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Judy Walker head shot - Epicurious

Judy Walker

Cookbook Author

Judy Walker, born in 1952, grew up in Texas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas. Walker earned a degree in English from Arkansas Tech in 1973. She got her first job at theTulsaWorldas a magazine writer in 1977. She moved to theArizona Republic, as a features reporter at a bureau in Sun City, Arizona, in 1980. Eventually, she became the food editor for theArizona Republicin Phoenix.

Walker moved to New Orleans in 2000. Soon after, she became the home and garden editor of theTimes-Picayune. Walker took over as food editor of theTimes-Picayunein 2004, after long-time food editor Dale Curry retired. In 2005, she began Exchange Alley, a recipe exchange column that quickly became a place where individuals could seek and share recipes lost in Hurricane Katrina. Along with Marcelle Bienvenu, Walker publishedCooking Up A Stormin 2008, based on the recipes of Exchange Alley. The book was nominated for a James Beard award in 2009.

Bananas Foster

Bananas Foster, a flambéed dessert of halved bananas in a syrupy rum sauce, is a New Orleans favorite that never fails to please. Don’t forget the ice cream.