June 9
reserve your seat at the table
Ticket price includes table service and processing fees. Seating is limited to 50 persons per event in order to preserve the opportunity for personal interaction between the chefs, musicians and our patrons. Event will proceed rain or shine.
secret supper series guest info
From alternative accommodations to attire, transportation, and weather - here's all you need to know.
meet the chef
Michael gulotta
chef/co-owner
maypop, mopho
new orleans, la
jbf 2019 best chef: south nominee
best new chef 2016 by food & Wine
rising stars award 2016 by starchefs
top 30 chefs to watch in the nation by plate magazine
Michael started cooking when he was 9 years old and attended culinary school after high school. He earned a bachelor’s degree in culinary arts from Nicholls State University in Thibodaux, Louisiana. While a student at the university, he drove into New Orleans to work; first at Emeril's Delmonico and then, five nights a week at Chef Pete Vazquez's Marisol.
After graduating, Gulotta landed a position at Restaurant August. During his time as a line cook, Gulotta left to cook for six months in Liguria, Italy. On the Italian Riviera, Gulotta worked under renowned Chef Marco Ballo. Later in the mountains of the Black Forest of Germany, he continued honing his skills under Chef Karl Joseph Fuchs, staying in Deutschland for several years. When Hurricane Katrina hit, Michael returned home to help rebuild and assist with August’s re-opening. He was named Chef de Cuisine in 2007 and led the award-winning kitchen for six years, while establishing relationships with local farmers and purveyors.
In 2014, Gulotta teamed up with his brother Jeff and business partner Jeffrey Bybee to open MOPHO, where Louisiana’s pantry melds with the influences of the region’s Southeast Asian community. Gulotta remains deeply connected to his city and home, working with farmers, fishermen and foragers to create a sustainable restaurant. The year it opened, MOPHO was named “Restaurant of the Year” by New Orleans Magazine, and was a nominee for Bon Appétit’s “Best New Restaurant.”
In 2016, Gulotta and his partners opened Maypop in New Orleans’ Central Business District. Named after a passionflower native to southeast Louisiana, the restaurant is Gulotta’s most ambitious restaurant. The bold menu draws inspiration from Vietnamese, Cajun, Creole and Sicilian cuisines.
meet the musicians
roddie romero
GRAMMY nominee
Born, raised, and currently residing in Lafayette, Roddie Romero lives and breathes South Louisiana culture. His passion for authenticity shows in multiple aspects of his life, from his music with The Hub City All Stars to what’s cooking in his cast-iron black pot. But before the celebrated frontman had a GRAMMY nomination and multiple world tours under his belt, he was witnessing the magic of Cajun and zydeco music in his own backyard.
Today, Roddie Romero has a unique take on traditional Louisiana roots music, the band has an unconventional approach to live performances. Romero tailors each performance to energy of the crowd—and nothing is off limits. It’s an organically creative experience. Regardless of whom Roddie is performing with, or what type of music he’s playing, you can be sure that he’ll give you a sense of place. And that place is Lafayette, Louisiana.
michael juan nunez
GRAMMY nominee
Michael Juan Nunez is a singer, guitarist, songwriter, from South Louisiana whose
music taps into the heart of American southern culture. It’s fresh, and urgent, yet unmistakably sprouting from very deep roots. His music paints pictures of life, as seen through the eyes of southern Louisiana. His guitar playing is raw and passionate…moaning, screaming, singing,
and driving modern day melodies, with echoes of long-lost dancehalls.
Michael has opened for and performed with the likes of Sonny Landreth, Eric Johnson, Jimmy Vaughn, Dr. John, John Mooney, Kenny Wayne Sheppard, Corey Harris, C.C Adcock, Eric Burden, Taj Mahal, Tab Benoit, Anders Osborne, Eric Burden, Indigenous and many, many others.These days Michael Juan Nunez can be found working with his own band ‘The American
Electric’ as well as collaborations with several area artists. He’s also toured with Brother Dege and The Brethren as their guitarist.