Kirby Jones | Southern Foodways Alliance arrow left envelope headphones search facebook instagram twitter flickr menu rss play circle itunes calendar
Summer 2026—February 2027
2026 SFA Film Residency, with multi-city in-person experiences and monthly virtual workshops ⟶
Donate Join/Renew
Donate Join/
Renew
Summer 2026—February 2027
2026 SFA Film Residency, with multi-city in-person experiences and monthly virtual workshops ⟶

Oral Histories

The SFA oral history program documents life stories from the American South. Collecting these stories, we honor the people whose labor defines the region. If you would like to contribute to SFA’s oral history collections, please send your ideas for oral history along with your CV or Resume and a portfolio of prior oral history work to info@southernfoodways.org.

< Back to Oral History project: Southern Baking

< Back to Oral History project: Parish Epiphany: King Cake Bakers of South Louisiana

ORAL HISTORY

Kirby Jones

La Vie En Rose Café

Kirby is a New Orleans native with local family ties dating back to the late 1800s. The women in her family passed down treasured recipes and a love for hosting. Now raising her own New Orleans family, Kirby is thrilled to cultivate a welcoming atmosphere and celebration of local culture at her café.

Initially conceived as a noteworthy pop–up with a citywide following, La Vie En Rose Café has grown steadily over the years. During king cake season, she offers a unique, rose–flavored Queen Cake as well as a crawfish–filled, “Don Creole” king cake. As her business continues to expand, Kirby is looking forward to upping production and bringing these Mardi Gras specialties to even more customers during Carnival seasons to come.

Date of interview:
2022-05-02

Interviewer:
Phillip Norman

Photographer:
Emily R. Williams

Download Transcript

“

"We dress it up with rose petals, and we have a purple, green, and gold-ish sprinkling color. It’s kind of a little different. I wanted to separate because I didn’t want anyone to expect a traditional king cake, so I call it a Rose Queen Cake." - Kirby Jones

Other Project Interviews

Interview

Carla Briggs

Carla Briggs runs Viola’s Heritage Breads in her hometown of New Orleans, LA.

Interview

Huong Tran

Huong Tran is co-founder of Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans East.

Interview

Linh Garza

Linh Garza is President of Dong Phuong Bakery in New Orleans East, Louisiana.

Interview

Isaac Fort

Isaac Fort is the pastry chef at Poupart’s in Lafayette, Louisiana.

Interview

Norma Castillo

Norma Castillo is the founder of Norma’s International Foods, a popular Latin grocery store in Kenner, Louisiana, with a sister location, Norma’s Sweets Bakery, in New Orleans.

Interview

José Castillo

José Castillo is one of the owner-operators of Norma’s Sweets Bakery in New Orleans.

Interview

Robert Carriker

Robert Carriker is a professor of history at University of Louisiana at Lafayette and a public historian focusing on Louisiana food cultures.

Interview

Shane Castille

Shane Castille is the owner/operator of Thee Heavenly Doughnut in Baton Rouge, a local chain founded by his wife Kara and her mother, Catherine Estillete.

Interview

Moeko Glynn

Moeko Glynn operates Maru Bread Company, a bakery specializing in sourdough, out of her home in Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

Interview

Melodie Reay

Melodie Reay is a maker who primarily works with dough and clay.

WORKING TOGETHER

WE CAN CULTIVATE PROGRESS.

The Southern Foodways Alliance drives a more progressive future by leading conversations that challenge existing constructs, shape perspectives, and foster meaningful discussions. We reconsider the past with research, scrutiny, and documentation.

BECOME A MEMBER TODAY

Alex Raij Txikito

Let’s Stay in Touch

Sign up for the SFA newsletter to have the latest content
delivered directly to your inbox.