Emeril Lagasse
A charismatic chef who blasted open the doors of gourmet television with his boisterous energy, bringing Creole and Cajun flavors to a mainstream American audience.
Born 1959 (age 67)·American celebrity chef and restaurateur·Birthday: October 15·Baby Boomers
Biography
Emeril Lagasse didn't just cook on television; he conducted a culinary rock concert, complete with a live band and an audience whipped into a frenzy by his 'Bam!' and 'Kick it up a notch!' Before the fame, he was a serious chef, trained in classic French technique at Johnson & Wales and in New Orleans under legends like Paul Prudhomme. He took over Commander's Palace in 1982, cementing his reputation as a master of Louisiana's rich Creole and Cajun traditions. But his true revolution was televised. His show, 'Essence of Emeril,' was informative, but it was 'Emeril Live' that changed the game. With its raucous studio audience, he broke the mold of the quiet, instructional cooking program, making high-energy entertainment out of searing a steak. This persona powered a restaurant empire, a line of cookware and foods, and best-selling books. While later ventures faced challenges, Lagasse's impact is indelible: he made chefs into celebrities, demystified bold flavors for home cooks, and forever linked the joy of cooking with sheer, unadulterated fun.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Emeril was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Emeril Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Emeril's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Hosted the groundbreaking, audience-interactive cooking show 'Emeril Live' on the Food Network, which popularized catchphrases like 'Bam!'
- Authored over 20 cookbooks, with several, like 'Emeril's New New Orleans Cooking,' becoming foundational texts for American home cooks.
- Built a multi-city restaurant empire, with his flagship, Emeril's New Orleans, opening in the French Quarter in 1990.
- Won multiple James Beard Awards, including Best Chef: Southeast in 1991 and the award for Television Food Show in 1996.
- Successfully launched a broad line of cookware, kitchen tools, and food products sold in retail stores nationwide.
Did You Know?
Before becoming a chef, he was a talented percussionist and was offered a scholarship to the New England Conservatory of Music.
He is of Portuguese descent and often incorporates Portuguese influences into his dishes, such as in his restaurant Emeril's Delmonico.
Lagasse is a certified sommelier and places a strong emphasis on wine pairings in his restaurants.
He made a cameo appearance as himself on the popular sitcom 'Frasier.'
“We're not saving lives, we're touching lives through food. That's what we do.”
