafood or chicken gumbo can attest to its multi-layered complexity. Getting that just-right combination of ...

Filé powder has been used by cooks in the Louisiana region for centuries. Filé is the ground leaf of the sassafras tree, Sassafras albidum, a member of the laurel family. Native to North America, the ...

This seasoning, made from dried and ground sassafras leaves, is used to thicken gumbos and adds a distinct Creole flavor. It is added at the end of cooking because it can become harsh-tasting or ...